What are the 7 elements of interior design?
Interior design is defined as an art and science of decorating any interior space to make it aesthetically pleasing while enhancing its utility. Though the profession of interior designing goes back around 100 years, this art has informally existed for centuries. You can get a glimpse into the life, style, social practices and private indulgences of the people of any era by studying the interiors of that age. While the architecture of a period gives information about the politics, rulers and the general social fabric of the society. The interiors gave a sneak peek into the personal lives of the people, their daily struggles, likes and dislikes etc.
The ancient Egyptians were known to decorate their mud house and keep them well ventilated. A glimpse of it is seen in the remains of ancient tombs where miniature ‘soul homes’ (model houses) were kept inside the tomb along with other offerings. From distinct regal roman style to the somber interiors of the dark ages down to the flamboyance of the renaissance era. Interior Design kept adapting to the changing times. Each century kept adding its unique sensibilities to the scope of interior design and contributed towards it becoming a comprehensive profession it is today.
From the early 1800s and on, more freedom and eclecticism were found in interior design in America and Europe. Over the next two centuries, the world would see a slew of enticing modern interior design movements like Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Victorian etc. come and go with changing times and tastes.
With the advent of the 20th century, Interior Design was no longer confined to the palaces of kings and mansions of the rich. The modern era had arrived, and with it came the transformation of Interior Design. It freed itself from being a niche art meant for a few and evolved into a modern-day practice providing a choice of stylish interiors to people at large.
Today interior design has technologically advanced and spread its wings to incorporate various other related works into its fold. Modern-day Interior Designing is perhaps one of the most harmonious blends of Art and Science, making its mark on our daily lives.
So now that you are familiar with the past of Interior Design, let us take this further and discuss what the present scenario holds for us. How can we benefit from Interior Design today? The problem today is not that we don’t have information but that we have too much irrelevant information to take advantage of interior design services, we first need to understand how the process works and how it can be adapted to our needs.
From interior retail and wholesale chains to interior magazines and self- appointed newspaper experts, everyone will proclaim to possess the best advice for interiors. But none of it will help you when you are standing in an empty house, trying to imagine what it will look like once finished. What we discuss here today will help you to understand the different concepts of design and how each one works. This will not only aid in understanding the complex terms used by your designer but also enable you to have insights and inputs towards the final design and layout of your space.
What are the essential elements of home interior design?
The profession of Interior Design is not just about creativity and flair. There is an elaborate process involved in designing any interior space. The designer follows these set principals and works with specific elements to ensure a harmonious, practical and aesthetically pleasing interiors.
Space
Space planning is a fundamental element of Interior Design. A designer begins with accessing the total area available, measuring it precisely and drawing out an outline. This gives an idea as to how much actual square feet is available to utilize. The next step is to understand the purpose of the space.
The designer plans out space into different zones of use, making optimal use of the area. The planning is done, so each zone in the site has ample space for the activities happening in the zone, and there is a place to move around from one zone to other comfortably. The placement of furniture and appliances is also planned at this stage.
The purpose of space planning is not just to make optimal use of the area but also to plan the non-purposeful empty spaces, to design a comfortable living or working area.
Lines
Lines are used to create visual compartments with the help of the width and height of furniture, windows, archways, staircases and fall ceilings.
The line creates an illusion of contracting, enlarging or breaking up of any space. It is also used to give a flow to the entire area, guiding the eyesight to move seamlessly from one zone to another. There are 3 major types of lines used in interior design,
Horizontal
Mostly used in the furniture like tables, bookcases and beds, these lines give depth to the room and make it look more expansive. However, using too much of horizontal lines without a break from the vertical and dynamic line can make a room look boring.
Vertical
Found very often in windows, doorways and decorative partitions, these are used to create zones within a room. Placed perpendicular to horizontal lines, they draw your eyes upwards to any interesting ceiling details or outwards to the outdoors. Having too many vertical elements can end up making the area compartmentalized.
Dynamic
Zigzag, angular and curvy lines bring in the sense of movement and stimulation into a room. They help in bringing vibrancy through zigzag or angular and a soft flowy feel to the area through curved lines. The staircase or POP details on the ceiling or even an angular shaped coffee table are all examples of dynamic lines. But guard against using them too much. Otherwise, the room will become too busy.
Form
The form is just another word for shape. And as anyone with even a little knowledge about interiors will tell you, the shape is a crucial element in a design. Shapes are a combination of the vertical, horizontal and dynamic lines that we spoke about. These lines, when placed together forming geometrical or natural shapes that in turn, give a sharp or soft look to the room. You can mix n match different forms to achieve a comfortable vibe to the area. The form can also be used to give a modern and sleek or earthy and rustic look to a place by playing with different shapes.
There 4 significant categories of form.
Organic forms refer to the shape that exists in nature.
Geometric forms refer to human-made shapes.
Open forms are visible outlines that you can look at
Closed forms are self-contained and not visible to the naked eye.
Light
This element brings into focus all the beauteous aspects of any living space. There are two types of lighting available to the designer, natural and artificial. The idea is to make maximum use of the natural light, and complement it with artificial light. Lighting in a room can be used for 3 major purposes.
Task lighting
This is the essential lighting required in the absence of natural light to help you do your work. The light above your kitchen counter, bedside lamp, reading lights in the study area etc. are a few examples of task lights. These are generally installed to serve utility rather than for any décor enhancement.
Accent Lighting
These are focused lights, strategically placed to highlight certain areas in the room or particular objects. It can be a picture light above a framed painting, backlight on the tv unit or spotlight on an artefact. These lights draw attention to space or object; they are highlighting and create visually interesting areas in the room.
Ambient lighting
This is what is referred to as mood lighting in layman terms. This lighting is used to enhance overall space and is different for day and night uses.
Color
One of the most exciting elements of Interior Design is used to connotate specific messages and moods. It would be too exhausting to discuss the color wheel over here, but we can tell you that each color brings out a feeling or reflects individual tastes. The color scheme of the area is generally decided after understanding the purpose of the room. Colors can be used to create warmth and coziness or make rooms appear larger than they are. Combined with lines and form, colors help in impacting the overall look and feel of an area.
There is one aspect of choosing a color for interior space where many people falter. Generally, they select a color but not the exact shade of that particular color. All colors are reactive to light, will look different in natural and artificial light, colors in rooms with only artificial light may still look different during the day and at night.
So, when deciding on the color of any area, contemplate how it will look in all lights and at all times of the day, and select a shade that is the most suitable to the room.
Colors behave in three ways, passive, active and neutral. Any area should have a combination of at least any two out of these. Remember that colors stimulate the senses and you don’t want your space to be under or overstimulated.
Texture
While mostly textures are associated with what something feels on touching, in interior design, we have to consider how a texture looks along with how it feels. Both the visual and the actual texture have distinct purposes. Textures complement the other elements add to the story of the house. One needs to be careful not to go overboard with textures as that may end up overwhelming the entire space.
Actual textures
These textures are about the feel. The feel of the linen curtains or cushion covers will be completely different from the touch of leather upholstery. A natural wood counter will have a unique grainy texture compared to the cool smoothness of a granite top. Actual textures are vital as you will be touching them every day. So, you must choose carefully.
Visual textures
Visual textures are all about manipulating the eyes. They give an illusion of a texture while not being physically there. The best example is a stone or brick wallpaper that offers the visual feel of a stone or brick wall without actually building one. Visual textures are often used on highlight walls or certain display areas.
Pattern
A pattern is a collection of lines and forms. It relates to the repetition of a graphic motif on a material. Remember that while texture refers to the 2D quality of a surface, pattern relates to illustrative perception.
Like shapes patterns to accentuate a particular part of the interior space like ceilings, furniture or stairs. They generally work in tandem with line and form to create an additional dimension in the space. Patterns can be incorporated in the paint on the wall, grains of wooden furniture or the print of upholstery. It is a versatile element that can be used on any surface.
In conclusion, we would like to say that you should have at least a basic idea of all the elements. But we also understand that all this information is overwhelming, and since it is not your primary area of expertise, it may be challenging to keep track of so many factors.
This is where an interior design firm comes into the picture. The qualified designers at J. West, are already well versed with these elements and will take each of them into consideration before chalking out a design for you. Taking professional help also eases the burden for you and helps you enjoy the process without undue stress.
You may know what look or feel you want for the space you own, but a designer will also know how to go about actualizing your vision. They have the technical know-how and creative thought process to translate on paper what is going on in your mind.
Hence, we highly recommend that you pick up the phone and call us today.