|
Have you
ever wondered why interior designers place
slippers on the ottoman in magazine photos?
They do it to make the
staged setting look as if it’s a lived-in room.
Pictures and illustrations in decorating books,
magazines, and other advertisements are designed
to sell a product or an idea.
But what's missing in the staged rooms of most
interior design books and magazines? People.
When it comes to decorating your own your home,
forget the empty rooms you see in the magazines
and books. You should design your rooms as
backdrops for the people who use and live in those
spaces.
Design for you!
Use these interior design psychology tips:
Leave empty space. Empty space gives you
breathing room and allows the most important items
in the room to shine, which are the people!
Use small patterns on walls and furniture.
Avoid large-patterned fabrics and wallpapers with
designs larger than your head. Huge florals will
interfere with the appearance of the people in the
room. You don't want to have to compete with bold
patterns behind your face. Patterns on sofas and
chairs that clash with clothing will also make you
and your guests feel uncomfortable.
Use colors that complement people. Finding
the right colors to complement your skin and eyes
deserves planning. Most people look great when
surrounded by color. For light skin colors, use
yellows, pinks, and beiges. For darker
complexions, yellows, olives, and tans can make
people stand out. Since most people no longer have
bright white in their eyes, avoid pastels that are
whiter than the white in your eyes.
Add textures that feel good to the touch.
Support your sense of touch by adding textures
that are nice to caress. You don't have to touch
velvet to sense its softness, and soft textures
like chenille and satins will visually support
your feeling of being pampered, as well.
Arrange accessories to
shore up emotions. In one of my rooms, I
arranged my mantle accessories to make a
statement, and it looked great in photographs, but
after analyzing why the mantle didn't seem to
smile, I realized that it wasn't personal. When I
filled it with Mili fiori lamps, crystal
candlesticks, and antique vases, the space looked
great, but it really began to smile when I added a
Mexican Rose rock under the painting.
Think comfort before pretense. Just because
a sofa or chair looks fabulous doesn't mean the
piece is comfortable. Remember, when you walk
around a showroom, sitting down on any chair feels
good, but in order to truly test a piece of
furniture, you need to sit on it for a long time,
until you feel totally rested. Only then will you
be able to feel the real support and comfort level
of that piece.
Design for your location and support your emotions
with nature. Reinforce the natural
beauty surrounding you. I'm so lucky my mother
paints in oil. She painted our lake scene, without
all the houses.
Lake
Elsinore, California, by Jayne St. John
Remember, your home is a place for people, and
when you and your guests look and feel great in
your home, you can be sure that you've designed a
great setting; one that far outshines the staged
sets you'll see in magazines and books.
Interior
Design Psychology Articles
Interior
Design Psychology Home
Home Makeover Teleseminars |
