Interior Design Primer

Yesterday I was accused of boring blogging by someone who blogs on occasion.  This critic believes my best work is done when I blog about interior design and the DS of the Week.  Since he is a devoted reader, I will give him what he wants.  This first blog will cover the basic skills needed to balance form and function, beauty and comfort into your home.  Please remember that I am not a trained interior designer - it simply come natural.  Use these rules and techniques in your home and you will be thought of as an inspired designer of comfortable living spaces.

Rule #1 - Use color and pattern.  Look at this example!  What a bold use of color to draw attention to the predominate features in the room.  This designer was not afraid to use lots of color and lots of pattern in one space, and neither should you.  Wouldn't it be a shame to live in a solid color room with solid color furniture accented with solid color pillows plus maybe one patterned one?

Rule #2 - Understand wood.  Use it to your advantage in your home.  Getting wood in each room creates a warm feeling that makes a house a home.  This designer used wood in their bedroom.  Notice how the furniture is arranged so they can view and enjoy the wood?

Rule #3 - Be creative.  The worst thing you can do when designing your interior is stay inside the normal boundaries.  Do you really want a home that looks like your neighbors?  This designer didn't and took great risks to ensure their home was unique to any other in the universe.

Rule #4 - Use green.  Green is the predominate color in nature, so use it liberally in your home.  This designer  used green in their kitchen.  Think of how often the ceiling will color coordinate with the food they are serving.  But don't make the mistake of using green only in the kitchen.  Green is a great color for the bathroom also.  Green bathroom tile is making a come back in certain parts of the country.

Rule #5 - Never put form ahead of function.  Remember that no matter how pretty the room is, you still have to live in it.  This designer had that in mind when designing efficiency into their kitchen.  Just think how easy this kitchen will make meal preparation.  When facing to the right and preparing a meal, a quick 180 degree turn and they are facing their canned goods.  No more stooping to reach items or opening cabinet doors.  This is simply a marvelous kitchen design.

Follow these 5 simple rules and you too can become an interior designer.  A new DS of the week will be named in the next blog posting.