The A-Z of Interior Design
Welcome to out A-Z guide of interior design aspects. Twenty-six essential elements to help set you on your way with your next, or even your first, interior design project.
A is Art
Bare walls are boring; they draw the eye and not in a good way. Placing art at strategic points break up the monotony of a room and create focal points for a brighter, happier environment.B for Budget
Money matters – whether it’s your money or the clients, you should always be mindful of how much things cost. Create plans to suit every budget, always have a fallback, and you won’t end up overspending.
C for Colour
Even where the walls are bare and predictable, effective use of colour can delight anyone in the room. Whether that’s varying colours of interior walls or strategically placed cushions, colour is your friend.
D: Pay Attention to Details
Don’t forget to accessorise! Small details such as throws, rugs, and cushions, even ornaments and vases give a room character through a series of interesting focal points. Without paying close attention to them, the space just won’t look as polished and as finished as it should.
E is Elements of Design
Design elements and principles are to be carefully combined to create satisfying works. Knowing the basics will help tremendously and ensure successfully designed interiors every time.
F: Failures Will Happen
It is said we learn more through our failures than through our successes. This is also true of interior design – messing up teaches you what not to do the next time.
G: Green Up That Living Space
Plants are the one constant throughout the whole history of design. Greenery and foliage serve many purposes including pleasant smells, room focal points, and cleaner air.
H is Hardware
By “hardware” we mean windows, doors, cabinets, and all fixtures and fittings. Pay attention to a room’s attributes and select accordingly – not just for colour, but for room style and layout too.
I: Use All Your Ideas
Interior designers are creatives. That means your only limits are the number of ideas you can come up with for a space. Don’t be afraid to explore your imagination because your gut may just be right.
J: Keep a Journal
As any creative knows, if you don’t write it down you will forget it. A journal is your lifeline to interior design development and exploring the limits of your skills and imagination.
K is to Keep Learning
If you’re not moving forward, you’re falling behind. There are always new design trends and new ways of doing things. Keep up to date with new tools, technology, and approaches.
L: Light the Place Up
There are two approaches to lighting: natural and artificial. Natural light is the sun and not all rooms will have equal access to it. Use artificial light to both complement natural light and make up for its absence.
M is for Materials
Wood, metal, plastics (even the types of wood, metal and plastic you go for) will determine a room’s ambience when used effectively. They are some of the first and final touches you will add and deserve your consideration.
N: Always Use Those Neutrals
Neutrals form the base of your room and stop the occupants becoming overwhelmed with colour. Then add pops and splashes of colour to draw the attention without overloading their senses.
O Means Getting Organised
Is there enough storage space, or maybe too much? With both extremes, a room will feel cluttered and overwhelm the room’s occupants, so ensure you strike that balance.
P is for Planning
As the old saying goes “fail to prepare, prepare to fail.” Interior designing is a major project – things can and will go wrong. With a plan, you can anticipate problems and have fallback plans.
Q is Quirky
Why go for the same designs everyone else is going for? Adding quirks and unusual elements in an interior design create great talking points for visitors and make a room stand out with that desired “wow” factor.
R: Rendering
Don’t bypass those Visual Aids! 3D images, concept art, and example photography help you or your client understand what the final project might look like. It will also help identify problems before they arise.
S is Style Statement
Make sure this room says something about its interior. Whether that’s using bold wallpaper, antique ornamentation to highlight a room, or whether it simple states “this is a cosy place,” such statements add character.
T for Thinking Outside the Box
Getting away from those interior design conventions and considering doing something new can be risky. However, if you think something will work there is no harm in trying. If it works, you’ll become a visionary.
U: Upholstery
Seating is the most essential part of living rooms, lounges, sitting rooms and most other shared space. As such it requires careful consideration for amount of seating, colour, style, and positioning.
V for Vintage
Everyone has family heirlooms that they would like to proudly display. Yet buying vintage items is all the rage in current interior design, using antiques and older furniture to draw the eye at critical focal points.
W is Your Website
How else will potential clients and network professionals find you? You need a website to tell the world about you and highlight your work. A great website will help find clients and spread the word.
X is eXperiment
Don’t be afraid to play around with the design, the elements, and vary how a room looks. Just because it worked a certain way before it doesn’t mean you have to stick with it. Maybe the client prefers certain items in specific places?
Y is for You (The Designer)
As the designer, don’t forget to put your personality into your work. What makes you and your approach stand out? What is your USP that will have clients wanting more? Use it!
Z is Zeal
Passion is everything with creatives. When you are passionate, that will come through to your clients and create a positive energy about you that others won’t be able to help but find endearing.
Interested in interior design? Find out more about studying interior design in your own time, at your own pace with the Professional Design Institute.
