# data[].attributes.body
Kobi

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Story by Meredith Coopman

M any people confuse interior design with interior decoration. The former refers to designing an entire space from scratch, while the latter refers to decorating an existing living space with added furniture and upholstery.

Interior design isn't as simple as one might imagine. It's a science bound by its own elements and principles, which all work together and rely upon each other. These elements are essential to all fine art and are used by artisans of all types: painters, sculptors, photographers, interior designers, etc. They have been discovered and refined over the course of history.

Space is a simple, yet important, element to understand. It refers to the physical boundaries of a room and acts as the foundation on which the entire interior design plan is built. Think of it as the parameters of how much you can place in a room. The optimal goal of designing a room is to give it balance (the perfect amount of furniture, art and accessories), so that it feels complete, comfortable and sophisticated.

Positive space vs. negative space: In art and design, positive space is best described as the subjects or areas of interest. Negative space refers to the blank space or the area not taken up by the subject. In an interior setting, negative space could be considered the blank areas in your home where there's no design - no art, no furniture, no stuff. Expertly executed negative space can bring calmness to certain rooms and make other design elements pop even more powerfully. Traffic flow areas are negative spaces with practical functions.

Line is used to create width and height, or the appearance of activity, movement, or flow. In interior design, lines are created by the furnishings and architecture of a room, and guide the eye. Lines are generally categorized into these types:

-Horizontal lines are most often found in furniture such as tables, chairs, bookcases and beds.
-Vertical lines are in elements such as windows and doorways.
-Dynamic lines consist of diagonal lines, which portray action or drama, and are seen on structures like stairways.
-Curved lines soften the lines listed above.

Every interior uses lines in combination. Vertical and horizontal lines usually dominate, as they form the architecture of a space. Dynamic and curved lines are incorporated for interest and movement, and add a human element to the space. The most pleasing outcome will have a balanced mixture of lines with one dominant one.

Forms mean shapes in general, which define objects in space. Shape is the two-dimensional outline, while form is the three-dimensional configuration. There are two types of forms:

-Geometric (manmade): Circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, etc. are all examples of geometric shapes. They have clear edges and are characteristically made by humans.
-Organic (found in nature): These are shapes that have a natural look and flowing appearance. They are typically irregular or asymmetrical. Think plants and animals.

Light is one of the most obvious and important elements of interior design. Light sets the mood and ambience. Without light (natural or manmade), other elements, specifically color, texture and pattern, have no significance.

While smart placement of doors and windows should take care of the natural light, manmade or artificial lighting is broadly divided into three major types:

-Task lighting refers to light sources such as tables, beds and desk lamps, which have a dedicated purpose for a specific "task."
-Accent lighting is just that, meant for highlighting items such as artwork.
-Mood lighting or ambient lighting basically sets the mood and illuminates the overall space.

Lighting plays an important role in achieving a successful interior. It can be complicated, as it has many layers. It's also unfortunately often overlooked.

Along with light, color is a key element of interior design. It's used to create aesthetically pleasing combinations and has psychological impacts. It's the most personal and suggestive element. We all have our favorite and least favorite colors, as well as numerous associations with particular ones. Colors are considered warm (reds, yellows, and oranges), cool (blues, greens, and purples), or neutral (beiges, browns, black, grays, and whites).

Colors are classified as primary or secondary. They're also also sub-categorized into tertiary, complementary, analogous and monochromatic. See the above color wheel for a better visual description.

Texture is the actual tactile feel or surface appearance of a furnishing or treatment. Texture adds depth and interest to a space, and is used to provide added dimension. Everything from fabrics and furniture to decorative accessories introduce different textures to a space. Texture can refer to rough or smooth finishes, glossy or dull surfaces, and soft or coarse textiles and fabrics. It's classified into two types:

-Visual texture refers to an implied sense of texture. It's merely a representation of a physical texture.
-Actual texture is just that: texture that can be both seen and felt.

Similar to texture, patterns add life to interior design and work in conjunction with colors. Patterns tell a story of their own. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors, and are mostly composed of attractive and repetitive designs. They work like texture to make surfaces appealing.

In order for an interior to be successful, it's important to be aware of these elements and principles of interior design. Like with art, there are general rules to follow, but it's OK to break them once in a while. But knowing the rules before you break them is essential to achieving the look or feel that you want. If you use these elements as guidelines and keep them in mind when you're making selections or arranging furniture, you'll ultimately have an attractive space.
Meredith Coopman of Meredith Coopman Design Studio has a background in architecture and interior design. You can reach her at meredith@meredithcoopman.com.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Story by Meredith Coopman M any people confuse interior design with interior decoration. The former refers to designing an entire space from scratch, while the latter refers to decorating an existing living space with added furniture and upholstery. Interior design isn't as simple as one might imagine.

# data[].attributes.body
Kobi

# data[].attributes.body
Fernando

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This page contains affiliate links, As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases (with no extra cost to you). Learn more

The form is one of the seven elements of interior design. You cannot imagine your home to be complete without its proper utilization. Overall is really important that you manage to achieve the right form at the end.

What is Form in interior design? The form is nothing but a shape that is, in fact, the very basis of any interior design. It provides a basic outline of the three-dimensional thing or object in space. You can achieve it by combining one or more shapes which are further enhanced by adding other elements such as patterns, colors, and textures.

In the above picture, you can see a very popular design model and a great example of a nice shape called Ghost chair. You can find them on Amazon as well. See the price here.

Learn and read more about different types of forms and what do you need to do in order to achieve good form.

What is Form and Different Types?

As we mentioned above shortly, forms are shapes and shapes are the outlines of the three-dimensional space in which an object or objects in a room exist. As such the Form or outline of the space is an absolute requirement and is the beginning of any project.

Without knowing or determining the form, it is not possible to prepare the design.

It includes the length, breadth, height, mass, as well as volume. It can be measured from its length and breadth and from top to bottom. All these measurements are necessary while preparing the design.

The form also does include the presence of the light and dark and is defined by the presence of different shades, shadows on the face and the surfaces of the objects.

They can either be an independent shape or can be created by combining two or more shapes. And enhancements in the form can be done by adding texture or a tone.
Forms can be of many types which are as follows:

Organic - It refers to the form that is created or exists in nature in its natural living form such as a tree or a shrub; an outline created by the same.

Geometric or Inorganic - It pertains to the man-made, geometric shapes and forms which implies it includes non-living forms.

Open Forms - These forms are the forms or the outlines that you can look at and are visible to the naked eyes.

Closed Forms - These are the forms that are self-contained and are not visible to the naked eye.

But how does your interior designer ensure that he will achieve a good form?

To achieve a good form, your interior designer must ensure that all the elements of interior design are appropriately used and blended together with the Form itself.

For achieving the final key principle - creating overall Harmony, mastering all 7 elements won't be enough. Besides elements you need to incorporate and think about all 7 principles of interior design threw all design processes. The final result will be the hopefully perfect design.

Sound overwhelming? It is mostly not. Big part of all design proces will be about your sense of beauty and putting things on right spot. Better your sense is, easier and faster you will achieve client's demands.

I see bigger problem in communication with investors / client's about all the details. Some just don't want to listen but at the same time they hire you for your opinion. My advice for all investors: Get to know your designer well before hiring him/her. Don't hire a traditional oriented designer if you want minimalism. After you hire, learn to trust!

Why Form Should Follow Function in Interior Design?

This is a common approach in interior design that is usually adopted by most interior designers. The form or outline of a building should obviously be defined as per the function of the building.

They both are interdependent and while designing interior designers need to understand this. As such while designing the interior designer will have to consider the function of the space in question and accordingly the outline of the space can be drawn and accomplished.

Example - if we think of an indoor sports stadium. The function would be to create a space for many spectators to watch a game or a sporting event. The form of the stadium would then be a big area in the middle surrounded by seating arranged in a step manner.

So that is the basic form of the stadium to facilitate the function of allowing thousands of spectators to watch a game at one time. A designer of the stadium will then have to work with this basic form considering the function that it would be used for.

Similarly, when it comes to designing your home interiors your interior designer will have to keep in mind the function of the space or the area to be designed.
The utility of the space needs to be first figured out so that the form can be determined after.
For instance, if you go to the kitchen for breakfast or tea as soon as you wake up, the kitchen then has to be placed as close to the bedroom as possible. The function or the purpose in this case that the design will be serving is your habit of getting into the kitchen directly out of bed and the form, in this case, has to be according to this function.

Interior designers, therefore, would need to factor the functional requirements in their forms when they are preparing the designs. You need to ask yourself about your habits and speak with your designer. This way your Form will always follow functions.

A form that is unable to facilitate a function is not deemed to be a good form. Example: If the kitchen is not designed and placed near the front door, you will need to carry your grocery bags each Day on the other side of your home.

Find perfect Balance between Form and Function

While form should be complementing the function of your home, too much of functional design with no form or vice versa can mar the entire charm of the design. So, the idea is to find a perfect balance between the two.

What is Abstract in Interior Design?

An abstract is a form of art. This art has been really popular amongst artists and painters who love to put it up on their canvases and the same is now increasingly getting popular in interior designing as well.

But what is this abstract art form and how is it derived?

Behind every abstract art, there is a cluster of ideas that are often more theoretical than practical. The ideas appear good in theory but often cannot be put down on paper and are applicable. But the aim of these ideas is to always create pure sublime art. An art that is beautiful and exists to create those beautiful effects.

The interior designers off late have taken a leaf out of the book of the idea of the abstract art forms and when applied to the interior designs masterpieces are created. This art may not be anything that is comprehensible but with the use of the right elements a beautiful piece of artwork comes into existence. It ends up being the main attraction in the room or any space.

To conclude we can say that Form is certainly one of the basic elements of interior design and to achieve the best form some or all other elements and principles of interior design needs to be effectively used. Form, however, is not independent of the function of the room and as such the form has to solve the purpose or the function of the room.

The idea is to balance the form and function by leveraging the various elements. And if some amount of abstract art is added to the design, it can transform your ordinary living space into a masterpiece.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Form - Element of Interior Design | How to Achieve Good Form? |

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This page contains affiliate links, As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases (with no extra cost to you). Learn more The form is one of the seven elements of interior design. You cannot imagine your home to be complete without its proper utilization.

# data[].attributes.body
Fernando

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Here are the top color trends for 2020, according to interior designers and color experts. From moody hues to vibrant shades, here's inspiration for your own home.

# data[].attributes.headline
Importance of Texture in Interior Design

# data[].attributes.subject
Importance of Texture in Interior Design

# data[].attributes.body
Fernando

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
You know how sometimes you can just look at a room and know that something is missing? All the components of a complete design are there - color scheme, furniture, décor items - but the entire room just feels a little flat. If this scenario feels familiar, you are not alone and we might just have the answer you need: texture.

For some reason, texture seems to always to be an afterthought when it comes to interiors and we're here to change that. Our reasoning: Texture is the thing that makes a room pop. It's what brings a perfectly fine design up to enviable levels.

Don't worry if this all seems new. We're here to offer you a brief primer on the importance of texture, as well as how to effectively apply its design tenants in your own home. You'll be crafting complexly textured rooms in no time flat.

What do we mean by "texture"?

Good question. In design parlance, it is often defined as, "the sensations caused by the external surface of objects received through the sense of touch." Basically, how thing feel. Think about squishing soft carpet between your toes, running your hand along a rough wooden tabletop, or sinking down into leather couch cushions.

Honestly, we think that the "sense of touch" part of the definition should be revised to say " perceived " sense of touch. Anyone who's ever watched an interior design TV program or flipped through the pages of a magazine can tell you that you don't need to have physical contact with a room to feel the power of texture.

While texture may play a supporting role to the function of the space, it is no less vital to a design's success. Instead of examples of texture above, picture trying to get comfortable on a seating set made of granite. Always consider how texture will elevate the overall experience of your design.

Texture adds visual weight

Odds are, if you've been hanging around design websites like Freshome for a while, you've heard the term "visual weight" getting thrown around a lot. All that means is that an object - or space as a whole - has the ability to draw attention to itself. A healthy dose of texture will makes sure that is not a problem.

Remember how when we talked about color theory, we discussed how using a warm or cool color can effect how a space feels? Texture works in a similar way. Rough textures are more likely to make a space feel intimate and grounded while smooth textures bring a sleeker more aloof tone to the room.

You should also consider the placement of textures as you go about designing your room. Putting a smooth texture directly next to a rough one while make the rough object stand out more and seem weightier than if you space them apart. Use distance to determine how subtle of a visual weight you would like to achieve.

Texture provides balance

We've said it before and we'll say it again, contrast is essential when essential when it comes to design because it keeps things balanced and also provides visual interest. Think about it: If everything is too similar, our eyes have trouble focusing and tend to glaze over. Use texture to make sure your most important elements pop.

Restraint, of course, is also key, so try not to go too texture crazy. Stick to two or three distinct textures in any single space. Choose three when you want people to take in the space as a whole and stick to two when you want to emphasize a prominent focal point.

Texture is particularly important if you're working within a particular color palette where the shades are very similar. When a monochromatic or analogous color scheme, make sure you choose items that heavily contrast. When they come together, they will bring a sense of harmony to the space.

Using texture at home

All that reasoning as to why you should use texture is well and good, but it only goes so far if you don't know how to effectively bring it into your home. Here are a few ways that we suggest adding texture to a room:

Architectural Elements: If you're lucky enough to have crown molding, chair rails, or tray ceilings in your home, make them a focal point.

Furniture: Wooden benches, satin reading chairs, and marble tabletops all bring a distinct feel to the space.

Décor Items: Shadow boxes, knick-knacks or even flowers could be used.

Floor and Wall Coverings: A carefully placed throw rug or even some patterned wall design will bring tons of depth to the room.

Textiles: Use cloths like slip covers, throw pillows, and even blankets to make the room pop.

But, if you'd rather experiment digitally before buying, the Home Design 3D app lets you see how different colors and textures will look in your interiors - all via your smartphone.

A note on choosing texture vs. pattern: These two things are usually talked about together, but they are two distinct - and necessary components of design. Pattern refers to a visual print while texture is about how something feels. Make sure you incorporate both into your interiors instead of choosing one over the other.

The bottom line

Whether you choose a throw rug to warm up your bedroom room or a wooden coffee table to bring life to your living space, the importance of texture is clear. It completes the room. Texture is the component that helps elevate your interiors to the next level. Don't be afraid of it in your own interiors. Instead, use it to create interiors that feel fit for a magazine.

Do you consider texture when redesigning your interior? What are your favorite ways to lend visual weight to space? Tell us in the comments.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Importance of Texture in Interior Design

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You know how sometimes you can just look at a room and know that something is missing? All the components of a complete design are there - color scheme, furniture, décor items - but the entire room just feels a little flat.

# data[].attributes.body
Kobi

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Color is often the most difficult part of a room for interior design fans to get right. That's because colors are fickle. There are so many shades to choose from and they need to be put together in the right proportions. Otherwise, they won't work together in harmony. Luckily, there are a few color rules that you can use to make sure your colors look balanced every time. We've listed them below. Read them over to master color in interior design once and for all.

Shop These Products Now: Area Rug - Throw Pillows - Bookcase - Modern Sofa

The 60-30-10 rule

The 60-30-10 rule is any interior design fan's best friend. No matter what your personal aesthetic may be or what you want your room to look like, you can use this rule to help make sure that your color palette stays balanced. In this setup, you'll use three colors. 60, 30 and 10 refer to the percentages of your design that each will make up.Here's how it works: first, you'll choose one shade to be your dominant shade and take up approximately 60 percent of the room. Usually, this will be a neutral or some type of subdued hue that can take up a lot of space without feeling overwhelming. Next will be your secondary color, which is typically a bit bolder and takes up about 30 percent of the space. Finally, your accent color is your boldest shade and should make up the remaining 10 percent.Take the photo above, for example. In this case, greige is the dominant color. You can see it on the walls and the sofa. Then, black is the secondary color. It's on the bookshelf, side table, pillows and dining chair and in the rug. Finally, coral is the accent shade. That can be seen in the throw pillows and potted plants.

Shop These Products Now: Bedroom Side Table - Pillows - Table Clock - Comforter

Warm vs. cool colors

The phrase "warm vs. cool colors" refers to where specific shades fall on the color wheel. Traditionally, shades like red, orange and yellow are thought of as warm colors because they are more vibrant. However, neutrals like brown and tan are also included in the mix. On the other side of the spectrum are the cool colors, or blue, green and purple, as well as gray.The choice of warm or cool colors will affect the energy of the space. Since warm colors tend to bring an upbeat and welcoming feel to a room, they're best in entertaining spaces. Think about using these shades in your dining room or kitchen. Cool colors, on the other hand, are more subdued. They work best in bedrooms and office spaces, where a calming energy is appreciated.

Shop These Products Now: Round Table - Tea Cups - Throw Pillow - Flower Pots

The complementary color scheme

Of all the color rules that interior designers use, the complementary color scheme is often thought of as the simplest. That's because this color scheme only involves two shades. In particular, it uses two shades that are sitting directly opposite each other on the color wheel, meaning you get combinations like blue and orange, yellow and purple or red and green.As you can see from the photo above, these color pairings are extremely high contrast, which means that - while they undoubtedly bring a strong energy into the space - they're ultimately best used in small doses. You should think of them as your accent colors and use plenty of neutrals to balance them out and provide a place for the eye to rest.

Shop These Products Now: Accent Chair - Round Table - Indoor Plants - Tripod Floor Lamp

The analogous color scheme

If you have trouble navigating the color wheel, an analogous color scheme might be for you. For this one, all you have to do is pick a central color, then also use the colors on either side of it. Here, two colors will be primary colors and the third will be a mix of the two. For example, red, orange and yellow or red, purple and blue.Since you're using three colors in this one, proportion will come in handy to make sure the space feels balanced. You may want to incorporate the 60-30-10 rule again to keep your proportions in check. And remember, you can always use different shades of the same color as another way to create visual variety.Interestingly, if you're not a big fan of vibrant hues, you can also do an analogous color scheme using neutrals. Typically, this is referred to as a monochromatic color scheme. Here, all you need to do is mix black, whe and gray together to create a sleek, modern look.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
These Are The 4 Color Rules That Every Interior Design Fan Needs To Know

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Color is often the most difficult part of a room for interior design fans to get right. That's because colors are fickle. There are so many shades to choose from and they need to be put together in the right proportions. Otherwise, they won't work together in harmony.

# data[].attributes.body
Kobi

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Ah, texture. It's the cinnamon of an interior design scheme. An ingredient that everyone seems to forget about, but are then pleasantly surprised by how much depth and spice it can add to a dish, or home for that matter.

Texture is an often-overlooked element of interior design because, well, a comfy and well-decorated space should feel soft, luxurious, and not bumpy right? Quite the contrary. Texture is the magical ingredient that can make an interior space pop, and should not be overlooked when designing a new interior scheme.

What is texture in interior design?

To ensure a space is visually appealing, elements of colour, shape, pattern, line and texture come into play. These complementary foundations of interior design work together to create a seamless space that ignites the senses without you even knowing it.

Texture in interior design refers to the surface quality of a material. Take a cushion for example. Whether the cushion material is smooth, silky, woven or embroidered, it's got a texture. This is an important part of the interior design puzzle, because it helps dictate how a room feels on first glance. Much like the colour of a room can affect how warm or cool it feels, texture can influence the tone and weight of a room.

Touchable textures

Texture in a decorated space can be described as either visual or tactile. Visual textures are those that immediately appeal to your visual sense on first glance.

Tactile textures, on the other hand, ignite your sense of touch, forcing you to feel them to appreciate them.

So, which type of texture is right for your space? Along with adding visual and tactile appeal, textures can be used to enforce a specific design style. For example, smooth and glossy textures scream modern interior, whereas rough and natural textures are more in line with a rustic scheme.

Before deciding on which textures are right for your space, it's best to choose a design style.

How to incorporate texture

From a glass coffee table to a textural wallpaper, texture can be added just about anywhere in an interior space. My advice is to start from the floor and work your way up to the furniture, decor elements, walls and then the ceiling. All of these areas can be made more vivid and appealing by adding textures.
Why is texture so important in interior design? If you haven't incorporated texture into your interior design scheme yet, look around your room. Is there something missing? Chances are, it's a touch of texture.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ah, texture. It's the cinnamon of an interior design scheme. An ingredient that everyone seems to forget about, but are then pleasantly surprised by how much depth and spice it can add to a dish, or home for that matter.

# data[].attributes.body
Fernando

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The application of line in this office designed by One Plus Partnership has a lot of impact. Lines are applied diagonally and vertically to create a very dynamic interior.

After many years in the business our Interior Designers have completed an array of successful commercial projects here in Kelowna and across Canada. These engaging spaces did not happen by chance. Design has a technical aspect to it referred to as the elements and principals of design, and when combined successfully, evoke emotion from our interactions with the interior environment. In commercial settings, these emotions assist to reinforce your brand and corporate message.

So, what are the elements and principals of design? We'll explain it all in this blog series, so check back often. This week we're talking about line - horizontal, vertical, curving, diagonal; each has an impact on how you perceive space. Lines can also be combined to create shapes and planes, or form - but that's for another post. Structural elements, applied finishes, even lighting can all be applied to create strong lines within a space.

Dan Brunn Architecture was successful in accentuating length with the horizontal wall slats and rectangular floor tile in this showroom design for Ceasarstone.

Horizontal Line
Lines applied horizontally often evoke feelings of stability, grounding, emphasis and direction. So, although horizontal lines tend create length and lower the ceiling of a space they can also be applied to direct the viewer to a particular focal point.

The gold panels applied vertically and upwards onto the ceiling create a strong line that really adds to the feeling of height in Le Theatre Saint-Nazaire designed by K-architectures.

Vertical Line
Vertical lines are often associated with strength (think pillar of strength), stability, balance, and elevation. It has been hypothesized that viewing vertical lines is unnatural compared to viewing horizontal lines. Additionally, vertical lines extend away from our visual plane. For these reasons, the length of a line applied vertically is often extended lending to the feeling of height in a space.

If the goal was to create a dynamic and fun space, Dialogue 38 hit the nail on the head with this design for Guu Izakaya.

Diagonal Line
Diagonal lines typically connote a sense of dynamic movement, transformation, and freedom. Diagonal lines can really bring life to a space, direct the eye upwards or downwards, and add volume to a space, making it feel larger than it is. That being said if applied incorrectly, diagonal lines can conjure a sense of confusion and imbalance.

This undulating seating element designed by Cappellini really creates a playful environment in this interior space.

Curved Line
Curving lines whether freeform, arcing, circular, or elliptical often feel natural, organic, playful, and soothing. If you are looking to make a space flow curving lines are a great way to do it. They are also very voluminous taking up space within an interior.

By applying lines in a way that relates to your brand message, you can create a space that appeals to your customers and highlights the product you sell.
" Do you need help with your commercial Interior Design project? Contact Hatch Interior Design located in Kelowna, British Columbia - Sustainable Interior Design Solutions for the Modern Workplace.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
ELEMENTS OF DESIGN PART 1: LINE | Hatch Design

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The application of line in this office designed by One Plus Partnership has a lot of impact. Lines are applied diagonally and vertically to create a very dynamic interior. After many years in the business our Interior Designers have completed an array of successful commercial projects here in Kelowna and across Canada.

# data[].attributes.body
mark