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Scores of articles are dedicated every day to home decor and design – be it on the web or in print. Don’t we all love scouring through them, gazing at beautiful homes and spaces? While some of us may have done up our homes by ourselves, many others may have engaged professionals. But in the larger picture, how many of us really know what defines ‘interior design’? What are its characteristics? As an expert in the field, with 10 years’ experience, I thought I would dedicate this ideabook to elaborating on the field, discussing its finer points. If you have any queries relating to interior design, do post them in the Comments section.

What is interior design and what does a designer do?

Interior design is a planned, aesthetic and functional use of space created with the help of a professional. The look of a space is generally the prerogative of the owner. However, in certain cases, the owner or user gives the designer the entire responsibility to create the space of his choice.

Interior design involves almost all visual elements of a room – flooring, ceiling, walls, furniture, lights, upholstery, doors, windows, electronic items and accessories. Additionally, it also involves hidden elements such as electric wiring, plumbing, cement and plaster, and hardware.

As a first step, an interior designer uses her technical knowledge to plan the space to suit the client’s requirements, based on existing dimensions and natural structure. Next, she is likely to suggest effective layouts for various functions, along with suitable design options for visual appeal. She gives an estimate of costs involved and a broad time frame to complete the work. And finally, she brings together a team of contractors who would be in charge of various special skilled work, for example, carpentry, masonry, plumbing, electrical and painting works.

The interior designer is required to prepare high-quality drawings of layouts and details for each room and supervise work progress regularly, giving suitable inputs when required. She is generally also expected to suggest and shortlist finishing materials, which are then finally selected by the owner. The designer also helps to select accessories and artwork as a final finishing touch to create the space she has visualised.

Interior designing involves some vital elements that should be considered when you think of designing your space:

1. Colour palette and texture

A colour palette is the combination of prominent hues that you will notice in your first glance. These could be on walls, furniture, ceiling or even the upholstery. When using colour in a room, it is extremely important to understand and address proportions. Colours are best used in unequal proportions as they compete for attention if used equally.

One of the simplest ways to understand this concept is like this: in a lounge room, your walls would have the largest area of colour. Then your ceiling and floor would have the second largest proportion of shades. Next, you might have a bold hue on a feature wall or in your upholstery – the third largest proportion. Finally, the smallest proportion of colour would be small accent colours on things such as cushions, rugs or artwork.

Texture is the next important element in your room decor. It refers to the quality of the surface, for instance, of a fabric, painted wall or rug. It can be either visual or tactile. Small detailed patterns, such as floral or geometrical on your cushion, can be described as visual texture. Tactile texture is the real touchable surface, for instance, a painted wall, a satin cushion or a woven rug.

Fabrics and furnishings are a perfect and simple way to bring texture into your room. Using texture as a decorating element is similar to colour, as the mood and style of your room dictates the type of texture to use.

Pro tip: Keep it simple – don’t overuse texture. Lots of contrasting textures clash and are unpleasant to be around. Texture should be used to enhance your scheme, not dominate.

2. Materials

Although the use of materials largely depends on the choice of the owner, cost and availability, it helps in understanding why certain materials should be preferred and some avoided.

Marble, stones, tiles

Let us start with flooring, as it forms the largest surface area of a room. Flooring material can range from expensive marble to economical vitrified tiles of various colours, designs and sizes.

Marble and other natural stones are available in large sizes, which give a seamless look as fewer joints are visible. Marble needs to be polished after it is laid and care needs to be taken to ensure that the floor doesn’t get scratched or damaged. It has to be ordered from one source to maintain continuity of colour and pattern.

On the other hand, tiles are more economical and available in various sizes, designs and finishes. You may use a matte finish for wet areas and glossy for others.

Wood and veneers

Wood finishes form the basis of the look that you want to achieve. It is seen in all types of carpentry – seating, bedroom, storage, study, display and, of course, doors and windows.

Natural veneers are available in many colours and textures and can be finished for a matte or glossy effect. They can also be dyed to achieve the desired colour and tone.

Laminates are cheaper and are available in a large range of colours, textures, designs and finishes. The look of a veneer cannot be compared with that of a laminate as the latter has several visible joints, can’t be turned on edges and doesn’t look as rich. However, people with time and budget constraints might opt for laminate.

Glass and mirrors

These are also important in room decor because they add gloss to a space. As they are reflective surfaces, they create the illusion of a larger space and bring in more light. Glass and mirrors can be used as wall panelling and ceilings, as well as on cupboards, cabinets and other furniture. These generally have a standard price range, unless they are customised for designer etchings or colours.

Furnishings
The most prominent soft furnishings are curtains and sofa upholstery. The market is full of Indian as well as imported fabrics in all kinds of colours, textures, prices and brands. You need to visualise the look you want – is it a breezy look with only sheer curtains or a warm look with solid curtains to block the light? Do you want your sofa in a dark colour such as black or navy blue or would you prefer it in a soft neutral colour such as beige or grey? The choices are endless, but your selection has to be kept in mind from the outset, to help the designer develop her vision.

3. Style

The Interior design of a residence is broadly divided into four categories – classical, bohemian, contemporary and minimalist. These basic styles of design reflect the mood and lifestyle of the user. Of course, there are various other sub-categories in various regions and cultures across the globe.

Classical
The classical style features glamour and sparkle from cut-glass objects and chandeliers to carved furniture and intricate ceilings. It is based on order, symmetry and balance. Fabrics are more luxurious and textured – velvets, silks and satins. Other rich materials, such as leather and wood, are used aplenty.

Bohemian
The bohemian style has emerged due to its vintage appeal and global accessories. It combines a vibrant use of colour with an eclectic mix of old and new. Texture is an important element, seen in beads, peacock feathers and handwoven wool. Bohemian is perfect for people who have embraced a wonderful alternative lifestyle filled with colour and charm.

Contemporary
The terms modern interiors and contemporary interiors are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference between the two. Contemporary interior design only means styles at the current moment, while modern interior design means a specific geometrical clean-lined style. Contemporary interiors are comfortable and welcoming, without being cluttered and dark.

Minimalistic
Minimalist style is where designers try to achieve simplicity using white elements, large spaces with minimum objects and furniture. The concept of minimalist design is to reduce everything down to its essential quantity and achieve simplicity. The basis of this style is simple geometric forms, elements without decoration and simple materials.

4. Budget

Once you have finalised on design concepts and materials, the interior designer can prepare an estimate which will give you an idea of how much money will be spent on the project. The estimate should include all materials, labour charges and fees of consultants. A margin of about 10 per cent wastage is generally considered for the cost of certain items such as tiles, glass, and so on.

You may want to keep in mind that the estimate is likely to undergo some changes during the interior design process. This could be due to several factors – non-availability of material, fluctuation of rates or prices and a change in scope of the work of the consultants.

5. Contractors

These are people who take up various aspects of construction and modification. They employ skilled labour, who work on site to get the job done. There are various kinds of contractors:

Civil: They are people who undertake structural work such as constructing brick walls, laying the flooring, making kitchen and washbasin counters and any other work that involves stone or tiles.

Carpentry: They undertake all kinds of wood work – making partitions, doors, windows, moveable or immoveable furniture, and glass and mirror mounting. They are skilled at joinery and may advice on strength and size of furniture as well as finishes.

Plaster of Paris works: They take care of all false ceiling work and any other panelling work done in plaster of Paris or gypsum sheets. The contractors finish the surface which is then ready to be painted or covered in any other kind of wall-covering.

Plumbing: A plumbing contractor undertakes sanitation and water-proofing work. His work commences before floor and tiles are laid, as plumbing lines are mainly concealed. For bathrooms and kitchens, he is required to work in co-ordination with the civil contractor.

Electrical: These are people who lay the electrical wiring in the entire premises. Electrical layouts are prepared with their inputs and they give suggestions on looping, switch points, and so on. Their work commences before the false ceiling and flooring are complete, as electrical conduits need to be laid before hand. They are required at the finishing stage too, for lights, fans and AC fittings.

Paint and polish: This contractor undertakes all kinds of polish work for wooden surfaces. They also undertake painting of walls and ceiling, along with a thorough cleaning of furniture.

You may wish to hire separate contractors for each of these fields of work. Alternately you may appoint a contractor on a turnkey basis who will be responsible for all of these specialised jobs. Contractors generally appoint a site-supervisor, who gives them a daily report on site progress. The job of an interior designer remains incomplete without the expertise of a well-informed and experienced contractor.