Interior Design Explained
Don't know the difference between interior design and interior decoration - here's the explanation.
Interior design is the creation and direction of the experience of an interior space such as a room. It controls all aspects of the experience from the actual structure and usage of the space through to internal finishing and furnishings. To achieve this end result the interior designer must make use of architectural and construction knowledge, product design and functionality, decoration and environmental psychology. Although anyone can engage in interior design in their own home, only a professionally-qualified interior designer may actually practice commercially.
Interior design is often confused with interior decoration although the two disciplines are entirely different and easily separated.
The role of an interior decorator is entirely restricted to the application of various decorations to improve the appearance of a space. He or she does not need to be formally qualified as 'colour-sense' and 'good taste' are far more important attributes. A part of interior design is structural in nature (unlike the purely cosmetic interior decoration) and, therefore, the interior designer must possess salient knowledge of Building Regulations, Planning Rules and other relevant statutes. Interior design can literally be anything from choosing furniture to producing contractual drawings and documents for the construction company and authorities.
It's a case of 'access all areas' as we have to cater for a growing elderly and disabled population.
Within the field of interior design, there are specializations such as would be associated with domestic, corporate, and public buildings where the specific needs and criteria are very different. For example, a public building needs should not appear to be extravagant yet, at the same time, instil confidence in its users and to use space efficiently and in an egalitarian manner. A corporate building might be designed to display the success of the company and deliberately create different standards of opulence between the strata of the employees to reward executives and to inspire 'upward' ambitions.
An increasingly important issue in interior design is the effect of the 'end-heavy' demographics. As the percentage of elderly people increases, there is a growing need to provide buildings which are accessible to all levels of mobility. The modern interior designer needs to be aware of the positive and negative implications caused by the usage of space and the internal features of the enclosed environment.
Interior design is a mixture of balance, colour, concept, functionality and ergonomics and how their usage affects the experience of occupying or using a room or space. There are seven elements - colour, form, line, mass, pattern, shape and texture which make up interior design.