Are you looking to spruce up your interior design? There are certain elements to consider when it comes to transforming your space and, ultimately, creating a healthy living environment.

There are seven elements involved in interior design that allow you to create the most perfect, well-balanced space that satisfies anyone who has an eye for detail.

In the first instalment of this blog series, we’ll discuss four of these interior design elements to get you on your way to creating the perfect home.

1. Colour

Colour psychology is a powerful interior design tool that can impact your mood upon entering a room. For example, whilst pink is closely connected to love and femininity, colours such as blue and red are extremely bold and emanate confidence and exuberance. So, it’s important to consider what atmosphere you want to create before deciding upon a colour.

Colour also has an impact on the space of a room. It can be manipulated to make a room feel bigger or draw attention to a particular area. It’s all about striking the perfect balance between light and dark hues. That is, no room should focus exclusively on one bold colour. This can make your interior feel frantic and overwhelming.

When it comes to using colour, remember that there should be a common thread that draws all colours together. We recommend using the 60-30-10 rule when it comes to combining colours in interior design.

First, choose a dominant shade that will take up approximately 60 per cent of the space. Then, choose a bolder shade to complement this and have it encompass around 30 per cent of the room. The last shade is your accent colour which is typically the boldest and therefore only occupies around 10 per cent of your space. Be sure to offset this bold colour by using more neutral or warm tones as your primary colour.

2. Form

Form is perhaps the most underrated element of interior design yet arguably the most important. In essence, form is what brings your space feel dynamic and helps bring its character – initiated through the use of colours – to life.

Form involves the use of different shapes that give your space a three-dimensional feel. Some shapes include:

- Organic: These are shapes that exist in nature - such as shrubs, flowers or trees – and are outlined in your home.
- Geometric: This refers to manmade shapes that encompass non-living forms.
- Closed forms: These shapes are self-contained and aren’t visible to the naked eye.
- Open forms: These forms are visible and available for you to look at.

It’s important to achieve balance and harmony when it comes to form and this is usually accomplished by enhancing it through colours, textures, and patterns. For example, light can be used to define certain forms and accentuate them through shadows on surfaces.

3. Light

There are two light forms to grapple in interior design – natural light and artificial light. Light should be used as both a decorative element and to create ambience. The decorative element comes through artificial light forms, such as wall-mounted fixtures, portable lights, and ceiling-mounted fixtures.

There are three main types of lighting and they include:

- Accent lighting: This is used for dramatic touch or to highlight certain features, and includes spotlights and up lights.
- Task lighting: This lighting is used for practical purposes, such as reading, working and is usually found in kitchens under cabinets.
- General ambient lighting: This is the main light form for any room and involves, floor lamps, ceiling fixtures and recessed lights.

Be sure to consider the purpose of a room before deciding on what light to use. For example, kitchens usually benefit from task and ambient lighting whilst recessed lights are more suitable for bedrooms.

4. Print and pattern

Looking to infuse some personality into your space? Prints and patterns come in several varieties and help you emphasise the mood within a room. Some interior designers choose to build around patterns when it comes to starting a scheme.

In interior design, patterns and prints are used to add visual weight to your space. To achieve this, you need to balance your use of patterns so as not to make an area look too busy. You can incorporate it through statement furniture, throw pillows or smaller, decorative items.

It’s important that you tie all your patterns together through colour, even if it’s present in the minutest of details. You could use patterns that match colours within a painting on your wall. You could use bright geometric patterns to enliven a plain colour scheme – using it as your 10 per cent colour. This adds a layer of sophistication to your space that won’t go unnoticed.

Now that you’re aware of some important interior design elements, you can start envisioning your own dynamic space that enhances your mood and feels cosy. Get in touch with Jarvis Interiors today - interior design specialists who are dedicated to improving lives through colour, sound and light therapy.