how to design – KAREN MILLS

Principles of Interior Design: Part 2

March 28, 2024March 28, 2024

What are the Principles and How do You Use?

As an award-winning interior designer, I like to make use of these principles regularly to create stunning spaces. Read on to learn more.

Emphasis: By giving more importance to one feature you create a focal point or feature in the space. In this stunning room we designed we gave the fireplace more emphasis to make it a focal point by covering the dated stone fireplace in charcoal stacked stone and adding glass rocks inside the fireplace. A newly designed floating chest and built in lit shelves add to the emphasis of this focal point.

2. Rythm: A pattern of periodic repetition of elements in succession such as lines, shapes, motifs, or colors such as the steps or spindles on stairs. In this foyer branches and plates on the shelves create rhythm in the room.

3.Harmony: The creation of a unified design using the various parts to create an overall pleasing whole. When you have harmony, you’ve achieved a successful balance between unity and interest in a space.

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

INTERIOR DESIGN: 3 TIPS FOR TRANSFORMING YOUR ROOM FROM…

February 3, 2017

Karen Mills' blog — Photo courtesy of Circa Lighting

Does your interior feel “blah” or boring even though its filled with furniture? Often the reason a space looks unfinished is because rooms either lack the key ingredients to make them come alive or the key ingredients aren’t placed in a way that creates harmony and variety. So here are my 3 tips to transforming your interior ordinary to extraordinary!

1. A Color Story – The first thing that’s usually missing in a home is color. And I don’t necessarily mean bold color, just a lack of cohesive color throughout. Take a look at this bedroom design above from Circa. Even though the grayed out blue isn’t dramatic, by placing it on the headboard, bedding, bench, and drapes it creates a color story of calm and quiet for the person who sleeps there.

In contrast this dramatic living space by Kravet above shows how you can create drama in a room by using bolder colors like the warm reds used throughout to draw your eye around the room along with the blue that plays a supporting role and nice contrast in the interior design.

2. Accent lighting – Having ample accent lighting in a space makes it more inviting and interesting. And as a general rule, I you need at least three lamps in every living space to add ambiance to your interior design.

3. Groupings of large accessories – Most people tend to buy small accessories which when grouped together often creates a feeling of clutter that adds to the tension in your space instead of enhancing your interior design. Instead strive for a balance of accessory sizes with more emphasis on large than small.

Another key to successfully accessorizing includes selecting colors, styles, and textures that will enhance your design and grouping accessories together to create vignettes or points of interest throughout your space. For example when I’m adding the final touches to a project as an interior designer, I often mix not only sizes of accessories but also textures which gives the vignette or grouping a more interesting mix.

For more great photos and tip for accessorizing and ideas on interior design, become a fan of Kansas City’s interior designer and former host of Living Large design show, Karen Mills on Facebook here

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