For many of us, interior design may feel like a creative and intuitive process but it’s actually based on a set of clearly defined principles. When a room is stylish and harmonious, it’s because the 7 principles have been followed to create an inviting and calm space.
Of course, personal taste plays a big role when designing your home decor, but understanding the principles of interior design can help you look at your space with a fresh pair of eyes and make some slight adjustments. You’ll be able to create a beautiful space that’s still full of your taste and personality.
7 Principles of Interior Design
#1. Balance
Balance is arguably the most important principle in interior design. But it doesn’t always mean matching cushions and equal numbers. There are some different approaches to balance when it comes to home decor.
Symmetrical Balance (or Formal Balance)
This is when a mirroring effect is created which divides a given space in two. For example, when decorating a mantel, you may imagine it being separated vertically, giving you two sides to mirror exactly. You could put the same candle stick on either side or an ornament. Likewise, in a bedroom, the bed may have identical bedside tables on either side. This type of balance usually creates calm and gives off a feeling of the room being organised.
Asymmetrical Balance
Asymmetrical balance is when you don’t use the exact same objects to create balance but objects of similar visual weight. So, if we take the mantel example, rather than two of the same candle sticks, you may use one larger candle and two smaller ones on the other side to create balance. There should still be a sense of calm to this type of design but it’s not as rigid as symmetrical balance.
Radial Balance
This type of balance is more difficult to pull off without things feeling chaotic. There’s usually a central piece of furniture and other smaller objects facing towards it. A circular dining table, for example, could be in the middle of a radial design and other chairs and furniture will be centred around it.
#2. Unity/Harmony
Unity is all about creating cohesion in your design through colour, furniture choices and materials. All of the elements of your decor should work together to create a harmonious design. But this doesn’t mean that everything has to be the same shade or made from the same material. You can take one focal point, such as a sofa or piece of art, and expand on the other objects from there. You can use complementary textures and colours to create an overall cohesive look.
#3. Rhythm
Have you ever listened to a piece of music without rhythm? There’s not exactly much harmony to it. And, as we know, harmony is important in interior design, which is why rhythm is on this list too.
Rhythm in interior design is all about repetition. For example, you could decide on a finish for your tapware, such as brushed copper, and repeat this in all bathrooms and the kitchen. This helps there to be a consistent thread throughout the space which captures the eye. Likewise, you could paint a wall dark green in your living room and have dark green cushions on your bed. A steady rhythm throughout the home keeps it harmonious.
#4. Scale and Proportion
Scale and proportion are two of the most important elements in creating harmony and balance in interior design. The key to this principle is understanding how the items fit into the space. Scale refers to the size of the room and the items in it. For example, a very large room would benefit from bulkier furniture that helps to fill it up. A small bedroom, however, could benefit from more delicate furniture to make the space seem larger.
Proportion refers to how different objects fit together in the space. For instance, if you buy a large sofa, a small coffee table will probably get lost next to it. But it doesn’t just have to be physical size. You can also have colour proportion, for example, if you have a rug that’s predominantly one colour you could repeat this colour in a candle or something smaller. This helps to create a spatially pleasing balance.
#5. Contrast
Colour is one of the easiest ways to create contrast in your interior decor. Try painting a feature wall in a much lighter or darker colour than the other walls. You could also use a colour that’s opposite on the colour wheel. Not only does this help with the illusion of making rooms look bigger or smaller but it also creates a pleasant contrast.
You can use contrasting patterns, shapes and textures too. Natural and warm materials can look great when contrasted with cooler ones and angular shapes can really be softened when paired with curves.
#6. Emphasis
The last thing you want after decorating your home is for it to be boring or forgettable. Luckily, creating emphasis ensures this won’t happen.
Colour is an excellent tool for drawing attention. Bold colours automatically catch the eye and can’t be boring, so think about a bold-coloured piece of furniture, rug, artwork or wall. But of course, don’t overdo it. Try to focus on one piece and let the other pieces of furniture support it (which is where radial balance comes in).
There may also be built-in parts of your home that work well as a focal point. Fireplaces, for example, often naturally draw the eye straight away. You can also use texture which can contrast really well and create emphasis. Just remember that rough textures stand out more than smooth ones.
#7. Details
Using details and highlights is the last of the basic principles of interior design. This is the part of the process where you can express your style and personality – which is really important in your home! Details can include photo frames, candle holders, embroidery on cushions, bathroom accessories, plant pots and much more!
It’s a great way for you to get creative and complete the balanced, stylish and unique look of your space.
Implementing the Basic Principles of Interior Design
Unless you’re a professional or redecorating your entire house, it’s going to be difficult to follow each principle exactly. And that’s OK! Ideally, we’d all have perfectly designed houses but that just isn’t the case. Start small and build your way up. Perhaps just focus on one of the principles to begin with and see how you can add that to your home. Do you need a new sofa? Could you rearrange the room to make it the emphasis part of your living room? What colours would contrast well with your existing furniture?
There are lots of small ways to improve the interior design of your home to make it look and feel better – without having to do it all at once!