Interiors Tips using the golden rules of Interior Design.
1. FORM AND FUNCTION
Come hand in hand. Two things you should keep in mind as you start to design, that things should look good, but should also be practical too.
Before you buy, you need you question if the piece you love also is a functional piece. You may love the look of a couch but if its not comfortable its not worth it. You may need a desk but ifs not the right size its not practical. You can easily ruin the whole look and feel of a room by adding one piece of furniture that doesnt work. If you choose a piece that ticks both boxes with form and function they are pieces you'll have for a long time.
2. SCALE
There is a few simple tips that are really helpful when when planning a space. Whether you are creating a room scheme from scratch or redesigning an existing one, the golden ratio will help you create a balanced space.
There is a 2:3 rule also known as the golden ratio. Ideally, every room should follow this. It starts with dividing the room into two sections. The larger area should be 2:3 of the space and include the larger furniture pieces, the sofa, bed, dining table ect. The smaller section will include the pieces such as storage.
You can also follow this 2:3 rule with furniture. Therefore your largest piece of furniture should measure 2:3 of the area. Then you can work backwards, the coffee table should be 2:3 of the couch. When the larger pieces are placed in the room you can work around them with the smaller more decorative pieces.
3. COLOUR
When it comes to colour, there’s a few things to consider. Firstly, choosing your colour scheme. You could start with one shade that you love, it helps to remember that dark and warm colours make a room feel smaller while bright and light shades open up the space. When you've chosen a colour, you can then refer to the colour wheel. This is a huge tool used while working on colour schemes. Once you’ve decided, it’s time to use a colour wheel. This is the biggest tool used by interior designers when working on colour schemes.
You can also use the golden ratio within your colour schemes. In a two-colour room scheme the dominant colour will cover 60% of the room, while the secondary colour will cover around 30%. You can break this down further with a three colour palette, 60%, 30% and 10%.
Choose your three tones and split them into these ratios, 60% of your space should be the one dominant colour, either the paint on your walls or the larger furniture. The secondary colour can be shown through textiles such as curtains and rugs. Finally the third accent colour can brought in through accents and accessories using it across the last 10% of your space. This will create a good balance and appear effortless.
4. LIGHT
Lighting has a huge impact on the look and feel of a room. You will need to consider what the room is used for to decide what kind of lighting you will need in the space. Certain rooms will need better lighting than others and you should always try use natural light where you can to benefit from the higher quality light.
Try be creative with different types of lighting in your home. Floor lamps are great for cosy corners, while overhead lights are a must for dining tables. Mood lighting may not offer as much brightness, but the ambient glow works wonders in a lounge area, or installed along dark hallways.
As well as offering light make sure your light fittings are a stand out decorative piece in your home.
Laura x
Interior Designer Dublin
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