7 Most Important Interior Design PrinciplesAt the end of this article you’ll be able to recognize and use the basic interior design principles used by every interior designer to create a great design, and who knows maybe you’ll also save some money, or start a new career ! Now let’s begin with the beginning, and undestand what interior design is …

“Interior design is the process of shaping the experience of interior space, through the manipulation of spatial volume as well as surface treatment. Not to be confused with interior decoration, interior design draws on aspects of environmental psychology, architecture, and product design in addition to traditional decoration.

An interior designer is a person who is considered a professionalin the field of interior design or one who designs interiors as part of their job. Interior design is a creative practice that analyzes programmatic information, establishes a conceptual direction, refines the design direction, and produces graphic communication and construction documents. In some jurisdictions, interior designers must be licensed to practice.” – Source:Wikipedia

Now that you have an idea about interior design, we can move forward and learn something really useful, the principles of interior design. Let’s begin !

When

doing interior design it is necessary to think of the house as a totality; a series of spaces linked together by halls and stairways. It is therefore appropriate that a common style and theme runs throughout. This is not to say that all interior design elements should be the same but they should work together and complement each other to strengthen the whole composition. A way to create this theme or storyline is with the well considereduse of color. Color schemes in general are a great way to unify acollection of spaces. For example, you might pick three or four colors and use them in varying shades thoughout the house.

In a

short sentence for those who just scan this article balance can be described as the equal distribution of visual weight in a room. There are three styles of balance: symmetrical,asymmetrical, and radial.

Symmetrical balance is usually found in traditional interiors. Symmetrical balance is characterized by the same objects repeatedin the same positions on either side of a vertical axis, for example you might remember old rooms where on each side of a roomis an exact mirror of the other. This symmetry also reflects the human form, so we are inately comfortable in a balanced setting.

Asymmetrical balance is more appropriate in design in these days.

Balance is achieved with some dissimilar objects that have equal visual weight or eye attraction. Assymetrical balance is more casual and less contrived in feeling, but more difficult to achieve. Asymmetry suggests movement, and leads to more lively interiors.

Radial symmetry is when all the elements of a design are arrayed around a center point. A spiral staircase is also an excellent example of radial balance. Though not often employed in interiors, it can provide an interesting counterpoint if used appropriately.

Interior design’s biggest enemy is boredom. A well-designed room always has, depending on the size of it, one or more focal points. A focal point must be dominant to draw attention and interesting enough to encourage the viewer to look further. A focal point thus must have a lasting impression but must also be an integral part of the decoration linked through scale, style, color or theme. A fireplace or a flat tv is the first example that most people think of when we talk about a room focal point.

If you don’t have a natural focal point in your space, such as a fireplace for example, you can create one by highlighting a particular piece of furniture, artwork, or by simply painting a contrasting color in one area. Try to maintain balance, though,

so that the focal point doesn’t hog all of the attention.

Ifwe

would speak about music we would describe rhytmas the beat of pulse of the music. In interior design, rhythm is all about visual pattern repetition. Rhythm is defined as continuity, recurrence or organized movement. To achieve these themes in a design, you need to think about repetition, progression, transition and contrast. Using these mechanisms will impart a sense of movement to your space, leading the eye from one design element to another.

Repetition is the use of the same element more than once throughout a space. You can repeat a pattern, color, texture, line, or any other element, or even more than one element.

Progression is taking an element and increasing or decreasing oneor more of its qualities. The most obvious implementation of thiswould be a gradation by size. A cluster of candles of varying sizes on a simple tray creates interest because of the natural progression shown. You can also achieve progression via color,

such as in a monochromatic color scheme where each element is a slightly different shade of the same hue.

Transition is a little harder to define. Unlike repetition or progression, transition tends to be a smoother flow, where the eye naturally glides from one area to another. The most common transition is the use of a curved line to gently lead the eye, such as an arched doorway or winding path.

Finally, contrast is fairly straightforward. Putting two elementsin opposition to one another, such as black and white pillows on a sofa, is the hallmark of this design principle. Opposition can also be implied by contrasts in form, such as circles and squaresused together. Contrast can be quite jarring, and is generally used to enliven a space. Be careful not to undo any hard work you’ve done using the other mechanisms by introducing too much contrast!

Another important element of interior design where it is necessary to take infinite pains is details. Everything from the trimming on the lamp shade, the color of the piping on the scatter cushion, to the light switches and cupboard handles need attention. Unlike color people find details boring. As a result it gets neglected and skimmed over or generally left out. As

color expresses the whole spirit and life of a scheme; details are just as an important underpinning of interior design. Detailsshould not be obvious but they should be right, enhancing the overall feel of a room.

Scale and Proportion – These two design principles go hand in hand, since both relate to size and shape. Proportion has to do with the ratio of one design element to another, or one element to the whole. Scale concerns itself with the size of one object compared to another.

Color – Colors have a definite impact on the atmosphere that you want to create when doing interior design. A more detalied post about how colors affect our moods you can find here.

What is Interior Design?Interior design isa profession thatcombinescreativity,technicalknowledge, andbusiness skills.Interior designerswork with clientsand other designprofessionals todevelop designsolutions that aresafe, functional,attractive, and meet the needs of the people using the space.

Interior designers must know how to plan a space and how to present that plan visually so that it can be communicated to the client. They must also know about the materials and products thatwill be used to create and furnish the space, and how texture, color, lighting and other factors combine and interact to make the space come together. In addition, interior designers must understand the structural requirements of their plans, the healthand safety issues, building codes, and many other technical aspects.

Here’s some of the things that interior designers do:

Research and analyze their client's goals and requirements Create preliminary space plans and 2- and 3-dimensional design concept studies and sketches Select colors, materials and finishes Select and specify furniture, fixtures, equipment and millwork Confirm that the space plans meet all public health, safety and welfare requirements, including code, accessibility,environmental, and sustainability guidelines Prepare project budgets and schedules Prepare construction documents, consisting of plans, elevations, details and specifications Coordinate and collaborate with other allied design professionals, including architects; structural, mechanical and electrical engineers; and various specialty consultants Oversee the implementation of projects and serve as a representative of and on behalf of the client

What is Interior Design?

Interior design is more than just aesthetics. It's about finding creative designsolutions for interior environments while supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of occupants and enhancing their quality of life.

Following a systematic and coordinated methodology including research, analysis and integration of knowledge into the creative process, interior design is a multi-faceted profession whereby the needs and resources of the client are satisfied to create an interior space that fulfils the project goals.

Qualified through a rigorous process of education, experience and examination, IDC members are skilled at assisting clients realize their goals, creating builtenvironments that are both functional and aesthetically attractive. In addition,all IDC members are required to:

• Carry liability insurance.

• Participate in ongoing professional development.

• Uphold a professional code of ethics and standards of practice.

Workplace Design"Good design can make a difference functionally, create better work processes and ultimately impact employee retention."

Sally Mills, IDIBC, IDC

A well-designed corporate space or workplace environment can potentially improve quality of life, promote productivity and increase employee retention. Working with a professional interior designer is a sound business decision and the best way to ensure you get value for your investment.

Have peace of mind in knowing that your project will meet the needs of your business, be both functional and aesthetically pleasing and make the most of available space. Our members can help guide you through building technology, ergonomics, environmental and sustainability issues, local building and fire codes as well as accessibility guidelines. On more extensive corporate and workplace environment projects, your interior designer may also:

• Act as Project Manager on your behalf to manage the project teams through all phases of the project

• Develop and implement a branding and communications strategy in relation to the project

• Undertake feasibility studies on potential facilities and coordinate with real

estate professionals

• Prepare and administer bids and contract documents as your agent

Working with an Interior DesignerWorking with an interior designer who has attained professional membership assures you that the individual meets the highest level of professional qualifications. Professional interior designers have to follow a standard careerpath of education, experience and examination.While interior designers provide a specific scope of services, they may act as Prime Consultant and Project Manager for the client. They are trained and experienced at retaining and working with a number of other consultants or suppliers who may be required to complete the project.

An Interior Designer's Scope of WorkInterior designers are skilled at providing a full scope of services which may vary with each project but generally include:

• Analyzing the client's needs and goals

• Integrating findings with knowledge of interior design, economic trends as well as legal and regulatory requirements

• Formulating design concepts that are functional, fiscally appropriate and aesthetically pleasing

• Overseeing the interior design process including project budgeting and schedules

• Preparing working drawings and specifications for interior construction, spaceplanning, materials, finishes, furnishings, fixtures and equipment

• Collaborating with other practitioners who offer professional services in the technical areas of mechanical, electrical and structural design, as required forregulatory approvals (building permits)

• Reviewing and evaluating construction during implementation and coordinating the completion of the project with a consultant team.

On some projects, an Interior Designer may also:

• Act as Project Manager on behalf of the client to manage the project teams through all phases of the project.

• Develop and implement a branding and communications strategy in relation to the project.

• Undertake feasibility studies on potential facilities and coordinate with realestate professionals.

What is An Interior Designer?Interior designers are creative, imaginative and artistic. They also need to be disciplined, organized and skilled business people. Combining knowledge with aesthetic vision, interior designers work with clients and other design professionals to develop design solutions that are safe, functional, attractive and meet the needs of the people using the space.

As is the case with any career, the practice of interior design can be rewardingand fulfilling if hard work prevails. Excelling at interior design requires energy, technical proficiency, vision and dedication.

Keys to SuccessAs members of a service profession, interior designers’ fortunes depend on theirability to satisfy clients. Thus, they must understand artistic and technical requirements of a project, interpersonal communication, and management strategies.

Artistic and Technical RequirementsInterior designers must know howto plan a space and how to present that plan visually so that it can be communicated to the client. Interior designers must also know about the materials and products that will be used to create and furnish the space,

and how texture, color, lighting and other factors combine and interact to make a space. In addition, interior designers must understand the structuralrequirements of their plans, the health and safety issues, building codes, and many other technical aspects. Interpersonal CommunicationsInterior designers must be comfortable meeting and dealing with many kinds of people. They must communicate clearly and effectively, as well as be attentive listeners. Because they often must work with architects, contractors and other service providers, interior designers need to be both good team leaders and good team players. They must be willing to negotiate and mediate when necessary to solve problems. Management StrategiesInterior designers must have excellent time and project management abilitiessince they frequently work on more than one project at a time under demanding deadlines. Interior designers must understand business planning, and they need to know how to sell their ideas to clients, create informativeand persuasive proposals and presentations, and maintain good client relationships.

The interior design processWhatever the type and scale of a project, a professional interior designer has a process of work involving various stages or research, designand negotiation.

Winning a projectDesigners get work a number of ways. Better knownpractices may be asked, along with several other companies, to pitch for a job having been given an outline of what the client wants from a scheme. There is usually no fee involved at this stage and there is no guarantee of winning the work. Some interior design projects will be open to competition. These will usually be for publicly-funded interior schemes. When a designeror design practice becomes more established they might get work through recommendation or word of mouth, but most will still have to pitch for jobs

occasionally. Once a job is won, a fee must be negotiated with the client (fee negotiation beinga much-underestimated skill) which will depend onthe size and scope of the job as well as the design team's experience.

The briefThe success of an interior design scheme will depend not only upon on the skills and creativityof the designer in question, but their ability toanswer the brief set by a client. A good brief will be as detailed and project-specific as possible. It will outline the client's requirements and aspirations and set down a budget for works and, crucially, the time scale in which the project must be realised.For more information on writing a brief use our guide to finding and working with a designerIn all cases the designer will need to know:Who will be using the space and what are their various needs/requirements?How many people will be using the space?How long will the space be used for? Days? Months? Years?What does the client hope to achieve/gain throughcommissioning the work?What's the budget?What's the time scale for completion?

ResearchThe type of research and preparation an interior designer embarks upon prior to designing a schemewill differ from project to project. In the case

of designing a commercial environment, like a shop, bar or restaurant, for example, they must research the client's brand inside and out, and understand its customer base. Some investigation into the clients' competition and their interiorsis also important.Interior designers will also often spend time observing how a client uses their existing space in order to understand where they should positionfunctional parts of their design such as lighting, doors or electric outlets.

Creative designThe creative design stage is likely to begin withthe designer creating sketches or visuals which will be used to communicate their initial ideas and concepts to a client. When the client is satisfied with the plans the design team will often move on to technical drawings or plans (usually done using AutoCAD software), which a builder or fit-out company can use to start the construction process. 3D modelling and rendering software (such as Rhino and 3ds Max) is also usedto help bring a project to life.In commercial projects, a building regulations application will have to be made, which involves a professional (either a licensed consultant or acouncil employee) looking over the technical drawings to ensure they satisfy health, safety and efficiency requirements. Bigger building projects will require actual planning permission from the relevant local authority.Adjustments to the designs are likely to be made

along the way as briefs can alter (clients have been known to change their minds) halfway througha project. This will also have an impact on the budget and could impact on the proposed completion date.

Building a teamDepending on the type, range and scale of a project, an interior designer will need to work with various specialists. These can range from lighting consultants, mechanical and engineering consultants, electricians and engineers through to environmental consultants and fit-out companies. Most interior designers and architectswill be keen to assemble their own team of experts – usually trusted firms that they've worked with before.

SpecificationSourcing the right materials, furniture and furnishings for a scheme is a significant part ofan interior designer's job. An interior designer working on luxury residential projects is likely to access one of a number of select retailers anddistributors who specialise in supplying items for professional interior design projects. Chelsea Harbour in London is a mecca for interiordecoraters who work at the very top of the residential interior design market – acting as a showcase for leading fabric, furniture and furnishing companies. Interior designers working on commercial or public projects will also have their own set of specialist suppliers they can go

to – contract furniture companies who are used tosupplying items in bulk, and therefore at cost price. In all cases, a designer should be given afurniture and furnishings budget. In the hotel industry this is known as an FF&E budget (that's a furniture, fixtures and equipment budget) so they know how much money can be allocated to thisaspect of the project.

CompletionInterior designers will want to see a project through right to the end. There will be finishingtouches to make and probably some styling to be done, possibly more for a residential project, inorder to realise a scheme's full potential.

Interior design in practiceIn this section we look at the different types ofinterior design practice, focussing on three leading UK-based designers.

The interior creativesBlacksheepFounded by Tim Mutton and Jo Sampson in 2002, Blacksheep are known for their inspirational interiors – some of their most successful, for leisure and hospitality clients. They work with asmall, core team of designers from their studio in East London.www.blacksheep.uk.com

How do you get projects?After eight years in the business, we are in the great position of getting work purely on our reputation, but of course enquiries also come in through all the traditional channels – repeat business; via contacts generated through the processes of business development and PR activity...]

What do you require in terms of a brief from your clients?We need only the very barest starting point of anaspiration or business objective. We much prefer to develop a brief together with the client, asking questions and even being quite challenging, until we arrive at a comprehensive understanding of the job and its targets.

What kind of research do you do prior to starting the design stage?We look at the brand and its business history. Welook at its competitors and the current state of the marketplace where the business operates. Thenwe profile the target customer. This gives us a good overview and starting point.

How does your design process begin?We cast the net as widely as we can initially with a team brainstorm, based on the brief and the research. We involve as many of the team as possible at this crucial ideas stage.

How do you visualise your ideas?

It really depends on the project and on what’s appropriate. It could be any or all of these: hand sketches, CAD visualisations, mood boards, models, plans, sections and elevations.

How much time and effort is spent researching and sourcing materials and furniture?This is one of the biggest elements of any project. Furniture and materials have to be absolutely right for the job. We often create bespoke furniture as a result and we make a pointof developing very good relationships with preferred suppliers so that we get first access to the best and most innovative products.

Who do you work with to realise your schemes?We work with the full consultancy range – quantity surveyors, project managers, M&E, lighting, sound and garden designers. We chop andchange on each project. It’s important to us is that we work with the best in each field at any given time.

The interior designer and 'taste maker'Suzy HoodlessPart of the launch team for Wallpaper magazine, Suzy Hoodless started out as more of an art director than a designer but is now much in

demand for interior projects, usually residential, working from her London studio.www.suzyhoodless.com

How do you get projects?We get all our work through word of mouth.

What do you require in terms of a brief from your client?I need to understand the client's needs in terms of functionality of the space as well as their hopes and dreams aesthetically. Every project is unique. I try to fuse the client's brief, the architecture and the environment with the interior. I want an interior to look grounded andunforced.

What kind of research do you do prior to starting the design stage?We spend a great deal of time on the research stage. We research the local area, the architecture, the cultural needs, the client’s requirements. We spend a great deal of time collating inspiration which can come from a myriad of sources. This stage really is the foundation of the project.

How does your design process begin?We start with mood boards. I am not interested inthe plans or budget at this stage. It’s about blue sky thinking, capturing a mood and a feel. We have in excess of 15,000 photographs that I have personally taken that are a great resource and source of inspiration at this early stage –

many from travels around the world.

How much time and effort is spent researching and sourcing materials and furniture?We spend a vast amount of time researching and sourcing materials and furniture. We work with international contemporary distributors and agents, antique dealers, as well as sourcing fromauction houses globally, furniture fairs and specialist dealers from across the globe. Our search is always wide and diverse.

Who do you work with to realise your schemes?It’s important to me to collaborate with the bestpeople for the job, to bring in specialists whether they are illustrators, eco advisers, photographers, architects...We will often be responsible for putting together the team.

The commercial interiors specialistPernille StaffordPernille Stafford was director of interiors at leading architecture practice Scott Brownrigg working on a range of interiors for the office, defence, hospitality and education sectors.

How do you get projects?Our projects come in a variety of forms. Many arethe result of design pitches but we have a rich heritage spanning 100 years and are very

fortunate to have a loyal following.

What do you require in terms of a brief from your clients?This varies from project to project, but the moredetail and in depth the better. On the workplace and education projects we take a very detailed brief collected via visioning workshops and individual interviews. On others, like defence, we are given a very stringent set of criteria to work with. Hospitality requires more of a subjective look and feel, although obviously we still need the essential ingredients of the space.

What kind of research do you do prior to starting the design stage?We obviously research the company, their productsor market offering, to make sure we understand the brand and their people; the demographics, their sustainability viewpoint etc. For educationprojects it is really important to understand theway of teaching proposed in any given space and respond creatively to that and with a vision thatprovides flexibility for the future.

How does your design process begin? Sitting around the kitchen table with a sketch book and blackboard brainstorming ideas

How do you visualise your ideas? We put together mood boards and sketch ideas on every project. We create CGIs for all projects orsketch up models and sometimes we create

walkthroughs. We do not often have physical models made up for the interior projects.

How much time and effort is spent researching and sourcing materials and furniture?Lots! This is fundamental to the success of the project and the individual look and feel. Again, it really is dependant on project drivers like sustainability. A BREEAM excellent rating will drive the finishes in a certain direction. If it's about cost we will possibly look at different options, or if it is purely brand driven we may select alternative finishes.

Who do you work with to realise your schemesIt varies. M&E expertise is crucial, but many other consultants form part of our team: structural engineers, acoustic consultants, catering consultants, sometimes specialist lighting consultants, AV consultants, sustainability experts, technologists and even psychologists...

Recommended readingA History of Interior Design, 3rd EditionJohn PileLaurence King (2009)ISBN 9781856695961

The Fundamentals of Interior DesignSimon DodsworthAVA Publishing (2009)9782940373925Interior Design: A Critical Introduction Clive EdwardsBerg (2010)ISBN 9781847883124 Kelly Hoppen Style: The Golden Rules of Design Kelly HoppenJacqui Small (2009)ISBN 9781906417253Green Design Marcus FairsCarlton Books (2008)ISBN 9781847321275Drawing for Interior Design Drew PlunkettLaurence King (2009)ISBN 9781856696227Nina Campbell's Decorating NotebookNina CampbellCICO Books (2010)ISBN 9781907030185The Interior Design Directory Elizabeth Wilhide (2009)QuadrilleISBN 9781844007097The Sustainable Home Cathy StrongmanMerrell (2008)ISBN 9781858944302