How to Develop an Interior Design Concept – 5 Basic Principles to Follow

What Is An Interior Design Concept?


An interior design concept is an idea that guides the design of any room, space, or building interior. It goes beyond selecting furniture, choosing styles, themes, and colors, or deciding what accessories go where. It is about creating a mood, a function, and a personality for residential and commercial interior spaces.

When an interior designer needs to develop a design concept, there are some simple and basic principles to follow. But, they must start with a preconceived idea. This idea is what lays the foundation for the visual components that make up part of the total design package. Without a concept, a designer cannot convey a vision.

Image source - viryabo@polyvore.com

How do Interior Designers Develop an Idea, Help Clients Visualize it, and Turn it Into a Reality?


To achieve success in any project, a design concept must consider three things:
1. Function
2. Versatility
3. Aesthetics (or attractiveness).

The design idea must be a well-thought-out solution that effectively brings these three together. While some clients know what they want or think they do, putting everything perfectly together is mostly beyond them. No matter how creative they may think they are, most still require interior design services to help them put every idea they have together.



Image used under license from 123rf.com


What Are The Five Basic Principles Required To Develop An Interior Design Concept?


Developing a great concept is not hard. There are no hard and fast rules about how things should be done (or not). However, these five basic principles are good to follow and utilize in most interior design situations for any design project ranging from designing a studio apartment to creating a restaurant interior or a 5-star hotel suite.

The fundamental principles needed to develop the design concept are:

1. Colour
2. Scale
3. Style
4. Space planning
5. Functionality

Although each value is crucial to a project, they are interrelated. Collectively, they all help create attractive, comfortable, functional, and inviting spaces. And because they need to be applied collectively, the result is a unified feel within the interior space.

1. Color

Color is a vital element. It is the fundamental principle that will tie a design together. Designers must choose a color scheme with thoughts about the effects they will create in the final look. Colors can affect moods, energies, and perception, so it is best to develop a color scheme that suits the purpose of the space and reflects the client's personality.

There are usually about four colors to use. Maybe five if you wish to create an eclectic style. Otherwise, more than four can result in garish looks. And for a minimalist look, using fewer than four colours is acceptable. However, the basic color scheme must consist of the following:
  1. A primary colour, which is the main hue.
  2. A secondary colour.
  3. Supplementary (complementary) colours.
Combine this group of colors effectively to bring beauty and enrichment to the room. Essentially, they should come as a mix of:
  • Solid colours
  • Patterns
  • Textures 

A beautiful combination of colors with yellow being the primary color.
Image used under license from 123rf.com


2. Scale

Scale is the second important aspect that ensures a design concept works out beautifully. Depending on the size and volume of a room(s), all objects placed within it must be related scale-wise.

Many DIY enthusiasts may need to learn how important it is to work with the right scale. This is where the expertise of a professional designer comes to play. When the scale of anything is at odds with everything around it, it will result in an unattractive space.

For instance, if you arrange large or oversized pieces in small spaces, the room will appear cramped and stifled. Even if you have the best colour mix and stylish furniture, you end up with an unappealing look if the furniture and other interior accessories are at cross-purposes, scale-wise.

A floor plan that is drawn to scale. Image used under license from 123rf.com

3. Style

Style is a set of characteristics that defines the appearance and feel of interior spaces and can be influenced by historical periods, cultural trends, or personal preferences. Even though every interior designer has a unique style to recommend, there are occasions when a client specifies what they desire.

For homemakers with a feel for interior design, the simple and somewhat popular theme is eclectic styling. Eclectic styles are generally informal and elicit comfortable and relaxed feelings. It is also one of the least complex styles any designer can develop.

Some popular interior design styles include:
  • Contemporary
  • Urban-Modern
  • Traditional
  • Rustic
  • Eclectic
  • Minimalist
  • Bohemian

Style should be considered when designing spaces meant to express a client’s personality, mood, and aesthetic preferences. Such interior spaces include living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms. Ultimately, the best interior design concept is one that balances function and style harmoniously.

Minimalist and stylish. Image used under license from 123rf.com


4. Space Plan

There must be thoughtful planning of space and functional zone allocations within each room. It does not matter whether the style is the best or the colour scheme is pleasant. The design concept will fail if items and objects are not placed to the best advantage. The following questions will identify the purpose of the interior space and help define its goals and requirements

1. What is its purpose?
2. What is its function?
3. Who will use it
4. How will it be used?
5. What are the needs and preferences of its users?

A good rule of thumb is to choose and decide on a focal point in the room. Once that is determined, placing primary elements like sofas, tables, cabinets, beds, and stools is a breeze. And with these primary elements in position, adding other enhancing secondary features and accessories is easy.

Space planning and zone allocation. Image used under license from 123rf.com

5. Functionality

One of the common questions in interior design is whether function precedes style. Although there is no conclusive answer to this question because clients may have different preferences and needs, and designers may have ideas of the best approach. But in all honesty, function should be a priority when designing spaces with specific purposes. Examples are kitchens, bathrooms, storage solutions, niches, and office spaces. For instance:
  • There must be solutions to storage issues because they are one of the most vital requirements in smaller homes and offices. With larger homes with closets, large wardrobe spaces, and built-in shelving, compartmentalizing is key. Also, structures must serve various functions. In such instances, aesthetics may take second place.
  • Components in a kitchen design necessitate an efficient arrangement so that its user can work and move effortlessly from one function to another.
  • Balconies should not be dumping spaces for broken down bicycles, discarded appliances, or other useless stuff. Make them functional and beautiful by converting them into indoor gardens. And if one is too small to bring the outdoors in, create vertical gardens instead.
  • Dead-end spaces are made functional in ways that are sometimes unthought of. Install decorative shelving, built-in cabinets, display stands, etc. Make them galleries of framed family photographs, plaques, trophies, and medals.

Turn a balcony into a garden. Image source - @viryabo creations

The Finishing Touches


Adding finishing touches is a more detailed topic but it is good to mention something about interior space detailing and accessorizing here.

Details and accessories are the finishing touches that complete the design process. They are what add interest, appeal, and charm to interiors. Lighting effects, area rugs, window treatments, wall art, pillows, aromatherapy essentials, indoor plants, and other decorative objects that enhance are examples of details and accessories. Choose finishing touches that complement the style, color scheme, and purpose.

Finishing touches - Rugs, wall art, etc... Image used under license from 123rf.com

Conclusion


Every professional interior designer must consider these basic principles if they desire successfully implemented projects. Whether the task is simple or complex, low cost or high budget, each aspect deserves due acknowledgement so that the final design results in an interior that is not only aesthetically pleasing but calming, versatile, and functional.



Book recommendations
Further reading

7 Ways to Change Your Living Room from Drab to Uplifting


You can change your living room from a drab to an uplifting space if you are fed up with its tired and dreary look. When you start to feel this way maybe it is time you consider an affordable but effective makeover.

You can plan to create a simple makeover especially if it’s not been budgeted for. Perhaps it’s a whim, something that hits you while sitting comfortably on your sofa watching TV. You look around the room and dislike the bland lacklustre or even dated look. It may have been a tastefully put-together concept a couple of decades ago, but it is definitely out of style.



 

If you feel this way about your living room, it is time to liven it up and make it an uplifting space. If you want a new look but don’t plan to spend much money, there are a few simple and budget-friendly things you can do that will be attractive and pleasing and mind-elevating.

To achieve this may involve adding some new features into the room, refurbishing old furniture, changing the colour of the central (focal) wall, or simply removing those things that add no aesthetic value to the living room.

Budget-Friendly Ways to Change the Look of Your Living Room


Transform your living room into an attractive space using any of the following budget-friendly ways. Some of them may inspire you.
 

1. Indoor Water Features


You can introduce an indoor water feature in the form of a table-top waterfall or a standalone (floor) waterfall. You can display one on your coffee table, mantelpiece, or a simple display stand. Standalone floor waterfalls are great indoor decor features that can be placed in vantage positions, making them serve as a focal point for the living room.

Wall-mounted waterfalls are also great additions to uninspiring rooms and can serve as focal points on feature walls of living rooms.

*Suggested budget: from $50
Distressed pots waterfalls - Indoor floor water fountain

2. Throw Pillows


Liven up a plain or dull sofa with brightly coloured throw pillows or cushions to introduce perky catchy colours into your sitting room. Use cheerful colours like fuchsias, turquoises, oranges, mustards, sunny yellows, lime, etc. You can use a mix of any of these colours as long as they complement the sofa’s upholstery fabric.

For instance, use a mix of small, medium and large patterned pillows with a block colour upholstery fabric and if your sofa is patterned, use pillows with solid bright colours. Ensure you add some pillows made with a couple of different textures.

Bold bright colours and patterns in accent pillows are a great way to brighten up space with strong colour shades without having to add expensive décor items to the room. And you can make them inexpensively by buying fabric pieces to make your own pillows.

*Suggested budget: from $40





3. Global Design


An inexpensive look that is quite popular today is one that’s referred to as “Global Design”. It is a trending look that features a collection of all your mementoes, collectables, art, and pottery collected over the years. Your collective display may include things you’ve collected from travels and tours or they may be items acquired through inheritance.

They can all be arranged on a low but sizeable coffee table, displayed on bookshelves (without the books) or on purpose-built display stands. Your book collections, vintage magazines, framed photographs, earthenware, art pieces, and even colourful throw rugs can be strategically displayed in ways that tell your guests the family history.

*Suggested budget: from $75

4. Wall Decals and Stickers


This is one of the cheapest ways to transform any room. You can totally alter the look of your interior space with decals and wall stickers. Choose any décor theme or simply apply inspirational quotes. From traditional to contemporary themes, wall decal stickers are just the right decorations to turn your living room into an exciting space. 

The designs available are endless and include skyscape themes that can give the illusion that you live in a penthouse, picturesque scenes of exotic beaches that will turn your living room into an enchanting seaside getaway, and ski resort themes with mountain-top cabins surrounded by pine trees.

*Suggested budget: from $100

 
Wall decals can transform your interior

5. Upgrade Old Furniture


Finding old furniture, upgrading them, and adding them to your living room décor can add a new and stylish dimension to your sitting room. It can be an old furniture piece or pieces that you found at a garden or garage sale. Finds include worn antique tables, unusual floor or table lamps, a period cabinet, end tables, corner units, etc…

You can apply some creativity in turning the ‘old to new’ by adding or replacing legs, replacing all hardware, adding a little style to make it complement other furniture and furnishings, spray-painting with a complementary colour, or lacquering to a high sheen. You can also use whatever you get for a totally different purpose. If you can bargain well and nicely, you’ll get most pieces for a song.

*Suggested budget: from $50

6. Create a Gallery Wall


Adding a gallery wall is a great way to cheaply update a living room. It will not only add interest to a blank wall, but it will also give a room a much-needed personality. You can use framed family photos, framed textile prints, vintage record jackets, framed artwork, black and white prints, framed bits of wallpaper, or anything framed. It is a good idea to have them all framed in different frame colours, shapes and sizes. You can arrange them symmetrically or asymmetrically in a group or in clusters.

*Suggested budget: from $99


7. Renovate your Bookcases


If you have a bookcase in your living room, you can jazz it up and turn it into an artsy piece in a number of ways. Line it inside and out with hand-painted wallpaper, chequered wall fabrics, mirror tiles, or even stick-on decals. Try removing the middle shelves to create a display space for tall glassware, a large bowl of seashells, a fishbowl, a plant terrarium, ceramic ware, sculpture, and elaborate metal artwork. 

Regularly switch around what you display on the bookcase.

*Suggested budget: from $60





You can give your living room a new look within 24 hours, cheaply and affordably. If you can implement at least a couple of the living room upgrade ideas above, you will succeed in changing your living area from dreary to cheery.


Window and sliding door decals

 

Other Living Room Upgrade Ideas


  • Add plenty of greenery with house plants. Whether you use natural or faux plants, greenery is a great way to add nature, colour and shape to a living room. Place a large potted plant or two at the edges of your room and add smaller plants to shelves, mantelpieces, windowsills, and other available surfaces. 
  • If you can, invest in a new floor rug. A new colourful or textured rug can have just as much of an impact as a new sofa. 
  • If you don’t intend to spend any money, swap furniture and furnishings around the house instead of buying new items. For instance, you can switch the bedroom rug with your current living room rug or bring your accent chair from the bedroom to the living room and replace it with one of the sofa set singles. You’ll be giving two rooms a revamp. 
  • You can use window art to transform your living room and make it appear as though you are looking out to some great scenic view; a beautiful garden, a patio pool, or a wonderful landscape. Window decals are best to use if you don’t have a nice view when looking out through your window. 
  • Never underestimate the transformative powers of wall painting. Create a feature wall with paint. It is cheap, fast to apply, and very effective and since you are painting only one wall a different colour, invest in a colour that works fabulously with the rest of the interior. 
  • Paint the floorboards. It won't cost you too much and it will completely transform the look of your space. The colour you choose is up to you but if you are interior décor savvy and quite bold, you will love the trending black floorboards.


Further reading:
How to Develop an Interior Design Concept - 5 Basic Principles
How to Style an Entrance Hallway
10 Ways to Add Charm to Your Bedroom

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