Have you ever wondered how professional interior designers create such beautifully curated room designs? It seems effortless, no matter what style they have.
It’s actually much easier than you think. By following some basic design principles, you can create a cohesive room design that looks professionally curated.
So, if you’d love to decorate a room in your house but are unsure where to start, this post will give you 41 room design tips to help you get the perfect interior.
The Power of Color
When you’re designing a room, start with your color palette. The colors you incorporate in your room design will transform the space, so it’s important to get it right.
Interior designers know that color trends come and go, but the psychology behind color is permanent, which is why it’s such a powerful part of decorating.
You don’t need to be a professional decorator to understand color theory, just stick to the basic concepts:
- Red raises energy levels and promotes passion, anger, and power.
- Green is a restful color and relieves stress.
- Blue is soothing and decreases energy levels (which is why it’s a popular choice for creating inviting bedrooms).
- Brown and neutral tones add warmth and create cozy interiors.
- White makes a room feel larger and more spacious.
When it comes to choosing the color, don’t be afraid to be bold. More and more designs include dark, moody colors, painted ceilings and pops of color to create unique rooms with personality.
If you’re totally stuck, scroll through Pinterest to find color combinations that work for inspiration.
Texture & Pattern
Including texture and pattern is how top designers make a room feel inviting and interesting. A room design can feel sterile and cold without soft textiles and wall treatments, which is why they’re integral to any room design.
Here are a few basic tips for adding texture and pattern to your design:
- Balance the visual weight of these elements to make a room look put together.
- Direct light enhances texture and pattern, whereas soft light detracts from it. For darker rooms, use shiny or reflective textures to bounce the light around.
- High contrast patterns can be overwhelming. If you want to clash, make sure the story of the elements is still consistent.
- Heavy patterns make a room feel smaller, whereas simple patterns can make a room feel more spacious.
- Wall murals are an easy and affordable way to add personality to a room design without taking up space.
Furniture & Layout
When it comes to furniture, functionality is key. No matter how beautiful a room is, the room will become neglected if there are no clear walkways or usable pieces.
To figure out the best layout, create a template of your room and play around with furniture placement. There are tons of free online programs for this, or you could create a blueprint on paper.
- Be mindful of windows, doors, and vents – you don’t want to block these with bulky furniture.
- Make sure there are clear walkways throughout the space.
- Use large mirrors to add interest and bounce light around.
- Break larger rooms up into zones to make it easier to arrange furniture.
- Don’t be afraid to pull sofas and chairs into the center of the room to create more sociable layouts.
- Make one piece of furniture the focal point of each room, whether it’s a beautiful bed or an interesting sofa.
Lighting
The type of lighting you have in a room will drastically affect the room design. Darker rooms appear smaller and cozier, whereas brighter rooms feel spacious and airy.
Most people forget about lighting and rely on a central ceiling light in a room, but there are some interesting ways to incorporate lighting into your room design.
- Always take advantage of natural light by removing heavy treatments from windows.
- Include task lighting in functional rooms and mood lighting in sociable rooms.
- Strategically placed lamps create pockets of light and give an inviting feel.
- Point ceiling spotlights at walls instead of straight down to bounce light around and create the illusion of more space.
- Wall sconces elevate any interior and add visual interest.
Storage
This is usually the design feature that gets forgotten, but it’s what makes any room design functional. When designing your room, think about how much storage space you need and how you can incorporate that into the design.
If you have a small room, you’ll have to be clever with storage solutions. Remember, the more storage you have, the more stuff you’ll get to fill it, so don’t be afraid to declutter and reduce the amount you need to store first.
- Add a bookcase to create a mini library.
- Include a storage ottoman to use as storage and a beautiful stool or coffee table.
- Save much-needed space with nesting tables.
- If you have space, built-in storage looks bespoke and high-end.
- Make the most of alcoves with shelving.
- Choose a bed or sofa with hidden storage space.
- Keep clutter at bay with baskets or bins that match your interior scheme.
Window Treatments
Window treatments can feel intimidating. There are so many options, and it’s an expensive part of a room design to get wrong.
If you’re unsure which window treatments would work best with your room design, start with an inspiration board to get some ideas. Think about the texture, color, and material, as well as the size and functionality.
- If you need to block light, think about blackout blinds or thick curtains.
- For added privacy, Roman blinds help obscure windows without blocking the light.
- If your windows are hard to reach, think about blinds that are easy to close.
- Double-check your measurements to make sure your new window treatments fit perfectly.
- Curtains should just brush the floor and be hung high above the window to give the illusion of larger windows.
Finishing Touches
Once you have all the main concepts of your room design pinned down, it’s time to think about the finishing touches. These give a room personality and bring the entire scheme together.
Here are some of the top finishing touches interior designers use to give that professional look.
- Hang large-scale artwork on your walls.
- Add a tray to a coffee table or sideboard to create a vignette that draws the eye.
- Include candles for added interest – bonus points if they also smell wonderful.
- Add a few plants to breathe life into the room design.
- Use a room divider to give a soft partition.
- Bring in crystals for visual interest and a calming vibe.
- Personalize the room with your own photographs. But keep the frames the same color or add all black and white photos to keep the look consistent.
- Arrange your decor or display items in threes for a professional-looking finish.
Conclusion
No matter what your style, it’s easy to create a well-designed room by following some of these basic design tips. But the most important part is showcasing your personal style. Forget about trends or what is currently fashionable; instead, apply these design principles to your own style to create a stunning room you love being in.
