Buying your first house can be incredibly stressful. First, you have to get the money you need and take care of the paperwork. Second, you need to perform all the necessary repairs and updates, ensure nothing will break down any time soon, replace your windows with double-glazed ones, or buy a smart thermostat to lower your energy bills.
Then, you can start thinking about the looks. Unfortunately, it might seem incredibly difficult, particularly if you do not know much about interior design. You might have an idea about what you want, but how can you make it both pleasant to the eye and functional? If you want to learn more about it, keep on reading. The article below will provide you with the ultimate guide to the basics of interior design! It will touch upon a bunch of different points, including lighting, different color palettes, texture, and furniture.
Lighting
When it comes to interior design, lighting is incredibly important. It can be used to enhance the ambience of your home, create a particular mood, and make it look better.
First, you will need to install the right light fixtures. You will have to decide on the location as well as the size and type. You can choose from a range of options, including chandeliers, pendant lights, wall sconces, ceiling fixtures, and floor lamps. You will be able to pick the option you like based on your preferences and the design of your home.
What about the type of lighting? It depends on what you want to achieve! If you want your interior design to have a cozy feel to it, you should use warm-colored light bulbs. On the other hand, if you want to create a more sophisticated and modern look, you should opt for cool lighting instead. Bear in mind that particular colors might trigger different moods, so choose them according to the room’s purpose.
Always ensure to do your research; after all, you want the best quality for the right price, no matter if you’re choosing the best garage lighting, task lights for your kitchen, or a bedside lamp.
Color Palettes
Color is another important aspect of interior design. It can define different areas of your house and establish a visual hierarchy. For example, it can be used to draw attention towards your favorite piece of furniture or make a particular part of the room pop. Colors can also significantly influence our moods.
To make it work, though, you need to use colors with caution. One way to do this is by using a color palette, a set of colors carefully chosen to set the right mood.
Here are a few color palettes that you might want to think about using:
Monochromatic
Monochromatic color schemes use different shades of the same color, which makes them incredibly versatile and allows you to create a bunch of different looks if you want to. While you can opt for any palette you wish for, the most commonly chosen include shades of white or cream and shades of gray.
Complementary
Complementary color palettes are created using two colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. For example, you could use red and green, yellow and purple, and blue and orange! This is a great way to add some flair and contrast to your design. However, be careful with it. If you use too much of it, it can ruin your house’s look and simply overwhelm the whole design.
Analogous
Analogous color palettes involve sets of colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. They are similar but not necessarily the same. Some examples include yellow and orange and purple and pink. The biggest advantage of an analogous color palette is that it is incredibly easy to implement while still providing an interesting touch. In fact, it is probably the easiest color palette to use!
Triadic
Triadic color palettes are created using three colors equally spaced from each other on the color wheel. These colors tend to be very contrasting and vibrant, which is why they are not used in interior design that often. However, if you want to have a very bold look that will grab people’s attention immediately, then go ahead and try creating a triadic color palette.
Texture
The texture is an essential aspect of interior design, and you can think about using it as a way to define different areas of your house. For example, if you have a living room with a very open layout, you can opt for a softer texture like velvet or suede in the seating area and a more structured texture like wood or metal in the dining area.
You could also use texture as a way to decorate your space using a variety of different materials. For example, if you want a particularly warm look in your living room, then you could opt for wooden flooring, wooden furniture, and fluffy blankets and carpets.
Furniture
First, start by thinking about how much space you need and what purpose each room will serve. Then, take into account what you want the room to look like and pick furniture accordingly. If you want a modern feel to your living room, for example, then opt for minimalist furniture like sleek chairs and tables with clean lines.
Second, take into account your lifestyle, as well as how many people will be using the space. For example, if you live alone, opting for fewer pieces of furniture might make sense. On the other hand, if you have a few small kids, buying multiple pieces of durable furniture is a reasonable choice.
In Conclusion
There you have it! These are the essentials of interior design that you need to know. Just follow the steps discussed above and do not randomly buy furniture/accessories. This way, you should be able to create a house that looks fantastic and is truly reflective of your personality.
In case you find yourself struggling, hiring an interior designer is always a viable option. There are plenty of interior designers out there. You just need to do your research and find one that suits your budget and preferences. It should not take long, and it could really pay off!
