Interior Design Tips Archives - Unsolicited Interior Design

Interior Design / November 19, 2024

Smart Home Technology

Smart home technology connects devices, appliances, and systems in a home to the internet. This allows users to control and monitor them remotely. This technology is making the home more functional than ever with more secure, efficient, and responsive gadgets.

Homes have become more than just a place to eat and sleep. The rise of smart home technology is turning homes into intelligent and connected spaces. The technology is also redefining how interiors are designed. The perfect blend of style and technology will keep smart homes from looking robotic and feeling cold.

Smart Home Technology: Mixing Functions and Aesthetics

Smart home technology enhances the way we interact and use a space. Modern smart home devices are designed to blend in the interior without disrupting the aesthetic flow. This technology allows control of lights, thermostat temperature, alarm system, and more remotely with a personal device or voice command.

When designing a space, consider how technology can be integrated into the aesthetic. Conceal gadgets behind design elements or select ones that can act as decor like frame TVs, smart mirrors, or smart speakers. Thoughtful design will allow a home to function well without disrupting personal style.

Smart Home Technology: Multifunctional Furniture

Multifunctional smart furniture is becoming a large part of interior spaces. These pieces demonstrate form and function. Furniture pieces are capable of being multifunctional items; a coffee table that wirelessly charges your phone, an arm chair that can adjust the firmness with a button, or a desk that can adjust height for ergonomic comfort. These pieces can save space, allow flexibility, bring comfort, and provide efficiency.

Smart Home Technology: Connectivity

When designing a home, it is important to consider connectivity and the placement of electrical components. Connectivity is an integral part of technology functioning properly. Ensure the home’s Wi-Fi network is able to support all the gadgets and reach to all parts of the home. Since smart home technology integrates seamlessly into the home, strategically place outlets and designate spots for to conceal cables. Organize and hide equipment and cables to maintain a clean, stylish interior.

The Future of Interiors

Since mart home technology is advancing each and every day, it will become a prominent feature added to every home. Integrating these features into a space will enhance the functionality and safety of a home. Thoughtful consideration of technology in the home is an integral part of ensuring the space suits your style and feels like home.

Interior Design / November 7, 2024

The Impact of Interior Design on Health

Surroundings play a significant role in shaping mood and mental health. The design in interiors such as homes, workplaces, or public spaces can have a great impact on emotional and physiological wellbeing. Thoughtful interior design can contribute to a better mindset. Here is the impact of interior design on health.

It’s More than a Color

Colors have a powerful effect on emotions. When selecting color for a room, you should consider what tasks will be conducted in that space. Cool colors such as blue and green have a calming effect while warm colors like red and orange have an energizing effect. For instance, soft greens and neutrals in a bedroom create a soothing atmosphere that allows the brain to rest. In a home office use pops of yellows to promote brain stimulation for creativity. With a professional setting use deep colors such as dark green, burgundy, and navy blue to show confidence.

The intensity and hue of a color is important as well as how much of it is used. Too much of a bright color can overstimulate while too much of a cool color can sadden. Before selecting a color palette for a space, research color theory to ensure the space elevates your needs.

The Value of Natural

It’s no secret that nature enhances our mental health. Bring outdoor elements into an interior through plants, views of the outdoors, and natural materials. Connecting to nature has shown to reduce stress and improve focus.

Access to natural light is crucial for a person’s mental health and wellbeing. Designing spaces to incorporate large windows or skylights can bring in enough natural light to elevate moods. Adding in light-filtering window treatments to soften harsh rays while still accessing brightness can uplift an atmosphere.

The Art of Comfort

Comfortability plays a key role in letting the body feel secure and relaxed. Investing in high-quality furniture with ergonomic techniques creates a space to lounge and feel comfortable. Incorporating soft textiles and rounded edges can bring the mind to ease. Using thoughtful layouts can create cozy books to read or a comfortable conversation area. Adding in personal styles or items can help increase the feeling of home. A comfortable environment releases tension allowing the body to feel natural in its surroundings.

Decluttering for Clarity

A cluttered space can lead to a cluttered mind. Creating an organized, clean environment can reduce anxiety and enhance focus. Practicing minimalism and adding in storage solutions can avoid the feeling of being overwhelmed in your space. By keeping clutter tucked away, the brain has less stimulation leading to clarity and relaxation.

Sounds and Acoustics

The auditory environment can greatly impact the brain leading to overstimulation. Design considerations to reduce noise transmission include upholstery, rugs, curtains, and acoustic panels. Softening noise pollution can help with hearing a conversation and its privacy. After reducing the sound, add in calming sounds like a water feature or soothing music to enhance relaxation and reduce tension.

Impact of Knowledge

The impact of interior design on health is an intricate relationship. Consciously select colors, maximize natural light, incorporate nature, add in comfort, and reduce clutter and auditory stimulations to create a thoughtful space. As more time is spent indoors, it’s important to create a space the increases your mental health and well being.

Interior Design / October 31, 2024

Home Office Essentials

A home office serves various purposes throughout different households. Whether it is used for working from home, running a business out of the home, or a space to get your personal files in order, it plays an important role. No matter how the space is used, it is crucial to have it work for you. Here are some home office essentials!

Home Office Basics

The basics of a home office are the key elements that create a functional work space. Choose a location that is dedicated for your office whether it is in its own room or in the corner of a room to create a multifunctional space. Ensure the space chosen is private and limits distractions. When choosing your location determine whether you want natural light or a view to the outdoors to help your well-being.

A desk is essential for an office, select one that is built well with no wobbles or shakes. The desk should have enough surface space to layout your designated work like a computer or paperwork. There should be plenty of room to incorporate stationary and even place a beverage.

An ergonomic chair that supports posture and provides comfort is essential when using a home office. When spending hours in a chair, it is important to invest in the quality to ensure that the body is being supported, preventing long-term discomfort or strain.

Storage

Home office storage is an essential factor to creating a productive clutter free workspace especially when limited on square feet. Storage solutions have become innovative pieces of furniture. These solutions don’t sacrifice aesthetics but instead increase the aesthetics of a space.

Storage options can include decorative bins, file cabinets, built in units, bookshelves, repurposed furniture, the options are endless. When limited on space, storage solutions can be a bench with hidden storage or vertical storage extending to the ceiling. Choosing options that add decorative elements to your office can elevate your space and help save money on unnecessary decor.

Storage needs look different from person to person whether you deal with a lot of physical paperwork or work with material samples or have an abundance of office supplies. Finding the best organization for your needs is what’s essential.

Home Office Personalization

A workspace should make you feel comfortable while also promoting inspiration. An office should include your personal style whether you like simple minimalistic or vintage eclectic. Including personal touches like family photos, souvenirs, or awards is crucial to make a space feel like yours. The space should bring out your creativity and motivate you while you work.

Home Office Masterpiece

Spending hours in a space that you love is incredibly important to a person’s emotional and physical health. Find a great location, include high-quality furniture, use creative storage solutions, and incorporate personal touches to create a home office of your dreams! These home office essentials will help you create a space that you enjoy working in!

Interior Design / October 22, 2024

Interior Design Trends

Interior design trends are a fascinating reflection of the times we live in! They capture the essence of societal changes, personal preferences, new technologies, and evolving aesthetics. Our homes become a canvas to express our current identities, interests, and values. Trends come from cultural movements, technological advances, and environmental awareness. They illustrate how design can adapt to meet our needs.

Interior design trends are subjective and vary from person to person. Some trends are beneficial to our environment, our well-being, and user experience. Here are the best interior design trends (based on my opinion:))!

Curvature

In recent years, nature has been a rising trend in the interior design industry. Nature-inspired shapes and lines have gained popularity with curvature taking center stage. Curved elements are found everywhere from furniture to doorways to artwork. These organic shapes help soften a space and foster an inviting atmosphere. A combination of straight lines and sharp edges with curvilinear lines and organic shapes creates a dynamic and impactful design!

Interior design trends - curves — Using curvilinear lines and shapes alongside straight lines and sharp edges create a soothing but impactful workspace.

Earthy Tones

Alongside the rising trend of nature in the industry are earthy tones. These shades consist of deep browns, creams, a variety of greens, and terracotta. With the ability to evoke a sense of nature and tranquility, the use of these colors create a cozy environment and calming essence. Colors can be brought into a space through paint, textiles, furniture, decor, or materials. A thoughtful blend of these tones can create a balanced space to prompt relaxation, comfort, and well-being.

Biophilic Design

Biophilic design corresponds to the rising trend of nature in interior spaces. The trend connects the built environment to the natural world promoting well-being and harmony. This approach incorporates natural elements such as plants, natural materials, and an abundance of natural light. Bringing in these elements offers revitalization to interiors and leads to enhanced mental health. Incorporating biophilic elements can consist of indoor plants, the use of natural materials, and adding in large windows.

Texture

The use of texture in design is a powerful technique to add depth and interest in a space. Textures can consist of materials and techniques such as boucle, leather, velvet, paint, and plaster. These textures can show through in wallpapers, plaster techniques, upholstery, drapery, furniture, and more. Layering textures can provide a unique sensory experience for the eye and hand to create a dynamic yet inviting space. This trend enhances a space’s aesthetic appeal and user experience.

Multifunctional Spaces

Multifunctional spaces have become crucial spaces in interior design especially in apartments and small homes. Due to people’s changing needs and activities, they want space that can adapt easily. Multifunctional spaces vary from household to household whether they need an at home office, guest room, workout space, or other space to fit their needs. These versatile spaces allow for a seamless transition from work to relaxation to socialization. Interior designers design these spaces to incorporate a functional layout, flexible furniture and creative storage. Welcoming this trending space allows for efficiency reflecting the modern lifestyle of creative solutions and adaptability.

Trending All Together

Trends are constantly evolving while some may be on their way in others are on their way out. Staying up-to-date with the current trends can feel like a never ending cycle. Designing your space to best suite you and your lifestyle will never go out of style!

Click here to learn about forecasted design trends for 2025!

Interior Design / October 19, 2024

Reasons to Hire an Interior Designer

After spending hours online shopping, seeking inspiration on social media, and exploring home decor stores, you’ve created a design project of your dreams or so you hoped. Coming to the realization that the design project you were excited to see come to life feels overwhelming and impossible to achieve your goal. Leaving you with an unfinished project… here are the 3 reasons why you should hire an interior designer!

Interior Designers are Professionally Educated
Interior designers save time, money, and stress
Professional Resources and Contacts

Leave it to the professionals! Hiring an interior designer offers benefits and avoids lost time, money, and pride. Interior designers offer a variety of services from picking out window treatments to revamping a home office to designing a new construction. Designers take on projects of all shapes and sizes.

Interior Designers are Professionally Educated

Hiring an interior designer is about leaving it to the professionally trained expert in designing functional and usable spaces. They perform a space assessment to identify strengths and weaknesses it faces. Interior designers consider details like accessibility clearances, appropriate lighting for specific needs, or acoustical requirements. Rather than focusing on surface-level aesthetics, designers must think creatively about the functionality and usability of a space.

An interior designer is also trained with project coordination. While studying the design phases, designers develop an understanding for the entire process. Designers are there for the whole scope of a project from the schematics to design development to construction documents to bidding to the final product. Coordinating with contractors and vendors to stay on schedule, on budget, and ensure it runs smoothly.

An interior designer is also professionally trained regarding the aesthetics of a space. They have the ability to identify your style and personality allowing it to shine through in the space. A designer focuses on the intricate details allowing the design to tell a story with the ability to execute it seamlessly and not overdone.

Reasons to hire an interior designer for your projects.

Interior designers save time, money, and stress.

When it comes to saving, it’s not just about finances. It’s also preserving your time and sanity. Interior designers help to stick to budget requirements and will avoid costly mistakes when it comes to remodels, new construction, or new decor.

Hiring an interior designer will also save you time! You won’t have to search for the perfect paint color or figure out the best layout for your kitchen. With their expertise in space planning, aesthetics, and material/finish selection, a designer can effectively and efficiently design a space to meet all the requirements.

Ultimately, hiring an interior designer will lighten your load. Allowing a professional to handle your design requirements will allow you to focus on your own responsibilities. This will make the process easier, more enjoyable, and allow you to keep your sanity.

Professional Resources and Contacts

When hiring an interior designer, you are not just hiring a person. You are obtaining access to an abundance of resources and contacts the designer has created. Interior designers bring relationships with suppliers, contractors, and artisans who deliver high-quality material, products, and services. Their connections and resources can result in cost savings that are unavailable to the public.

Additionally, interior designers have access to show rooms that the general public does not. Sourcing unique products with a wide variety of options. Interior designers have insider knowledge dealing with upcoming trends and new product releases to enhance a project.

Worth it!

Hiring an interior designer offers numerous advantages and perks. With their professional training, they bring great knowledge, saving time, money, and creating a stress free process. Additionally, providing access to other professional resources and contacts. These reasons to hire an interior designer will not let you down!

Next time, skip the DIY approach and hire a professional!

Interior Design / September 27, 2024

Interior Decorating on a Budget

Interior decorating is an important task but it may seem costly and daunting when you’re on a budget. Creating a space that functions and is aesthetically appealing doesn’t have to be expensive! As a college student, I have found ways to make my space feel like home without breaking the bank. Checking out thrift stores, shopping in the dollar section, DIY projects, and searching for deals are ways to stretch a budget.

Second Hand Interior Decorating

When beginning your hunt, I recommend starting at second hand stores or looking on resale websites. This will be the cheapest way to find pieces and may check some items off your list before buying new. It also benefits the environment!

Searching for second hand items may take some time and effort but can be rewarding. Going to multiple stores will be beneficial. These places will have the most unique treasures. Even if the second hand items aren’t perfect, they can be easily enhanced with a nice cleaning or paint job.

Dollar Section Interior Decorating

Interior decorating on a budget may lead you to the dollar sections or even clearance section. They are great places to look when wanting something simple or trendy. Supercenters like Target and Walmart have trendy items that are rotating frequently. Trends come and go, getting decor at a cheaper price is the best especially when it may not be used for a long time. They also have simple pieces that can elevate a space without breaking the bank.

Dollar stores are another great store to find simple pieces especially vases and glassware. Aldi has some great treasures in their home decor section that changes weekly. They have great prices and unique pieces that you cannot find anywhere else.

When interior decorating on a budget, you can find yourself in the dollar section at Target. — I was able to elevate my night stand by adding a coaster ($3) and a candle stand ($7).

Do It Yourself!

My favorite way to decorate a space is by having a DIY project. By doing it yourself you can customize it to exactly what you want. These projects don’t have to be difficult or extravagant. The internet is a great place to find DIY projects, how to execute them, and what to buy.

During my freshman year of college, I couldn’t find wall art that went with the vision for my room. Instead of continuing the search, paying hundreds of dollars on a piece, or just leaving my walls blank, I went to the craft store. I picked up a pack of three 18×24 canvases, a tub of premixed plaster, and a bottle of acrylic paint. I looked up some inspiration and got to work using tools I already had.

Interior decorating on a budget leads to DIY projects. By doing it yourself you can customize it to exactly what you want! — This DIY project cost less than $20 and a couple hours of my time. I have also used these pieces for four years now.

Who doesn’t love a good deal?

Finding deals is a great way to save money when decorating your space. If you find a piece that you can’t live without, search online for coupon codes. Shopping on holidays with sales like Labor Day or Memorial Day can help save money as well. When decorating on a budget, be mindful of stores with frequent deals.

Decorating on a budget can take some time and effort but is worth it to not break the bank. I hope these tips help when wanting to decorate a space to make it feel like your own but while on a budget!

Unexpected Design, Unforgettable Impact

Category: Interior Design Tips