Redesign Your World … One Room at a Time...
Come on, admit it – how many of you are HGTV design junkies? And
how many of you are lucky enough to have a resident carpenter, an
electrician and a crew of 20 to do the work? Or an average TV show
budget of $2000? How about someone to do your hair and make-up before
that exciting room reveal?
If you’d like to give your rooms a makeover, just keep these tips in
mind when working with what you already own. A bit of flare and some
editing of accessories will turn your space into a showplace.
There are 6 basic elements used in all aspects of interior design and
decorating.
Balance
Colour
Focal Point
Harmony
Scale
Texture
If you correctly incorporate all or most of these elements you will have
created a beautiful and functional room.
Balance
There are two types of balance – symmetrical and asymmetrical. Perfect
symmetry is like the human body – two eyes, two arms etc. Symmetrical
balance is typically very formal. Asymmetry, on the other hand, refers
to an imbalance, perhaps two candlesticks of slightly different sizes
placed next to each other. Asymmetry is used to add visual motion and
excitement to a space, and therefore it is considered a more informal
way of decorating.
Balance also refers to the weight of different objects in a room. This
can be the actual weight and size of furniture – such as a large
entertainment centre; or it can be visual weight – a patterned or very
bold colour upholstered piece appears to take up more space than a solid
or neutral coloured one. If there is too much weight on one side of a
room, the arrangement will feel awkward and uninviting.
Colour
The human eye can see more than 16 million colours. To simplify your
paint choices look at your favourite piece of art, a rug or the
upholstery fabric. Choose your colours based on that item using the
“60-30-10 rule”.
For example – your favorite painting contains blue, yellow and cream.
You might then choose yellow walls (60%), a blue sofa (30%) and a cream
accent cushion (10%).
Focal Point
A focal point is the centre of interest – usually the part of the room
that our eye is naturally drawn to when we first enter. If you don’t
have an existing architectural detail – such as a fireplace or large bay
window – you can create a focal point by strategically hanging your art
or by creatively displaying some accessories on a bookshelf. Once you
have determined or created a focal point in your room, simply arrange
your conversation area around it.
Harmony
This does NOT mean that everything should match. It simply means that
the furniture, art and accessories compliment each other in some way.
Scale / Proportion
The size of pieces relative to one another and the size of the space is
their SCALE. Large, ornate pieces will not look right in a very small
room, just as small contemporary pieces will be lost in an oversized
space with vaulted ceilings. And more importantly, the size variance of
different pieces within a room should be somewhat related.
Texture
Texture is the one element that can instantly add interest to a
monochromatic colour scheme. Should you choose to decorate an entire
room in one colour – mocha perhaps – it will be easy to add some
visually interesting texture. Linen window shades and leather pillows
can be found in the same colour range but each has a very different look
and feel.
Following these basic design elements will give you the confidence to
experiment with your space. Now sit back and relax and enjoy the “new”
room that you have created.
Sandi Gerrard
Feel at Home Interior Redesign
416.795.9840
www.sandiathome.com
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Decorator
Interior redesigners - also known as interior refiners, redecorators,
interior arrangers, one day decorators, room makeover specialists and
home stylists - bring a unique perspective to their clients' decorating
dilemmas.
