7 Secrets to Creating the Perfect Home: Expert Interior Design Insights

Hello, dear reader!

My name is Olesya Blashchenko, an interior designer and head of my own design studio. I often receive queries about how to set up a home. While the best way is to invite me to assist you, for those who can’t, I will reveal 7 basic professional secrets in this book on how to create interiors that delight and surprise with their beauty and originality, making them enjoyable for both residents and guests.

When contemplating the creation or reconstruction of their living space, everyone wants to achieve an ideal environment that is comfortable for themselves, their family members, guests, and even pets. To turn this dream into reality, it’s essential not to start with wallpaper or plumbing fixtures but to understand yourself and those who will live in the new space. After all, a home’s interior is an extension of the inner world of its inhabitants.

To align the living space with your inner world, consider holding a family meeting or reflecting on these questions:

What are your life goals?
What does home mean to you? Is it a fortress? A villa? A reception house? A farm? A cozy retreat?
What type of music do you prefer, and what colors do you associate with it?
Which country’s lifestyle resonates with you?
Do you have hobbies that could be reflected in your home?

If you’re working with a professional designer, your answers to these questions will help them understand your desires and aspirations in designing the living space and suggest the perfect option. If you plan to work on the interior yourself, these answers will become starting points in the composition of your future home decor. And it all starts with creating a composition.

Secret #1: The Basis of Interior Design – Compositional Unity

The term “composition” comes from Latin, meaning “arrangement or assembly.” In interior design, composition is the skeleton or foundation upon which the space is built. It is created according to specific laws: zoning of space, placement of accents, and creating a compositional center. The compositional center of a house or apartment usually becomes the living or dining room. The central object of the room itself might be a fireplace, dining table, or television, and it does not necessarily have to be located in the center of the room. Other interior items are meant to complement and evenly “wrap” the compositional center object.

When creating the composition of a room, consider not only your aesthetic views but also the psychological perception of the interior:

Simple forms are easily perceived.
Symmetrical items are seen as a unified whole.
Objects placed on a symmetry axis are easier to perceive in their entirety.
Repeated images in a closed space can overshadow other objects.
Objects placed close together are perceived as a whole.
Contrasting lines help better perceive individual elements.
Items of similar function are perceived as a unified whole.

A well-planned setting creates a harmony of space, where each object interacts with others in style, color, and texture. All elements of furnishings and decor are present in necessary quality and quantity, each in its designated place, creating a unique and cohesive image of the space.

Unsure if you’ve planned the space correctly? Feel free to reach out to me for a free consultation!

Secret #2: The Use of Symmetry

In creating a composition, designers use one of two laws – symmetry or asymmetry. Symmetrical arrangement of elements is recommended if you want to create a sense of relaxation, calm, formal strictness, or strength in the room. In such cases, elements are arranged along one or several axes. The principle of symmetry is actively used in the interiors of family bedrooms, children’s rooms for two kids. Symmetrical placement of paired furniture items is emphasized by the same symmetrical arrangement of wall paintings, lighting fixtures. A mirror placed opposite a window enhances the effect of symmetry.

Remember, you can consult with us on the correctness of the interior you’ve created! You can also ask questions on how to implement any specific design wish.

Secret #3: Embrace the Freedom of Asymmetry!

Want to infuse a room with a spirit of freedom, dynamics, and vibrancy? Want to create an individual, complex, and interesting interior? Then find a way to introduce a little asymmetry into symmetrically arranged objects. Your interior will instantly “come to life” and “breathe.” Usually, the basis of asymmetry is dictated by the need to provide free space for some vitally important functions. For example, 2/3 of a small bedroom is occupied by a matrimonial bed not placed in the center. The free space should not remain unoccupied. Let it be used for a dressing table or a chest of drawers.

Secret #4: The Invisible Charm of Texture Contrast

Exquisite harmony is brought not by consonant elements but by contrasting ones! A mirror on a wall with textured plaster, an abundance of decorative elements in contrast to overall minimalism. Using this secret requires fine taste and professionalism. If you’re unsure whether you’ve correctly applied the effect of contrast, ask us – we’ll advise.

Secret #5: Compositional Accents in Interior Design

An authorial interior cannot exist without an original accent. It’s like the cherry on top of a cake, making the room decoration lively and spatial. Typically, textural or color contrasts help create an original accent. A brightly colored woven lampshade in a white kitchen, a long-pile green rug on a glossy dark poured floor. Remember, there can’t be too many accents, or they will cease to be such! Make sure you’ve introduced accents in all the rooms of your home – call me to check!

Secret #6: Similarity of Elements

Harmony lives where there are similar elements in texture, size, and shape. The size difference between objects should follow a geometric or arithmetic progression. Using geometric progression can achieve an additional effect of contrast, as the difference between the sizes of objects will be too great. With arithmetic progression, the room will be filled with objects that gently differ from each other. Color similarity aims to fill the space with various shades of one or two adjacent colors.

Secret #7: Color Secrets

When filling your future interior project with color, arm yourself with these secret insights:

When choosing paint, remember that the color perceived on a tiny sample and on a wall surface will be different: the color chosen from the sample may disappoint you on your wall.
Select paints in specialized studios, where you can see the color under different lighting (sun, electric light, shadows), on different surfaces (perfectly smooth, rough, uneven).
To visually increase the distance between walls, paint the wall closest to and furthest from the viewer in contrasting colors, for example, one in green, the other in red.
Avoid making the ceiling dark – it causes negative emotions.
Textiles (curtains, cushions, throws) that contrast with the overall color scheme will enliven the atmosphere and add variety.
Completeness to the interior is given by using one accent color at least 3 times; for example, a sofa cushion, a rug, and a frame on a mirror of the same color.