7 PRINCIPLES EVERY INTERIOR DESIGNER OUGHT TO KNOW

By Michael Jumba

Just like any other profession, interior design has principles. It is these principles that guide interior designers in transforming interior spaces into liveable spaces. These principles help the interior designer craft interior spaces enabling every element to be in their right place.

To transform interior spaces, every interior designer needs knowledge in the following 7 principles: proportion and scale, emphasis, harmony, rhythm, balance, contrast and details.

1. Proportion and Scale

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, proportion is defined as the correct or most attractive relationship between the size of different parts of the same thing or between one thing and another. With regards to Scale, the Cambridge Dictionary defines it as the relation between the real size of something and its size on a map, model or diagram.

In interior design, proportion is the ratio between the size of one element to another in a room while scale relates to the size of objects within interior space. For example, a small room where furniture overpowers the space is poor interior design. The same applies to a large room in which furniture feels dwarfed by the space. A good example of a wrong proportion is having a large overstuffed chair next to a diminutive side table.

2. Emphasis

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, emphasis is being the particular importance or attention that is given to something.

In interior design, a room where nothing attracts the attention of the inhabitants is boring. To excite the inhabitants, a focal point becomes important.

The conventional architectural spaces often have points of interest such as windows or fireplaces. An interior designer should use in-built focal points by arranging furniture around it to emphasize it. An interior designer should create a focal point as a last resort when a room lacks an in-built point of interest.

3. Harmony

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, harmony is the combination of separate but related parts in a way that uses their similarities to bring unity to a painting, a drawing or other art objects in a room.

In the interior design field, an interior designer creates harmony when he/she arranges all elements in such a way that they act together to create or send a unified theme or message. For example, an interior designer could create harmony by using a single colour while other forms vary greatly in size, texture and shape.

4. Rhythm

Rhythm is a regularly repeated pattern of sound or beats used in music, poems and dances. In interior design, rhythm sets the visual movement of the room’s design. To create rhythm, an interior designer uses patterns of repetition and contrast to attract attention. Rhythm is achieved by using the same colour for an interior space or shape at different intervals with the purpose being to make the users move their eyes around a room.

For example, an interior designer could use repetition, a classic technique in creating rhythm to arrange the same aesthetic elements. On the other hand, they could opt for progression another technique in creating rhythm where aesthetic elements are arranged in an escalating way from the smallest to the biggest.

5. Balance

Balance in interior design is aimed at achieving equilibrium with the objective being to excite and please the eye of the users.

To achieve balance, techniques such as symmetrical balance has been widely used in traditional interior design to make both sides of the room mirror the other. The current trend in achieving balance involves the use of asymmetry technique. In this technique, a room is designed with different fixtures and arrangements yet maintain the same design objective.

Radical balance is achieved when a room has a central focal point that is then used as a benchmark from which all other elements will be radiating from or arranged around. Involves a lot of repetition of form, texture and colour.

6. Contrast

Interior Design just like fine art relies on contrast to make a space look appealing. According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, contrast is the difference between two or more things.

In interior design, contrast may be with respect to form, colour or use of space and is aimed at playing the psychology of the mind.

The most commonly used way to create contrast is by use of colour particularly back and white. Another way is through the use of a large round mirror, a wall painting among others.

7. Details

Interior Design involves the careful selection of materials, colours, fabrics, styles and products. Even though more emphasis has always been placed on furniture and colour, paying attention to small details goes a long way to give a project that unique finish. It is therefore important that an interior designer pays attention to every detail.

[Keep checking out this site for a more articles on each principle…]

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