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