This month’s theme at Wit & Delight is all about the art of combination in interior design. I wanted to share more information on this topic and write about as You can apply the art of mixing in your own home.
When I first sat down to write this article, I thought about the cookbook. Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat (one I highly recommend!). No, this is not an interior design book, but is a book that helps people discover how to mix and balance different elements in the kitchen. I decided to take a similar approach and write about how different elements can be mixed together in the realm of interior design.
Today I’m sharing the five key interior design elements that all my favorite rooms have in common: color, pattern, texture, something old, and something that grounds the space. Here’s why each of these elements is important.
5 interior design elements that every room needs
1. Color
If you’ve ever taken a painting class, you know that painters usually start with a large field of one color on their canvas, which they then add to as they go. Consider the room you are designing as a canvas. Choose your base color first (which can be the existing color of the room). either a color you plan to incorporate), then consider what complementary colors you’d like to add to the mix. This article on color theory will help you start to get an idea of how different colors work together. This article from House and garden It’s also an interesting take on color rules to follow, according to interior designers.
2. Pattern
The pattern adds interest, depth and excitement to any room. Without it, a space can appear somewhat flat. Patterns can be bold or subtle, colorful or neutral, and applied broadly or selectively. From wallpaper to upholstery, rugs and décor items, there’s no shortage of ways to incorporate patterns into a home.
3. Texture
I LOVE adding texture to any room. Just like rooms without patterns, I find rooms without a variety of textures somewhat boring. I especially like to add texture through fabrics (e.g. velvet, linen, wool) and materials (e.g. rattan, marble, rustic wood, metal).
4. Something old
There’s always room for something vintage in any room, especially in spaces that are mostly filled with newer pieces. Whether it’s furniture, art, lamps or small décor items, antique pieces add character and charm to a home.
5. Something that grounds the space
A grounding element is something that acts as the foundation of a room; It’s what ties the whole design together. Most of the time I use a rug to ground a space. Helps define the seating area in a living room, bedroom or dining room. It also offers another opportunity to bring color and texture to a space. Wallpaper can also be used as a grounding element, especially if you apply it to an accent wall and use a bold pattern.
If you keep these five elements at the forefront throughout the design process, the art of mixing will become much simpler. All of these elements are things you can continue to push and pull as your design preferences evolve. After all, every room in our house needs to be seasoned and refined, little by little, rather than updated and finished all at once.
If you are interested in learning more about mixing elements in interior design, here are some resources I would recommend:
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Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. He is currently learning to play tennis and is always testing the limits of his creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.
