Interior designs are often reflective of their era. 60s interior design was heavily characterized by round furniture, bright colors, and a hint of retrofuturism, while the 70s heralded the more “psychedelic” color scheme and esoteric designs. Even today, home interior design is reflective of our reality: technology is embedded in the design, there’s more emphasis on space-saving, and mood lighting seems to be a thing.
However, a perennial interior design is something that might interest you if you want to have the best of all eras. An ageless interior design for your property isn’t exactly impossible: it’s very much possible, and here’s how you can do it:
Consider Symmetry Alongside Your Floor Plan
While the idea behind what makes something beautiful or not is entirely subjective, there are certain guidelines that many agree on. Namely, symmetry. Symmetrical and balanced structures look better to human eyes, regardless of design themes. When designing your home, always consider symmetry and order. You can be creative, but unless you know exactly what it is you’re doing, it’s far safer and sensible to stay with symmetrical shapes and order.
Have a Focal Point
Instead of trying to cram as many art pieces or decorative elements in a room, decide on a theme and one part of it that will stand out. You can choose to paint one wall as an accent wall, or hang an eye-catching chandelier in the middle of your grand staircase, or work on a design for your fireplace to turn it into a focal point. It’s best to stick to simplicity than to overcrowd a room to the point where colors are no longer cohesive and the furniture does not work together.
This isn’t to say that minimalism is always the way to go. You can choose an eclectic design that can withstand time as long as colors and objects complement each other. Consult a professional interior designer to help you decide if there are many things you’d like, to see which ones can be included and which you should let go of.
Functionality Over Aesthetics
Unless you are only trying to decorate a showroom where no one is going to live, remember to focus more on how you are going to use the room. Choose furniture pieces that are both to your taste and comfort. If it looks good but isn’t comfortable, then move on to the next option because when looking for the right fixtures, you want those that are long-lasting not only as display but also for your use.
The functionality will always trump aesthetics, especially when the passage of time takes its toll. Designing your house based on functionality will mean your living conditions will be convenient and comfortable, all while looking beautiful.
Hide the Technology
One of the major sources of visual clutter in today’s modern houses would be technology. Wires that are not only quite unsightly but can also be a tripping hazard should be carefully (and correctly) tucked out of the way. Thankfully, tech innovations today promote wireless devices for smart homes. This is a great way to integrate technology in your home without sacrificing the interior design because the minimalistic and usually wireless design of gadgets today can easily blend in with different home styles.
Just be vigilant and protect your network connection. As you introduce smart tech in your house, you should come to an understanding that you now need two types of security: physical and digital.
Old And New Can Coexist
Being in the 21st century doesn’t mean having to avoid older interior design styles or architecture. The great thing about living now is that you can be anachronistic and implement styles from different eras. You can mix rustic barn wood beams with the clean, white walls that are so popular nowadays. Or you can even use unfinished concrete walls complemented by clean, aesthetic furniture. Mixing and matching styles is a good thing, and you definitely shouldn’t shy away from it.
Neutrals Can Usually Go Well With Your Favorite Color
If you’re not sure what color should be the dominant color in your room, the best and safest way to go is to choose neutral colors. They’re elegant and classy, traditional but useful, and they don’t make the room feel overpowering. You can still introduce accent colors to make the interior pop through furniture or ornaments, and they will be compatible because the dominant color in the room is neutral.
Your home’s interior design plays a large role when it comes to the general feeling in your home. Finding out the best one is critical to complete the “atmosphere”. Through these tips, we hope that you find the ageless theme you’re looking for.
