3 essential ingredients that are vital for crafting functional and stunning spaces
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- by Kaya Ramesh
For every project we work on, there are 3 essential ingredients that take us to outstanding results, bespoke to our clients and their home. That’s the layout, colour scheme and lighting and last but not least the furniture and décor. We work through these in this particular order so we can lay the foundations that takes our clients to the final and desired results.
Layout
The right layout is crucial for any room because it directly impacts its functionality, aesthetics, flow and overall experience as you use the room on a daily basis. Here are some key reasons why:
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- Optimal space usage: A well-planned layout ensures effective usage of the available space. It considers factors such as the room’s size, shape, and foot traffic flow, allowing for an arrangement that maximises functionality and minimises wasted space. No dead space, no over crowed areas.
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- Functionality: The layout determines how easily people can move within the room and access its various elements. A thoughtful arrangement takes into account the room’s purpose, the members of the family and their abilities and the activities that will take place within it, ensuring that furniture, lighting, appliances, and other elements are positioned to facilitate a good flow, accessibility, and usability.
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- Visual balance: The layout plays an important role in achieving visual balance within a room. It considers the placement of furniture, decor, and architectural features to create a pleasing composition. A well-balanced layout can enhance the overall aesthetics of the room, making it appealing, welcoming and cosy.
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- Mood and atmosphere: The layout influences the mood and atmosphere of a room. By carefully arranging furniture, lighting, and other design elements, a well-designed layout can create a desired ambience, whether it’s cosy and intimate, open and airy, or functional and productive.
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- Furniture size: The layout will help determine the correct size of furniture you will need for the room so you don’t have to make mistakes in purchasing pieces that are too big or too small. This will save you from regrets and cut back on the overwhelm when looking at all the choices. It will help narrow down the options quickly.
Colour scheme and lighting
Deciding on a colour scheme and the types of lighting you need will help hone into a style that’s cohesive and well brought together. Here are some key aspects as to how:
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- Establishes mood and atmosphere: Colours have the power to evoke emotions and set the mood within a room. They can create various atmospheres, such as calm and serene, vibrant and energetic, or sophisticated and elegant. By carefully selecting a colour scheme that aligns with the desired mood and atmosphere as well as how you want to feel in each space, you can create spaces that evoke specific emotions and enhances the overall experience for you and your guests.
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- The right lighting for your use: Observing how much natural light you are receiving, and when you are using a room will allow you to decide whether you need additional lighting and most importantly, the type of lighting you’ll need. Think about what’s lacking in order to decide on what needs to be brought in newly. Do you need soft and low lighting for your evening reads? Do you need bright and flooding lighting for craft?
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- Brings everything together with cohesiveness: A well-thought-out colour scheme helps to create visual cohesion and unity within a space. By coordinating colours throughout different elements such as walls, furniture, window dressings, flooring, and accessories, you can achieve a harmonious and balanced look. A cohesive scheme ties the design elements together creating a well-designed interior.
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- Defines style and/or themes: Colours play a crucial role in defining the style and theme of an interior design. Whether you aim for a modern, traditional, minimalist, or eclectic style, the colour scheme can reinforce and accentuate that particular aesthetic.
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- Impacts perception of a space: Colours can visually alter the perception of a space. Lighter colours tend to make a room feel more spacious and airier, while darker colours can create a more intimate and a cosy atmosphere. By understanding the principles of colour psychology and applying them to your scheme, you can manipulate the perception of space and create the desired effect.
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- Highlights architectural features: A well-chosen scheme can emphasize and enhance the architectural features of a space. By using contrasting or complementary colours, you can draw attention to focal points, highlight interesting details, or create visual depth and dimension.
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- Personal expression: Your colour scheme can reflect your taste and personality. Colours can communicate specific messages and create a distinct identity for a space or a business premises. Whether it’s a residential project or a commercial space, the scheme can be used to express personality and purpose.
Furniture and décor
Last but not least, the furniture and décor. This is what’s going to complete your interiors and give you that sense of home, cosiness and comfort. Here’s how it helps to select the right ones:
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- Functionality and comfort: The right furniture ensures the room serves its purpose effectively and brings great comfort. By selecting furniture that works hand in hand with your layout and scheme, you’ll enhance the usability of the space. Comfortable seating, properly sized tables, and functional storage solutions contribute to a comfortable and inviting environment.
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- Visual Appeal: Furniture and decor significantly impact the overall aesthetics of a room. The style, design, and materials of furniture and decorative elements can create a specific look and make the space homely making it visually pleasing. They serve as key elements that add character to the space.
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- Space optimisation: The right furniture and decor choices ensure efficient use of the available space. By selecting appropriately sized furniture and decor items, you can prevent overcrowding or wasted areas. Well-planned placement and arrangement of furniture can create a harmonious flow and make the room feel spacious, open, and inviting all while addressing your practical needs.
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- Coherence and unity: Good selection of furniture and decor helps establish coherence and unity within the room. By considering the overall design concept, colour palette and style, you can ensure furniture and decor pieces will complement each other, creating a cohesive visual composition. This coherence contributes to a well-designed and harmonious environment.
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- Personalisation and expression: Furniture and decor choices allow for self-expression. They offer an opportunity to showcase individual style, preferences, and interests. Selecting items that resonate with you and your taste helps create a space that feels uniquely yours and reflects your identity.
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- Quality and durability: Investing in quality furniture and decor ensures their longevity and durability. Choosing items made from durable materials from reputable retailers means they will withstand daily use and maintain their functionality and aesthetic appeal over time. This will saves money in the long run by avoiding frequent replacements or repairs.
These really are the fundamental ingredients to a well-designed home that supports your home life.