10 Great Tips for Mastering

the Interior Design Basics

Whether you’re an interior design genius or you don’t know the first thing about decorating, this article is your go-to guide for mastering the interior design basics.

Learn how to:

Create harmony
Use balance, colours, decor ideas and patterns
Decorate small and large spaces
Decorate for rooms with a low or high ceiling
Mix things up with a variety of interior design ideas

First off, what is the difference between interior decorating and interior design? Although they both include a touch of colour, home decor and adding a healthy dose of personality to a living space, the difference is that interior decorating solely focuses on aesthetics and bringing that to life in a room. Interior design is much the same and more. It’s a profession that requires training in space planning, custom-made furniture design, architecture and it doesn’t stop there.

An interior designer usually takes into account not only your personal style but also what will work with the existing features in a given room. They can save you time, money and stress by helping you make choices based on your lifestyle needs rather than just budget or aesthetics.

Interior design is an important part of every project because it affects everything else down the line – from choosing paint colours or flooring materials, to deciding what type of appliances will be installed in the kitchen.

Tip 1: Create Harmony

Now that we’ve got a good idea of the differences between interior design and interior decorating, let’s talk about creating harmony. The best way to make sure that your space and your vision become one is to pick a style. Not only does this help you associate the kind of room furniture and interior decor that you’d like to use, but it also gives you a guideline to follow that ensures you create a sense of unification and harmony – a vital design principle!

Don’t know what you want? That’s okay too! Unless you’re decorating the pyramids, your choice of style doesn’t have to be set in stone. Start by deciding if you want something casual or formal and if you will bring that across in a traditional or modern way. Keep the space’s functionality in mind, a beach house or modern house won’t be decorated the same way as a restaurant. Once you’ve done this, do some research into the styles that you prefer and start adding your personal touches.

Want some help? Nova Luna is here for all your interior design needs. From floor plan advice to full interior design services, we have you covered.

Tip 2: Use Balance

As people, having balance keeps us at ease and we’re not talking about finding your zen. Balance within a room can be achieved in two ways: with symmetry or asymmetry.

What does that mean? Think of symmetry as having a mirror image on both sides of the room, while this achieves balance in a literal sense, it also makes a space more palatable. This is ideal for dining room and bedroom designs where a table or bed is the focal point and chairs or end tables complete the balance on both sides.

By definition, asymmetry is a lack of balance, so what is asymmetrical balance? Although it takes some practice and experience to get it right, you can use furniture and decor that are different but share similarities like size, height or colour to create a sense of togetherness and balance.

Tip 3: Dive Into Colours

Colours go a long way in determining the look and feel of your project. This means that your colour palette isn’t just for providing a colour scheme for each room, it’s also for tying the entire project together.

The 60-30-10 Rule

When it comes to house design, creating the right mix of colours can be challenging for even the most experienced designers, a great rule to remember is that your colour palette needs to be balanced and a great way to do this is with a 60-30-10 rule.

Pick three colours, the first is your dominant colour (60%) which is usually neutral as not to be overpowering. Your secondary colour (30%) is bolder because it takes up less of the space and your third colour (10%) is the boldest and adds the final touch.

Cool Colours, Warm Colours and When to Use Them

When we call colours warm or cool, we are talking about where the shades sit on the colour wheel. Usually red, orange and yellow are warm colours and blue, green, purple and grey are cool colours. In the middle of the road are the neutral colours which are usually your brown and tan shades.

Your newfound colour knowledge can be used to emphasize what you want a room to achieve. For entertainment-based rooms like a dining room or living room, use more vibrant and engaging warm colours and for rooms that require a sense of calm like a bedroom or office, use more relaxing, cool colours.

You’re not only limited to three colours but don’t forget, these are just the basics. Our experienced interior designers at Nova Luna are sure to find the perfect palette and shade for any situation and style.

Tip 4: Make Use of Patterns

Colours without patterns just aren’t the same. When you decide to add some shapes and flowing lines to your project by using patterns, it can be a welcome sight for anyone’s eyes and deliver the wow factor you’ve been looking for. It’s important to remember that patterns you’ve created and maintained don’t have to match exactly but they do have to work together in colour, size and scale.

Tip 5: Do it Right with Decor

The only thing that can make a room look less than stellar is bad design choices. A few tips in this area can be the difference between success and failure, as well as making or breaking your decorating skills.

The placement of artwork for your project is more than looking for an open nail. Hang wall hangings and create gallery walls at eye level for the best viewing experience or set them low enough that they can bring light into a room and be noticed.

Furniture is often a focal point of a room and drives functionality. Although it can be expensive, it’s always recommended to invest in a high-quality bed and sofa because along with creating a comfortable environment, these pieces will be with you for years and you want them to last. Once you have these two essential furniture pieces covered, you can save on items like rugs, wall art and accent tables.

Pillows allow you to add to the personality that you are trying to achieve in any given room. They can draw the eye to a beautiful lounge suite, stop the coffee table from feeling lonely and pack the punch you are looking for with your colour scheme. They are a nice touch but don’t overdo it (we still need a place to sit!).

Tip 6: Master Small Spaces

Decorating a small space can be tricky. You want to fit in plenty of stuff but you don’t want the room to feel cramped. So, what’s the secret to consistently applying personality without dealing with too much clutter?

The best way to avoid clutter is by having furnishings that you can fold up when not in use and floating pieces, such as shelves and nightstands will make it easier for you to move around while giving you plenty of extra storage if needed. Picking wall lamps over floor lamps creates more room on the ground, creating the perception of a larger space.

The lack of natural light is often what makes small spaces feel dark. This can be fixed by adding plenty of artificial lights in every room, from the kitchen to the bedroom and combining this with either a striking ceiling fixture or sconces for an inviting atmosphere.

Another way to cope if natural light is not on your side is to make use of mirrors. Besides for reminding you how much you look like your parents, they’re also great for reflecting what little natural light you have and creating the illusion that a space is bigger than it actually is.

A big rug makes a big difference! When choosing the size of your rug, be mindful that a small rug will make the space feel smaller and a larger rug will emphasize the room on the ground and create the feeling of having more space.

Creating a small space that has personality doesn’t have to be difficult. By using the right furniture, making the most of your natural light and strategically placing a beautiful, large rug, you can ensure your small space is charming and has the room to breathe.

Tip 7: Master Large Spaces

Now that we’ve covered how to decorate a small room, let’s flip the table and dive into how to decorate a larger space. Like decorating on a small scale, making sure a large space is a pleasure to look at, doesn’t come easy.

Luckily, this challenge is a champagne problem. Who doesn’t love having extra space? A smart way to make the most out of the area that you have is to break it up into sections. In a large entertainment space, you can have a lounge suit, a reading corner, and a refreshment table. While the room can have multiple sections, it’s important to make sure that your decorating in these sections flow together (harmony).

Tip 8: Get the Ceiling and Furniture to Get Along

If your ceiling is low, make sure that your furniture is too. We know you have a lot of space but when the scale of your furniture doesn’t agree with the perspective of the room, it can create the feeling that the room is long and the ceiling is squished.

Placing your furniture plush against the wall is a great way to utilise a small space but in a larger room, it can look a bit out of place. To avoid having to ask people to repeat themselves because they are too far away, try to keep your furniture close together to encourage a warm and inviting conversation.

Having a large room is not an excuse to add extra clutter. The best way to ensure that a large room doesn’t look like a storeroom for your decor is to scale your decorations with the space. In other words, bigger is better.

If you don’t have access to continental-sized decorations and furniture, group up! To display smaller items on a grand stage calls for a collection and not a lonely small vase in the corner. Take your favourite small pieces and arrange them in groups (anything more than two) to create the sense that space is being utilised to its full potential while still allowing plenty of breathing room.

Tip 9: Get the Right Interior Design Partner

At Nova Luna, nothing brings us more joy than empowering everyone to make the world more beautiful with sophisticated and elegant interior spaces. If you have a project in mind, want some advice or even just want to say hello, we are always here for your interior design needs.

We challenge you to inspire us by creating your dream space (we love photos). Feel free to get in touch and share this article with your friends. Bring interior design to life, today!