From Interior Design Concept to Reality
An interior design concept is an idea that guides the design of interior spaces of building structures. Designing interiors goes beyond choosing beautiful furniture, fixtures, and other décor items and stylishly arranging them in rooms and other residential and commercial interiors. It is about creating a mood, purpose, function, and style that is pleasant, efficient, and suitable for all occupants.
There are some basic principles to follow to develop a design layout. However, there must be a preconceived idea that will lay the foundation for visual components. Without a concept, a designer cannot convey a vision that becomes a reality.
To successfully implement an interior design concept and successfully implement it, a designer must consider three things:
- Function
- Versatility
- Aesthetics
The design idea must be a well-thought-out solution that effectively melds them together. While some clients know what they want (or feel they do), putting everything together is beyond them. No matter how creative prospective clients think they may be, most still require some aspect of interior design services. They need help to organize their sometimes vague thoughts in ways that will give aesthetically pleasing interiors and functional and versatile ones.
Fundamentals of Developing an Interior Design Concept
There are no rules about how things should or should not be. But there are some necessities. These necessities are good to follow and utilize in most interior design projects – from designing a studio apartment to a restaurant interior, a container home interior, or a conference room. They are (in no particular order):
- Colour.
- Scale.
- Style.
- Space planning.
- Functionality.
Although each aspect is crucial to interior design projects, they are interrelated. Collectively, they help create attractive, comfortable, functional, and inviting spaces. And because they need to be applied collectively, the result is a unified feel within the interior space.
Color
Color is a vital element required when developing an interior design concept. It is the fundamental principle that ties a design together. Designers must choose a color scheme with thoughts about the effects they plan to achieve in the final look. Colors can affect moods, energies, and perception, so it is best to develop a color scheme that suits the purpose of the room and the personality of its occupants.
There are usually about four colors within color schemes (maybe five for an eclectic look). Generally, more than four colors can appear overwhelming. And for a minimalist look, using less than four colours is acceptable. However, the basic color scheme must consist of:
- A primary colour (the main hue).
- A secondary colour.
- Supplementary (complementary) colours.
Combining this group of colors will beautify and enrich the space. They should be a mix of solid colours, patterns, and textures.
Scale
Scale is the second important aspect that ensures a design concept works out beautifully. Depending on the size and volume of an interior space, all objects placed within it must be proportionally related, scale-wise.
Many DIY decorators may not know how important it is to work to scale. This is where the expertise of a professional interior designer comes into play. When the scale of anything is at odds with everything around it, it will become unattractive.
For instance, if you arrange large or oversized pieces in small spaces, the room will appear cramped and stifled. And even if you have put together a beautiful colour combination of stylish furniture and furnishing, when they are at cross-purposes scale-wise, it does not work.
Style
Style is a set of characteristics that defines the appearance and feel of interior spaces. It can be influenced by anything from historical periods to cultural trends, religious orientation, or personal preferences. Even though every interior designer has a unique style to recommend, there are occasions when a client specifies what they desire.
For homemakers with a feel for interior design, the simple and somewhat popular theme is eclectic styling. Eclectic styles are generally informal, comfortable, and relaxed and are one of the least complex styles any designer can develop. Some other popular interior design styles include contemporary, urban-modern, traditional, and minimalist.
Style should be considered when designing spaces meant to express a client’s personality, mood, and aesthetic preferences especially interior spaces like kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms.
Ultimately, the best interior design concept balances function and style harmoniously.
Space Plan
There must be thoughtful planning of space and functional zone allocations within each room. It does not matter whether the style is the best or the colour scheme is pleasant. The design concept will fail if items and objects are not arranged in the best positions possible
The following questions will identify the purpose of the interior space, help define its goals and requirements, and assist in defining space and zone allocations.
- What is its purpose?
- What is its function?
- Who will use it
- How will it be used?
- What are the needs and preferences of its users?
A good rule of thumb is to choose and decide on a focal point in the room. Once that is determined, placing primary elements like sofas, tables, cabinets, beds, and stools is a breeze. With these primary elements in place, adding other enhancing secondary features and accessories is easy.
Functionality
Does function precede style? This is a vital question of the interior design industry. And though there is no conclusive answer to this question, as a professional designer with decades of experience, I will say it should. Client tastes vary widely. They have varying preferences and needs, but to the professionals, function is almost more important than style. Functionality must be a priority when developing a design concept, especially when designing spaces with specific purposes like kitchens, bathrooms, storage spaces, offices, etc.
Adding Finishing Touches
Adding finishing touches to an interior design concept is crucial. It is called accessorizing. Accessorizing adds fine details and finishing touches that complement and complete the design process. They add interest, elegance, and charm. Examples include lighting effects, rugs, window treatments, wall art, throw pillows, indoor plants, and other decorative objects that complement the interior style, color scheme, and purpose.
Finally, every professional interior designer must consider the five basic principles if they desire successfully implemented projects. Whether the task is simple or complex, low cost or high budget, each aspect deserves due acknowledgement so that the final works result in an interior that is not only aesthetically pleasing but calming, versatile, and functional.