Interior Design Information

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Interior Design Explained

The category interior design covers a multitude of products. Interior design within a residential environment is seen as a means of customising a property to individual tastes or requirements. Within commercial and industrial environments the emphasis of interior design is to create a user friendly and functional environment with widespread appeal to encourage and promote work. Most interior designers will be able to offer complete interior design services tailored to building type. The interior design of industrial buildings is generally undertaken with function rather than form in mind. However the sign of any good design combines both form and function and is often known as a functional design.

It is the interior designers aim to create an interior design that satisfies the needs of their client's brief. A wide range of client specifications must be taken on board by interior designers before a final design solution can be reached. For commercial and industrial buildings interior design solutions will be based on key factors such as building function, layout and number of employees within the building. The number of employees is particularly important to ensure the adequate provision of welfare facilities to comply with building regulations. In both industrial and commercial environments furnishings must be chosen to provide the best working surroundings possible. For example dark coloured furnishings with only a few light fittings will create a drab working environment that is likely to demotivate workers and decrease productivity. However if an interior design incorporates many vibrant colours workers are likely to be distracted or become unfocused on their work and productivity will suffer.

To provide the best working or relaxation environment interior designers can use a wide range of different materials and accessories to create the desired effect and ambiance. Interior designers will sometimes follow a design theme to ensure all fittings and materials complement each other.

Key design elements that provide the basis for any good interior design are wallcoverings and floor coverings. Floor coverings are available in many styles, colours and formats from carpets to solid timber floors. Before choosing a floor covering appearance and form have to be considered, however durability of the floor finish will be very important in a commercial or industrial setting. For larger projects or projects where cost is no issue some companies will be able to manufacture bespoke carpets and vinyl floors to order. The floor finish of any building is perhaps one of the key interior design features and most notable of any building. Wallcoverings also have a strong influence on the overall design concept and finished product. Pale coloured wallcoverings will give the room an overall light and airy appearance, which is particularly useful in naturally dull north facing rooms. Dark colour schemes can be tolerated more within south facing rooms, where more light is available, and tend to give a relaxing ambience.

The most common wall coating is paint, partly due to the fact that it is relatively cheap, available in many different shades and can be applied easily. Specialist paints are also available to give added depth and impact in the form of textured paints and paints which dry to produce shimmer effects, to name but a few. Within nightclubs black paint is generally used as a back drop for bright colourful lights to provide a strong contrast.

Where paints can not give the desired effect wallpapers, often thought of as a traditional wall covering solution, can be considered. Wallpaper is available in a range of styles and patterns to suit traditional, contemporary and even futuristic themes. It is often the only real way of covering walls with complex eye catching designs, although installation can be slow. Patterned wallpaper can be specified to add another dimension to any interior design. A number of specialist companies can manufacture and supply bespoke wallpapers according to your design with costs generally decreasing with increased volume ordered.

Once the basic decor requirements for wallcoverings and floor coverings have been established the interior design can be enhanced with the use of soft furnishings and other accessories. Soft furnishings such as curtains can be used as decorative features or to provide a function. Curtains can be used as a solely decorative features or to be fully functional and aesthetically pleasing. Curtain designs can be chosen to compliment or contrast wall finishes and floor finishes. Functional options may include roller blinds, roman blinds, Venetian blinds and strip blinds. Some forms of blinds can easily be printed with artistic designs. Other eye catching features can be achieved by using coloured fabrics to create focal objects such as drapes and canopies, to hang from ceilings or mount on walls. Fabrics can also be used to create complementary accessories like sofa throws.

A wide array of accessories can be used to further enhance the interior of any building. Mirrors can provide a subtle way of increasing perceived space within small rooms. By positioning large panel mirrors on walls the illusion of space will be created as the user is tricked in to thinking the room stretches beyond the mirror. Wall mirrors can be used as a focal point within a room, with a number of frame materials such as wood and ornate metal work available to create particular design themes. Furniture can be easily replaced and is therefore a classic instant means of altering the interior design appearance of a property. Wooden furniture can be used to create a warm feel to a room and depending on product style can give a rustic or traditional theme to a room. Metal furniture, particularly stainless steel or polished aluminium, can give a cold feel to a room and is often more suited to modern or futuristic themes. Stainless steel furnishings are generally used within catering environments for hygiene and durability purposes. Glass topped furniture can be used to give a sense of added space and is also a hygienic low maintenance choice.

An age old way of accessorising and furnishing a room is to hang art. Art can provide a strong focal point and presence within any room. Typically art, such as painting and prints, are hung in frames which can be made from a selection of materials to complement the room appearance. A modern picture frame choice is the frameless glass picture frame, or glass picture frame, which is popular to display prints and posters. Other methods of art display for consideration are picture canvases, many of which can be printed with bespoke or personal designs. Picture canvasses may also be classed as graphic wall art. Ornate art work has also been traditionally painted directly on to walls over the centuries and may provide that unique finishing touch.

A large area of the interior design industry specialises in the interior design of commercial premises such as shops, restaurants and pubs. In these environments a good interior design can be used to create a good user experience and an unforgettable ambience to promote both company and product sales. The interior design of shops is undertaken to clearly showcase as many different products within the available space. A number of interior design companies work closely with shop fitters to provide turnkey shop fitouts to ensure that the overall interior design is delivered uncompromised.