7 principles of interior design – comprehensive beginner’s guide

7 principles of interior design are widely accepted by everyone in the industry. It is tried and true recipe to create interior spaces that are functional and aesthetically pleasing at the same time. Like the golden ratio in architecture the 7 principles also enhance and elevate the interior design.

Let’s dive deeper and get to know all seven principles of interior design.

Balance

The first thing to keep in mind is balance. What is balance in terms of interior designing? It is referred to as “visual weight” distribution. “Visual weight” refers to how heavy or how light an object appears to the human eye. Large, solid, dark, or colorful seems heavier to the eye than small, thin, open, or light objects seem lighter to the eye.

A good way to ensure that the visual weight distribution is good is by dividing the space into 4 quadrants and each quadrant should contain roughly the same amount of furnishing.

Rhythm

Like the music, repetition helps in visual appeal too. Just as creating musical patterns creating a visual pattern is necessary for interior designing. It creates a space that is cohesive and gives a seamless moment to the eye to flow around the room. The element for repetition can be anything from texture, shape, pattern to finished materials.

Emphasis

Try to create a focal point. It can be something inbuilt like a fireplace or something that is deliberately placed in a way like a piece of art or furniture. Lay the design around the focal point such that it is the first thing someone will notice when entering the room.

Contrast and variety

To make sure the interior is not boring contrast and variety, to say the least, is a must. Additionally, contrast gives the space drama and variety adds diversity and personality. You can achieve it by pairing contrasting colors, shapes, and textures

Scale and proportion

Scale and proportion will ensure that objects in the room belong and relate to each other. Proportion refers to the size of one object concerning another while Scale refers to the size of objects within a space.

 Unity and Harmony

Unity and harmony ensure that everything goes with everything else in the room. It is achieved when the design and furniture follow the theme. Decorating accordingly with items that have common colors, patterns, shape, or style will help to achieve unity and harmony