Interior Decorating: Definition, Styles & Tips - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com
Interior Decorating: Definition, Styles & Tips
Lesson Transcript Instructor: Chelsea Milks Show bioChelsea holds a masters in Business and a bachelors in Interior Design & Fashion Merchandising. She is an adjunct professor and independent designer.
Interior decorating is the process of selecting materials and schemes for the design of interior spaces. Review the definition of interior decoration, and discover decorating styles and tips for designing homes and commercial spaces. Updated: 01/12/2022 Create an accountInterior Decoration: Definition
Is a room or business office lacking function? Is the decor looking drab and outdated? Maybe a space is empty and needs the perfect design to bring it to life. All are reasons to hire an interior decorator. Decorating may seem like an easy task to some, but it requires ample consideration of details and knowledge of design styles.
Interior decorating is the art of decorating a residential home or commercial business according to a client's personal preferences and style. It includes selecting color schemes, flooring materials, furniture, artwork, and accessories. It transforms an area into an aesthetically pleasing and budget-friendly design.
Interior decorating is often associated with interior design. Though they go hand in hand, interior decorators differ from interior designers. Interior designers perform the same tasks as decorators but must receive formal education and professional certification by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification. On the other hand, interior decorators are not required to receive formal education or professional experience. Both partner with service professionals to accomplish design work, but interior designers may work with contractors to change structural elements. Interior decorators rarely make structural changes and focus on the visuals of a space.
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Yes! Keep playing. Your next lesson will play in 10 seconds 0:04 Interior Decoration Definition 1:29 Decorating Styles 5:12 Decorating Tips 7:44 Lesson Summary Save Timeline Autoplay Autoplay Speed Speed 29K views Video Quiz Course 29K viewsDecorating Styles
Design styles alter and conform to the changing trends. There have been numerous design styles through the years, but let's explore the most popular.
Coastal
Coastal is the perfect style for those who want to bring the beach and ocean into their daily lives. It incorporates color schemes of white, blue, green, and orange. Accessories include framed ocean reefs, sea shells, wood elements, and casual furniture to create a relaxing atmosphere.
Modern
Modern design is a sleek style that highlights simplicity. Decorators utilize white, gray, and black as main color schemes. Designs are clean and non-cluttered. Straight and bold lines are preferred. Natural accessory elements and materials are used, such as wood frames, metal decor, and furniture.
Contemporary
Contemporary is a softer variation of modern design. It's often confused with modern because it also features a clean appearance with straight lines. It allows for bold, soft, and neutral colors. Contemporary is different from modern design because its style is always changing. It focuses on designs and trends of the present; what defines contemporary design today may not define it in the future.
Modern Glam
Modern Glam elegantly merges contemporary and modern design. Upholstered tufted chairs and ottomans adorn these spaces with luxury feeling fabrics, like velvet. Metallic furniture and accessory pieces are commonly used and paired with bright or neutral color schemes. Soft touches are encouraged, such as white roses in a classic vase. Other features like chandeliers, large mirrors, ruffled materials, and jeweled objects add sophisticated and classy touches.
Country
Country style highlights natural materials and rustic elements to compose an outdoor farm life environment. Red is a predominant color with soft accent colors. Wicker baskets, pallets, and white porcelain pieces are popular accessories.
Eclectic
If a client is a bit unsure of their style, but fond of multiple styles, then they may favor the eclectic look. The rules of eclectic style are undefined. The saying ''anything goes'' truly works for the eclectic client! All elements, colors, textures, and materials are utilized to create a distinctive space.
Bohemian
There is one word to describe this style: bold! Bohemian style is bright and colorful. The primary colors, red, yellow and blue, are used with accents of pink, deep purple, and orange. Wood furniture pieces covered with plush materials are meshed with striped, geometric, and floral prints. Bohemian style is for individuals who may be inspired by travel and culture.
Vintage
Vintage can be interchanged with the term, ''shabby chic.'' Its primary colors are neutral: brown, white, and gray. The vintage style includes contemporary aspects with vintage inspired looks, such as chipped furniture, exposed brick, rusted chairs, and aged wood. It combines the designs of the past with elements of the present to create a timeless, fresh look.
Asian
The Asian design style uses elements of nature for a tranquil feeling. White, green, blues, and neutrals are central color schemes. Natural light is desired with limited window coverings to allow the most sunlight into a room. Asian inspired fabrics and prints are used as accents for chairs, pillows, and other coverings. To add natural touches, small plants are spread throughout.
Decorating Tips
There is no right or wrong decorating style, but designing a space can be a time-consuming affair. You may spend hours searching for the perfect color scheme, furniture, and accessories, only to be shot down by a frazzled and disappointed client. There are tips to avoid these problems and create a quality design from the start.
1. Develop a Design Survey
A design questionnaire can be a ''go-to'' for decorators. Include detailed questions, such as ''What colors do you love? What colors do you hate? What is your budget?'' Add pictures of popular designs. Have customers choose which ones they like best. Don't forget to ask other specifics, like if they have pets or children. These additional factors can contribute to the selection of materials and colors of fabrics.
2. Considering Your Color Selection
Two important tips to remember when selecting colors are:
A. Every color produces a mood or feeling.
B. The darker the color, the smaller the room appears.
Warmer colors create a cozy and comforting atmosphere. Lighter colors feel airy and spacious. For example, envision a local doctor's office. Most doctor's offices are decorated with light greens, neutrals, and blues. These colors are intended to relax patients.
On the other hand, a local coffee shop may use browns, reds, and warmer neutrals. These colors create a welcoming environment. Keep in mind that darker colors make a room appear smaller. If the goal is to create a bigger appearance, then lighter shades are the best option.
3. Looking at How Lighting Affects Color
Lighting drastically affects a color's appearance. When choosing a paint color, evaluate the lighting of a room. Is there an abundance of natural light? Is there fluorescent lighting? Will the blinds, shades, or curtains remain closed most of the time? Poor lighting causes colors to look skewed, while natural light makes them look lighter.
4. Considering Scale
When choosing the right furniture and decor, consider the scale and perspective of a selected area. Will a large painting look overbearing on a small wall? Choose decor and furniture items that are appropriate for the size of a space. Larger rooms can handle bold prints, colors, and big statement pieces. On the flip side, smaller rooms should have appropriate-sized furniture and decor.
Lesson Summary
All right, that was a lot, so let's take a moment or two to review what we've learned. As we've seen, interior decorating is the process of decorating a residential home or commercial business to satisfy the needs and wants of an individual. Interior decorators differ from interior designers based on educational and professional certification requirements.
There are multiple design styles, but the most common today are the following ones we examined in this lesson:
Coastal , which incorporates color schemes of white, blue, green, and orange to bring to mind the oceanModern , which is a sleek style that highlights simplicity that utilizes white, gray, and black as the main color schemes
Contemporary , which is a softer variation of modern design which allows for bold, soft, and neutral colors
Modern glam , which elegantly merges contemporary and modern design by using fabrics and metals
Country , which highlights natural materials and rustic elements to compose an outdoor farm life environment
Eclectic , in which the rules of eclectic style are undefined
Bohemian , which is bright and colorful and uses primary colors red, yellow, and blue with accents of pink, deep purple, and orange
Vintage , which can be interchanged with the more recent term ''shabby chic;'' primary colors are neutral: brown white, and gray; and
Asian , which uses elements of nature for a tranquil feeling along white, green, blues, and neutrals as the central color schemes
Each style has its own distinct traits and characteristics. When decorating for clients, provide a design survey to learn their preferences. Select appropriate colors and decor with lighting and scale in mind. Interior decorating involves attention to numerous details, but with proper consideration, interior decorators can transform a room from drab to fab!
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