The Three Critical F’s of Interior Design

There really is no need to spend thousands of dollars hiring a professional interior designer if you know the tricks of the trade. Essentially, there are three steadfast elements of interior design that you must follow if you want your room to come out perfectly. These elements are known as the three F’s – form, function and flow.

Whether you are designing just one room or an entire house, form in interior design is especially important. Form relates to shape, and it can be the shape of your room in comparison to its contents; or it can mean the shape of the design elements you add to your room such as furniture and accessories. It is a fairly subjective element, and although it can mean different things to different people, it essentially means that all forms should work well together. For example, if the architecture of your home is sharp lines, stainless steel staircases and ultra modern spaces, you want to ensure that your furniture matches that feel and do not compete with it.

Form Tip: When you are shopping for new furniture and accessories, ask if they have a ‘try it’ policy so you can take it home and try it out. If not, take your digital camera along on your next shopping trip and take photos of the pieces you like. This will give you a better idea of how they fit into your home’s form.

In a busy family home, function is the most important element in interior design. Design your spaces or your entire home with its occupants in mind. A chic, formal living room with cream matelasse sofas and silk drapes would make an amazing visual statement and be a ‘wow’ factor in your home. However, if you have three children under the age of ten who run, play and often have sticky, dirty fingers, it is not very practical. Even the most beautiful homes are a let-down if they are not ultimately functional. The same would be true in your kitchen – if you are an avid chef, you wouldn’t want to limit the counter and cupboard space or you would have nowhere to put all your pots, pans and cooking utensils.

Function Tip: For a week or two, keep a journal of the rooms that are used most in your home and at what times of day. Keep notes on the usual activities that take place in each room. Finally, use your journal to keep track of which rooms you clean the most often and which spaces are the hardest to keep tidy. When you are done, you will have a very good idea of which rooms need to be designed for ultimate function and practicality and which rooms you can splurge on with extra designer touches.

The last of the three F’s is flow – which relates to how well the various rooms in your home get along and offer a natural progression from one space to the next. Although it can be done successfully, most amateur interior decorators are not successful at painting every room a different color – the end result is usually a home that is obviously disjointed. Without flow, a home appears smaller and feels more closed in. Creating rooms that work well together, as well as colors and design that spills happily from one room to the next is the best approach.

Flow Tip: Clutter is also a big part of flow. If rooms are overly cluttered and overflowing with junk, rooms will not flow or harmonize with each other. If this is your problem, consider investing in a set of beautiful built-in’s that match your interior design (perhaps solid wood) that can be used to hide away all your clutter while adding a beautiful element to your home.