The Basics of Interior Design

It doesn't matter if you are starting from an empty living space or if you are looking to modernize the home that you've been living in for a while. The basics of design are the same regardless. A variety of factors will impact the way you'll approach designing the interior of your home, including things like the amount of money you have to spend, how you live in your home, and how large your family is. It's important to follow the basics of design so you can be sure that you end up with a home environment that function the way you want and need.

Getting Started

Stop and think about your decorating goals before you start purchasing furnishings and accessories. Make sure you understand how you plan to use the room, the size of the room and existing furniture, and be clear about any limiting factors that might need to be considered when selecting new pieces.

For example, changing the flooring, color scheme, or floor plan may not be options available at this point in time. You'll need to focus on making decisions that work with any limitations you might be dealing with. The last thing you want to do is purchase furniture or accessories that clash with part of the room that can't be changed, or that can't accommodate a column, built-in bookshelf or other permanent and immoveable design element.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Before you start shopping, make sure you have considered all of the relevant factors. One way you can be sure that you're ready to begin browsing for new elements for your home is to ask yourself questions that need to be answered so you can make wise selections.

What is the primary purpose of the space?

• Does the space need to serve multiple purposes?
• Who will use the space regularly? How many different people?
• Will children be in the room frequently?
• Is the space primarily for family or for entertaining?
• What existing furniture and accessories will be staying in the room?
• Will the wall color remain the same?
• Are changes allowed (in a rented space)?
• What built in features are in the room?
• Is there a sufficient amount of storage in the room, or do storage solutions need to be added?
• Will you be staying in the home for very long?

Getting Focused on Changes

After you have answered these questions, it's time to start making decisions about he changes you need to make. You'll need to determine the best color scheme and tone for your living space. Before you hit the stores, it's a good idea to start a scrapbook of magazine clippings that are representative of the type of style you want to implement within your living area. This will help you begin to picture in your mind what the finished space will look like.

When you know what type of décor you want to add to your home, and have made a decision about the overall theme and tone for the space, you'll need to take your budget into consideration. Decide what pieces will demand the largest portion of your budget, and think about where you might be able to save some money.

You might also want to sketch a diagram of the room to take shopping with you, so that you won't forget specific measurements or things like where doors, windows, and other design elements are located. This will help you avoid making unwise decisions that you will regret later on.

Beginning the Design Process

If you are going to need to make any structural changes to your living space, you'll need to take care of those before you choose your furniture. When you're sure that the basic space is in its finished state, it will be time for you to select your furniture and accessories. Pick the furniture pieces and place them, ideally with the assistance of an interior designer who can also help you select the best colors and style. It's likely that the largest piece of furniture will become the focal point of the room, around which you'll need to select and place all of the other design elements that will make your home uniquely yours.