Interior Architecture and Design

Interior Design

Interior design is an important field that carries real responsibilities. It is limited to the interior, that is, to the living spaces inside a building. In the interior design process, aesthetics carry a lot of weight when living spaces are designed, and many details come into play.

In a planned project, the design starts by analyzing people’s aesthetic tastes and preferences and defining the style they need. Professionals who do this work study the floor plans, then analyze sizes and positions and the layout of the rooms, going through every living space one by one to find what fits. For example, details such as the doors and windows in a room cannot be overlooked.

It also includes creating a layout that makes the best use of the sun the living spaces need. And based on how the home is used, it means arranging spaces such as dining areas, living rooms and studies so they connect well with each other, within a compact plan.
Interior design can be done by professional decorators and interior architects. Interior architects graduate from the relevant university programs. Decorators, on the other hand, are tradespeople who work with painters, upholsterers and other workers to finish a specific floor or wall area in a living space.

When you decorate any room in your home, the furnishing needs are worked out at the floor planning stage. The most basic point here is to create an airy space in small areas that meets needs as fully as possible without crowding the room.

When you make changes to renovate your home, an interior architect can study the project with safety, aesthetics and fittings in mind while using design elements. In doing so, they can give you and your partners valuable design ideas.

Today, interior design and the designer’s portfolio of past work play an active role in making decisions easier. In interior design, spaces should be practical, but they should also be built with durable, high-quality materials. On top of all this, visual aesthetics should not be overlooked. When existing spaces are shaped the right way, they can become more functional. All of these topics are part of the interior design process.

How does the interior design process work?

In interior design work, we start by getting to know the space and the people who use it. Then the steps usually go in this order:

1. Measured survey: measure the space and mark the doors, windows and service points.
2. Needs list: talk about how many people live there and what each area will be used for.
3. Concept: set the direction for color, materials and style.
4. Layout plan: draw the furniture and circulation paths to scale.
5. 3D model and images: see the decisions together with the client before building anything.
6. Construction drawings: hand off cabinet, ceiling and lighting details to the craftsmen.

Where is it useful?

This process works with the same logic in home renovations, offices, shops and cafes. In small homes especially, the right layout adds a sense of space without adding square meters. For example, just keeping the circulation path clear makes a room look larger.

What you need to know

Interior design is not just decoration. Decoration is mostly about choosing colors, textiles and accessories. Interior architecture, on the other hand, also accounts for how the space is organized, the light and the durability of materials.

The lighting plan is a core part of the job too. Thinking about general lighting, task lighting and accent lighting together makes a space both practical and warm. That is why we plan outlet and fixture positions at the same time as the furniture layout.

3D modeling is also an important part of this work. When clients see the finished result in an image, they make decisions more easily. That makes it easier to change material and color choices before anything is built.

Related lessons

• A step-by-step post on furnishing an empty room.
• The answer to what is architectural visualization?
• A quick look at what is 3D design?
• The first lesson of our high-quality interior visualization course.

If you want to model the space yourself, take a look at our SketchUp tutorial guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an interior architect and a decorator?

An interior architect is a trained specialist in this field who plans how the space is organized. A decorator’s job is more about choosing surfaces, colors and furnishings.

Which program should I use for interior design?

For modeling, an easy-to-learn program like SketchUp is a good start. Then you can add a render engine for images.

Where should I start in a small home?

Take measurements first and draw up a needs list. In a small space every centimeter counts, so you need to choose furniture to fit the dimensions.