The secret to a gorgeous home is a mix of structural and interior design. Yes, you can all agree that strong foundations, beams, and columns are what make a house. But the color scheme, furniture, and overall layout are what makes it the perfect house.
How do you make the space appear best while reflecting your style and ideas?! Do it properly, and you will end up in a comfortable home.
Nowadays residential architects use their creative skills to design the interiors of your homes as well. And they might even have a professional interior designer on hand for extra convenience. What’s more, you’re getting the house of your dreams!
So, let’s move on to laying the groundwork.
Furniture Store is not the First Step
Don’t go furniture shopping in a panic. It is NOT the first step! There are a series of pre-conditions that need to be ticked off the to-do list before your trip to Ikea. Yes, you need a dining table. But, without proper measurements, you might end up getting something too large or too small for your space.
And then you’re stuck with it! (Or you may have assembled it and now you need to disassemble it and make a return!). The rest of the room will have to be accommodated around that dining table and it might end up as something that you don’t appreciate. So, before you move ahead with a trip to the furniture store, consult the measurements of the spaces and possible furniture sizes with your residential architect or interior designer.
Measurements are Critical
Matching the scale of the furniture to the scale of the room is essential. A powering sofa might easily disturb the aura of the space, or an underwhelming floor lamp might not add the depth you thought it would.
Before the interior designer starts their work, they will measure the structural elements of the space such as the columns, beams, and openings. It’s to get clarity of the areas they have available for incorporating the interior design seamlessly.
The preliminary mistake most homeowners make is that they purchase sofas that are too big for the space and won’t fit through the door. It’s too late to PIVOT now!! (Those who get it, get it).
Carefully measuring the space could save you a whole lot of trouble.
How are you going to live?
The utility of the space depends on how you want to use it. If you’re someone who wants to point their living room furniture towards the TV, then you do it. But, if you’re someone who wants to host parties in their living room, then the TV can’t be the focal point.
So, some sort of flexibility is a must. Many residential architects and interior designers insist on designing flexible spaces to incorporate future changes to your home. And this idea is genius because it allows you to experiment with fresh ideas.
Budgeting
There’s no way around the finances. If you splurge on an expensive ottoman, then forget about finishing up the rest of the interiors. You want to ensure that you’re being strategic and smart about how you’re spending your money.
A budget acts as a roadmap and lets you know how to divide the costs between the spaces in your home. You could still make an exception if you find a one-of-a-kind sofa, but to be able to pay for that you should know where you must cut back.
Now Let’s Talk Design
Now that we have covered the basics, let’s delve into some interior design secrets that could transform your home.
Create a Breakfast Nook
A cozy spot for breakfast with a view? Where’s the sign-up link?! Residential architects could come up with looks that appear rustic, homely, and modern and that would light up your interiors.
What’s more, is that you have a relaxing spot to take your morning coffee and catch up on current news under the sun.
Highlight the Entryway
Not every home will have a grand entrance with a chandelier. So, you have to make do with what you’ve got. But what could you do?
For a modern aesthetic, you could opt for a rustic wooden table and then hang portraits above it. If you get your hands on a decorative piece that would elevate these elements, then go for it.
Style a Bookshelf
You could break the monotonous pattern of a bookshelf by adding in small decorative elements such as vases or sculptures. An interior designer might suggest combining books and decorations to create an impact through colors and patterns.
Experiment with Colors on the Walls
For a statement design, most residential architects and interior designers harness the power of colors. You could opt for two neutral tones or half dark and light. The play of colors could allow the walls to accentuate the overall layout of the space.
You could choose to do it on a single wall for focus or alternate walls to create a pattern. And if you’re redoing the entire space, your furniture could also notice a contrast.
Utilize Accent Wallpaper
You don’t need to use wallpaper on all the walls of your space. Select a wall and experiment with that. If you want a bold look then you could choose a darker shade of wallpaper for that one wall.
For a minimalist appearance, light shades should do the trick.
Install new Lighting
Lighting is an interior element that doesn’t need any introduction. Pendant lights are much better than wall-hung lights when it comes to dramatic effects. These lights feel more sophisticated than table lamps and contrast with the overall aura of the space creating focus.
Rearrange your Furniture
There is no such rule that the furniture in your living room must be symmetric. You could live a little and opt for some asymmetry. Your chairs and sofa do not have to line up. You could play with side tables and rearrange them based on what looks good, even if it is asymmetrical.
Experiment with Proportion and Scale
In each space of your home, the interior designer or residential architect could play with proportion and scale. Each new design offers uniqueness and depth. For proportion, you could hang an oversized mirror on the central wall.
The rest of the walls could have a neutral color with a minimal number of decorative pieces such as a small portrait or an antique wall-hanging.
Use Colorful Curtains
A brilliant technique to instill a splash of creativity in your home is utilizing colorful curtains. For the transition from the living space to a formal hall, instead of a door, you could use bright and flowy curtains that create a welcoming look.
For instance, yellow curtains would pop against the blue walls adding depth and texture to the space.
Open Shelves
Open shelves could be a great tool for your kitchens especially if they are open plan. Open shelves allow decorative freedom while maximizing storage. Colorful bone china would appear pleasing against minimalistic walls in your kitchen.
Secret? What Secret?
And there you have it folks! Interior design secrets for your home. And these are the secrets that you can share!!! Residential architects and interior designer pour then blood, sweat, and tears in coming up with the best designs for your home. That’s not only their job but their dedication that flowers into the shape of your home.
Collaboration and communication with the designers are critical and make up for the best designs, both exterior and interior.
So, which one of these secrets will you be utilizing for your home? I think I would go ahead with all and even more!!