Before Furnishing your home – Things you need to do

Furnishing a home is never an easy task, it takes creativity, time and determination but at the end of the day it is worth it; because after the struggle, when you take a glance at your home and appreciate such beaut, you are filled with so much pride and joy.

You can pay your inner man and whisper to yourself “I did that” but in order to make your dream a reality, you must first begin your adventure by getting familiar with certain basic rules when furnishing a home. Let us begin by looking at seven important concepts of interior design which everyone must consider. They include:

• space
• line
•  form
•  light
• color
• texture
• pattern.

 Space is a fundamental part of furnishing this is because most at times it can’t easily be changed. You have to make the best of your available space, you should be able to attain a balance between your positive and your negative space.

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A positive space is one with objects while your negative space is empty. You should also consider the size of furniture as it can be used to make space appear larger or smaller. When furnishing there are three types of lines you should consider; the dynamic, horizontal and vertical line, vertical and horizontal lines usually dominate.

Dynamic lines are curved lines and capture attention longer. Vertical lines are created by features such as windows, horizontal lines are created by surfaces such as tables and the dynamic lines can be seen on stairs. It is also very important that a balance is met between these three lines.

Forms define objects in space it relates to the physical form of anything that is three dimensional. There are two types of forms:

•  the geometric such as rectangles, squares.
•  the organic or natural that typically looks like they were created by nature. 

A space is more appealing when the presiding form is replicated in little objects around the space. 

Light is classified into mood lights, task lights and accent lights. Lights are mood setters and natural lighting should always be considered during the placement of doors and windows.

Colours are subdivided into primary and secondary colours. Color plays a very important role in having an aesthetically pleasing home. Colors can also change how a home is viewed by either increasing or decreasing space. When selecting colour for a particular space you should always consider lighting and the purpose of the room. 

Texture contributes depth and interest to a space and is classified into visual texture which is an implied sense of texture in other words visual texture refers to texture which can be sensed by the eye and actual or tactile texture that can be seen and felt.

Pattern which adds a touch of life to interior design, it assists in maintaining the essence of a room. The size of a room should be considered when choosing patterns, patterns can be found on wallpapers, rugs and soft furnishing. 

Whether you’re planning on something simple and cheap or something overly dramatic, perhaps something a little more modern there are a few rules anyone should take note of when furnishing a home.

RULE 1: Give your sofas space. The sofa is one of the biggest and one of the most expensive pieces in your home and it most definitely affects how your home is viewed. It is best to purchase one with a neutral color then accessorize it with some colourful pillows. There should be at least 45cm between your sofas and the central coffee table.

RULE 2: Ensure that your trims and ceilings are white. Like most rules this can be broken but it is in your best interest to stick to it as white gives the impression of a higher ceiling and a nice clean frame. You can also create the illusion of more space by painting the walls and ceilings the same color. Mix tall bookshelves with low furniture to draw the eye upwards.

RULE 3: Select the right artwork. The selected artwork or picture frame should not be wider than the sofa, also they shouldn’t be positioned too high. It is best to set them at approximately 145cm from the floor which is considered to be eye level. For really small pictures, hanging them above a side table or close to a lamp is better.

RULE 4: The living room must have a sofa; the sofa is the heart of the living room. I mean when last did you see a living room without a sofa also your furniture pieces must not match but should definitely complement each other.

RULE 5: Get the lighting right; for instance, in selecting a chandelier or light fixtures for the dinning room it should typically be between half and two thirds of the table also if you are looking for creative ways to expand a space and add better lighting to a room then, you should add mirrors. They are very practical and over all a very good investment.

Furnishing your home takes more than your indecision when you’re finally with the TV remote. It requires adequate planning before even selecting