10 tips for creating great interiors 1. The brief A clear, written list of your requirements, whether for a sofa or a complex renovation, will guide you and keep you focussed when faced with limitless options. All of our projects start with a brief. 2. The perfect plan Good space planning and well considered functionality is the key difference between a house that just looks great and one that looks great and is immensely liveable. Storage, sunlight, spatial flow: get it right at the beginning. Good plans look simple. Interior designers specialise in space planning. 3. Move it So many problem rooms are actually just badly placed furniture. Move furniture around and try something different before spending money on new things. Ignore power points, they are often inexpensive to move and could be dictating layouts that are less than optimal. 4. Floor first The floor is the most significant finish in an interior. It is the foundation of the finishes scheme and needs to be decided before anything else. The same goes for rugs when looking at loose furniture groups. 5. Keep it simple We keep the number of finishes to a minimum to maximise flow and create a sense of greater space, light and serenity. Repetition can be very calming and unifying, particularly when the individual elements are of excellent quality. 6. Lighten up Multiple sources of light create the best atmosphere and are practical too. Light bounced off the ceiling with wall washers, lamps and directional downlights will balanced out the ‘hot spots’ created by pendants or fixed downlights. 7. Contrasts Pairings of old & new, hand made & high-tech, matte & glossy, neutral & colourful – these are all great ways to give an interior interest and depth. Monotone or mono-era can look very dull. 8. Colour Use a colour because you love it, not just because it’s fashionable. Colour is not just paint. Opening up a cupboard in a classic white and timber kitchen to find a crockery cupboard interior of an intense blue is a daily delight for one of our clients. 9. Take a seat Comfort. Practicality. Authenticity. Scale. Essential considerations for all furniture items. Buying copies and replicas cheats you of the lasting pleasures of pieces made with care and quality, so if your budget doesn’t allow for a designer armchair, buy a designer lamp instead and a well made local chair. Buying for keeps reduces landfill. 10. The icing on the cake Accessories that you can actually use or that come from real life are a great way to bring your interests and personality to a space. Hang photographs and artworks so that your eye height is approximately in the middle (the average is 1550 – 1600mm) to maximise their impact when standing or sitting.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 05:44:56 +0000
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