| It is often difficult for people starting with Interior | | | | you from making errors in terms of available space |
| Design to know where to start. Good interior design | | | | before you make expensive purchases. You can also |
| or style mainly arises out of a feeling, flair or an | | | | to use the floor plan to try out various combinations |
| intuition for colour, pattern and scale. For this to be | | | | of placements of pieces. A useful tip here is to draw |
| rewarding or pleasing the end result must be | | | | your floor plan to scale on a large piece of paper and |
| functional, practical and stylish. | | | | cut your main pieces out of smaller blocks of |
| To get you going with achieving these goals, here | | | | cardboard. This way you can move your pieces of |
| are a couple of practical tips: | | | | furniture around on the plan in various configurations |
| ~ Before decorating, start a scrap book. ~ | | | | and can visualize the layout that much easier. Of |
| Collect samples of colors as well as photographs of | | | | course this is a low-tech option, there are much more |
| rooms that you like. Analyze your scrapbook to | | | | high-tech solutions available for your PC, but this |
| determine styles and colors that are your | | | | approach can be amazingly effective. |
| preferences. Even if you do not intend decorating the | | | | ~ Start thinking about the details. ~ |
| whole house straight away, it is good practice to | | | | These are always the elements that get the least |
| draw up a color schedule, listing all the colors you | | | | attention since the details are not as exciting to |
| intend to use. This forces you to devise a scheme | | | | decide upon such as, for example, the color scheme. |
| that works in the whole, rather than a piecemeal, | | | | However, the details are vitally important and can |
| room-by-room solution. | | | | make or break a scheme. They create a hidden life |
| ~ Plan your space ~ | | | | establishing relationships between different objects |
| Whatever the size of a room, space must be | | | | regulating the effect of competing centres of |
| organised carefully to provide distinct areas for | | | | attention, introducing a sense of rhythm and |
| different uses, but at the same time remain a | | | | strengthening line. Again, start collecting samples and |
| harmonious whole. Planning is essential and in a sense | | | | photos of trimmings, door handles, light fittings and |
| you are obliged to finish the room first before you | | | | so forth. |
| can start it, a catch-twenty-two situation. This does | | | | Not the greatest skill with color nor the most careful |
| not mean that you have to buy everything at once | | | | choice of accessories and trimmings may prevent the |
| but you should have a clear picture of the end result. | | | | result from looking flat and lifeless. |
| I prefer the collect-as-you-go method since this way | | | | Surprisingly maybe, a sense of humour is an essential |
| everything tells a story reflecting the interesting | | | | element in good design. Humour, flair and surprise |
| habitat of complex dynamic human beings. | | | | these are all ways of describing the happy accident, |
| ~ Draw a floor plan ~ | | | | the odd combination of objects or the quirky touch |
| Draw a floor plan and place signature pieces. This will | | | | which makes a room a living interior rather than a |
| help you visualize the layout and organize your space | | | | studio set. |
| as mentioned in the previous point. This will prevent | | | | |