Unlocking the Secrets of Interior Design

Books, the internet, television, radio... with all of the interior design advice that's out there, you would be forgiven for thinking that you need a degree in design in order to create a pleasing interior for your home. But nothing could be further from the truth. interior design is more about inspiration, creativity and fun. In fact, interior design is one of the only aspects of home-building where you can really let your wildest fantasies take shape.

Your home is a reflection of yourself: we all change as we age, so it's natural that your idea of interior design will change, too. One of the beauties of interior design is that it's a moveable feast: a bold, striking interior with radical design features might appeal to you when you are in your twenties, but you may feel differently about design when you're in your thirties or forties. Your life circumstances may have changed - you may have married, for example, or you may have children - and this will certainly have an impact on the way in which you choose to design your home's interior.

The first step is understanding your interior. Whether you want to re-design a room, a floor or even a whole house, it's important to know what the space will be used for, and who will be using it. A lounge or bedroom can be ruined by the wrong design style, so make your design project easier by deciding up-front how you intend to use your interior.

The next step is to consider who will be using the space. What sort of person are they? Your interior design should take their age, character and occupation into consideration. A bright, vibrant design may not be suitable for a studious or serious person, for example. And a muted interior will suppress a creative spirit or free thinker. Make it a rule to design your interior around the inhabitants.

With your design foundation in place, it's time to start choosing your colour palette. Aim to include 2 - 4 colours or shades: it will be far flattering to your interior than a single colour. And don't be afraid to contrast: bright reds and blues look stunning against a modern white interior, for example, whereas tranquil greens and turquoises will add warmth to an old-fashioned, beamed interior. Be bold: try painting a 'feature wall' in a single colour, and contrast that with interesting accessories... it's an interior design trick that will really bring a room to life.

As any interior design expert knows, it's the finishing touches that can make all the difference. An oversized cushion with an ethnic design; a long table made from a reclaimed railway sleeper; a fireplace full of candles... little touches of design brilliance that will bring your interior to life.

Interior Design Trends for Every Room in 2012

If you've recently bought your first home, you've moved into your first apartment, you've moved into a new space or you simply just want to update a room in your home, you're probably wondering what the current different interior design trends are. Here's a basic guide to the trendiest decor styles of 2012 for every room in your home, from the bedroom to the bathroom, the kitchen to the living room and everything in between.

Bedroom designs

Bed room designs in 2012 will be returning to clean, crisp lines and details. The style will be purely contemporary, as people are looking to de-stress from the recent economy issues and thus, they'll want to create bedroom designs that are spa-like. Spaces that you can retreat into after a long, hard day.

Be on the look out for clean, soft hues including cool blues, soft grays and creamy ivory whites, giving a soft and comfortable look with clean lines that compliment a comfortable, restful space.

Bathroom designs

There are actually a number of different bath room designs that are growing in popularity in 2012. This includes Moroccan inspired tile, natural or reclaimed materials, clean colors and unusual but organic looking fixtures. Of course, it doesn't end there. With bathroom designs, the opportunities are endless as more and more people are breaking away from the "what if I sell the house" mentality and looking more toward the "I want to enjoy my home" mentality.

For 2012, the best thing you can do for your bath room space is to create a space that you love, rather than what might sell the best.

Living room designs

The living room is all about comfort and style blended together for a unique look. People are learning that they don't have to settle on a single interior design style, but that they can mix and match a number of styles and accept that no space is ever "perfect," despite what they may have been told previously.

For living room designs, don't be surprised to see a large surge of Moroccan inspired looks, global inspired looks, mid century modern, eclectic looks, vintage pieces, Americana and more.

Kitchen designs

The kitchen is now the hub of the home, so it's no surprise that most people will be putting the majority of their focus into this space. When looking to create an updated kitchen design, you'll notice that much like with the bathroom and other spaces in the home, people are starting to become more comfortable with the "here and now" and less focused on the "what happens when I sell my home?"

Kitchen designs will include rustic and industrial touches, as well as clean, contemporary touches for a blend of updated and vintage styling. For materials, look for a lot of clean, contemporary materials over traditional and natural finishes. For example, stainless steel countertops are being preferred over natural stone countertops.

Other kitchen interior design trends include open shelving, stylish and colorful tile backsplashes such as mosaic tiles or Moroccan inspired tiles, dark warm cabinetry and of course, plenty of proper lighting.

Interior Designers Are A Very Creative Breed

People often confuse interior designers with interior decorators and interior stylists. They are not as different as chalk and cheese but they are quite different. While a decorator would create your home space with different kinds of objects and put the various objects to make them look catching on the eye, the interior designers study forms, design, symmetry of structure and related aspects. Their study is considered more bent towards the theoretical side of the job but they have deep sense of creativity and a well harnessed idea of compositeness.

designers have always looked towards the past to create something modern and fresh. It is because past is an unfailing library for the interior designers. Interior designers believe that period pieces can be made to work very well even in conjunction. Yes, the underlying idea is not to disturb the consistency of theme. However hard it might seem, they can keep a uniformity of structure spirit despite bringing in tones of different periods.

House of building designers understand the need of creating a form and its structural dimensions that suit the taste of a budding owner. It is after all his home or commercial space; it has to be his style statement too. Often they are ready to hold back their own style in favor of the owner's statement and yet keep their creativity intact. Designers are sometimes blessed with a vision that can put to shame even the Cubists.

These professionals all over the world are challenged by new aspects of modernism. It's because the basic idea is to keep the convention of form and geography of place in mind. House or building designers can't use their skill sets distancing themselves from the medium in which they work and getting adrift from the geographic requirement of place. These professionals know all about choosing the exact raw materials. Yes, they often take suggestions from the interior decorators to put forth this plan. Interior designers use consistency to create a complete theme for a home. Parallel motifs can't truly convert a home into a likeable place. They feel that a kaleidoscope of motifs can potentially kill a structure.

Interior decorators are paid pretty well if they have beaten the initial days of hardships. People acknowledge their craft and understand the supreme creativity in their vision. Today, you can get in touch with top interior designers through internet. Most of them also flash their work and achievements over their website.People often confuse interior designers with interior decorators and interior stylists. They are not as different as chalk and cheese but they are quite different. While a decorator would create your home space with different kinds of objects and put the various objects to make them look catching on the eye, the interior designers study forms, design, symmetry of structure and related aspects. Their study is considered more bent towards the theoretical side of the job but they have deep sense of creativity and a well harnessed idea of compositeness.

Interior designers have always looked towards the past to create something modern and fresh. It is because past is an unfailing library for the interior designers. They believe that period pieces can be made to work very well even in conjunction. Yes, the underlying idea is not to disturb the consistency of theme. However hard it might seem, they can keep a uniformity of structure spirit despite bringing in tones of different periods.

Interior designers understand the need of creating a form and its structural dimensions that suit the taste of a budding owner. It is after all his home or commercial space; it has to be his style statement too. Often the designers are ready to hold back their own style in favor of the owner's statement and yet keep their creativity intact. These professionals are sometimes blessed with a vision that can put to shame even the Cubists.

These designers all over the world are challenged by new aspects of modernism. It's because the basic idea is to keep the convention of form and geography of place in mind. Interior decorators can't use their skill sets distancing themselves from the medium in which they work and getting adrift from the geographic requirement of place. Interior designers know all about choosing the exact raw materials. Yes, they often take suggestions from the interior decorators to put forth this plan. Interior designers use consistency to create a complete theme for a home. Parallel motifs can't truly convert a home into a likeable place. They feel that a kaleidoscope of motifs can potentially kill a structure.

Interior designers are paid pretty well if they have beaten the initial days of hardships. People acknowledge their craft and understand the supreme creativity in their vision. Today, you can get in touch with top designers through internet. Most of the interior designers also flash their work and achievements over their website.

Interior Design Trends For 2011

A new year has come and new trends are being set fast in all areas of our lives. A good way to start the new year afresh and with a new burst of energy is to change your interior design, but be careful as there are new rules for this year.

In 2011 trends in interior design will pay more attention to family and will show a high interest for preservation and 'vintage', as one of the first priorities will be saving money.

The present economic situation will make many of us become nostalgic about the old days. The so called "old colours" to remind us of the past will be among the most wanted design trends of this year. The earthy brown, the lime green or navy blue will find themselves both in it for colour, as well as trends in fabrics. What will fuel trends in 2011 will be the interest in 'greening up'. Through the reuse of furniture by restoration, not only will you be saving money but you will also have a good feeling that you have contributed to protecting the environment.

This year even in interior design the attention will be headed for the origins. Because of human desire to relive the past, designers think that interest will be devoted to the origins of existence, so everybody will seek forms and colours with a global influence. African tribal grounds, or symbols of early Amerindians people will be used a lot, many geometric figures. For them to go well together vibrant colours should be used, but at the same time modest ones, as golden reflections with musk, tomato or oceanic blue.

As people will turn their attention to origins, they realise that the most important thing in life is not money. The economic crises will only give them the desire to simplify their lives. Various shades of grey and white will be the most neutral colours used this year; the grey will be used in a lots of combinations with other colours, as well as various shades of yellow, to bring a smudge of colour. You can also create sophisticated combinations, using glass, crystal or even gold or steel. These accessories must be illuminated by various sources, so as to create glow in the room.

One detail that you can't forget are the colours and what they symbolise - as they must denote hope and optimism. Spring in nature symbolises birth and the colours of spring bring hope. Violet, orange mandarin, yellow and green may be used on fabrics. The floral motives with a retro aspect will still be appreciated, as more and more accessories for the interior design combine these colours.

Even if you can't change your furniture every year, there are a few rules to be followed in the interior design or suggestions that you can take into account in a new round of shopping: vintage, etno, Scandinavian, home office, outdoor - indoor are only some of this year's design trends. We're still looking for a comfortable warmth in our homes, privacy but without forgetting the wide open spaces and bright, minimalistics lines.

Vintage : old restored furniture, romantic lines, complicated pieces of massive wood, decorative pieces to remind you of old times. This, a style loved by women, vintage pieces means more than 'old', it's treasuring pieces from past generations, grandparents and great grandparents. Vintage style, both in clothes and furniture, involves pieces whose value and quality has remained untouched in time. But make sure that the vintage pieces you have or that you want to buy fit the style of your entire home.

Etno - heat, fireplace, the smell of spices - this is what this trend inspires. Regarding the interior decoration this trend is guided by the aesthetic "coloured" Orient: from India, Morocco, Central Asia, China, Russia. Explosion of colour, both on a white background and strong different contrasts: red, orange, yellow. However, if you aren't a supporter of this etno style throughout, pick out a few items: coloured carpets, a lot of wood, natural shades and dim light to get the effect.

Outdoor - Indoor is a new, catchy trend for this year, that you will fall in love with if you are an outdoor person. From the desire of an intimate, warm area, one of trends imposed this year is bringing parts of outside, inside for those who would normally sit on the terrace or garden, bring the ambiance into the living- room. So you bring the ratan deep chairs, low, bamboo coffee tables and bulky, large plants inside. For a special effect allow light to enter by the large windows.

A new trend for this year is the chill Scandinavia. Surely we all love the minimalistic look with white pieces of furniture, romantic lines, that are extremely functional. This is more than a trend, it's a way of living. Choose white furniture , walls painted white with colorful accessories thrown in; coloured pillows, nude soft carpet, boxes of different sizes, so you have somewhere to keep your magazines and DVDs.

Tips For Great Restaurant Interior Design

One of the things that we really enjoy when we get to eat outside of our homes and eat in a restaurant is the ambiance, besides the food that they are offering. Ambiance really plays a big part when it comes to making you enjoy your dining experience and for some, it determines if they will be returning to the restaurant or not.

Here are some great tips that you can take note of for a great design if you are one of those people who are thinking of opening up a restaurant. These tips play a big part in design and are proven to be very effective when it comes to creating a great ambiance where people will keep coming back for more of what your restaurant can offer.

Know This

One of the best restaurant interior design tips that you should first take note of is knowing and understanding your target market. Just by determining what your customers are demanding, you can instantly create a design in your mind that will suit best suit their lifestyle. Are you going for the young urban professionals who wear a coat and tie most of the time that will require your restaurant interior design to be more flashy and elegant? Or are you going for the market of kids who enjoy having quick fixes for their tummies but will like play rooms or arcades at the same time?

Getting a feedback from your target cus omers will clearly help you in formulating the best design in your mind. Chances are, once that you have finally determined what they want and once you have implemented all those elements in your restaurant, the higher the chances that they will, time and time again, visit your place and spread the word that yours is one of the greatest restaurants that they have been in. Ask Help From The Experts

It is also important to recognize that you cannot do all the restaurant interior design by yourself and sometimes it will be best to get help from the experts. Vision design is one of the most reputable interior design companies in the industry and they are specializing in designing restaurants, spas, homes, and others and have already received numerous awards for their outstanding designs and service.

Interior Design - The Meaning of Colors

We live surrounded by colors, shades and light. Each tone and sometimes we don't even notice it, influences our mood, each color has a meaning and intertwines with our frame of mind. There is nothing arbitrary in this world: it's all harmony. Have you noticed? There are days you feel like wearing black and days you feel like adding color to your life, spicing it up a little by wearing an orange top or a lime green scarf, or a mysterious dark red evening dress. You can choose the colors for your wardrobe according to your mood and change them as often as you like, but you cannot change the colors of a room so easily. When you start decorating a room it is very important that you choose the colors right.

Interior designers use a color wheel to choose colors and tones that match. You should know that there are active colors (such as red, yellow and orange), passive colors (blue, green and purple) and neutral colors (white, black, gray, beige and brown). It is very important that you know how each of these color groups might influence a room. For example, warm colors tend to stand out; neutrals, as their name suggests are..... neutral; and passive colors calm the atmosphere.

You should find a way to balance the tones, to create the mood you long for. You want a room full of energy, use orange. You want passion - red is the answer. You want to chill - take blue. So let's see what each color means, for colors are not given the same meaning all over the world.

Red is for many the color of passionate love: a red rose, a red box of chocolates on Valentines Day, a red heart, but in South Africa red means mourning. Red is also the most common color found in national flags. That is because in ancient times flags were usually used on the battlefield and red gave the signal for battle. Red is also the color of blood - red eggs at Easter symbolize the blood of Christ and good luck. Red is good luck also in China, where it is also used as wedding color. If you like red, creating an interior decoration with a Chinese theme is a perfect choice.

Green is the color of nature. You find it everywhere: in trees, grass and even some fruits. It relaxes and inspires. In ancient times green was the color of honor and victory. In Ireland, this is still the color of good luck. Choose an Irish theme if you like dark green. Blue is the most common color used in interior decoration - it relaxes and refreshes, it provides for a feeling of safety. This shouldn't be a surprise: as you know blue is also the color for police uniforms. If you choose blue for your home, you cannot go wrong. But blue is a cold color, so balance it with orange or yellow.

Purple is a royal color. In ancient times purple was difficult to obtain - the color was extracted from Purpura snails. This is also the color of inspiration, so if you are an artist, a room with purple accents might stimulate your mind. As purple is believed to help kids develop imagination, it is often used to decorate children rooms.

Yellow and orange are extremely warm colors. They are usually associated with the sun and with tropical fruits (oranges, bananas, lemons). Both have a positive impact, however yellow could be taken as a symbol of jealousy and deceit and let's not forget that some time ago, in Spain, executioners wore yellow. Take care how you use orange and yellow in iinterior decorations: both stand out and tend to dominate the room. Black and white are neutral. Both symbolize mourning, each for different civilizations. But hey, almost each color symbolizes mourning for some: red for South Africans, blue for Iranians, purple for women in Thailand, yellow for Egyptians, white for Chinese and Japanese, black for Europeans and Americans. But black and white are both very elegant and, while you should not paint your walls black, you could choose black furniture to give your interiors a feel of opulence and strength. White is purity, kindness, peace and loyalty.

Interior Design For Fireplaces - Unleash Your Creativity

A lot of creative ideas for the interior design for fireplaces can be sourced from books, magazines, and the Internet. The only factors that may limit your creativity are the budget you are allotting for the interior design of your fireplace plus the nature of the room where you plan to put the fireplace in.

If you're embarking on an interior design fireplace project, don't despair if you don't have a lot of money to spend on it. You can construct an economical but expensive-looking fireplace if you take the time poring over magazines and architectural journals for some inexpensive interior design fireplace ideas. You should also try your best to stick to the budget you have set for the interior design of the fireplace.

Always take into account the size of the room where the interior design fireplace project is to be undertaken. If you're working with a small room, the fireplace must be sized accordingly not only because space should be conserved but also because a large fireplace in a small room could be overpowering.

Instead, you can scout for appropriately sized fireplace inserts or compact wood burning stoves that are ideal for interior design fireplaces for small spaces. Moreover, they create a warm and cozy effect that makes the room more comfortable to lounge in.

You can get creative with the interior design of a fireplace by making use of indigenous materials or bricks and stone that are easily accessible within your locality. Not only would this help you save a lot but it would also benefit the local businesses from whom you'll source the materials.

In addition, when the interior design of your fireplace matches its environment, then your home would have a feel of really belonging to its environment.

Interior Design Fireplaces Can Be Highly Creative

Embarking on an interior design fireplaces project may even pave the way in the expression of your creativity. In fact, you have so many materials at your disposal and lots of ideas to choose from. The fireplace can even be your main showpiece in any room you plan to install it.

If you're dealing with the interior design for fireplaces in large rooms, you can situate the fireplace at a central location and use the room for entertaining guests and socializing. A fireplace designed in consideration of the resident's personal tastes is the best and makes for a charming conversation piece.

Contemporary interior designs for fireplaces make use of fireplace inserts for wallboards. Basically, a fireplace insert is installed into an existing fireplace but its operation is dependent on another fuel source. This is a welcome technology in the interior design of fireplaces because it offers the same safety features and conveniences of more traditional fireplaces.

Individuals who prefer the traditional style for their interior design fireplaces, however, use the old dependable stone or brick chimney but to give it an updated look, they could make use of oddly shaped bricks or stones of various shapes, textures, and colors.

One can even play with patterns to give the interior design fireplace a more personalized touch. If you're short on ideas, there are hundreds of photos which you can view on the Internet or you can get various suggestions from friends and family members. Besides, they will be the first ones to share the "warmth" from your interior design fireplace project.

There Is A Lot More To Interior Design Than First Meets The Eye

Interior design is a complicated profession. It is sometimes referred to as interior architecture and often confused with interior decorating. It involves the design, organization and planning of an interior structure rather than just refinishing and furnishing existing interior spaces. It involves managing a business, hopefully meeting the desires of the client and delivering to them an interior environment that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. There is a lot more to interior design than first meets the eye.

The further you go back in history, it can be seen how interior design has blended with artistic societies such as during the Italian Renaissance. It has been shaped by numerous styles, movements, social developments and technological revolutions. It has crossed emotional boundaries, traveled across continents and has publicly revealed much of the lifestyles of societies and their artistic cultures in any marked period in time.

There are different types of interior design. Residential interior design involves dealing with home owners normally on an available budget. Some interior designers specialize in working on bathrooms, kitchens, living areas or even bedrooms. Others work in the larger and lucrative commercial market. In this marketplace, interior designers are spoiled for choice and may select the retail industry, the hospitality business, the commercial building sector or specialize in related business as diverse as creating exhibits for art galleries and trade shows.

Interior design is an exciting and rapidly growing field and it seems that interest in this particular career is increasing in popularity. interior designers are licensed design professionals qualified by education, work experience and time. In the 1960s and 70s independent organizations were established to assess qualifications for these design professionals and their programs. There are now many dedicated individuals in organizations such as CIDA and NCIDQ who presently work diligently to increase public awareness of spacial design while developing the profession to where it is today.

There are ID courses in universities, colleges and even online and an accreditation process that certifies a program will teach the principles necessary to ensure that the students acquire the knowledge, skills and experience to be successful in their future careers. All of this is seen as beneficial to the consumer who can be virtually assured of being led through the design process by someone who is not only creative and educated but also competently trained.

Examine the basic family home. Basically it is a cluster of interconnected rooms each with a primary function such as eating, entertaining, sleeping, washing and possibly even working. The conscious aim of this form of spacial design is to balance the owner's needs with the spaces available. It is rarely straightforward. There are so many external forces that influence the decision making process. The key to this art form is knowing how to make sense out of the relationship between the owner, the home, the family and their lifestyle.

Interior design is a process. This practice often involves the manipulation of texture, proportion and the efficient usage of light in order to achieve symmetry, harmony and a proper equilibrium in overall human life. The fundamental principles of good design are natural and to a large extent innate. When examining the universal properties of light, space, color and materials, the professional looks at the interaction of the natural laws that govern them.

The particular design of a room works not only on the often ignored senses of smell and hearing but also on the emotions. Color schemes are selected to reflect the mood of a room. Understanding how each aspect of a design contributes to an overall look and feel of a room or space constantly takes precise skills and both architects and designers manipulate these to great effect.

Interior design is an expressive form of art. However there is a lot more to this profession than making a household look nice. It is about providing a simple answer to a simple problem in three dimensions by maximizing the good points and concealing the imperfections. It is all about purposely creating a harmonious environment that has the amazing ability to make positive changes in people's lives. There is a lot more to interior design than first meets the eye.

Why Should You Use an Interior Designer?

Every interior designer will tell you that one of the most common questions they are asked is 'why pay a designer when I can design just as well myself?'... Why use an interior designer?

There are many people capable of decorating their homes to their desired effect, but if you want the complete finished home with the real wow factor, call in the experts. The following article explains some of the reasons why and interior designer can be your best friend.

1. An experienced interior designer will have had years of training in his or her desired field, most of them covering all aspects of the design industry. They will have also had many years of practical experience of designing, organising, co-ordinating and project managing it entirely.

2. Experience also brings years of dealing with committed contractors who would advise on lighting schemes, plumbing requirements and if required, necessary building works.

3. Sadly so many builders, plumbers and electricians are not capable of dealing with the jobs they are quoting for. An interior designer has eliminated the bad guys!

4. Probably one of the better reasons for employing a designer, is the fact that they can save you money in the long run. A good interior designer will have access to all the best furniture, carpet, fabric houses, lighting engineers and suppliers in the world.

5. So many people have absolutely no idea of where to buy the furniture they desire and spend days, if not weeks and months searching for it. These boring shopping trips have even been known to cause a few divorces!

6. Designers have a constantly updated library of catalogues. This enables you to choose from the luxury of your own home or the designers office. Also they have the ability to obtain a compromise between partners! Many of these companies give discounts to interior designers, which some are happy to share with their clients.

7. Using an interior designer also gives you the opportunity to have products made exactly to your requirements, an interior designer can assist in having it made completely bespoke in any desired finish and style.

8. Another reason for using a designer is that, unfortunately the average person has a complete lack of special awareness... For instance how many times do you see in homes a sofa the size of one that would fit in the lobby of a London Hotel? Alternatively in a large suite, one that would suit a bedsit. interior designers have the skill to know which size pieces look good and which do not. Knowing the correct size and layout of furniture of any room is vital.

9. A designer will know how to achieve the maximum realisation of value of your property. Far too many homes are de-valued by poor interior design. The tragedy being that this has probably cost the home-owner a lot of money. New home builders always use a designer for the showhome as they know that this will generate sales very quickly. The showhome on a new development usually has a waiting list of potential buyers. Even if a show home is not to your taste, most people will aspire to that complete finished, professional look.

10. A good interior designer will provide you with a complete overview of every room with a Mood Board of the colour palette, furniture style and layout, window treatments and flooring, lighting and wall finishes. They can also supply 3D visuals if you require. This is a virtual picture of every room, so if there is anything you have doubts about it can be addressed immediately. The client will also be informed of the overall costings for room or whole project.

Interior Designers - The Top 2 Misconceptions That Keep Home Owners From Hiring an Interior Designer

As an interior designer in Atlanta, GA for the last eight years, I've noticed a few common threads running through the most popular misconceptions about using interior designers. If you've never used an interior designer, ask yourself why right now.

Go ahead. I'll wait.

...

Wow, that was quick! I bet you have a pretty good answer, too. I also bet your answer falls into one of the following two major categories:

1) COST: "I can't afford one. Using an interior designer is an excessive luxury reserved for the wealthiest of people that live in mansions and drive Bentley's." Or, "I'll save money if I do all the design work myself, which means I can buy more furniture."

2) CREATIVE EXPRESSION: "If I use an interior designer, I'm afraid I'll feel like my home won't be an expression of my unique style and tastes. I have good taste - I can do this on my own."

If your answer for not hiring an interior designer fits into one of these categories, then read on for some answers that might surprise you.

First of all, I want you to know these reactions are completely normal and understandable based on the amount of information that exists in the marketplace about how the client/ designer process works.

So let me respond to each of these arguments in order.

1. COST: Professional interior designers typically are able to purchase furniture at discounted rates from furniture and accessory manufacturers or distributors because of their purchase volume. When you use an interior designer you take advantage of their discounts to purchase furniture through your designer at a cost that is lower than what you would pay on your own. Every designer operates a little differently, but a typical pricing/ fee structure used by a lot of interior designers in Atlanta (where I am based) is "cost plus". This pricing formula is very common among industries that make purchases on behalf of their clients.

The "cost" in this pricing structure is the designers' reduced cost for the items you purchase (furniture, accessories, window treatments, etc). The "plus" is a percentage of that cost added to compensate the designer for their services and their sources. Many designers will even waive any hourly fees for clients purchasing a certain amount of furniture through them. In the end, you pay LESS for your home furnishings using a good designer than you do without one. AND, your budget actually goes further with a designer than without one.

An interior designer can save you money in other ways, too, like:

A designer's "industry-insider" knowledge helps clients achieve the best results through sourcing options not available to the general public.

Soft-costs include time saved and higher likelihood of your satisfaction in the end result (no replacement costs for that sofa that's just too big!)

So, as you can see, using an interior designer actually makes strong financial sense. A professional designer will save you money, save you time, and stretch your budget further than you could on your own.

2. CREATIVE EXPRESSION: A good interior designer listens to what their clients' tastes and styles are and involves them heavily in the selection process. Your style will show through in each selection you make. designers will take you with them to furniture stores. Bring fabric samples to your home to have you review, and involve you in lots of other ways to make sure the final outcome is a reflection of your style - and one that you will bring you great satisfaction in the place where you spend most of your time - your home!

If you don't feel your designer is listening to you carefully enough, let them know. Keeping an honest and open channel of communication is critical to make sure you're happy with the final design of your home.

Using a professional designer who makes his or her living by decorating does have its advantages. Think about the number of times you've painted a room. Have they always turned out just the way you had imagined? And were they coordinated with the furniture and flowed from one room to the next? Or did you find yourself either repainting a room you just painted or, worse yet, think "ugghh" every time you walked into your bathroom?

Think of your designer as just a helping hand whose advice may save you from some expensive and time-consuming design set-backs.

Plus, the little finishing touches that truly make a house a home are the things that only the client can add to a room. I know as an interior designer, I take the responsibility of helping my clients achieve a great living space that they'll love and feel accurately reflects their personality and likes very seriously!

I hope I've helped clear up some of the main reasons I've seen why more people don't take advantage of professional design help when decorating a home or even just a room in a home.

Stay tuned for my next installment in my series where I'll be discussing how to evaluate and hire an interior designer.

Choosing Interior Design Software

Interior design students will use interior design  software that the professionals use in their everyday designing work. A popular program is SmartDraw. With the program you get thousands of ready-made graphics for fixtures for the kitchen, bathroom and for furniture. Other graphics include lighting fixtures, cabinets, landscape elements and office furniture.

The interior design software also includes textures for tiled floors, custom cabinetry and granite countertops. Smartdraw is easy to use software that will help you create fantastic design plans in minutes. It is quite fast and easy.

You will be able to design anything with SmartDraw interior design software such as house and garage plans, offices, kitchen and bathroom plans and even closet plans.

The software is a real time saver for the interior design student and professional. This software is downloadable and ready to use right away.

SmartDraw interior design software offers free tech support and examples from professional interior design plans.

Another interior design software is Microspot Interiors. This software is designed for the Mac and allows the user to visualize their plans in 3D. This software is simple to use for both professionals and do it yourself home designers.

Microspot Interiors is a interior design software that is very popular among Mac users because of it's simplicity and the price tag which is just a fraction of the cost of most professional design software. The power of this software allows the user to come up with unlimited design possibilities. The advanced drawing tools of the software do most of the work. You can design the shape of the room and add virtually anything you want. You can also design the rooms in any particular size you want. Lighting tools are used to add sunlight to a room as well.

Microspot Interiors includes hundreds of furniture items and accessories, many of which were requested by users in the Microspot users' forum.

Interior design software is used extensively in the interior design profession. It allows the designer to virtually look at what their design plan will look like before implementing it.

Many interior design schools will offer online learning as part of their curriculum. The online method is designed so that the student can set their own pace and style of learning according to what really works best for them.

Interior design software is very helpful and useful but it requires a computer with a monitor that has the capacity for a high resolution that works with complex graphics. You will also need a lot of space on your hard drive to save files and to run the program.

It would be a good idea to save your files to a re-writeable CD or DVD as well for backup.
There are many interior design software programs available on the market. If you can get a trial copy then that will give you a chance to test the product before buying.

Interior Design By Mail Order - Does It Really Work

Anyone who is used to the traditional approach to interior design may immediately question such a proposition but the idea has real attractions and merits. Just how can a traditional interior designer become a product sold at a distance by mail order or over the internet?

Traditional Interior Design
Interior design is one of the visual and tactile arts. Its practitioners work with fabric, wood, glass, metal and colour and the finished product always needs to be seen and experienced to be fully appreciated. Photographs rarely do justice to real room settings, which is why many photographs of rooms are in fact staged settings in a photo studio.
Despite this, interior designers usually work in a logical and progressive way, starting with two key points:

The room as it currently is. In particular those aspects which cannot change, such as the direction of sunlight or position of a chimney.

The aspirations and goals of the client, including personal taste, budget and the desire to retain certain items or themes from the existing environment.

Traditionally, it may seem that an interior designer somehow effortlessly absorbs the key points. However in reality they are merely building up a clear mental picture, supported by notes, photos, sketches and measurements.

Interior Design at a Distance
Just how can a designer build up a picture of a room without actually visiting it? Well, it is entirely practical for much of the first stage of the interior design process to be treated as a structured process. This applies to capturing all the factual information about the existing room which can be recorded on a survey form or questionnaire.

In fact a survey form or questionnaire is a great tool for capturing the client's personal tastes, preferences and lifestyle aspirations. Often partners living together have differing requirements, goals and tastes, but one may be more assertive. If both use identical survey questionnaires and then compare their thoughts it will help enormously in reaching a suitable compromise less a lot of argument or suppressed anger.

Even if two partners use this approach to interior design and do agree a compromise, both sets of information would be analysed by the interior designer so that the resultant design proposal will be attractive to both parties, rather than a neutral watered-down design.

How does it work
The more information the client provides about their room and tastes the better the final design will be. It helps considerably if the client can provide swatches or samples of fabric (e.g. from a three piece suite or carpet) that are already in use or planned.

Similarly the interior designer will appreciate it if the client collects magazine clippings that illustrate styles that they particularly like and dislike. These can be submitted with the survey or questionnaire.
Once the questionnaire is complete the client usually packs this up with material samples, magazine clippings, room photographs and sketch floor plans. The whole pack is sent to the interior designer.
Based on the information received the designer starts work putting together a personal plan for the client. Often the designer will phone the client to make sure they understand the requirements or clarify some detail. Also once the designer starts to formulate a design they will run it past the client to test whether the solution is a good match to the requirement.

Finally the designer will formulate a detailed plan which will be sent to the client by post. This may include some or all of the following:

Mood board with samples of proposed fabric, carpet, paint, wood-work etc.

Computer aided design of the room

Inventory of materials required; description, quantity, source and price.

Once the client receives their room design by post hopefully it will meet all their requirements, but there is always room for refinement with the designer. The client then has several options:

They can implement the design themselves. Perhaps they are confident at decorating and "Do-It-Yourself" (DIY) but lack confidence in the design process? The client would then source the materials and any help from contractors locally.

Alternatively they may be able to order some or all of the recommended materials from the interior designer. Everything from a tin of paint, through finished curtains, right up to items of furniture could be delivered to the client's door!

A third possibility would be to revert back to a more traditional interior design model. If the client really liked the design that arrived by post they could still call in the designer to manage the implementation on site, assuming the travelling distance was still practical!

Why do interior design at a distance?

Mail-order design is ideal for clients who are leading busy lives. Perhaps the client wants to re-style their home but they spend most of their time away on international business. In the normal course of business it can be very difficult for the client and the designer to synchronise appointments on site. Working by post, e-mail and phone can actually speed up the process considerably.

Other clients are somewhat shy or embarrassed at having an interior designer in their home. Perhaps they feel the designer will criticise their existing home or their taste. Interior design at a distance can be a good solution and it certainly can break down barriers.

It may come as a surprise, but mail order interior design can be a very cost effective way of getting a unique personal interior design for your home.

Interior Design For The Home

Any home can be pleasing with the proper application of basic interior design methods. Some people study interior design to be very good at it but there are people who are gifted with an eye for beauty and for interior designing.

A person who is creative can do some interior designing on his own even without formal training. Those who have an eye for what is aesthetic can just as easily decorate and design his own house depending on his tastes. Of course, it helps to read books and articles about designing to be updated on the basic and latest design methods.

Any interior designer can create a specific atmosphere just by putting together several pieces and unifying them in a single theme. There are interior designers who have a bias for certain motifs like eclectic, modern or even country style. Some go for simple designs without the clutter.

Interior design is not only aesthetic but also functional depending on the requirements of the client. An interior designer can make a small room spacious and an otherwise cluttered room into an orderly one. Interior design is used just about anywhere from homes, offices to commercial buildings.
The interiors of a room should always match the personality of the person who will occupy that room. This is the reason why designers always work closely with their clients so they can make sure that they get a feel of what their clients want in terms of design style.

People have this notion that interior design is expensive. However, designers are not only creative people but they are also very good in budgeting. Most designers will work on a design that will match or fit the budget of their clients. A person can allot a minimal amount for the interior design of his home or office and still come up with an aesthetic and functional room.

Professional interior designers who are formally trained usually have basic knowledge on architecture, engineering and even accounting. They need these courses to make their design aesthetic, structurally correct and cost effective.

The terms Interior design and interior decorating have often been used interchangeably. However, the two terms actually deal with different phases of making a room or a space aesthetic. Interior design is basically the process of studying the personality of the occupant of the room being designed in order to maximize and tailor-made the room's design for that person's behavior and personality.

Interior decorating on the other hand is the process of actually mixing and matching the different design techniques like window treatments, the right wallpaper, wall finish and even the furnishing of a room.

There are a lot of opportunities for those in the interior design and decorating industry. An interior designer can go into designing household, corporate or commercial establishments. Others specialize in the design of health facilities or even tourism establishments.

The latest trend now for those in the interior design industry is to be able to incorporate the right engineering and aesthetic design with sustainable development. Even designers are now more conscious about the state of the environment so they tend to use environmentally friendly materials for their designs.

There are designers who specialize and use Feng Shui in their designs. This requires further study because Feng Shui deals with the Chinese's ancient methods of designing a space to make the design work for the owner's health, business and other life factors.

The Chinese believes that a structure should be properly designed so as to allow positive energy to enter the structure. When the structure has already been built without the aid of a Feng Shui expert, the mistakes can be corrected through proper interior design using the Feng Shui methods.

By incorporating Feng Shui in interior design, it is believed that a person can bring out all the positive energies in a room to make him rich, happy and healthy. An interior design using Feng Shui can also get rid of bad spirits that bring in negative atmosphere in an abode.

Getting the services of an interior designer can make a room both aesthetic and functional. Any person who wants to make his home livable and functional should try getting the services of an interior designer to maximize his space.

Earning a Bachelors Degree at an Interior Design College

Students can earn a bachelors degree from an Interior Design College. A good school will provide the student with the ability to apply their creative ideas and techniques to professional interior design. These areas of interior design are planning, designing, equipping and furnishing commercial and residential interior spaces.

The student at an interior design college will learn the principles of computer application drafting (CAD) and graphic techniques. In addition, the student learns the effects of interior lighting, acoustics, color coordination, integrating systems, furniture and furnishings. However, that is not all, interior design also covers such things as textiles, textile finishing's, the history of interior design and the various different period styles. Lastly, the student should expect to learn about basic structural design and building codes and inspection regulations. In addition, how the regulations apply to residential and commercial interior design.

Several well qualified Interior Design Colleges and schools offer the student a well-rounded curriculum that enhances the student's creativity along with the human factor of interior design. Students need not only learn about the creative aspects of interior design. The business side of interior design and how to deal with clients, is also an important topic to be studied. Without people, the interior designer has no work.

The typical interior design student is creative, energetic and curious. Interior design is a creative and quite varied career. No two designs are the same, the designer needs to use a variety of techniques and methods to create a desirable living space that pleases their client.

Interior Design College will arm the student with insight and knowledge to prepare them for an exciting and profitable career in Interior Design. The interior designer's ultimate and main goal is to transform plain generic areas into beautiful and creative spaces that meet the personalities of the interior designer's clients.

An Interior Design College in the United States offer four-year baccalaureate degrees in Interior Design. Universities offer the same type of program. Some colleges offer Interior Design as a stand-alone program only. Students may pursue a Masters degree in Interior Design but this is much less common. You will find students that pursue their more advanced degree in a related design subject such as fine art or industrial design.

Interior design college institutions have expanded beyond the traditional classroom or studio based instruction. Online degree programs now are being offered in interior design. The online programs are just as comprehensive as the studio-based programs.

It would be beneficial for the student to attend an Interior Design College that is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, the primary accreditation agency for interior design education programs in the United States.

Searching For An Interior Design Job

Use your interior design education to get that interior design job that you covet. If you have ever looked at a room or living space and felt that, you could make it more livable and attractive then maybe interior design is for you.

If you have a flair for creativity and are not afraid to express your ideas then an interior design job is just what you need. However, you cannot just go get a design job. You need the proper educational background to get your foot in the door of the industry. Once you have the interior design degree or diploma then you will be taken more seriously.

There are many top design schools in North America. Not only that but there are many online interior design schools as well. Design schools will help you unleash your creativity and show you how to use color, style, fabrics, accessories, lighting, paint and furnishings that reflect your personality and the personality of your clients.

If you are not specifically looking for an interior design job but would rather start your own Interior Design company, you are still going to need a proper education in Interior Design. An education will provide you with skills and confidence that you will need in pursuing your career in the exciting and challenging world of Interior Design.

Enrolling in an Interior Design program really has no prerequisites except basic artistic and creative ability. If you feel that attending school is just out of the question due to family or work commitments consider taking an online interior design program that lets you interact with instructors and other students on your own time. It is a great way to further your education to get that dream interior design job.

There is more to interior design than just decorating a room, which is essentially interior decorating. Interior Design is more of a process of drawing on the environment, architecture and product design. Interior decorating is more along the lines of simply decorating a living space. Interior Designers are professionally trained in the art of Interior Design.

To get that dream interior design job it also helps immensely if you have contacts in the field. If you are just starting out, consider volunteering at a large design firm to get valuable experience and a chance to make some contacts in the interior design industry.

When you are searching for your interior design job, do you have an idea or preference as to what area of design you would like to get into? Would you prefer residential or commercial? It is thought that commercial is a more lucrative area of interior design. Alternatively, would a more specialized area of design like healthcare or restaurant design be more interesting for you?

With the increase in the aging of the population, there is a need for more care and living spaces for the elderly. This could be an area of rapid growth for the interior designer, thus keep this in mind when searching for your interior design job.

To get started on your interior design career, enroll in an accredited Interior Design school today. Once you've graduated you are well on your way to your dream interior design job.