The Components Of A Well-Designed Space
There’s much more that goes into design than just creating a beautiful space. Although that is usually the end goal, there are many components that contribute to a well-designed space. These components can impact the way we relate to our surroundings as they’re correlated with psychology.
We already know color psychology is a thing. The colors we see can be perceived as emotions. Color psychology is prominent in marketing, but we also intertwine it into our daily lives. Color may impact the choice of outfit we wear to a job interview, the color we wear to a big event, the color car we choose to drive, or even the exterior of our house. Why is it always a big decision? Because the colors we see directly impact our emotions. We know that an abundance of black can set a dark, moodier tone, and that bright reds and pinks can set a bright and happy tone. So, how does this apply to design?
Flow of Space
The way we allow our space to flow around our homes is another major impacting component of design. The way furniture is facing, the openness of a room, the amount of furniture, the amount of space to move around the furniture – all of these things contribute to the comfort level of a home. If the furniture is positioned in a way that closes off the room, you may be less inclined to use the room. On the other hand, when the furniture is positioned in a way that opens up the room, it suddenly becomes a welcoming and inviting space. If you have over furnished a room so that it is hard to navigate a path through it, you will feel uncomfortable in the space because it will be more difficult to use the space efficiently. Your designer covers all of this in the space planning phase of design. It may not seem like an important thing, but it really is. It sets the tone for the rest of your project. Space planning helps determine what kind of furniture you need, what size, and how it will be placed so that you can maximize your space and live your best possible life.
Color Choice
We already covered that the colors we choose can impact our mood, so perhaps the most major impact design has on our moods and everyday lives is through our home color choices, whether they are applied through paint, fabric, or wall coverings. Choosing a color palette is one of the very first steps in a design project because it dictates the design choices for the room. It is important to consider the way certain colors make you feel because those emotions will be evoked every time you spend time in your space. If you want your space to feel calm and relaxing, you may choose a neutral, earth tone, or calming blue. If you want to feel energized, fresh, and happy, you may choose a bright color like yellow. Color choices are more than just that, they are emotional choices too.
Lighting
You have all likely heard the term “mood lighting” before. That is because lighting can add to the tone of a space! Very little dark and somber lighting will set a more romantic, moody tone, where a lot of bright, natural lighting will set a brighter happy tone. These are things to consider when working on an addition or a new build where you have control over how much natural lighting you want to allow into your home. Do you want a closed off, more private and moody tone, or do you want a bright and energetic tone? If you chose the latter, you want to make sure you’re adding as many windows for natural lighting as you can, perhaps even skylights. It is also important to consider the amount of artificial lighting you are installing in your home. To maintain a bright and luminated atmosphere through the night, recessed lighting or high hats will add the most to your space. They are a great way to add lighting without altering the aesthetic of your space. When you are getting the proper lighting from above, you are free to choose whichever decorative lighting you like because it not needed so much for illumination as it is for the “jewelry” of your space. As a matter of fact, the mood of your space can be controlled all the way down to your lightbulb choice. Do you choose a bright LED light, or a soft white? There are so many decisions that contribute to a well-designed space that best optimizes your home and sets the tone for your everyday life – that is why it is so important to hire a designer.
Textures
Textures can add visual depth and dimension to a space. They can also promote certain moods or emotions as well. A room filled with soft, lush, and comforting textures will promote relaxation, comfort, and warmth. Whereas a room filled with strong, smooth, and tough textures will promote feelings of class, high-end, and luxury.
Design is more than choosing pretty things; it is making choices with purpose. Every choice made by a designer has to custom fit each client’s lifestyle, while fitting perfectly into what the client wants out of these categories like a puzzle piece. That’s why designing is more than just a job; it is an art.
