The fundamentals of interior design will never change as they are what brings the elements together into a cohesive, definable, and aesthetically pleasing visual medium.
Some people do have that innate talent of transforming a room into a jaw-dropping interior space. Bringing in mixes and matches of great finds from thrift stores and even from bargain home depot shops, these talented people can bring together the elements into a stunning and tasteful interior.
Although there’s no magic when it comes to interior design, instead, it’s how one makes use of these basic principles. Much like professional designers, where following these fundamentals are paramount in creating aesthetically pleasing and functional spaces.
But, note that creating harmony doesn’t mean designing without variety. There should be a balance between the two to create a vibrant and cohesive interior design.
A worth-mentioning type of harmony in interior design is color: Color Harmony. A room’s color or hue is probably the first thing we notice in a room and as a universal language that can convey a myriad of emotions and meanings. As an essential and fundamental principle and the element of interior design, it can affect the overall look of a room. As bright and neutral colors bounce off light, it can make a room look seem larger while dark hues, on the other hand, can make a room cozier and smaller.
Ways to Create Balance: Symmetrical Balance. Usually has a focal point. It is where assigning a central point where elements are used similarly to each side. This is demonstrated on one-point perspectives in painting and visual graphics. Asymmetrical Balance. Unlike symmetrical, the form, color, and other basic elements may not be duplicated, but instead, use different elements but still have the same perceived weight or intensity. This still achieves balance from the center point.
For instance, for a Savanah themed interior, you can use leaf-patterned wallpaper with green shades. Taking a cue from this pattern, you can choose to have similar leaf prints on your throw rugs or even on your sofa covers. Add sculptural vases with avocado green hues on reddish wood oak center tables and embellish the ceiling with black chrome-plated drop pendants to finish the look.
Contrast is an essential aspect of creating designed spaces. In an interior designer’s book, contrast is an effective way to emphasize a focal point or how to showcase, say sculptural furniture. Repetition and similarity can be blunt, and with contrast, it can make elements pop.
Even the best successful designers do break the rules when it comes to principles of design. But, if ever they do so, typically, a commendable quality is at stake. Unless you have gained extensive experience in interior design, it is still best to follow these fundamentals. If you’re ready, then you may bend a rule or two!
Choosing to work at home has never been rewarding, with the advent of internet technology the possibilities are endless.
For employees who have transitioned from working at the office to being a home-based employee, getting into the mood to work can be difficult, especially if you have limited space in your home. Kids running around, dogs barking, and other distracting occurrences in your home can affect your productivity. The great thing is that you can transform your home office into a conducive and inspiring workspace with simple decorative items. Adding ornamental items not only help you become functional but can also induce creativity and interest with the look and feel of your home office.
Key Design Features:
Whatever reason you choose to have a home office, working at home is still basically “working”. For this reason, you will need to set up a corner or space in your home that will encourage you to not slack off, be productive, and free from destructions.
Look for the Right Spot. Squeezing an office space in a living area can be challenging, especially for tight spaces.
Choose an area with the most minimal household or neighborhood noise. It would also save you energy bills to have good daylighting but without the glare all throughout the day.
For homes with generous spaces, you can choose an unused den, attic, a porch, or an extended room to your garden or lawn. Meanwhile, for tighter spaces, you can choose down below a flight of stairs or just any corner of a room but you’ll need high dividers and screens to create privacy.
Create Privacy. Defining your work area from your living space helps you get focused and organized.
Sliding panels are a good choice for both large and small spaces. If you have the budget, choose a sturdy framing for frosted glass or acrylic sheets to hold unto.
Foldable dividers, drop-down curtains, and high shelving are for cheaper options.
Provide Ample Storage. Know how much storage you need. You can choose open storage, that’s if you’re more of the organized type, But if you have less time in keeping your stuff tidy an enclosed storage will work better for you.
Choosing Home Office Furniture. Since most work today is paperless, a simple desk for a laptop and a comfortable chair is adequate enough. Though, if your space allows you, you can place a side desk for taking notes, or for placing a vase of flowers or décor to pump up your office area.
Collapsible desk and chair as well as shelves on wheels can be great options when you’re still trying to look for that right spot on your home.
Purchase a lazy Susan Organizer to organize smaller office items such as pens.
Whatever furniture you choose make sure they’re comfortable to use. Chairs and desks should be ergonomically designed so you don’t need to slouch or hunch when working on your laptop. Adjustable chairs and tables should be high on your checklist.
Selecting the Perfect Color Scheme. Choose a color scheme that you’re comfortable with but if unsure, you should select colors that won’t drizzle your work energy. Colors such as red and tangerine are perfect colors to pump up your desk area. If bright colors are too much for you, the blues and green hues might suit you better.
For those who really don’t see vibrant colors on their palettes, the sleek gray black and brass combo might be a perfect choice for you. The color scheme will work perfectly with industrially made furniture.
If you have furniture or an interesting piece of artwork in your home office, then work around it as well for your color scheme.
Reduce Household Noise. Eliminate if not dampen the noise by installing sound buffering or acoustic panels. Installing soundproof tiles works well in apartments and other shared residences.
Create an Inviting Space. Like any day in the office, a workstation near your home can be a tempting time to get listless. You may need to update your office abode look to make it more inspiring by adding a few touches.
Start by choosing a comfortable chair. You can either select the typically adjustable office armchair or opt for an unconventional version such as an egg-shaped office chair.
If you have a limited view outside, then painting your walls with leaf patterns can be a visual delight. Wall decals such as flowers and text prints can also add a playful atmosphere to your personal office space.
Hang on some framed pictures or quotations on your walls to add motivation.
Due to a younger workforce today, many of these technology-savvy employees are well-equipped in going home office. In addition, working at home seems more comfortable and productive compared to a 9 to 5 office job. Moreover, the growing numbers of affected in the pandemic continue to rise making online work more attractive than ever before.
An office at home spells out safety, more time for the family, and a chance to have an atmosphere conducive for creativity.
The familiar cityscape is teemed by bustling sounds of busy streets, with sights of people scurrying through throngs of similarly preoccupied folks. But, amidst the urban strife are open public spaces that offer a breather from this ballyhoo and animated scenes. These free and open areas, more importantly, provide new pathways of interaction and the sense of community among combinations of various people.
Outdoor furniture used in these public spaces is a crucial element, as it can influence how users perceive and react to space. The outdoor furniture, just like the lighting, landscape, utilities, and other design elements, when strategically designed can create a positive impact on the usage of space. Though, unlike any other design elements in a public space, outdoor furniture offers a direct physical experience and sense of a place.
Every so often, it can be challenging on how to design elements, such as furniture into a public area, that is to achieve its designated purpose and create a space for a variety of users. More so, to strategically create a cohesive design that can endure and adapt to the future generation of users.
6 Questions to Ask when Designing Outdoor Furniture
Let us further understand the role of outdoor furniture in public spaces by answering these major questions.
For a sound design for public furniture, one must first identify and define the type of public space. It can be a park, mall, a memorial place, community garden, or playground, each has its criteria and target users.
For instance, blue spaces with ports, marinas, rivers, and open-air streams that will need comfortable seating and safely located to appreciate the scenic views. Meanwhile, urban thinks capes are targeted for young children that will need outdoor furniture that can match whimsical and bold forms and color.
Concerning the first question, the user is the foundation to build your design idea. Know the people who often visit a particular public space and at the same time, those who don’t and know the reason.
Identifying the current desired patterns of use will help the furniture’s effectivity and public space used as a whole.
Quality outdoor furniture can be costly, so knowing how much stakeholders or the community is willing to spend should be identified at the onset of a project.
Before selecting the design and number of furniture to be placed, it is necessary to understand how people use the space and its purpose. For public parks, for instance, know how to encourage active outdoor use and what is sufficient. Research is needed to analyze the varying factors for different groups of individuals.
Proactively engaging the community is one of the most effective strategies to create a sound design for a variety of users. Knowing community opinions from the very people to use the space is crucial, especially when you need to build a public park.
Getting varying opinions from different people from the community is challenging, but a worthwhile move to achieve an engaging, informative, and inspiring space for everyone. The sense of belonging and bringing people together are great advantages in involving the community.
Generally, furniture to be used in public spaces should be comfortable, durable, resistant, functional, and easy to maintain. Ideally, public furniture should also be cohesive with the existing theme and goal of the space. An eco-labeled furniture is also a great option for public use as these are safe for human health and the environment.
New York’s Street Smart Furniture is a good example of how technology can enhance the experience of its users. The system is targeted for the elderly and people with disabilities where they can control and adjust the smart furniture through their smartphones. After registering to the app, anyone can control the intensity of the street lights, ask for audio information, where extra places are to the site, and more depending on the setting.
Parks are great equalizers, as they help bring together various people together. Striking conversations and relationships brought about the activities encouraged in the commonplace. With design elements such as furniture, these become links and guides on how people should utilize a space. Its effectivity depends highly on the design strategies, thinking, and principles of its designers.
Designing your rental property is more than just bean bags and wallpapers, you’ll need to pull together all the elements to work harmoniously into your living space. Creating a cohesive design should not only be aesthetically pleasing but even more so, offers a comfortable, functional, and unforgettable experience for your clients.
Importance of Design
Great design means better opportunities. The look and feel of your rental property can either upscale or stale your investment. Know more about what you can out of your efforts for a strategically designed rental space with the following benefits.
Design Tips
Most property managers and homeowners will try every trick in the book and incorporating a sound design that guarantees to attract more clients, get more bookings, generate excellent reviews, and increase your property value. Whether you are listing for short-term furnished apartments or modern vacation homes, there are many ways to transform your rental property into a high-class and enthralling home-away-from-home asset.
Most of your clients are likely new to the place, and incorporating the local arts and crafts will not only give your clients a sense of the place, but you’ll also help promote your local treasures.
2. Add Homely Furniture
Accent furniture items can create a meaningful and personal space. Similar to adding locally made decor, the cozy and visually elating furnishings make your clients at ease and comfortable. Choose furniture with soft textures and interesting forms.
Cliché as it may be, but first impressions truly last, especially for your outdoor lighting. Most of your clients may arrive during the late evening or during the break of dawn where the first glimpse of their accommodation is just right before your doorsteps.
Plan and invest in a good lighting scheme that’s adaptable to your location and features of your Air BnB. Make sure you have enough lights outdoors to guide your clients when finding the place. Check your street lights and entry porch lights during the night.
If you have a beautiful garden to feature, you can choose solar LED illumination to highlight landscape features such as waterfalls, trees, flower beds, or sculptures.
Just like your outdoors, your lighting temperature for your interiors depends on your location, current time of the year, and existing color scheme. For adaptable lighting, you can choose adjustable ambient lighting to change the desired mood for your interiors. Don’t forget to add accent lighting and bedside lamps.
As a responsible owner, maintaining a clean and hygienic property is paramount. Not only does it look and smell fresh but prevent any spread of diseases or health problems. Select fabrics that have antibacterial properties such as expanded vinyl, linens made from bamboo, mulberry, or silk.
Being updated to the latest trends in interior design can help you have an edge in getting more clients. But, firstly, know your market. If you’re are catering for the younger clients, you might need to get fresh takes on your color scheme and décor.
Neutral and earth-tone colors are safe choices when it comes to the color scheme, but splashing unusual and vibrant colors can also make an impressive statement to your rental property.
Though, always match your hues with the current season and location. If you live in a gloomy area, bright and light Scandinavian-inspired elements can uplift the mood of your property. On the other hand, if you have a hotter climate, deep cool gray or marine tones can make your interior more relaxed and refreshing.
When doing a staging or renovation of your rental property, be sure to take before and after pictures of your property. Documenting the transformation is not only reliving the satisfaction of your achievement but can be an invaluable record you can show to potential clients or an appraisal officer.
A hotel lobby with tastefully picked and laid out furniture can create an impressive first glimpse of excellent service.
What makes great hotel furniture? Stunning, ergonomically designed, and in-tune with the times are primary qualities that make guests feel that every moment of their stay is worthwhile.
Hotel furniture is vital for the success of the hospitality enterprise, where about 3 to 6 years is the range of hotel renovation cycles. Hotels with high star ratings and if revenues allow, hotels can change their furnishings as often as annually. The trends on hotel furniture are everchanging, and with a variant of modern options, there’s only one goal of their designs, and that is the invigorate the senses.
The Design Themes to Look Out For
Recently, we can see two themes dominating the current hospitality interiors, and these are the Scandinavian-inspired interiors and Moroccan with a vibe of the Boho-chic. Both are the opposites where Scandinavian interiors are more of the use of light hues and almost pastel color tones with natural textures and organic forms. While the Moroccan themes create an indulgence and air of drama with a base palette of soft blacks and earth muted tones as well as suede and velvets.
A showcase of the North European-inspired interior style, the Scandinavian furniture is an opportunity to acquire furniture that shows craftsmanship and simple accents. To complement the light-filled interior most Scandinavian furniture is made from light wood such as pine, beech, and ash.
Be it an urban, boutique, resort, budget, or deluxe hotel, you’ll see the trend-setting furniture adorn all types of accommodations.
Cobalt hues and scale tiles are fast becoming a fav in interior design which uses bold and vibrant colors and incorporate
With its rising popularity of cobalt blue hues and fish scale tiles, the Moroccan style is also a design style to watch out for.
With its Bohemian vibe, the Moroccan theme uses to build and vibrant colors with their furniture. Wicker furniture is also making a comeback into the design. Textured sofas with eye-popping colors and use of faux fur and the revival of corduroys.
Current and Future Trends to Look Out For
Nostalgic and Immersive with an Integration of Smart Features
Since visitors come from different backgrounds and nationalities, most hotel guests will expect to walk through an interior reflecting the country and local culture. Dubai hotels, for instance, incorporate modern elements to the local Moorish-inspired interiors.
67 percent of high-income individuals prefer to spend their money on culturally immersive activities than an upscale hotel room.
In recent years, hotels have been opting furniture that has that personal touch instead of generic and neutral design elements. Bold patterns and vibrant colors make the room feel more personalized and inviting.
You’ll see more texture and splashes of color in sofas, beds, and other plush items. Faux fur, woven garments, and velvet fabrics are favorite textures for layering.
Millennials and Gen Z has the largest market share when it comes to traveling and hotels bookings. With young, tech-oriented clients, we’ll see more furniture integrated with automation and mobile syncing features in the coming years.
Resin tables with USB ports and LED lighting will be a common sight in hotels as well as beds with built-in lamp lights, and an adjustable laptop desk will be essential for traveling young professionals.
Instagrammable worthy furniture is inviting features of hotels that want to tap on techy guests. With a stunning backdrop of accent furniture, it can be a free marketing strategy for the hotel when it ends up on Instagram or other social media accounts.
Eco-living has been increasingly popular through the years and most hospitality industries embrace these sustainable initiatives and make their prime features attracting the sustainable conscious generation.
Furniture is made from organic and locally sourced products such as rattan or bamboo loungers and recycled plastic furniture.
Today’s furniture trends are eclectic yet have the hints of modern forms with an emphasis on craftsmanship. For instance, we see barrel, egg, and Adirondack chairs sprucing up a lot of hotels lately as these are great stand-alone décors for any modern interior or outdoor space. A newer challenge for furniture designers is the integration of technology into their creations. Automated and personalized are primary features that the younger hotel goers are looking forward to. We’ll surely see much of these hi-tech furniture designs dominating the hospitality interiors in the coming years.