Five important interior design concepts

1. Strike a Balance

When you start to think of any space as a blank canvas, you can apply the most basic concepts of all art and design to interior design as well. It all starts with balance – balance is all about the placement of every element in the room that defines the success of the overall design. Effective design is all about making a conscious effort to balance the visual weight of all the elements in the room so the overall design can build and sustain attractiveness and interest in the room.

Balance in design is similar to balance in everything else in life. Just take the example of a seesaw and how it requires the two people of same weight on both sides to be fun, safe and well-balanced. 

2. Design Towards a Harmonious Vision

Harmony or unity as an interior design concept is a big-picture approach to the design process encompassing everything from the overall layout and colour scheme to the intricate details of bedroom design, ensuring a seamless integration of elements throughout the space.  It’s when you consider a space, such as a full room or an apartment as a one big whole rahter than isolated structures. It is the overall unity between all the elements that make up a space – it could be in terms of the style, the theme, the aesthetic, the mood and even the personality of a space.

A colour scheme that binds all the objects in the room is a great way to understand the concept of harmony. 

3. Create a Rhythm

Just as in music, there is no harmony without rhythm in the interior design process. Rhythm is all about creating visual interest that guides your eyes across a room. Rhythm has more to do with the shapes, colours, patterns and textures of all the elements that make up a room. Rhythm as an interior design concept can include progression, repetition, transition and contrast of all these elements.
 

• Progression 
  Progression is when you increase or decrease the number of items in a particular area – like a collection of candles or throw pillows used to decorate a living room.
  
  
• Repetition 
  Repetitionis when certain elements are placed in recuring manner – such as a colour scheme that is used across all the rooms of a house.
  
  
• Transition 
  Transition is a great way to achieve balance and harmony in interior design – it is used to guide the natural movement of the eyes across the room. An arched doorway opening up a room is a good example of transition.
  
  
• Contrast 
  Contrast in interior design is all about placing oposing elements together to generate visuall interest – like colour blocking in design. 

4. Be Mindful of Proportion and Scale

As an interior design concept, scale and proportion is not just about how all the different elements of a space relate to one another but also how they relate to the human scale. Whether it’s in art – like Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man – or in interior design – Le Corbusier’s Modulor, an anthropometric scale of proportions – there has always been a need to define and establish ideal proportions. But while these sort of rules can form guidelines to good design, it is the eye and judgement of the designer that actually leads the building and decorating process. That’s why, you’ll always find an interior designer with a measuring tape!

5. Zero in on a Focal Point

If you’ve ever walked into a room and found yourself eyeing that one element that stands out and holds your attention – well, that’s the focal point. This interior concept is all about the use of an eye-catching element that can anchor a space and leave a lasting impression. For example, a striking piece of art in the living room or a four-poster bed in the bedroom. That particular artwork or bed can guide and inspire everything else in the room too. Other focal points in interior design can include the use of a statement or accent wall colour or wallpaper; a designer piece of furniture, like an abstract chair or table; or even a built-in point of interest such as a fire place or window.