It is a part of human nature to be drawn towards beautiful things - even if they aren’t exactly the right choice in the moment. This same theory weaves seamlessly into interior design. You could go through a store and pick up every single stunning piece you see, but when you put them all together in a room without suitable furniture - they become clutter that generally serves no purpose at all.
For this reason, it’s best to keep in mind that form should follow function when it comes to interior design. You don’t want to fall into the trap of building a new extension or planning a complete refurbishment just to fill it full of unimportant items just because they are ‘shiney’. Instead, you want to aim to create a space that is equally efficient and appealing.
There is no logical way to design a space until you determine what the primary function of that space will be. It is absolutely essential to plan for people and purpose before you ever begin to think about colour schemes or trim. While all of those details are extremely fun to play with and even more exciting to put together, without understanding what a room will be used for, there’s no way to add the right accent pieces.
Will a room will be used for large and frequent social gatherings or filled floor-to-ceiling with children on a daily basis? These two uses require different finishes when it comes to layout and furniture, and only once you’ve established the floor plan can you begin to add the smaller features like pictures, storage, tables or accessories.
Planning with a purpose in mind first, will naturally lend itself to the smaller details that need to be attended to later on. Allowing the form to follow the rooms function results in a perfect room design.
The beauty and simplicity of interior design is that it’s never permanent. Interior design schemes can be regularly changed and for this reason, function within any space has to be a primary concern. This can however, be much harder to change once it is done.
When you decide to change your interior décor yet again, it’s much easier to have a solid layout base with large furniture and only have to worry about adding new accent pieces. If you create a room that is mostly focused on accent pieces and design, you’re going to inevitably find yourself overwhelmed at the prospect of having to not only change the detail, but find a way to fit it into an ill-designed space.
Creating spaces that are built with function in mind act add valueto your home. Accent pieces can easily be packed up and taken along for any move, but design based on functionality provides the option of throwing furniture that’s already well laid-out into the deal. Overall, a home whose room layout and design are highly functional is much more appealing to buyers. There are not many buyers on the market who want a home filled with small messy rooms - open spaces with floor plans that flow together are ideal for speedy home sales and maximum financial return.
When you lay out your home, be sure to take the future into consideration and give yourself options that will eliminate stress and also attract potential buyers in the years to come.
There is nothing worse than cooking in an un-functional kitchen or sleeping in a bedroom whose layout just doesn’t feel right. Be sure to plan your designs with a purpose and then go have fun with the accessories.
So, if you are living in an ill-functional home maybe you need to change its role to make it more functional and, follow the mantra that form should always follow function?
Our online store has furniture, wall coverings, lighting and accessories. And, if you are stuck for ideas, there are a range of interior design books for inspiration available as well. www.71design.net/onlinestore
