As you enter a new home for another interior design or interior redesign, how does a designer find inspiration to transform the room? What is the room does not have a redeeming arhitectural features to work with? What if the room has to be used as a walk through to get to the other side?
Well, this is what differentiates the experienced interior designers from those with less experience. Great interior design can be created in almost any room by manipulating the variables of design and using them to lead the eye to specific objects or areas of the room.
A room that is devoid of architectural details can be transformed with the purposeful placement of furnishings and color to help style emerge from the room. A timeless, mahogany wood floor could be installed on a 45 degree angle to create further visual interest and to draw your eye into the room. Using several textures and fabrics on the furniture in the room can create an sensual look and invite you to investigate the room further. Furniture must always be in proportion to the size of the overall room or else the room will appear overcrowded. Window treatments can be prominent and become your focal point.
The addition of wood paneling, wainscoting, crown molding, chair rail molding, ornate corbels, or even shadow boxes can completely dress up a room and create a look and a feel that was not there before. This woodwork can establish a pattern and provide rhythm to a plain surface. The molding can be stained a dark wood stain to allow the grain to show through or painted a high gloss white to reflect the light in the room.
A room that has doors on opposite sides of the room can be setup as two distinct areas but similar colors and styles should be used to help unit the space. In a small living room with a low ceiling, tall thin bookcases can be used to emphasize vertical proportions and be placed at the ends of the wall. Smaller rooms would be painted in lighter paint colors to reflect light and to make the room size less obvious. Mirrors should be used to provide focus and reflect light, especially in a darker room. Art and accessory placement can really transform a room. Symmetry and asymmetry needs to be applied when appropriate when implementing art and accessories.
Three types of lighting (ambient, task, accent) must always be used to complete the interior design of any room. Having lights installed on dimmer switches will allow better control of ambiance in the room. Three way bulbs are another great option to control the amount of light entering a room. Candle lights screams romance and intimacy and should be implemented when appropriate.
If your home does not inspire you, maybe it is time to call in an interior designer or interior redesigner. A great design will incorporate the home owner’s unique tastes to ensure you as satisfied with the transformation. By using wall paint colors, different textures and fabrics on your furniture, selecting optimal lighting schemes, deciding on the room layout, selecting wall moldings, your home will be transformed from ordinary to extraordinary.
Kate, Kate’s Home Staging and Redesign, serves Rockland County, NY and Orange County, NY and Passaic County, NJ. We specializes in home staging, interior design, color consultations, custom wood signs, semi-custom window coverings, home decor discounts, and more. Contact Kate to schedule your design consultation at 845-538-3623 or visit www.kateshomestaging.com .
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