Introduction | Why Elevate Your Space?
It’s no secret that the environments we inhabit shape our daily experiences, and thus—to a certain extent—shapes who we are. Think about what spaces you are drawn to.
That cafe where the barista knows your name and order on sight? It’s warm, cozy, and reminds you of chilly autumn days and soft scarfs to burrow into to escape the bite of the wind.
Your mother’s living room? It’s filled with warm memories wrapped in quilts and the scent of the lilac bush that always sends dappled sunlight through the front window so it can dance merrily on the Persian rug that sits under the oak coffee table.
The hotel you and your partner always visit on your anniversary? The tradition was born of the desire to recreate the feelings you two made in that space the first time you went. But what made you feel that way in the first place? It was likely a combination of things.
But why are you drawn to those places? Nostalgia? Hospitality? Warmth? The colors? The scents? The answer is probably a combination of all of the above. The real question is, how do you elevate a space to inspire the same sorts of feelings when you are designing it yourself? Maybe you already have the rug and the quilts and the sofa, and all the things that should make it match your inspiration, and yet it doesn't quite manage to give off the same energy. Why?
Well, the good news is that the answer to your question comes down to seven interior design principles that professionals use every day to make those inspiration boards, magazine covers, and design aspirations come to life. In this article, I’m going to break them down for you so that you can take them and implement them into your space and give it the look of a thoughtfully designed interior.
1 | Architectural Details: The Foundation of Character
Words cannot express how much I adore architectural detail. I'm the person that pauses on the way into the bank to take a quick picture of the mosaic in front of the door, or the brass push plates. I collect pictures of buildings like a magpie collects shiny baubles. There's just something about them that brings me childlike joy. However, the opposite is true as well.
When I walk into any building, the first thing about it that will create an impression on me—or a lack thereof—is architectural details. There’s a reason why walking into a mass-produced tract home and walking into a craftsman-style home feels entirely different: it all comes down to character. They say the devil is in the detail, and that’s certainly true for interior design.
Obviously, not every house or even every room has architectural details inside of it, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add them to your space.
The magic of details like crown molding, wainscoting, ceiling beams, and mantels add dimension to a room, can help create a sense of depth along with a sense of elegance. And you can customize your architectural details to your specific tastes. Those that prefer more minimalist modernity can still use the compositional choices of these details to guide the eye, and those who enjoy ornate and old-fashioned interiors can add all the ceiling medallions and stair dust corners that they could want.
Remember, the more detailed something is, the more it draws the eye. Too much detail in the wrong place can make an interior feel overdone and chaotic. Too little can make a place feel cold and uncomfortable. There’s no one right answer to know how much is too much. It all depends on your sense of style and what you want to draw the eye to.
2 | Color: The Emotional Language of Space
Color speaks before words do. Soft blues can trigger a sense of peace. Warm terracotta can ground you. This is psychology—the wavelengths of light we perceive as color can trigger genuine emotional responses.
This is absolutely the case when it comes to any kind of visual design, and interior design is no exception. I don't believe you can make blanket statements about what colors should and should not be used for a certain room—though, I do have some strong opinions on that point— but you can ask yourself the following question:
"When I walk into this room, what do I want to feel?"
For example, when I walk into my bedroom, I know that I want to feel warm and cozy. I don't want to be stressed about the world outside or everything that didn't get done on my to-do list. No, I want to walk in and shut the door on all that noise, and proceed to curl up in my bed or on my chair with a book, a cup of tea, and the blessed silence of solitude.
So when I am trying to translate that desire into my design for the room, I must ask myself what would help me create an environment to achieve that vision. I would probably go for a muted color, nothing too bright or saturated, and nothing pastel. Perhaps a dark sage or a dusky blue. Something that inspires the level of indolence I will absolutely be engaging in at every opportunity.
As you can see, it all comes down to the individual. Not everyone would agree with my thought process. Some would prefer the pastels, finding the darker colors to be too heavy. Some would prefer something neutral so rest their minds. The key point is that it is translated to suit my preferences and my needs.
Knowing the psychology behind color can help you find preliminary options. I find that marketing and brand design often has some very interesting science behind the color choices that they make. Take what applies and leave what doesn't. There is a lot of complexity to consider, such as how personal and cultural factors shape perception; what feels serene to one person might feel sterile to another.
Whatever your choice is, make it a thoughtful one!
3 | Texture: Dimension Beyond Sight
In the field of interior design and architecture, there is something called Phenomenology. Phenomenology is the exploration of the human experience through all 5 senses. Your space isn’t created solely through visual cues, even if that is an important part of your design.
Think about your favorite cafe. Think about all the familiar things you sense when you are in that space. The atmosphere is built of all kinds of cues that you associate with it. When you open the door, a little bell chimes to announce your arrival. Inside, it smells like espresso beans and pastries. You hear the chatter of the other patrons, a clink of porcelain cups and saucers, and the soft music playing unobtrusively in the background. The lighting is as warm and inviting as the feeling of your hands wrapping around your cup. The taste of your drink of choice is a little bitter and a little sweet and banishes the chill from outside. All those cues and associations create the feeling of the atmosphere. That atmosphere is phenomenology.
Today, I want to specifically draw your attention to where texture comes into play with this philosophy. It impacts both the visual and the physical feeling of an environment. Texture invites interaction in a way that color alone generally does not. It makes you want to run your fingertips over the back of an upholstered linen lounge chair, or hold a thick blanket against your cheek to see if it’s as soft as it looks. Smooth, cool wood can feel clean and grounded, while a medium pile rug beneath your feet can add just enough softness to the room to make it feel inviting.
To add to that, texture serves many practical functions within a space as well. Soft materials can absorb sound and create a sense of intimacy. Having wall decorations can create a similar effect. Tile floors can help keep a space from feeling overheated in arid environments. Some materials are reflective, like glossed ceramics, and some are matte, such as natural stone and brick.
Considering these things can help you balance light levels, sound levels, and whether or not you want the space to inspire a sense of productivity, of intimacy, or anything else you aspire the space to have.
4 | Quality Furniture: Investing in Lasting Impact
Furniture is the main interaction point in a room, and it will play a big part in being a focal point as well. It's also defines how you live. Quality furniture represents investment not just in objects, but in daily experiences. Craftsmanship reveals itself in details: hand-carved wood, precisely tailored upholstery, joints built to withstand decades.
I have noticed that in the era of micro-trends, there has been a lot less intention when selecting furniture. I've seen people purchase sofas that were thousands of dollars because they saw it on tiktok, only to find that it didn't live up to the hype. The stitching on the upholstery would unravel, the seat cushions gained permanent indentations where people preferred to sit, and would quickly loose it's luster as the viral-nature of the item decreased.
Not only do I find this to be a gross affront to one's own pocketbook, but also to the environment. In addition I have concerns that the corners that are cut on those products in terms of materials and craftsmanship create a greater risk of lower standards in Flammability Safety Standards.
If I'm going to invest in a piece of furniture, I want it to stand the test of time, to loop beautiful for years to come, and to be high-quality enough that I am not terrified of the ramifications of off-gassing, discoloration, and misshapenness. I want something that is going to communicate care, permanence, and respect for myself and my space. Something with a good long lifecycle that will elevate my home and enrich my daily life for as long as possible, perhaps heirloom potential.
5. Curated Décor: Creating Personal Narrative
I keep coming back to that word: intention.
Perhaps I should have made that a section in and of itself. Everything comes back around to intention. When you are carefully choosing what you are bringing into your space, you aren’t just filling it, you’re curating it according to your tastes, aspirations, memories, associations, and making your selections based on the atmosphere you’re trying to create.
Not everything can be purchased. Some things are meaningful because they are inherited or discovered. Curation is just the next step to finding out how to incorporate the things that you personally resonate with into your space. When you do this, when you place the focus on the selective collection of items, wall hangings, quilts, art, etcetera, you are anchoring your space with your own personal narrative, telling your story, and living beside the moments that have built you and the moments you are aspiring to. That’s where the magic happens.
Small details always have a significant impact. Maybe it’s a vintage tile set that has been glazed to become coasters. Maybe it’s a scent you always associate with your vacation with your friends. Maybe it’s copies of your favorite books artfully displayed on your mantel. Don’t be afraid to mix and match. Don’t be afraid to lean into nostalgia. Make sure you don’t get hung up on perfection. The goal is to create a space that reflects who you are. It can be a gradual process, but the journey is half the fun.
Curating your space this way will create a sense of grounded authenticity for who you are and what you are drawn to.
6. Lighting Ambience: Illuminating Atmosphere
In my experience, lighting can be the ‘make or break’ of a space. It dictates whether or not it feels warm or cold, cozy or industrial. Largely, it comes down to preference; it fundamentally shapes atmosphere and influences emotion.
Successful lighting in a home setting should be done in ambient solutions, as far as I’m concerned. As a certified overhead lighting hater, I’m particularly partial to lamps, the occasionally well-placed piece of back lighting, and other such accents. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. In the end, you have to consider the space, what you want it to embody, and how you want to feel while you’re inside it.
You can also consider the type of decor that is present in the room to help light refract and travel. For example, a metallic statue does not give light, however, it will reflect it. Setting it on a dark shelf or a mantel may help the room feel more balanced and less like there are dark corners lurking everywhere.
In addition, lighting is not only something to consider in terms of lamps, chandeliers, and balancing the practicalities of ambient lighting versus those awful (though sometimes annoyingly necessary) can lights. Sunlight is also going to impact your space, and will do so in a more meaningful way than any electric lights will during the day. Unless you build or remodel your house, you don’t exactly get to choose where the windows go or what shape it is. You can, however, be intentional about window dressings.
If you want to soften harsh or overly heated light such as from a western facing window, you may consider a linen sheer: something that will allow the light into the room, but also diffuse it. Linen has been used for millennia in similar capacities in some of the hottest regions of the world. Ancient problems require ancient solutions, at times, it seems.
If you have a north-facing window where the light feels a bit dimmer, a bit colder, you may employ the use of mirrors to refract and maximize what light you do get in that room. Your choice of wall color can make an impact here too.
Finally, consider how lighting will interact with texture. Glossy or metallic finishes will reflect and spread light, but matte surfaces will diffuse it more.
If you employ these concepts when choosing lighting and decor for your space, you’ll have a better shot at creating exactly what kind of atmosphere you wish to create.
7. Visual Layering: The Art of Composed Complexity
When it comes to interior design, I am always thinking about it in terms of translation. For example, when thinking about hospitality spaces, I may consider atmosphere and vibe as the most important aspect, but when it comes to residential spaces, I would consider the resident and their lifestyle the most important. This principle is the application of Number 5.
Visual layering is one of those things that is never one-size-fits-all, yet somehow, the concept is applicable across the board. It’s all about arranging things… furniture, décor, textiles, art work, baubles, etc., in a way that creates depth and separates spaces. I love a good reading nook, but that doesn’t mean I want to be shut away in a closet-like space. I’d rather curate a nook in a corner of a livingroom or bedroom and give it the feeling of coziness instead of isolation.
This type of layering can also be used in compositional ways by combining items with different heights, shapes, and textures. A doorway can be a threshold, but it’s also a bit like a picture frame if you’re inclined to suspend your disbelief a bit. Use your imagination, don’t be afraid of asymmetry, and find items that are either contextual to the space or to you yourself to use as the objects in your composition.
Visual layering like this can mean the difference between a residential space feeling like a home versus an office waiting room. Don’t be shy, make mistakes and add a little whimsy.
In conclusion...
Elevating your space isn’t about following rigid rules or achieving perfection. Actually, it’s rather the opposite. It’s about the translation of your creativity. These principles are not rules so much as they are a set of tools for you to take and interpret in a way that expresses the soul of a room. They help you understand the fundamental ideas of what makes a room work.
Architectural details provide character. Color sets the emotional tone. Texture adds depth. Quality pieces provides longevity. Curation tells a story. Lighting creates atmosphere. Visual layering brings cohesion.
All of them together creates the ever-elusive soul of a room with sophistication.
When they work in harmony, they enhance each other. Find what resonates with what you want to create, build the space with intention, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes; trust that thoughtful attention will bridge the gap between beauty and practicality. Intentionality is always chic.
Sincerely, D'Arcy.
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