Top 5 Interior Design Tips that can Make or Break Your Home'

“Home sweet home.” A home is a person’s sanctuary. We eat, we sleep, and even work inside our homes. Spending time indoors, it is important to consider how a home’s interior design can affect one’s lifestyle. For example, it can affect one’s self-perception, as well as their confidence and productivity. 

Be it if one is thinking of sprucing up a room or renovating their entire house, you can look at these interior design trends and the top 5 factors that can drastically make or break a home. 

Space

A room must be functional without feeling cramped. Comfortable rooms are those that can balance how much space is being used. Consider negative space, that is the space that isn’t being used. For one, having negative space allows a homeowner to breathe and walk around without feeling asphyxiated. 

Balance is important. A room should be spacious enough to travel, yet not too much it feels like an emptied runner’s track. Reserve any used space for large furniture pieces; however, don’t incorporate too many large pieces as it will then create a maze. 

Meanwhile, make sure to keep the furniture off the walls, to prevent damage, yet also to give the illusion that the room is even more spacious. You could even explore these tray ceiling ideas if you're looking to add the illusion of height to a room. A low ceiling will always make a room look small, but adding a tray ceiling will naturally draw your eyes up to the tallest part of the available space.

Flooring

Because flooring takes up so much indoor real estate, it can greatly affect a home’s aesthetics. Different kinds of floors, from hardwood to carpet, offer different ambiances. For example, carpeting offers a cozy experience, whereas hardwood flooring offers a modern aesthetic. 

When it comes to interior design, having a cohesive floor plan can help harmonize a home. To make space feel bigger than it is, use the same flooring throughout your home. For example, expand your living room’s wood floor up to the dining room. For a cohesive floor plan, consider Anchor Floors. 

Lighting

While it is often overlooked, natural light is immensely important. Taking in natural light can significantly impact one’s health. For example, natural light helps produce Vitamin D, improves sleep patterns, and impacts a person’s mood/ happiness. Knowing this, depriving one’s home of natural light can consequently affect a person’s condition. 

As for home decoration, natural light can also affect how color appears. As light changes throughout the day, so can it change the hues of a room. South-facing rooms profit better from a maximum level of light, while rooms that face northward darken faster. 

Aside from natural light, one should also consider ambient, accent, and task lighting. These three other categories help add character and depth to a person’s home. Consider warm lights inside your home. In choosing the right kind of lights, prioritize floor lamps as well as table, wall, and ceiling lights. Try to stray away from using too many downlights as they can disrupt a home’s vibe. If interested in highlighting particular accents inside one’s home, try to light up specific features like artwork.

Color

Alongside natural light, color is also impactful. Different colors evoke different emotions. Warm colors evoke feelings ranging from warmth and comfort to anger and anxiety. On the other hand, cool colors evoke feelings ranging from calm to sadness.

When choosing a color, one should consider the mood they want to create. For example, a calm and relaxing room like a bedroom calls for a calm and relaxing color scheme, meaning something that isn’t too bright or intense. That being said, one shouldn’t fear bright colors. On the contrary, bright colors can help accentuate specific details as well as add personality. The key to a perfect color scheme is balance. Have variety and economize your colors. 

Meanwhile, avoid using too many dark colors indoors. Dark walls absorb too much light and can make a room look smaller than it is. Lighter colors, by contrast, reflect natural light which helps a room appear brighter. Pro tip: to create depth, begin with light colors on the ceiling and transition into darker colors as you reach the floor. 

Accessories

Part of interior design has to do with visual appeal. Adding accessories offers a spotlight to one’s interests and personality. Moreover, accessories can serve as transition pieces that help synchronize different rooms together.

When looking for accessories, consider how one piece can complement another element from the house. Likewise, consider other categories such as size, color, theme, texture, and budget. 

For inspiration, some examples of home accessories include antiques, souvenirs, paintings, and art pieces. When it comes to color, accessories can serve as the perfect excuse to incorporate bright colors into your home’s ensemble. 

Bonus tip: Furniture

The furniture you choose has a major bearing on the look of your home. Furniture comes in a vast range of styles and designs, catering to a wide range of tastes and budgets. From traditional Amish furniture to create a classic, timeless living room or bedroom to achingly cool, contemporary pieces for loft-style apartments, there’s something for everyone. When you’re looking for furniture, consider the theme of the room and the vibe you want to create. It’s also beneficial to think about how you want to use your furniture. Are you hoping to make a bold design statement with a bright retro couch, or are you eager to use your furniture to add storage or enhance functionality? Browse different stores and websites, outline your needs and preferences, compare prices and look for ideas and inspiration before you make any decisions.