7 Basic Principles of Interior Designing

Highlight

Harmony
Balance
Rhythm
Emphasis
Contrast
Proportion
Details

Interior design is the art and science of home decor while its principles can add harmony in your living space. Just like any other form of art and branch of science, interior designing is also coupled with some basics – they are the foundation of achieving desired results and cannot be neglected at all. So, when you plan as per these basic interior design principles, you’ll be able to optimise your rooms and add the maximum amount of luxury, elegance, and comfort. 

Most Important Interior Design Principles 

If you want to transform any space from basic to fabulous, start your decor project with these principles:

• Harmony
• Balance
• Rhythm
• Emphasis
• Contrast
• Proportion 
• Details

Harmony

The first basic interior designing principle is harmony. As you might expect, applying different styles can develop confusion. It is necessary to pair one space with the other, so you can communicate your personal style and personality via your space better. Each and every element of one space should connect with one another. This harmony should be maintained throughout the house.

The easiest way to create harmony is to develop repetition in form, shape, texture, and even color. In one of our previous posts, we have shared some dos and don’ts of interior design. Check out our post to get a better understanding of achieving harmony. 

Balance

Too much of anything is good for nothing. In this case, interior designing is not any different. 

Balance is also among the basic principles of interior designing. It can be created by the even distribution of colours, textures, forms, and weight. You need to get something steady, so your space can reflect evenness. 

By introducing stability and creating balance doesn’t only lead to quality results, but it can help you do justice to the space. Pick elements that are equal and symmetrical, something that pleases every sight.  

Again, you need to be balanced with balance as well. Just because we are talking about balance, it doesn’t have to be formal. Let’s say if you apply this principle too rigidly, it can become tedious and tiring. 

Rhythm

It is like you listen to music and enjoy the beat and rhythm, the same rhythm is used in the interior design. It is mainly concerned with shapes, colour, and material. You should follow a pattern that enhances and illustrates the aesthetic look.

Emphasis

Emphasis is an important element of interior designing and home decoration. As the name suggests, the primary goal behind emphasis is to add something in the space that grabs attention instantly. It can be anything from a chandelier, fireplace, and lamp to a dining table, vase, or curtains. 

Just because the aim of that object is to play the role of the protagonist, it doesn’t have to be placed in the central location. There are two ways of drawing emphasis: emphasis by placement and emphasis via design. 

Contrast

Contrast can be puzzling sometimes, but it can make any space interesting. 

From shapes to colours, there are thousands of ways to add contrast in decor. White sofas with black pillows, yellow vase with white flowers, square cushions with round rugs, blue wall paint with light coloured curtains and rugs, to list a few as examples. 

Proportion

Proportion and scale are also the most important elements of interior designing and home decor. You should know that proportion can vary with the size of one room to another, while scale measures the size of objects. To help you understand better, we’ve shared examples below: 

• Scale can determine the placement of the bathroom mirror, so the person using it doesn’t have to bend or use a step to reach. 
• Proportion refers to the width of the coffee table – as it should be smaller [at least two-third] of the couch it is being placed in front of. 

Details

Every detail matters – from small to big. 

Make sure that everything is complimenting everything and not going against any principle of the decor. Keep a theme and maintain it by focusing on the details. Avoid adding too many colours, you can use different shades of the same colour – that’s detail. 

This was our post on how to use interior design principles in your house. We hope that you found something useful for your next home decor project.  

For more home decoration ideas and interior designing tips, keep checking the home decor section on JagahOnline Blogs. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page.