What is interior design?

Interior design isn't just about home decoration. It is concerned with creating functional and beautiful to
look at interior spaces in all sorts of places including houses, public buildings and commercial properties
such as shops, restaurants, leisure venues and offices. Interior design can also be applied to temporary
environments, whether that’s pop-up shops that are in existence for just a few months at a time, or
show homes and exhibition stands that may simply last days. Anything that has an interior can be
designed, redesigned or refurbished.

The imaginative and efficient use of, colour, pattern, texture, light and space is central to an interior
designer's practice. Most interior designers concern themselves with all aspects of the design of a space
from choosing colour schemes through to selecting interior finishes such as wall coverings, flooring,
furnishings and furniture. Some will also step into architect's territory, shaping the structure of the
space itself as well as decorating it.

Why is interior design important?

Good interior design will not only make a space look and function better, it can have a significant impact
on mood and wellbeing. The application of uplifting colour schemes, well-designed furnishings and
furniture and the thoughtful manipulation of light and space, can all make a real difference to how we
feel about and in an environment.

More sterile, workaday public spaces such as schools and hospitals can benefit more than most from
creative interior design. Here it has the potential to improve health and productivity. It is also an
invaluable asset for businesses. An aspirational office interior, for example, can help to raise the profile
of a company and boost staff morale at the same time. And it goes without saying that shops,
restaurants and leisure venues that are inviting and stimulating inside will potentially draw in more
customers, and therefore increase profits.

In all cases, interior design can be used to reflect status, ambition and taste, this is especially true of
residential interior design, and at its most effective should increase the value of a property.

A guide to interior design

The way the interiors of our homes are designed can affect our happiness, our productivity and our
health. This guide to interior design outlines the virtues of designing the interior of your home and
debates the case for employing a professional versus doing it yourself.

The scope and possibilities of the discipline of interior design are extensive. Interior designers may
specialise in kitchen or bathroom design, on interpreting trends and fashion, or focus on the
architecture and fabric of a building’s interior. A designer’s skill when it comes to creating efficient and
beautiful interiors is to work with clients to find out what they need from the space they live or work in,
and to research, create and deliver an interior space that meets the project brief. Interior design is a
different discipline to interior architecture and to interior decoration, but there are some overlaps. It
makes use of more analytical and user-research skills than interior decoration, but uses a decorator’s
knowledge of colour, lighting and materials to finish a space. Architects will focus on the technical
aspect of designing an interior but an interior designer’s creative skills will help them develop
architectural elements that enable a client to better use the space.

Interior design process

Whatever the type and scale of a project, a professional interior designer has a process of work involving
various stages or research, design and negotiation.

Winning a project

Designers get work a number of ways. Better known practices may be asked, along with several other
companies, to pitch for a job having been given an outline of what the client wants from a scheme.
There is usually no fee involved at this stage and there is no guarantee of winning the work. Some
interior design projects will be open to competition. These will usually be for publicly-funded interior
schemes. When a designer or design practice becomes more established they might get work through
recommendation or word of mouth, but most will still have to pitch for jobs occasionally. Once a job is
won, a fee must be negotiated with the client (fee negotiation being a much-underestimated skill) which
will depend on the size and scope of the job as well as the design team's experience.

The brief

The success of an interior design scheme will depend not only upon on the skills and creativity of the
designer in question, but their ability to answer the brief set by a client. A good brief will be as detailed
and project-specific as possible. It will outline the client's requirements and aspirations and set down a
budget for works and, crucially, the time scale in which the project must be realized.

Research

The type of research and preparation an interior designer embarks upon prior to designing a scheme will
differ from project to project. In the case of designing a commercial environment, like a shop, bar or
restaurant, for example, they must research the client's brand inside and out, and understand its
customer base. Some investigation into the clients' competition and their interiors is also important.

Interior designers will also often spend time observing how a client uses their existing space in order to
understand where they should position functional parts of their design such as lighting, doors or electric
outlets.

Creative design

The creative design stage is likely to begin with the designer creating sketches or visuals which will be
used to communicate their initial ideas and concepts to a client. When the client is satisfied with the
plans the design team will often move on to technical drawings or plans (usually done using AutoCAD
software), which a builder or fit-out company can use to start the construction process. 3D modelling
and rendering software (such as Rhino and 3ds Max) is also used to help bring a project to life.

In commercial projects, a building regulations application will have to be made, which involves a
professional (either a licensed consultant or a council employee) looking over the technical drawings to
ensure they satisfy health, safety and efficiency requirements. Bigger building projects will require
actual planning permission from the relevant local authority.
Adjustments to the designs are likely to be made along the way as briefs can alter (clients have been
known to change their minds) halfway through a project. This will also have an impact on the budget
and could impact on the proposed completion date.

Building a team

Depending on the type, range and scale of a project, an interior designer will need to work with various
specialists. These can range from lighting consultants, mechanical and engineering consultants,
electricians and engineers through to environmental consultants and fit-out companies. Most interior
designers and architects will be keen to assemble their own team of experts – usually trusted firms that
they've worked with before.

Specification

Sourcing the right materials, furniture and furnishings for a scheme is a significant part of an interior
designer's job. An interior designer working on luxury residential projects is likely to access one of a
number of select retailers and distributors who specialize in supplying items for professional interior
design projects. In all cases, a designer should be given a furniture and furnishings budget.

Completion

Interior designers will want to see a project through right to the end. There will be finishing touches to
make and probably some styling to be done, possibly more for a residential project, in order to realise a
scheme's full potential.

Interior Design themes

A decorating theme centers on a topic, event or particular subject. Themes often are used to decorate
children's rooms, such as a fairy tale princess theme, an astronaut or space theme, a sports theme or
Disney movie theme. The difference between a theme and a style in decorating is a theme adheres to a
cultural concept. A style is characterized by specific time periods and elements.

Types

In contemporary terms, theme decorating takes on a broader sense. Themes can be a part of a style. In a
country-style kitchen, for example, the theme may be apples. Decorative themes may be more
pervasive, though. An "under the sea" theme in a bathroom may include blue walls, ceiling and floor tile,
fish shaped soap and a shower curtain with fish and mermaids on it, wallpaper border shaped like sea
waves and driftwood shaped towel bars.

Function of Interior Space

In interior design, form should follow function. It's the job of an interior designer to create an extremely
usable space and then make it beautiful. Experienced designers know a variety of tricks to enhance the
practical function of a space without limiting its visual allure.

Lighting

A good interior designer knows that lighting is the key to the function and safety of all spaces. Lighting
may be hidden under cabinets, recessed or come from a genuine work of art like a Tiffany or Waterford
lamp.

Floor Planning

A designer starts with a good floor plan to ensure that logical pathways between entrances and exits are
kept clear. Appropriate space must be left for all anticipated activities.

Work Surfaces

A well-designed interior should provide as many work surfaces as is reasonable. Some may be obvious:
table tops, for instance, while others may be more subtle, like fold-down laptop desks or tables with
extendable leaves. Storage with function in mind, a designer should create as many storage spaces as
possible, including using tables with drawers, hinged ottomans and storage benches.

Streamline

A floor plan maximized for function can appear crowded. A designer will add decorative appeal with
quality furnishings, flooring and a sedate wall color, while avoiding multiple accessories or excessive wall
decor.

Types of interior space design

There are several types of interior design, including, but not limited to residential, commercial,
accessible design and green design. These types can be defined by what is being designed or by the
designer's personal approach, focus or interests. Choosing a designer who works with the type of design
you prefer can help you build a positive relationship and create a space that meets not only your needs,
but your hopes as well. Moreover, working with the right type of designer for your space can help you
stay within budget.

Residential
Residential interior design is focused on living spaces. These designers work to create livable and
comfortable apartments, houses or rooms. Concerns such as storage, family life and functionality should
all come into play when working with a residential designer. Fabrics, materials and finishes should be
chosen to fit into your lifestyle.

Commercial

Commercial interior design is focused on business spaces, including offices, lobbies and restaurants.
Flow of traffic, integration of business equipment, and customer comfort should all be taken into
account by a commercial interior designer. Commercial designers are also more comfortable handling
larger scale spaces and creating a unified appearance in multiple commercial spaces.

Green and Environmental Design

Some designers have chosen to focus on environmentally friendly design and materials. This type of
design can be residential or commercial, and some designers are comfortable working with both types
of design. Some green designers can assist you in sourcing resources for eco-friendly lighting, plumbing
options and air filtration. If an environmentally friendly space is your priority, this is the type of design
best suited to your needs.

Accessibility

Some interior designers have chosen to focus on creating spaces that can be used and enjoyed by
people with varying abilities and needs. Concerns for this type of interior design include kitchen or bath
functionality, allowing ample access for wheelchairs and mobility devices and making spaces work for
everyone in a family or workplace.

Budget

Some designers focus specifically on creating low cost spaces. This type of design might even strive to
use what you already own to rework your home or office without substantial costs. Consider a budget-
conscious designer if you are looking for a consultation instead of full service design, if you prefer a do it
yourself approach or simply need to keep your costs well in check.