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Creating a beautiful, functional, and comfortable home environment requires thoughtful planning and design. Follow these key home decor principles when setting up the interior spaces in your home.
Home Decor Principles
1. Focus on Functionality First
Before selecting any decorative elements, first consider the function of each room.
- How will you use the space?
- What activities happen there?
Make sure the layout and furnishings suit the intended purpose. For instance, a home office needs surfaces for working and storage for supplies. A living room is for relaxing, so include plush seating. Analyse how you live in the space.
2. Choose a Cohesive Style
Decide on an overarching interior design style that you love and stick to it. This creates cohesiveness throughout the home. Read up on different styles like modern, traditional, farmhouse, coastal and choose one that resonates with your personality and tastes. All the finishes, furniture, textiles and decorative accents in a room should work together within the style framework you select. This brings harmony to the space.
3. Incorporate Your Favourite Colours
Colour has a huge impact on the feel of a room. Incorporate your preferred colours through paint on walls, upholstery, rugs, pillows and accessories. Just stick to 2-4 key colours in one space. For example, use a neutral base colour on walls, then layer in pops of brighter accent colours that you love. Consider colours that soothe or energise you.
4. Establish Focal Points
Every room needs a focal point – the first thing your eye is drawn to when entering. This might be a statement coffee table from OK Home Store in the living room or an artistic headboard in the bedroom. Anchor the space with a striking focal element like a textured rug under a seating area, a large piece of wall art or an ornate mirror above a fireplace.
5. Curate Meaningful Artwork
Carefully choose artwork that makes your heart sing. Select pieces that reflect your personality and interests. Mix in family photos, favourite travel pics, botanical prints, abstract paintings or gallery canvases. Group together complementary pieces over a sofa or console to create a gallery wall for maximum visual impact.
6. Layer Lighting
Proper lighting transforms a space both functionally and aesthetically. Combine general overhead lighting with task lighting and accent lighting. Layer table and floor lamps for a soft glow. Use dimmers to control brightness. Install sconces, pendants and under-cabinet lights. Accent with candlelight.
7. Add Greenery and Florals
Plants and flowers instantly liven up any decor. Place potted plants in corners, on shelves and end tables. Float blooms in a bowl on the dining table. Include leafy plants on your patio and front entrance. Greenery brings warmth and life to a room.
8. Select Comfortable Seating and Sleep Areas
We spend lots of time lounging and sleeping at home, so choose pieces that prioritise comfort. Arrange plush sofas and armchairs that you can really relax into. Test out mattresses to find one with your ideal firmness. Outfit guest bedrooms comfortably. Maximise coziness with soft throws and plush pillows.
9. Design Display and Storage
Achieve a balanced look through a mix of open and closed storage like shelves, cabinets, bins and baskets. Display treasured books, collectibles and travel mementos. Maximise storage with organisational pieces like a bench seat with hidden compartments or ottomans with lift tops. Keep surfaces clutter-free.
10. Create Intimate Spaces
Use area rugs, furniture arrangement and lighting to define separate activity zones in an open floor plan. For example, demarcate a reading nook with a rug, comfy chair and floor lamp. Arrange furniture to create intimate conversation areas. Use curtains to delineate a dining space. Pay attention to flow from one space to another.
11. Mix Textures and Materials
Introduce visual and tactile variety through layering of textiles. Combine smooth and rough, soft and hard textures. Try natural fibre rugs, cotton throws, linen drapes and wool pillows alongside polished wood furniture, marble accents and metal finishes. This adds depth and dimension to the decor.
12. Allow Form to Follow Function
Before factoring in aesthetics, make sure your furnishings fit your lifestyle. Provide adequate storage, work surfaces, seating capacity and sleep spaces for family members. Select durable, easy-care fabrics if you have kids or pets. Set up zones that support activities like cooking, reading, exercising or working from home.
With some thoughtful planning and design choices inspired by these home decor principles, you can craft interior spaces that look beautiful while supporting your lifestyle and bringing joy. Decorate based on your tastes and how you want to live in your home.
Also Read: Spaces That Leave A Mark: Top 7 Key Principles of Interior Designing