The 7 key components of interior design are color, form, light, line, pattern, texture, space. While it’s essential to learn more about each of these in-depth, this article highlights the best tips and tricks from each of our “Interior Design 101” series. Today on the blog, Vishion discusses everything you need to know for interior design 101 mastery.

Interior Design 101: What To Know

Interior Design from Mymove

The New York School of Interior Design defines interior design as how people experience a space. As humans are spending more and more time indoors, especially with the current pandemic, our interior environment plays a big role in affecting our moods. There’s a lot that goes into designing an interior space. You need to plan, research, and create a layout, which all comes together to create an aesthetically pleasing environment. This all-encompassing guide introduces everything you need to know to become an interior design 101 pro.

Color in Design

If you find color theory to be daunting and difficult to understand, you can take solace in the fact that there are several tried-and-true, logic-based color rules that cater to professional designers and design lovers. To really get down to the basics of interior design 101, you need to know all about color.

The Color Wheel

The Color Wheel from DecoArt

You can use the color wheel to conceive various aesthetically balanced color combinations, the most basic of which is a complementary color scheme. The color wheel refects all colors and shows the relationships between them. These relationships are either complementary colors or analogic colors. 

The 60-30-10 Rule from Uniplace

If you’re puzzling over how many colors and how much of each is appropriate to have in one room, consider the 60-30-10 ratio. This ratio tells you the classic interior design rules for creating a color palette for a space. The dominant color should account for approximately 60 percent of the room, the secondary color should account for approximately 30 percent, and the accent color should account for approximately 10 percent.

Color and Color Palettes

Now that you know a little bit about color rules, it’s time to put them into action. Creating a color palette is essential to ensuring an adhesive aesthetic and a consistent look. It can be daunting to create a color palette for the first time on your own. Luckily, Vishion is here to help. Here are some color palette posts that will inspire yours instantly:

• 10 Tips for Creating the Perfect Color Palette
• 8 Designs Curated for Pantone’s Earthy Palette
• Bring Serenity to Your Space with Sherwin-Williams Mantra Palette
• Designing Rooms Inspired By National Parks

Ways to Bring Color to Your Space

• Paint
  • If you’re thinking about redoing your space, giving your home a fresh coat of paint may be just what it needs to make it seem brand new. When giving your home an updated look, there are a few things to keep in mind to make it look professionally painted.
• Wallpaper
  • With various trendy colors and patterns to choose from, wallpaper poses a fun and funky alternative to paint. It’s important to understand terms such as booking, blistering, butting, colorway, and centering if you want to learn how to put up wallpaper like a pro.

Light

Modern Lighting from CB2

When it comes to your space’s ambiance, interior lighting is everything; however, it doesn’t just affect your aesthetic. It can also drastically affect your mood. Here is where you should understand color temperature, which is the difference between warm, neutral, cool lighting, and the different lighting types: ambient, task, and accent lighting. Lighting is just another key factor to mastering interior design 101.

Space

Designing With Furniture

Furniture in Design via Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

While it sometimes may feel daunting to choose furniture and decor for your home, they’re key components when it comes to design. Furniture and decor are really what make your space and are just as important as a paintbrush is to an artist.

If you’re into DIY projects, there are many ways you can easily create furniture and decor that will add an aesthetic element and a unique flair to your interior design.

• Upholstery
  • At first blush, upholstery seems like a job best left to the professionals—but it’s faster, easier, and cheaper than you might think. As with any DIY project, your best bet when upholstering furniture for the first time is to start small, such as with a chair seat or a headboard.
• Patterns 
  • The colors and patterns you gravitate towards say a great deal about your unique design style. Because we encounter both regularly, our preferences tend to develop instinctively and shift naturally. Color-pattern compromise is one of those things that shouldn’t stand out in a professionally designed space. If it’s done correctly, the effect should be seamless and subtle.
• Textiles
  • Textiles are any products that are made of fabric or woven. These components can serve to inspire many facets of interior design. Using these products in your space helps set the environment’s mood and adds the key finishing touch to create a complete design.

Feng Shui and Space

How To Feng Shui from Simply Abundance

Feng Shui is all about finding balance and chi in different spaces throughout your home. China created this ancient art more than 3,000 years ago. Feng shui is essential in making sure people live in harmony with their environment. Due to COVID-19, it may seem difficult to implement this practice into your home without buying anything new. That’s why Vishion is here to help. Finding good Feng Shui can be just as easy as rearranging the items you already have in your home.

Inspire Your Next Interior Design With Vishion

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• Visit our website http://www.vishion.co and click “color search” or click here 

• Upload an inspirational photo or type in a HEX color

• Search for decor by your chosen color

• Explore all decor options with Vishion

• Find your perfect match and start your project today

TikTok, the social media black hole that you never knew you needed, until now. Interior designers and design lovers are flocking to the mobile app to share their BEST DIY and Interior Design hacks. Roll up your sleeves, and get ready to swipe – these tips and tricks will double your design to-do list.   

In states throughout the US, open houses and private home tours have been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving prospective buyers and sellers to explore virtual alternatives. These tips will help you navigate the new frontier of open houses and stage your space for a virtual showing. 

Whether you have a family of five or you’re living on your own, wear and tear in your home is inevitable.  As time goes on, especially in quarantine, it’s only natural that damage will occur but that doesn’t mean you can’t minimize and hide it with just a few simple changes. From scratched floors to chipped paint and stained couches, Vishion is here to give you tips and tricks to keep your home looking brand new all year long. 

Kitchen and Bathroom

Design by New South Home

Tile

• To keep tile looking brand new it needs to be cleaned regularly, especially in heavily used areas or if you have pets. Tile collects bacteria and if not cleaned properly can be problematic in the future. Sweeping and mopping thoroughly is the best way to clean your tile.

Tile Grout

• • While maintaining tile can be fairly simple, grout can be a little more difficult because of how porous it is. Using a bleach solution and a small scrub brush will often do the trick to get out those pesky stains. If you are looking for a more natural approach, mixing vinegar and baking soda is just as effective.
• TIP: NEVER vacuum tile! Scratches made by vacuums could be permanent.

Granite

• While granite is a very durable and tough surface, if not protected and cleaned properly, the protective seal on it can be worn down very easily. Instead of using harsh chemicals to clean your countertops, use gentle cleaners to keep granite looking beautiful.
  • Gentle dishwashing soap and warm water cleans granite efficiently and keep it looking like new without taking off its finish.
• It’s only natural to let these safe cleaning methods slip your mind. If that happens, here are some great sealants and protectants you can use to make sure your granite stays in good condition.

Cabinets

Inside

• • Cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom tend to get a little messy from spilled food or old makeup. One easy way to prevent your cabinets from getting messy is to use cabinet liners which can be almost invisible! If the damage has already been done, there are also liners in different designs and colors so you can hide those spills and stains.

Outside

• • While cooking in the kitchen, grease can tend to splatter on your cabinets leading to stains. A good way to prevent these stains is to run the vent while cooking. If you notice some spots during cooking, wipe the cabinets down with soapy water and a rag to prevent the grease from setting in.

Shared Spaces

Design by Maureen Stevens

Wood Floors

• Wood floors can be a little tricky, but not impossible, to protect because of all of the foot traffic going through it as well as the furniture moving on it every day. To prevent and hide scratches and stains on your wood floors, you can put rugs around your home. By layering rugs around your home, especially in places consisting of high traffic like entryways, you are not only adding fun decorative elements into your home, you are also providing incredible protection for your floors.
• To prevent scratches on your wood floors, you can also add rubber grips for the bottom of your furniture. These rubber grips are not just for chairs, they are also for couches, dressers, nightstands, and more. These rubber grips come in all different shapes and sizes to make sure your floors stay scratch-free!
• Cleaning your floors is just as important as protecting them. A simple all-natural water/vinegar solution is an easy way to keep your floors clean.

Walls

• Hiding stains and gashes in your walls have never been easier. If a fresh coat of paint just isn’t cutting it, you can also use peel and stick wallpaper to add an exciting and new pop of color or design into your home. The great thing about this wallpaper is that it has the capability of being ever-changing and it is super simple to apply by yourself.
• If you aren’t looking for new color or design in your home, a very reliable tool is the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. This tool gets out the toughest of stains without taking off any protective layers of paint in your home. 

Stairs

• Aside from the entry-way, stairs in your home have arguably the most traffic. This can cause massive amounts of wear and tear on your stairs over a short period of time. A great solution to this is peel and stick carpeting. This is a great way to protect the wood while also adding a stylish addition to your home that can be removed or replaced at any time.
• Peel and stick stair risers can add a fun design element while protecting your home. Much like wallpaper, these pre-cut adhesives protect your stair’s kickboards.

Living Room and Family Room

Design by Joe Human

Carpet

• Carpet has been around for years, it is something that has never gone out of style and it doesn’t look like it will be any time soon. To keep carpet clean and prevent any unwanted stains, the easiest way is to make sure you don’t wear shoes inside.
• Selecting dark colored carpets is a great way to hide stains and keep your stress level low if you have company over. If you spill food or drink on your carpet, it is important that you clean it up as soon as possible with a mild cleanser which can neutralize the odor and remove the stains of whatever substance that has been spilled.
• Cleaning your carpets regularly is important in keeping them looking the best they can possibly look. Vacuuming the carpets at least once a week keeps your carpets looking fluffy and new all year long.

Rugs

• The best prevention for damage on your rugs is to apply a protectant specifically designed for rugs. These protectants bond with the fibers to seal them from potential spills and elements tracked in from outdoors. Because there are different types of rugs such as handwoven, machine-made, wool, etc. you have to make sure you use the right protectant to ensure the best results.
• Providing an underlay underneath your carpet is also a great way to protect your rug. Underlays provide a cushioning which prevents the accumulation of of dust and debris that inevitably works its way under and up through a rug.

Furniture

• Furniture, such as a sofa, can be easily cleaned if you know how to do it right. If you have a cloth sofa, vacuuming it weekly is suggested to prevent dust and debris from clinging to your couch. After months of accumulating dirt, your couch can tend to look dingy or dull. A great way to change this is by flipping your cushions and rotating them monthly as well.
• If you’ve already cleaned and flipped your cushions to death and you still aren’t satisfied with your couch, a great way to hide the wear and tear is to invest in a couch cover. When people think of couch covers they think of their grandmother’s plastic covering, however, that is not the case anymore. These days there are thousands of couch covers to choose from that can elevate the interior design in your home that can prevent and hide any spills or accidents that occur.

Explore Color With Vishion

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The coronavirus pandemic has created a unique employment situation. With most non-essential employees sent home, there is an increasing instance of professionals working from home. While the impact of the coronavirus is unprecedented, remote work was on the rise in the U.S. long before the pandemic struck. According to data released by the U.S. Census, the share of the labor force that worked from home in 2017 was 5.2 percent—or 8 million people. That’s up from 3.3 percent in 2000 and 5 percent in 2016. If you fall into this growing number, we have some tips that will help make your designated home office work for you.

Photo via Design Within Reach

Tips For Designing Your Home Office

Choose Color Wisely

Color can stimulate your brain, increase your creativity, and even create a calming effect. For these reasons and more, the colors you choose to decorate your home office space are important. With all that said, different natures of work might require different energy levels. For instance, if you work in a creative profession, yellow will serve to liven and re-inspire your space, while green is foolproof in stimulating energy. On the other hand, if your work requires your concentration and focus, a peachy shade of pink or a fresh shade of blue can improve your focus and concentration.

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Location, Location, Location

In terms of location, your home office space should be in a quiet and private area. Location is especially important if you share your house with others. Having a space dedicated to work is crucial because it helps you get into the right mindset to focus and concentrate. Don’t forget to consider lighting when choosing your home office space. Working in an area with natural light can help reduce headaches, eyestrain, and can have a positive impact on your mental well-being.

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Bring The Outdoors In 

If you don’t have access to natural light—or even if you do—the benefits of incorporating other naturally-inspired elements into your home office space are manifold. Think potted plants, textiles with leaf motifs, nature-centric artwork, and plenty of the color green. Decor with ties to nature positively impact things like creativity and stress levels. Want to add some plants to your space? Check out Vishion’s tips on how to add houseplants into your interior design. 

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A post shared by Justina Blakeney (@justinablakeney)

Repurpose A Space

Not everyone is fortunate to have an extra empty room for a home office. If you are looking for innovative ways to add a dedicated space for work, think about repurposing a table, bookshelf, or room. Some of our favorite dual-purpose areas are dining room/office combinations. While dinner parties are on a temporary hold, consider turning your formal room into the perfect WFH haven. Don’t have a dining room? Creative areas using space-saving furniture under a staircase, a nook, or tucked away in a corner, can help you create a dedicated space for your 9-5 even if you don’t have the extra room.

This year, antique and traditional furnishings are forecasted to be especially trendy. Today on the blog, we’re talking antiques, where to find them, and things to keep in mind when shopping for one-of-a-kind treasures.