So what is interior design?
Interior design isn't just about home decoration. At it's essence it's about the creation of functional and beautiful to look at interior spaces in all sorts of places including houses, public buildings and commercial properties such as shops, restaurants, leisure venues and offices.
The imaginative and efficient use of, colour, pattern, texture, light and space is central to an interior designer's practice. Most interior designers concern themselves with all aspects of the design of a space from choosing colour schemes through to selecting interior finishes such as wall coverings, flooring, furnishings and furniture. Some also step into architect's territory, shaping the structure of the space itself as well as decorating it.
Why is interior design important?
Good interior design will not only make a space look and function better, it can have a significant impact on mood and wellbeing. The application of uplifting colour schemes, well-designed furnishings and furniture and the thoughtful manipulation of light and space, can all make a real difference to how we feel about and in an environment.
More sterile, workaday public spaces such as schools and hospitals can benefit more than most from creative interior design. Here it has the potential to improve health and productivity. It is also an invaluable asset for businesses. An aspirational office interior, for example, can help to raise the profile of a company and boost staff morale at the same time. And it goes without saying that shops, restaurants and leisure venues that are inviting and stimulating inside will potentially draw in more customers, and therefore increase profits.
In all cases, interior design can be used to reflect status, ambition and taste, this is especially true of residential interior design, and at its most effective, not only will it increase the perceived value of a property but will also effect it’s real value.
The imaginative and efficient use of, colour, pattern, texture, light and space is central to an interior designer's practice. Most interior designers concern themselves with all aspects of the design of a space from choosing colour schemes through to selecting interior finishes such as wall coverings, flooring, furnishings and furniture. Some also step into architect's territory, shaping the structure of the space itself as well as decorating it.
Why is interior design important?
Good interior design will not only make a space look and function better, it can have a significant impact on mood and wellbeing. The application of uplifting colour schemes, well-designed furnishings and furniture and the thoughtful manipulation of light and space, can all make a real difference to how we feel about and in an environment.
More sterile, workaday public spaces such as schools and hospitals can benefit more than most from creative interior design. Here it has the potential to improve health and productivity. It is also an invaluable asset for businesses. An aspirational office interior, for example, can help to raise the profile of a company and boost staff morale at the same time. And it goes without saying that shops, restaurants and leisure venues that are inviting and stimulating inside will potentially draw in more customers, and therefore increase profits.
In all cases, interior design can be used to reflect status, ambition and taste, this is especially true of residential interior design, and at its most effective, not only will it increase the perceived value of a property but will also effect it’s real value.
Design Principles
The principles of design are guidelines to the possible ways design elements can be arranged into recognisable patterns. They are:
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Design Elements
The elements of design are tools. They have visual and psychological characteristics that are essential for creating desired effects. Design elements create a relationship with each other, the space that contains them, and the observer (us) and they are:
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During this course of study we will be exploring both the principles and elements of interior design.