An exquisitely designed house goes beyond just looking nice. Whereas colors, furniture and decorations may add character to a place, interior design actually affects the way we live and interact inside our homes through better use of space and efficiency.
It seems that many top interior designers of today have this thing in common – the house that they design must be both beautiful and functional. Home interiors can be made beautiful for many years by using elements that are both timeless and functional, while ensuring the interior design is consistent with the style of those residing in the house.
Function Always Comes First
Before even selecting anything, whether it be furniture or something else, every good interior designer must first ask himself/herself a very basic question: what is the purpose of this space?
Joanna Gaines, one of the most recognized interior designers, known for creating cozy and functional spaces, also ensures that the created spaces are cozy for the people living there and not for the latest trends only. This means that comfort of the chair, practical storage facilities, and ability to move about must come first.
For instance, the living room is designed in such a way that it should not contain too many pieces of furniture in it, but it should be arranged in such a way that people could easily communicate and there would be passageways between the furniture. Also, in the kitchen, the concept of the “kitchen work triangle” is being used; according to this concept, the refrigerator, the sink, and the stove are situated close to one another.
A Home’s Scent Is Part of Its Identity
Interior design is not only eye-pleasing but it consists of textures, light, sounds, and even smells. No surprise that luxury hotels, boutique stores, and spas are using unique smells which are supposed to stick as more and more homeowners are starting to do the same thanks to candles, reed diffusers, essential oils, or flowers that fill the room with unique smell.
For example, the smell of citrus will be quite efficient in making the atmosphere of freshness in the kitchen while the scent of lavender, vanilla, or sandalwood will make the bedroom your personal sanctuary. It was found out by the experts on fragrances that olfaction or the sense of smell has a connection with emotions and memories.
Some people even go as far as to select a signature scent for their house, just like selecting a color scheme or choosing furniture. People who are constantly traveling may even go an extra mile by taking with them a perfumed travel perfume that is quite similar to their personal signature scent. A scent can bring back memories of the best place to sit down and read or memories of a quiet Sunday morning from the comfort of their homes.
Invest in Timeless Design
Trends in interior design are constantly evolving, but timeless design always stands out from the crowd.
There are few examples that better support this idea than the designs of furniture pieces by Charles and Ray Eames, which have become icons of interior design for many decades. It clearly shows that high-quality materials and good design often outlive ephemeral trends.
The same principle works when choosing materials for your home. The durability and easy-to-maintain quartz countertops complement the warm look of engineered hardwood flooring, which is more resistant to climate change. Neutral colors of walls give the possibility to refresh your room with new textiles or art without renovating it completely.
This way, homeowners can create a space that will look beautiful for many years.
Technology Is Transforming Interior Design
Although creativity continues to play a key role in interior design, technology is playing an increasingly important role in the entire design process.
Interior designers like Kelly Wearstler are famous for designing daring interiors that incorporate architecture, furniture, and art. Today, however, many design experts augment their creative skills with computer technology that lets them demonstrate layouts, test different finish options, and try out different furniture configurations before construction even starts.
Currently, many design firms utilize an all-in-one AI platform to coordinate mood boards, develop concepts, create project timelines, document the entire process, and communicate with the client throughout the design process. In addition to making cooperation easier and saving money by reducing expensive changes, these solutions help homeowners to make an informed decision before starting their renovation. With the automation of mundane processes and consolidation of project information, designers have the opportunity to focus on what they do best – design.
As AI technologies continue to advance, professional planning and visualization become increasingly accessible.
Lighting Shapes the Atmosphere
Lighting is one of the most powerful yet neglected elements of interior design. It makes the space feel larger and comfortable.
As suggested by American Lighting Association, layers of three types of lighting should be used for effective room illumination – ambient lighting for room illumination, task lighting for activities like cooking or reading and accent lighting for decoration purposes.
It can be explained through following examples – under cabinet lighting in kitchen for better visibility while cooking, pendent lighting above counter island for making it an attractive focus point and adjustable bedside table lights for reading without disturbing other sleeping people. Wall mounted lights are designed by interior designers for adding depth to the hallway and dimmable lighting systems are helpful for changing the ambience of a room according to time of the day.
Design with Personality
A truly unforgettable house is the reflection of the personality of its owners and not just an implementation of current trends.
Interior designer Nate Berkus has been telling homeowners for years to decorate their houses with items which tell some stories. These can be works of art, inherited furniture from ancestors, ceramic ware made by hands, and even books. All those items make the house feel unique and homely.
In contrast to filling each shelf with accessories, collecting meaningful items is usually a sign of sophistication.
Indoor greenery, natural materials, textures, fabrics, and choice of artworks make the atmosphere comfortable and pleasant without visual overload.
Finally, the best interior design combines elements of beauty, comfort, and uniqueness of a person’s experience.
Final Thoughts
Interior design that is considered intelligent is one that is an investment into your daily life through thoughtful design. This is done through functional designs, practical organizing, durable materials, sensory considerations, proper lighting, and self-expression to allow individuals to create interiors that make their lives easier and improve their quality of life.
This can come from any type of inspiration; whether it is something classic such as the works of Charles and Ray Eames, something more functional like the philosophy of Joanna Gaines, the self-expression and storytelling by Nate Berkus, or even something more imaginative and creative like Kelly Wearstler.
References
- National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). Kitchen Planning Guidelines.
- American Lighting Association. Residential Lighting Guide.
- IKEA. Small Space & Home Organization Ideas.
- Eames Office. The Legacy of Charles & Ray Eames.
- Joanna Gaines. Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave. (2018).
- Nate Berkus. The Things That Matter. (2012).
- Rachel Herz. The Scent of Desire: Discovering Our Enigmatic Sense of Smell. (2007). (Discusses the relationship between scent, memory, and emotion.)
