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10 Interior Design Tips from SmartDraw
SmartDraw can help you with your planning and interior design needs before you even move one piece of furniture - download a free trial today!
One Prominent Feature.
For an eye-catching room, design around a focal point to draw the eye. For a bedroom, invest in a dramatic bed or utilize the fireplace in a living room. Don't make the room compete for the eye's
attention, have one large feature and then smaller ones that complement it.
Furniture Arrangement.
Arrange the furniture around the focal point of the room (a picture window, a fireplace, etc.)
To create a sense of intimacy, set furniture away from the wall and to encourage conversation, place pieces about
6 feet apart.
Scale.
When using multiple patterns or stripes, keep scale in mind. Patterns that are different can be complementary if they are of similar scale.
If designing a room with large furniture, the scale of the pattern should also be large or it may get lost among the rest of the room's items.
Delicate, small-boned furniture will be flattered by partnering it with smaller
pattern designs and stripes.
Colors.
Colors found in nature tend to invoke feelings of calm and restfulness. The lighter the paint, the lighter and larger the
room will look. Darker paints such as reds, oranges and brown will make rooms appear smaller. In general, reds and oranges
are great colors for a kitchen and dining room as they are lively and stimulate conversation and appetite. Greens and blues
are restful and calm colors that promote stability and serenity.
Lighting.
How the sun lights your room, and whether you have a view of greenery will make a difference in what
colors you should use on the walls. To make your room appear larger, use up lights to light the ceilings and walls.
Glass As an Accessory.
Glass is much more commonly used now and brings light into a room, whether as a mirror, vase, or a collection of wine glasses.
Inspiration.
If you are unsure of what colors "go" together take a look outside.
Colors that naturally occur in nature are a great guide. Think of the many shades of a calming blue and
gray at the beach. Or the complex variations of green at work in an English garden.
Balance.
A well-designed room tends to have a majority of one thing (a base color), a small percentage of something else (a pattern)
and just a dash of something dramatic (a bold, bright color or an exotic painting).
Fabrics.
Save money by using cotton-based materials for the larger slipcovers, and more expensive
fabrics for smaller accent pillows. SmartDraw includes fabric sample images that you can apply to furniture graphics with the click of a
mouse. You can also import your own fabric design images.
Experiment.
Before spending money on making an interior design change, try rearranging the furniture or
moving furniture from one room to another. You may find a solution to a problem without
spending a dime. Also, before tackling a huge room with your new paint color, test it on a
small area and let it dry to make sure it's your perfect color.
