10 min read

Planning the interior design of your home can be an exciting venture though it can also be a challenging one.

First of all, make sure you have fun throughout the process and don’t let the details stress you out. The final result will be an extension of your personality so you shouldn’t be afraid to make a statement. 

In order to achieve the right balance, whether in classic or contemporary interior design, it is important that you plan adequately so that your space is both stylish and functional. 

There are some key points that need to be considered when making decisions so that your vision makes a successful transition into your home.

Colour

Do your research! What are the trending colours? Do they fit in with your vision? These are questions you should ask yourself at the initial planning stage. 

Consider seasonal colour choices that can easily be altered to ensure your home is always current.

Consider the ever popular yellow and orange tones in the summer as well as tones of red and brown for the autumn months. These can feature as accent pieces carefully placed around a room with a neutral colour palette. 

If you really want to make a statement, maybe consider painting an accent wall in a bold colour and complement this with some contrasting vibrant accessories.

Texture

This plays a big part not only in the look of the room, but also in how comfortable it is as a living space. For warmth and depth, the grainy earthiness of wood is always a good option as is the rich feel of high-quality leather. 

For a more modern cutting-edge look, you may opt for clean lines with cool metal finishes or maybe curves and spirals to add an air of mystique.

Experiment with texture and make your choices according to each room. Different rooms will call for different fabrics and materials.

Pattern

Explore the world of pattern and be adventurous with your choices. Consider patterns that you wouldn’t normally go for – you might be surprised at how well they fit into your plans.

Try to mix and match complementing patterns – maybe two or three. However, be careful not to go overboard as too many patterns on top of one another can disrupt harmony.

A good way to check if your choices of colour, texture and pattern work well in unison is to put together a mood board. During the research stages, collect paint samples and fabric swatches for this purpose. 

Spend some time putting them together in different combinations, placing them in situ and taking a step back to absorb the overall feel.

It may take some time for you to achieve that perfect combination but, this clarity will save you a lot of frustration in the long run.

Accessories and Furniture

When choosing your furniture and accessories, less is more! Avoid cluttering any area of the house as this detracts from all the other amazing interior design choices you have spent so long on. 

If you own a historical item of furniture or a unique artefact, this could be a great focal point. If you don’t own such items, consider visiting an antique fair to see if anything catches your eye that might work in your home. 

However, if you are not that way inclined, another nice way to accessorize is to add a variety of cushions and throws of various textures and in contrasting colours.

This not only adds warmth and comfort, it also provides an opportunity to introduce your splashes of colour.

Lighting

These days, there are so many lighting options that we are truly spoilt for choice. The different rooms in our home each call for their own individual arrangement so that they fit the function of the room itself. 

LED lights are a good option that has become very popular in recent years due to their sleek look, varied styles and energy efficiency. 

Cleverly placed floor and table lamps add interest and contrast but can be easily moved around to suit any design changes made in the future. Also, light switches themselves can quite often be overlooked.

Make sure that these match the overall feel of the room and if they don’t, update them so that they don’t look out of place.

However, let’s not forget the most important light source of all – Natural light. Make the most of the daylight hours by keeping sources of natural light unobstructed. 

Avoid placing big items of furniture too close to windows and patio doors as these can at times get in the way and make a room look darker.

In allowing the sunshine to freely enter a room, you are also giving your colour palate the best chance of shining – just as you had intended.

Inspiration from other cultures

If you’re stuck for ideas, you may want to get inspiration from other cultures. For bright and bold colours, Moroccan décor might be a good starting point. Or, you may wish to opt for something a little more Mediterranean and go for Greek or Portuguese blues and whites. 

If you are looking for something with an oriental twist, an Asian inspired theme could be the way to go. The possibilities are endless.

Look and Functionality

The general look of a room is sometimes severely impacted upon when you feel like it has a lack of space. Often, this can be easily solved using some of the previously mentioned lighting techniques. 

However, it is sometimes necessary to use some other little tricks to give a room a greater sense of space.

Tall furniture can give the illusion of high ceilings as can curtains that go all the way to the floor in a classic side panel arrangement.

It is vital to achieve the right balance of form and function. There is little point in a room looking stylish and stunning if it is not functional and fit for purpose. 

We live in an age of technology and few of us can imagine living without the modern conveniences of Wi-Fi and other forms of entertainment.

Therefore, when we are making our design choices, these ‘essential’ factors need to be cleverly worked in. 

Cables need to be hidden away and devices should blend into the background as seamlessly as possible.

Consider housing your television within a unit that can help to conceal it when not in use (unless the focus of the room is the TV itself – i.e. a media room). 

If you are looking for inspiration on smart and functional furniture, Scandinavian design has for many years achieved this goal successfully.

Noise

It is not uncommon for people who live in an apartment to suffer from noise pollution. Structure-borne noise (vibrations caused by dropping objects or moving furniture) and airborne noise (music or conversation), can be a bit of a nuisance. 

Sometimes, we only realise this problem when we have already moved into a property and feel a little bit helpless.

However, you can work some noise reduction solutions into your interior design project that can either reduce or eliminate this problem. 

Simply adding a layer of drywall to your ceiling with noise proof sealant can make a big difference. Or, if you want to take the opportunity to add a slightly more stylish flair to your ceiling, you can install a drop ceiling and some modern lighting.

The space between both ceilings provides insulation thus reducing or eliminating the noise from above. 

If you have problems with structure-borne noise originating from the upper level of your own property, simply placing rugs on the upper level floors helps to dampen the vibrations that travel to the floor below.

Interior design tips for your rooms

Hallway furniture ideas

This is always a tricky part of the house to decorate and many people feel at a loss. Why not start off with placing a bowl with pebbles on a table? 

Just changing the colour of these stones occasionally can give the hallway a completely different feel. Above this, add an opulent mirror to reflect the light and give a sense of space. 

Accessorize the area with a coat hanger in keeping with the general theme of the living areas as an introduction of things to come and finish this area off with a beautiful vase for umbrellas – instead of the traditional umbrella stand.

Lounge interior design

The most important item of furniture in a lounge is the sofa. This is after all where you will sit down to relax and where you are going to spend most of your time, when in this room. So, take your time when making your choice and maybe consider making it one of your focal points. 

Invest time and money into a well-made sofa that you can keep for many years. You can then complement this with a gorgeous coffee table and a sumptuous thick pile rug for those cold winter nights. 

Still on the vein of cosy nights in, if you have a fireplace, why not make a feature of it? Revamp the mantel and hang a large unique piece of artwork above it.

Once you have set the scene, the rest of your interior design plans can then be worked around these to create the desired end product.

Kitchen interior design

White units and clean lines are a good timeless option for your kitchen. Dress these with hardware to match the rest of your décor choices for this room. 

Spend some time selecting the taps and kitchen sink that best suit your needs as these days, there is quite a large range of taps and sinks on offer with all sorts of special features. 

If you’re going for a country cottage look, a butler sink is always a safe choice and for a more modern kitchen, stainless steel is the way to go.

To add a special feature in your kitchen, invest in a good quality statement backsplash – herringbone or subway tiles are quite popular or maybe, be more adventurous with some tessellation!

Bedroom design ideas

This is your ultimate relaxation haven so go all out with this room. Invest in a comfortable mattress and dress this with some gorgeous silk bedding. 

Add a luxurious rug so that your first steps out of bed feel like you are walking on clouds. Treat yourself to a designated vanity area complete with a big full-length mirror.

Finally, add a personal touch with some carefully placed photos of your friends and family. Aim for ultimate comfort because you deserve it!

Bathroom interior design:

Once again, less is more. For easy maintenance and a timeless finish, neutral floor to ceiling tiles are a good option. 

Elegant mirrors and good quality lighting are a must in any bathroom in order to give you the best conditions to get ready every morning. 

If you need to add the illusion of space (e.g. in an en-suite bathroom), a good way to do this is to install clear glass shower screens.

So, as you can see, a lot to consider but nonetheless, an exciting project. Hopefully, our ideas have given you plenty of food for thought and released the interior designer from within!