Perusing an interior design store with the overall goal of transforming a room in your home can be overwhelming. There are so many options to consider, seemingly countless opportunities to put your own stamp on a room so that it expresses who you are and shares it with those who enter. And, in many cases, emotions win the battle over practicality, leaving a person with beautiful additions that don’t serve the right purpose in a certain room.
However, achieving a good balance between aesthetics and functionality is quite simple. This blog post will provide the steps to take that will help you strike that crucial balance to achieve true interior design harmony.
Aesthetics and Emotion
Psychology plays a significant role in the way in which we approach interior design. Colors, textures, patterns – these are just a few aesthetics among many others that come into play in our emotional response to a space. There is comfort in tapping into the positive reactions you feel when encountering these different design elements, but in their attractiveness, they can sometimes be a bit blinding.
This isn’t to say that turning to emotion in our purchasing decisions has no room for the design process. Quite the opposite! It’s important that emotion always be a factor. However, there is a yin to the yang of aesthetics, and without its counterpart, it can’t be the final factor in design purchasing decisions.
Functionality and Action
In truth, a space is only as powerful as the functionality behind it, because without embracing it, a room doesn’t serve its true intended purpose. It might be beautiful with all the elements you’d see in an interior design magazine, but if it doesn’t promote the right type of activity, then the space is useless. Plus, while at that very same store, who wants to walk past the plushness of a velvet settee – one you’ve had your eye on for a month – without giving it further thought because it might not be the most practical choice!
With this, how do we go about marrying aesthetics and functionality to create the ideal space?
Harmony for Space Maximization
Before even stepping foot inside an interior design store and pouring over collections, start the process by taking a long hard look at the functionality of the space. Be direct and honest with yourself, set emotions aside and think objectively about the space you are assessing.
- What is this space used for? Think through the actual purpose of the room, how it is truly being utilized, and not how you imagine it should be utilized (for example, perhaps a specific room is designated as a sitting room but rarely does anyone sit there).
- Is this a common area or one utilized by one or a few individuals? It’s important to understand what spacious vs. cramped will look like in the space based on the number of individuals congregating at one time, as well as foot traffic. Also keep in mind who will be using the space, such as small children.
- What pieces are necessary for this room to make it usable? Nice-to-haves are just that – nice. It’s important to understand what furniture, lighting, etc. is necessary to make the room work rather than just take up space for the sake of aesthetics.
Once this is understood, you can begin exploring the aesthetic component of the process. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What overall feeling do I want to evoke in the space? Whether it’s to establish a sense of comfort, a sense of invigoration, etc., once the structural foundation of a room has been established, you can cloak it in design that coincides with that desired feeling.
- How do I want people to interact with the design? This is an excellent opportunity to think about what smaller – but just as important – elements of décor, such as throw pillows and coffee table books, should be in the space that open channels for engagement.
- Is there an opportunity to say something about myself in the space? Personalization is a great way to add a special touch to any room. A great example of this is showing a commitment to sustainability by utilizing sustainable materials in the pieces you select.
In the end, marrying aesthetics and functionality doesn’t have to be tiresome. A little introspection before diving into big purchases can make a world of difference!
