The Interior Design Handbook

What makes you feel good

• space should be functional and not for show
• understand what you like in a space based on your personality (social -> lots of couches and large dining table, relaxation -> calming colors and painting, lack of clutter / organization -> closed storage and minimalist furniture ... Etc)
• try to get an intuitive sense of what you like and don't by collecting clippings of things you do and don't like and looking for patterns
• do you have a place you like being in? Try and think about why

Basic principles and rules of thumb

• golden ratio, dividing room into thirds and having objects offset to left or right of center (like in a picture)
• Triangles (right or equilateral) make them or their general outline with objects. (Tall vase and smaller vases in front/ to sides slightly)
• room should have a focal point (something that sticks out due to placement or color or contrast) it should be the first thing you notice.
• lines can do cool things (lengthwise ot make longer feel, horizontal to make wider, small squares for cost, larger to make room larger, also diagonal for larger, curves for softness like circular rugg or table)
• anchoring, need a base for a room, rug, bed, sofa, large table, set of drawers etc.
• odd numbers of things tend of be more interesting
• contrast opposites together next to each other (hard, soft. Straight curved, rounded angular, warm cold, textured smooth)
• keep in mind textures rough and uneven = darker and warmer and softer and rustic. Smooth and shiny, lighter, colder, harder and modern.
• symmetry, mirror image, rotational, pattern repition (translational)
• you can be asymmetric sometimes
• vary size and scale (multiple pillows of different sizes, tiny picture, large vase)
• consider and use negative space
• consider flow of movement, and amount of time in each space (draw map of paths)
• don't have people sitting with back to door when possible,
• consider sightlines and visibility from specific points in room, seating, entrance to room.
• place storage near high traffic areas, should be abundant and accessible. Should have a home map where you highlight all the storage to find imbalances
• compass direction and sunlight timing on various rooms matters for what you want it for.
• North, darkest and coolest. East, morning sunlight. South, most hour of sun. West, afternoon and evening sun.
• if I like sleeping in a cold room and waking in a bright warm room an east facing room is ideal. (Will be shaded in the afternoon and sun will rise facing in the east)

Tools to help you bring it all together

• larger sightlines help make a space feel bigger. If you can see into other rooms typically larger sightlines. Also be careful a out colors visible between rooms to make sure they don't clash
• to give the house cohesion you need a common theme or thread. Like color, material, wood variety, art/hobby/interest, particular designer or design language.
• look at a room and try to sus out whether or not theirs any visual noise, that's bothering you.
• try taking pictures and then analyzing as it's easier often

Color

• write down any colors used and keep some hand for touch ups.
• work of art approach, pick a color combo from a painting you like (or one you want in the room)
• use nature as a guide for tones
• 60/30/10 + B/W, basically those are the % for main colors, subtle harmonious color, contrasting color. Or walls, floors, furniture, and feature walls, certain rugs, small future and pictures and art and cushions and accessories repsectivley
• gloss scale matters, higher is glossy and reflects light and brightens room. Matte is the opposite more forgiving for concealing blemishes, calmer serface without sheen
• lighting changes color (so test on cardboard in the room, also ask for fabric samples)

Lighting

• 5 - 7 rule, should have 5 - 7 lighting points in each room
• at least one light in each category, general (whole room), working(desk), spot lighting (accent thing), atmosphere (mood lighting, small dimmable, candles)
• unwanted shadows, general lighting shouldnt create shadows over that interfere with work lighting. Consider where people are and have work lighting correctly
• types of light, direct is beam, diffused is filtered via shade, indirect is reflect off wall
• 21 - 25 inch over table surface for dining room light
• checklist for analyzing color, light level, light distribution, shadows, patches of light, reflections and gleam, glare, color of light, color of surface

Design tips

• receipt for finishing touches, inviter, cozyfier, eye lifter, wow object, weird thing, personalized, natural element, finishing details, signs of life

• still life's, contrasting object size and texture. Overlap objects in front of each other, make triangles, odd numbers of objects,

• pictures, should only be about 2/3 of length of couch at most, don't hang to high or low, light color frames to singout, dark to create contrast and balance

• 145 principles. Height of pics should be 57 inches to center.

• test before you nail, images on floor, sheets of same size tapped to wall,

• if art is big, make sure there is ample space to see it all at once

• curtains, spacing should be 4 inches in both directions from frame (higher and out), curtains size should be x2 window size. Should fall to just above ground.

• to make a room feel bigger, smaller furniture, non empty corners, mirrors, illusions, free up floor space, windows, lighter colors.

• to make a room feel smaller, opposite of above, plus. Design from the middle outward,

• book shelf organization - by color, height hight to low or low to high, height sloping in the middle or peaking in the middle, alphabetical,

  • heavier books lower on the shelves
  • mirror images across center
  • triangle method 3 objects of the same color in 3 points top right, center left, bottom right.

• more neutral furniture sets (expensive to replace) spice with pillows. Do you want to sit straight with feet on floor? Do you want to recline? Anyone with trouble getting up?

• avoid dark sofas in South facing room because strong sunlight will fade covers

• coffee table can have stuff on to stylistically, 3 height zones for rectangular table, 4 for squares and circles in a spiral stair case kinda thing,

• side tables if large couch and people on sides can't reach coffee table

• placing pillows, see image

• pillow fu, chop top, chop top and side, pat center

• bigger plants that are more mature. Barring that large pot with many plants inside to give the illusion.

• rug should mirror shape of furniture (round and round, square and square)

• dining room rug should have space to pull out for all chairs and still be on the rug, 24 to 28 inches.

• light remodel

  • re paint / re varnish kitchen cabinet doors
  • change ceiling lighting (not that hard)

Buying notes

• fit and comfort over trends

• see picture for materials reference for what kinds of materials to buy

  • Basically real wood is better than the cardboard like stuff because it lasts longer, and looks better while lasting longer and you can better repair knicks and scratches by sanding

Key measurements and proportions

• 1:100 cut out. (1 square is 0.5 meters)

• when planning make sure to remember all orientations (drawers pulled out, doors opened) as well as free standing objects

• Foyer

  • hat shelves should be 71 inches off the floor
  • remember to measure your longest coat before placing a rack, (55 to 63 in)
  • clothes hanger are typically 16 - 18 in and you want closet fixtures to have a little extra room for them to sway
  • shoes require 12.5 inches of depth typically
  • coat hooks 60 - 70 inches from floor
  • 27 inch depth for coat closets
  • Hall needs 36 inches of diameter to put on a coat

• Bathroom

  • shower cube dimensions 36 x 36 in
  • shower rod - 78 to 86.5 in from floor
  • shower curtains 72 to 78 in
  • toilet roll holder 26 - 30 inches above floor level
  • 30 in of clear space in from of sink
  • large towels 59 - 63 inches

• Kitchen

  • walking spaces at least 28 inches wide
  • fridge, sinks and oven should ideally be no more than a stride away from one another 1.5 ft
  • work surface between, sinks nd oven should be between 32 and 47 inches
  • depth of work surfaces is 24 - 28 inches
  • height of work surfaces is 36 inches
  • cupboards should be at least 20 inches above the work surface in order to prevent hitting your head while prepping food.
  • don't put oven in corner, 8 inches between wall at least.
  • passage should be 47 inches wide for ovens and dishwasher, 44.5 if just cabinets, surfaces opposite one another 47 inches ideally 55 inches

• Dining

  • dinning room table 28.5 - 30 inch off ground
  • under frame of table at least 25 inches off ground
  • seat to ground 16.25 - 18 inches
  • 11 to 12 inches between seat height and table
  • round dining table diameter of at least 44.5 inches (4 or 5) people. 47 inches for 6, 59 for 8
  • allow for 24 by 15 per place per setting. Rectangular table needs to be at least 32 inches wide
  • allow 28 to 32 inches between dining chairs and wall or other furniture. (If near cubbord measure with doors open)

• Living

  • sofa should not take up more than 2/3 of a wall
  • coffee table should not be more than 2/3 length of sofa
  • coffee table roguhtly same height as sofa seating plus or minus 4 inches
  • 12 to 16 inches between edge of sofa and table
  • 36 inch passage ways
  • foot stool and ottomans a bit lower than sofa
  • book cases typically 12 to 16 inches deep
  • ensure lighting won't blind any one seating position
  • remember to take measurements of doors and hallways to make sure furniture can fit into the house

• Bed

  • ideally 4 inches between your head and bed end and 4 inches between feet and bed end
  • 22 to 24 inch height
  • 30 inches between bed and wall (extra if doors open into the space and such
  • night stand slightly higher than bed (4 in)

• Office

  • desk should be 32 by 47 - 59 for computers and work and such
  • height is 30

Planning your project

• go get lots of ideas and picture
• have an idea you're going for from a practical perspective (competitive board game nights, cosy movie nights, calm home offices)
• filter picture that are unrealistic
• find events you really liked furniture choice and key accessories, pronounced shapes and silhouettes, details like pictures, lighting, rugs and floors, plants and leaves, feel (bohemian or minimalist, color palette (warm or cold).
• color palette
• material palette (light or dark wood, warm or cold metals, natural materials or powder coat finishes)
• textile palette