Many can recall an undistinguishable feeling of walking into a ‘cool’ space where the vibe is just right. No matter whether it was a new, hot underground bar or a particularly well styled friends’ house, the atmosphere was just perfect. It makes sense to reflect on what makes the space feel special. Yet, it’s quite important to not overstylize as it can have the opposite effect of a museum-like exhibition. Let’s dive deeper into the topic to understand how to craft custom spaces and truly enchant its guests.
Furniture as the Foundation of Interior Design
As humans, we live and breathe in a three-dimensional environment and perceive it first as such. What is in the room matters tremendously to our experience of the room. A space with many appliances will feel more cluttered, while a minimalist one might feel cold.
When entering a place people often subconsciously scale the room contents and focus on some parts of it. In many cases the sofa ends up as the most eye-catching piece of furniture due to its sheer size. A big table, windows or a full wall unit will act in a similar way. The size and colour of the biggest elements will determine the room perception and dictate its general purpose.
How Placement Influences Layout and Movement
Once we glance at where we are, we usually quickly determine what to do with ourselves. Furniture and decorative elements divide particular zones in a room. An armchair with a sleek rug in front of it will establish a reading corner, while a comfy sofa in the middle will communicate a general lounge space. Placing furniture by the walls would make the room breathy and dynamic while putting stuff in the middle can ‘slow’ it down.
The Role of Furniture in Creating Mood and Atmosphere
Now that we understand how the biggest cubatures affect the room, we can move on to really styling it. Furniture proportions and how they correspond to each other can create any effect in the range from cool & minimalist to warm & welcoming. Usually picking up a 1 or 2 statement pieces work well with the rest of the bigger elements supporting the outliers. To add some pizazz, it’s worthwhile to use different textures. A corduroy sofa paired with long-pile carpet adds an interesting contrast to the interior. It makes sense to experiment with different upholstery all while trying to not overdo it.
Balance Comfort and Aesthetics Through Stylistic Choices
At home, many people focus on how cozy the place is. This basically translates to the fact that we often enjoy a place which feels welcoming. Although incredibly stylish, a wire chair doesn’t quite convey the idea of comfort such as a plush-filled armchair. Ergonomics matter quite a lot in creating a proper atmosphere. Appropriately scaled and well-designed furniture increases our well-being and makes us not wanna leave the room.
How Quality Supports Cohesive Interior Design
To really put a cherry on top, it would be fantastic to use high quality pieces. A properly constructed furniture leaves an impression which a discount store simply cannot mimic. If you can afford it, well-crafted pieces will really anchor the entire interior while keeping all of it durable. Consistent use of excellent materials will really take the room to the next level.
Common Interior Design Mistakes
What I particularly dislike is overcrowding. For some reason I love my interiors to feel airy and open. To achieve this, we need to properly scale the furniture to the room proportions. The goal shouldn’t be to fill every inch of it, but rather to compose it like a painting. Form and style determine the effect we will end with.
Go With The Flow
Naturally, all of the above should be understood as general directions and certainly not strict rules to impose. If minimalist really is your vibe then a quality and proportion should be the imperative. If funky 60s is what you’re looking for then the colours and textures will play the most important part. Yet, the furniture and other decor elements choice has quite an influence on how we and others will feel in the particular interior.