Creating an Atmosphere in Your Home
Posted on September 7, 2017
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words but so is your living space. Every time you walk through a door into a new space during your day you are unconsciously experiencing the atmosphere intended by the designer. For example, other than the food, what is it that you love about your favorite restaurant? You probably seek the restaurant with the over-sized booths and dim lighting when you are craving a relaxing and comfortable evening. You can replicate this type of experience in your home. You want the design elements in your home to flow well together, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a variety of experiences as well.
Color is of course very important when customizing a space, but what’s even more important is the placement of those colors. When you want to convey comfort in your bedroom for example, it’s common to use cool colors such as blues and greens. Notice how the light blue in the picture above is placed on the walls and ceiling – the walls do not just give the room color in this case. Paint is being used to create a main design element for the room instead of being used as a compliment to the furniture. The simple stripes help create the vintage and retro feeling in this room. Stretching these stripes from the wall and onto the ceiling without interruption also creates a feeling of closeness and comfort in what would be a rather cold white room otherwise.
Simplicity in a design is everything. If someone is too visually distracted by your environment they may miss what you are trying to say entirely. It is best to decide what feelings you want to convey and then use only a few color, patterns, or styles to create that message. In the above picture there are many different design elements being used together. Instead of appreciating the stylish, inviting objects in the room, one immediately feels confused by the clashing elements. To avoid this, choose a signature piece that has colors or a pattern you love and then build from there. If you have two or more styles that won’t compliment each other in the same room, but you want to use both, don’t be afraid to create a different style in another room. You should never feel tied down to one main theme throughout your entire house.
Taking a moment to find out what you want to say with your space before putting the time and money in designing it is key. What feelings are you trying to convey in the room? What activities will be taking place in the room the most frequently? A well designed space should support your lifestyle and help facilitate the room’s purpose.
