The design of a living space should not only be pleasing to the eye, but also be functional. This definition refers to the efficient use of surrounding objects and elements, and the ideal in this regard is almost never achieved, but optimal compromises can be found when design and functionality are combined.
What is a functional interior
Functionality in relation to the interior of a room is the ability to use the objects in it or perform some actions with them (preferably useful ones). The functional elements in most cases include:
- pieces of furniture;
- technique;
- additional elements (hangers, lighting devices).
Despite a small list of such objects, it can be difficult to find the right combination of them, especially if the apartment is small or has a complex layout.
Planning solution
Before decorating the interior, first of all, you need to work on the layout. It involves making a decision on the arrangement of the main dimensional objects (in particular, furniture) and, if necessary, the transfer or installation of additional walls. The main point in planning decisions is the choice of furniture arrangement. It is a mistake to believe that the more furniture - the more functionality. The result of such overzealousness may turn out to be the opposite, and it will be difficult to use such items, and the apartment will look cluttered and uncomfortable.
But with all the desire to achieve maximum functionality, you should not forget about the need to save living space for active activities and just to ensure free passage. This is especially true of the kitchen, where such space must be provided at the work area and around the dining table. Before making a final decision, you should visualize the finished result. You can imagine how you will move around the finished rooms and use the furniture and other items. For convenience, you can roughly outline the dimensions of the intended objects with a pencil on the floor.
Composition questions
It is important to have an idea about such a characteristic of interior items as “visual weight”. Under it is supposed the impression that this or that object makes in the general interior.So, regardless of size and configuration, dark objects with a large number of decorative elements will visually be more “heavy” than smooth and light ones. You can determine how visually “heavy” or “light” such items will be for you personally, even by considering the options you like in the photographs.
But no less important is how convenient and pleasant it will be to use such items in practice. No matter how unsuitable in design a piece of furniture, a floor lamp and any other item may be, first of all you need to evaluate how you personally can use it and how “correctly” it will fit into the interior, and feel this “correctness” better intuitively than adhering to what -some formulas and design standards.
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