Interior Design

The design and decoration of interior spaces.

A good interior design takes into

account function, mood, and style of the space.

Interior Designer

A person who specializes in applying the elements and

principles of design to the plans and decorations of interior spaces.

What makes a good design?

Industrial Traditional Contemporary

Country French Rococo Asian

Main Interior Design

Principles

• Balance

• Harmony

• Focal Point (Emphasis)

• Rhythm

• Contrast (Variety)

• Scale & Proportion

• Equal distribution of visual weight on all parts of the room.

• Objects that are larger, heavier, darker, brighter, warmer, highly textured or patterned, more solid, or complexly shaped are visually heavier.

Balance

Balance

• There are three main types of balance: symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial

Balance

• Symmetrical (Formal)

– Both sides are the same

• Asymmetrical (Informal)

– Sides are different

Informal Balance

Formal Balance

Symmetrical (formal) Balance • The same objects repeated in the same

positions on either side of a vertical axis

Symmetrical (formal) Balance

Asymmetrical (informal) Balance • Balance is achieved with some dissimilar objects

that have equal visual weight or eye attraction.

Asymmetrical (informal) Balance

Radial Balance

• Elements in design arranged around a central point.

Harmony • A common style and theme that runs throughout

the room.

• Items should work together and complement each other

• Also created through use of similar colors.

Harmony

Focal Point

(Emphasis)

• Most dominate item in the room

• Focuses your attention

• Here the fireplace is the Focal Point

Focal Point

(Emphasis)

• Here the mirror is the focal point

• Large artwork is another good way to create a focal point

Focal Point (Emphasis)

• Sometimes an “accent wall” painted a different color or with a different wall texture/pattern can create a focal point

• Visual repetition of colors and patterns to move your eye around a room.

Rhythm

• For instance, you can establish a rhythm by using a color in the pillows, picking it up in a painting, and echoing it again in a rug.

Rhythm

• Placing two elements side by side that are in opposition to each other.

Contrast

Makes a space more interesting and exciting.

Here yellow and violet (opposites on the color wheel) are used

• Strong blacks against whites create contrast

Contrast

Contrast

• Here contrast is

created through texture. Notice the rough brick wall next to the soft white bed.

• Also notice the contrast of the chandaler with the rustic wall

Be careful of too much contrast!

• Notice how the pink table looks out of place

Scale and Proportion

Scale Proportion

• The way an object relates to the overall size of the room.

• The way an object relates to another object in the room in terms of size.

Bad Scale • Notice how the furniture is too large for this

small room.

Bad Scale • Notice how this furniture is too small for this

large room. There is too much empty space.

Bad Proportion

• Notice the small artwork on the wall above the large bed, It should be larger.

Good Scale & Proportion