How to Think Like an Interior Designer Part 6: Texture

The next element we will be discussing in interior design is texture.  This element is unique because it is equally important to feel the surface of the objects being used as it is for them to be visually interesting.  Striking the right balance in textures will give the space you are working with a more complete feeling.  This element tends to be overlooked since there are so many other things to take into consideration when starting a design project but skipping this step would do a disservice to your decoration plans.

 

Choosing the proper textures to contrast with a room’s furnishings will add dimension to the space.  Not only is it important to be able to feel the materials you are using, but you also must consider how they appear when you aren’t touching them.  Depending on how you choose to decorate your space, you can make the room feel formal or cozy, warm or cool. 

 

For example, smooth surfaces can make a room feel light and sleek, but this also causes it to lack warmth.  Adding a rougher texture helps provide visual contrast while simultaneously incorporating the cozy feeling that’s missing. Be sure not to overdo it with different textures.  No more than 3 should be placed in the same area.  You want to display intention with your design and too many textures will confuse that intention. 

 

Texture is especially useful when dealing with a color palette that doesn’t contain much variety in the tints and shades being used.  Choosing contrastingly colored textures will not only add a pop of color but it will help provide a focal point to the room. 

 

Texture can be seen in every aspect of a space so don’t limit yourself to believing that this element is only obvious using accessories.  Think exposed wooden beams, tufted arm chairs, raised patterned wallpaper, marble fireplaces, tile flooring, wall tapestries, intricate chandeliers.  The possibilities are endless. 

 

No matter which items you choose to accomplish your goal, keep in mind that your choices should remain practical.  Some objects may be considered good talking pieces for when guests encounter them, but if they do not add to the overall function of the room, then consider incorporating a different texture.  Making the right choices for the space will give it a polished and welcoming look.

How to Think Like an Interior Designer: Shape

In previous posts, the idea of shape was mentioned.  Form is derived from shapes and should be expanded on to deepen your knowledge of the important part they play in interior design.  While form is three-dimensional, the shapes that create it are two-dimensional, simply lacking depth.

 

The post on form discussed how shapes are separated into geometric and organic; the former being man-made with distinct outlines such as a rectangle or triangle and the latter inspired by nature with less distinct borders such as the shape of a fruit or a plant.  A third type of shape used in design, which can be considered an offshoot of organic shapes, is known as abstract.  This is a simplified version of organic shapes that are easily recognized by the viewer.  For example, a stick figure is an abstract version of a person, but we can recognize what the design is meant to represent.

 

Shapes can further be described as positive and negative and well as static and dynamic.  A positive shape is solid while a negative shape has open space inside or around it.  Positive shapes appear more stable and carry more visual weight while negative shapes appear to be lighter and more fragile.  Describing a shape as static also conveys a sense of stability and repose while dynamic shapes convey movement.

 

The six basic shapes at the center of interior design are Circle, Square/Rectangle, Triangle, Cross, Spiral and Curve.  Circles, with their lack of beginning and end give the viewer a sense of infinite movement and possibility.  Squares and rectangles, with the latter being the most popularly used, represent stability and conventionality.  Their horizontal lines are parallel with the Earth, giving a sense of being grounded.  Triangles are a symbol of power when incorporated into a design right-side up with a strong base to support it, but if this shape is turned upside-down it can give the opposite effect of instability to the space.  Crosses, which can be used in a “t” or “x” pattern, provide balance and are not automatically seen as a religious symbol when it comes to interior design.  Vertical crosses convey strength while horizontal ones provide a sense of calm.  Spiral shapes provide natural movement and signify growth, change and creativity.  Finally, curved lines bring softness to harder, more distinct lines.  They have more movement than circle or spiral designs since their borders are more free-flowing and unexpected automatically drawing the viewer’s eye to a new region.

How to Think Like an Interior Designer: Form

The room above contains both open forms (recessed lights, chandelier, greenery) and closed forms (curtains, headboard, crown molding).

Throughout this series we’ve discussed the concept of space and line. These two principles are responsible for adding tone and character to a room’s interior. However, both elements lend to the concept of form. Line determines the space and form of an object.

 

Shapes Vs. Form

The concepts of shape and form are very similar. In fact, it can be difficult to differentiate between the two. How are these concepts different from each other? In interior design, shapes are often two dimensional. They have both width and height. On the other hand, forms are three dimensional objects that take up space. For instance, a speaker box is an example of form. The speaker consists of several shapes specifically squares that are put together to create form. Yes, form is solid mass that can be viewed from various angles.

 

Form can be created by combining at least two shapes. This element can be heightened using texture, color and pattern.

 

Types of Form

There are two types of form: geometric and natural. Geometric form is typically manmade while natural form is organic. Form can also be categorized as either open or closed. Open forms are objects that have a light and airy form, leading the eye away from the center and into the room.  Closed forms are heavier and dense, leading the eye into the object, creating a feeling of permanence and stability.

 

Importance of Form in Design

The use of form is essential for creating a well-decorated space. When form is used correctly it can create a sense of balance and great visual interest.  What are some ways you can implement form into your home’s decor? Form can be seen in your furnishing choices, decorative accessories and other objects that can provide functionality. Try to classify your furnishings and décor into open and closed forms! 

 

Without form a room would be flat. Sculptural type form is a great way to add drama to a space. Good form can be successfully achieved by taking into consideration both scale and proportion, which will be touched upon in future posts.  Form should be evenly distributed throughout a room. However, using too many unrelated types of forms in a space can be overwhelming and cause confusion in the design.

 

When selecting furnishings and decorative elements keep in mind that form has the power to transform a space!

How to Think Like an Interior Designer: Lines

In interior design, lines are separated into four categories: vertical, horizontal, angular and curved.  Each type of line can give a room its ambience by simple placement alone.  Therefore, it is a critical element when deciding how to move forward with your decoration plans.  Too much or too little of a single type of line can steer you in the wrong direction, so let’s get to know what feelings each one evokes when expressed through design.

 

Vertical lines help bring height to a room and give it a more formal look.  Floor to ceiling drapery is a perfect example of using vertical lines to enhance a space by making the ceiling appear taller.  Wallpaper with a vertical stripe design is another method used as well.  Vertical lines can give an imposing look to a design through architecture such as columns outside or inside of a home.  These lines draw the eye upward and add elegance to the space, but too many vertical decor choices can make it appear aggressive. Mixing in other types of lines will help mute a look that can become oppressive if not reined in.

 

Horizontal lines help soften the vertical elements in the room.  This can be done through the horizontal shape of a coffee table, couch, or countertop.  Since they are parallel to the ground, horizontal lines evoke more of an informal, calm feeling.  Incorporating these lines in a room will bring down the intensity of your vertical choices.  They draw the eye all the way around the room, providing flow not just in that space, but throughout the home. 

 

Angular lines can be broken down into two categories: diagonal and zigzag.  These lines are great for adding visual interest to a room and give the space some movement.  Chevron and herringbone designs are a good example of regular angular lines and zigzag designs with less obvious symmetry are considered irregular angular lines.  Choosing an irregular design will lend an unexpected look to the room simply through its lack of obvious symmetry.

 

Curved lines soften the appearance of other lines and provide an aesthetically pleasing look to any room.  Studies have found that curvilinear decor enhances the viewer’s mood and give them a sense of safety and comfort.  Good examples of curvilinear design are a half-moon table placed in an entryway or a spiral staircase.  Circular accent rugs or light fixtures are also easy ways to add curves to your living space.  Overly curvy interior choices can give the impression of being too ornamental, so striking a good balance between straight and curvy lines is key.

How to Think Like an Interior Designer: Space

Space is extremely important when it comes to interior design.  Planning ahead is essential.  The first step in planning should be to familiarize yourself with the space.  From the floors to the windows to the ceilings, anything that can be enhanced stylistically and utilized in the most functional way to benefit the room is all considered to be under the umbrella of “space”. 

 

Mapping out your design ensures that everything in the room fits together properly and that any problem areas can be addressed and worked to their best advantage.  Even the space that is left open needs to be considered.  Walkways between pieces of furniture need to be properly spaced as well as dining chairs or reclining sofa seats to provide for range of movement.

 

This may all seem overwhelming at first, but remember to take it one step at a time.  First, think about the function of the space. While style is important, if the room cannot function the way you want it to then being stylish won’t matter.  If the room is a high traffic area, think about what you can do to make sure it does not become too cluttered.  Make a list of all the items currently taking up space and decide if any of them can be relocated. 

 

Assess the room’s lighting next.  If it’s satisfactory then you can play around with the idea of updating the fixtures and bulbs for your artificial light sources.  If you have proper natural light as well, consider what window treatment will flatter the space best.  If either one of these light sources is not to your liking, then play around with different methods that can help brighten up the room.  You want the design you are planning so meticulously to be showcased in the best way possible.

 

Lastly, we come to style.  Now that you know the feel of the room and have a running inventory of the items that will be taking up residence in it, you can decide the best presentation for them.  This is where you play around with your plan and move items back and forth to see which configurations works best for you.  It is also a good time to decide whether you want to create a focal point in the room.  It’s always a good idea to add a feature that draws the viewer’s eye upon entry.

How to Think Like an Interior Designer

There are certain to be times in your life when you visit a new place and find yourself admiring its design elements.  You may not be an interior designer, but you can still feel how much work and intention have gone into setting the scene for the spot you are standing in.  You catch yourself trying to discover every little detail and seek out every nook and cranny until you’ve uncovered its secrets. 

Sometimes you may wish you could take some of that appreciation home with you and implement even a little bit of the looks you admire right into your own living space.  For the average person without a degree in interior design it can all seem a bit overwhelming to understand.  Your mind is not yet trained to go to the same places as someone who makes their living from beautifying different types of rooms and buildings—but it can be! 

Through our in-depth series, we hope to enlighten you on the elements and principles of design so you can recognize what attracts you to arrangements and how they each play their part in making a space functional and beautiful.  You won’t be earning a degree by the end of it, but don’t let that stop you from putting all your new knowledge to good use!

 

With each installment, we will try to give you as much information as you need to understand why every element and principle is so important when you are making design decisions.     Understanding how these concepts work together is the first step to thinking like an interior designer and successfully implementing what you have learned into your home.  Through easy to understand descriptions and use of recognizable examples, we hope to better equip you on your journey to bringing your design dreams to life. 

 

If you want to immerse yourself in the world of interior design, then grab your pen and paper and get ready to learn! When you’re done, you will be the one your friends turn to for decorating tips. Don’t worry, we won’t tell them how you became such an expert! Ready? Let’s go!

A Quick Look at Interior Design

Whether you have your mind set on redecorating a room or revamping your entire house knowing the basics of interior design is essential. Did you know that the basics of interior design is centered around the following elements:

 

Texture – the feel of an object

Color – sets the mood and creates the illusion

Form – the shape of objects

Mass – the bulk of furniture pieces

Line – symmetry or direction of objects

 

Here are some basic interior decorating tips.

 

Try arranging in odd numbers.

Arranging furniture and accessories in odd numbered groups can create a look that’s aesthetically appealing. However, this does not mean symmetry should be thrown out the window. When arranging furniture and accessories in odd groups consider what objects go together to create a cohesive look.

 

Select classic furniture pieces.

You’ll never go wrong when you purchase, furnishing that is classic. Yes, classic furniture is timeless and never goes out of style. When you’re ready to change your look, switch out the accessories.

 

Choosing colors to set the mood

As previously mentioned, color is what creates the illusion. It also sets the desired mood or tone for the entire space. The psychological effects of color are numerous making this an important step. In interior design, color can be used in paint for the walls as well as accessories.

 

Mix up lighting sources.

The lighting scheme is crucial to setting the ambience of s room. You can use natural lighting during the daytime to open a space. At night, you can dim the lights and make use of accent lamps.

 

Yes, when developing a interior design scheme for your home the sky’s the limit. Incorporating the basics of decorating will ensure that everything is correctly arranged.

 

 

Special Guest Bathroom Design

guest-bath-vanity-webThe guest bathroom generally gets the least amount of attention in a home. It’s the smallest room in your house, and your focus when you’re planning your new home is on your kitchen first, and then on your master bathroom and other areas where your family will be spending a lot of time. It makes sense to place the guest bath at the end of your list of priorities.

But if you think about it, chances are almost every visitor to your home will see your guest bathroom at some point. So it has a direct affect on how they view your home. And this is actually the most cost-effective room to create design drama, because the space is so small. A minimum investment can provide the maximum design impact. Let’s take a look at some of the guest bathroom designs in recent Fulton Home models to get some ideas of approaches you might want to take to give your guest bath some extra style.

First Impressions:basha-legacy-powder-room-3-web

Think about what your guest bathroom will look like from the hallway. Even if your visitors don’t actually use the bathroom, they will probably walk past and glance in. That first impression will have an effect on the entire hallway.

In this photo to the right, the eye is automatically drawn to the copper artwork on the far wall. Other features such as the tile and the mini-chandelier come into focus later. Altogether this is a luxurious and well-integrated guest bathroom.

This first bathroom involves a serious investment in options to create a feeling of luxury. This was appropriate as it was part of the Legacy series of homes, which was a luxury line. But you don’t need to invest as much in options as was spent in this model to create drama.

view-from-hall-web

Take a look at the guest bathroom to the left. The vanity is nice-looking but fairly straightforward with a sink embedded in the countertop. The tub and surround are a solid surface which is less expensive than tile. But the tile chosen for the flooring and the coordinated tile inset added to the solid surface in the tub surround makes this bathroom pop.

In this case creativity and thoughtful style take the place of expensive options to make this bathroom stand out. Add an interesting coordinating shower curtain and some towels to emphasize the contrast and you have a guest bathroom that shows your personality without a big investment.

Lighting:basha-legacy-powder-room-2

Because of its small size, smaller light fixtures can have a big punch in a guest bathroom. And if you want to take a chance with a different look, a guest bath is a great space for experimenting. The simple wall sconce on the right adds a touch of charm in a guest bathroom. After all, this is not a space where you need bright lights, and a gentle glow is flattering when people look in the mirror.

guest-bath4-web

 

 

The photo on the left shows another fun way to use lighting in a guest bathroom. By adding a light under the vanity, the room doesn’t have a blinding glare when a guest hits the switch, and the look is unusual and interesting. In this case the sink is also translucent – notice the photo at the top of this blog – so the light also makes the sink glow. This choice gives you the opportunity to add some drama to your guest bathroom while not taking up any additional space.

Tile Trim:basha-legacy-powder-room-1

Whether you choose a simple row of tile to outline your vanity or expand your tile choices to cover an entire wall, tile has a special place in many bathrooms. In the photo to the right you can get a closer look at the Legacy bathroom we visited above. In this case a full wall of tile is complemented with a rich row of glass tile trimmed with a darker border just above the vanity, serving as a backsplash. It provides the feeling of wainscoting and pulls every element in this room together. The border also adds some welcome contrast.vanity-cropped-web

You don’t need to use this much tile to have a design impact in a guest bathroom. Take a look at the vanity on the left. The countertop uses a simple tile pattern to create a charming rustic feel. Then a six-inch backsplash of narrow rectangular tile picks up the tones of the vanity’s wood finish to create an integrated design element that makes this guest bath memorable. The oil-rubbed bronze hardware with its rustic flavor makes so much sense with this look.

Finishing Touches:bath-2-web

Don’t stop with the design elements. Once you move in, take the time to find the right art and accessories to complete the look in your guest bathroom. In the photo above, the design of the bathroom is enhanced by the choice of shower curtain, towels, art and accessories.

Notice that although the design itself is neutral, it left the homeowner open to introduce color into the room. By bringing in orange-red and the grey-blue, the neutral elements actually connect with the color palette. While you don’t need to be afraid to pull color into your design choices, if you would rather keep your permanent options neutral, think about what colors you will want to bring in with more temporary elements later. You may want to bring some of those colors with you to your design appointment.

Above all with a guest bathroom, have fun! It’s the smallest room in your home so it’s OK to take a few chances. And those extras aren’t going to break the bank with the minimum square footage involved. So as you wander through the Fulton Design Center, if you spot a special sink, faucet, tile design or light fixture you can’t resist, why not consider the guest bath for its home?

 

Bringing Autumn Home

48429825 - autumn decoration accessories stored in a wooden compartment.

It’s challenging facing Autumn in Arizona if you’re originally from another part of the country. For many of us who originated in states with four seasons, this time of year always promised chillier weather, crisp evenings and the start of fall leaves turning.

But if you’re new to Arizona and used to digging out your sweaters and crockpots to make chili and your mom’s chicken soup, it may seem strange to face the fact that here in the middle of September we’re all still wearing shorts every day. But for those of us who have been here a while, we have developed some habits to make it feel at least a little bit like fall. Here are a few suggestions:

Showcase fall colors: Use table runners, placemats, or add some pillows and throws on your sofa to pull some of the colors of autumn into your home. Yes, you’ll still see bright greens outside, but you can add gold, rust and brown to your interiors.

Bring your autumn accessories out: Pick up a few small pumpkins, gourds, pine cones or whatever takes your fancy. If you want you can even go to a hobby shop for some branches with silk autumn leaves. Then have at it on coffee and side tables. Make your home look like you’ve been wandering outside and brought some gleanings in from the woods.

Fix some cocoa: OK, it may still be too warm for that chili recipe, but a mug of hot cocoa with a few marshmallows might be a nice preview of the treats you’ll enjoy in the cooler days to come. After all, our evenings really are starting to cool down. And eventually we will get to see some leaves turn and drop… in December!

The Fun of the Fulton Design Center

fulton-design-centerWhen you’re choosing your home builder, the model homes are only a starting point. It’s important to see what a builder provides to allow you to make your home your own. A rich selection of options makes the difference between a stock home and a home that feels fully customized. With the Fulton Design Center, you have 13,000 square feet of choices.

Take the time to review the kitchen vignettes. They give you a wide selection of styles and moods, providing a good conceptual overview of what different kitchens will look like when finished. Not sure what you want in a bathroom? Just wander through the bath section to get ideas.

The most recently updated area is the smart home section, where you can learn about the latest in security systems, whole-house sound and home theater choices. The Fulton Design Center is regularly updated so you have a chance to see and select the latest in home options.

A range of kitchen appliances are on display, giving you the opportunity to explore which type of refrigerator or oven you would prefer. Be sure to check out the awesome Bertolini Gas ranges – they quickly become the focal point in any chef’s kitchen!

We all dream of creating the perfect home. Thanks to the Fulton Design Center, that dream can really happen. Visit during one of the browse nights and see for yourself. The Design Center is open the first and third Thursdays of every month from 5 to 8 p.m.