How to Create a Good Interior Design

• Creating a good interior design layout is much more than just selecting the right furniture and colors that go well together for a home or office. The overall mood and comfort level you want for each room of the project have to be taken into consideration. Small but subtle elements including curtains, lighting, and the art work you place on the wall can all change the feel of a room. Creating a good interior design means transforming the entire feel of the room with the different objects you place in it.
  

• ImageThe ability of an interior designer to be able to manipulate the mood of a given room is amazing. They can transform it from one that is loud and colorful to one that is quiet and inviting. They can also transform a simple room into one that has plenty of flare and appeal with some good focal points.

• Creating a good interior design involves starting with the outside dimensions. This way you know what you have to work with. This is important because you can change anything you want about the interior design but in the majority of situations you are stuck with the space you have to work with. This includes both the size and the shape of the area.

• A good interior design project involves knowing how different colors work well together. It takes lots of creativity and a willingness to try new things. If you are completing the interior design project for someone else you need to take their interests into consideration. You also want to find out how they will be using the room so you can give it a feel that works well for that use.

• It is harder to create a good interior design project for someone else than for ourselves. This is because it is easy to let our own interests be a part of the creative process. Successful interior designers are able to remove that element from the designs they come up with. It does take time to be able to do that so don’t be surprised if you have to carefully scrutinize your interior design plans initially.

Living & Dining Area Tips

● In interior design, a focal point is important in every room. It could be a large window or painting or an interesting art piece. In your living room, arrange your furniture around a focal point. Put your biggest piece of furniture first (like the sofa) then continue with the smaller pieces of furniture down to your accent pieces.

● Consider the size of your living room when you buy the furniture. Don't buy oversized pieces if your room is not that big. It will make your room smaller and cramped. And also don't buy tall furniture if your ceiling is low, they will make the ceiling appear lower.

● Many of us Filipinos tend to buy living room furniture "sets" with a sofa, two matching side chairs, with matching coffee and side tables. Be different, don't match the couch with the side chairs. In fact, in interior design, it is more fashionable to have different styled pieces put together like a modern sofa with classic or antique side chairs and different styled tables.

● If you plan to put several picture frames on the walls. it is a good idea to group them together by theme and arrange them inside an imaginary frame. They can be the focal point of the room.

● Before you buy you dining room set, take a good look at your space. Be sure that there is ample room to walk around the dining set even if all the seats are occupied. Interior design has a lot to do with ergonometrics, not just appearance. We Filipinos have the tendency to buy bigger dining sets than our space can accommodate and push one side of the table against the wall.

● If your living and dining area is on the same room, you may use a different flooring material on the dining area to delineate the space from the living area. Or you may put an area rug on your dining area for definition. A free standing screen is another good option.

● Avoid using fluorescent (white) lighting in the living and dining areas. Food looks more inviting under incandescent (yellow) light and people's complexion too look better under yellow light. But if you really like to use fluorescent light, combine both white & yellow light at the same time.

● If you plan to put a chandelier above your dinning table, don't put it up so high. Lower it 3 to 4 feet from the table top.

● Aside from your direct light source above the dining table (a chandelier for example), add some pin lights around the room and a dimmer switch to make your surroundings more pleasing to the eye. Do the same with your living room.

● It is ok to put family pictures on the living room but don't put so many, specially school diplomas and trophies. They are better put in the den or your bedroom.