Designing with Intention for The New Year
As we enter 2023, we take stock of our lives and surroundings, and outline our hopes and dreams for the next year. As most of us can appreciate, our environment has tremendous impact on our well being. Let’s explore how we can create spaces to enhance our lives in the 2023.
By Gianna Marzella
Image courtesy of www.henley.com.au
Successful Interior Design is specific and targeted. The design process starts with a series of questions. Copying and pasting a look can work in a pinch, but if you want a space that really serves your needs and those of the people you care about, it’s time to do a deeper dive. What are the questions most people ask themselves when they start their design space? It's typically some combination of the following- What color do I want to paint my walls? What style of furniture do I like? Is this going to go with what I already have?
These are all good and practical questions. However, it is important to push beyond the surface on this. Interior design and decor are investments at all levels. Whether it's on a shoestring budget, ultra-luxury, or something in between, money and time will be spent. It is important to take a step back and look at the big picture before you get started. You want to ensure that the investment is sound and repays you day after day by making you happy and at ease the moment you step foot in your home.
Our homes should reflect who we are. They should not be a combination of the trends that we are inundated with the most on social media or television. They should echo the type of lives we aspire to lead and be places where their inhabitants and guests feel comfortable. Instagram, Pinterest HGTV etc... are excellent places to look for inspiration, but good design requires a tailored approach.
So where do we start? The fundamental thing to reflect upon is are who you are and what do you need. The next consideration is investment level. The last and most aspirational component is about mood and what you are trying to create.
Image courtesy of R ARCHITECTURE @rarchitecture_melbourne
WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT DO YOU NEED
Are there pets and/or young children who live here or visit frequently? If yes – then there are serious material considerations as well as furniture choices which need to be considered. How do we design for this demographic?
You might consider rounder elements and avoid sharp corners. Incorporate special, small scale furniture selections that are made just for the little loved ones in our lives. They can feel out of place in our grownup world and if we can do it, it is nice to offer smaller pieces that are just the right size for a child. Don’t forget toy storage that is within reach (and some that isn’t for craft supplies and other items where you might want some parental control). This crowd can get messy! Look for washable stain proof materials and words like performance fabrics, family and pet friendly etc... For rugs, wool and nylon will hold up better than viscose. Many people like to avoid light finishes, but also think of forgiving materials and patterns that won’t show stains. An often-overlooked consideration is choosing items with a stable base/bottom heavy objects that won’t easily tip over. Selecting healthy finishes is important for everyone, but it is of particular importance for young children and/or pets as they tend to interact more with furniture than adults. They are smaller and as a result just anatomically closer to it all. Look for Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) or Greenguard Certified Products.
If this is a home without young children or pets as inhabitants or frequent visitors, there could be a different approach to finishes. You might choose to have more luxurious / artistic finishes like faux shagreen, raffia, or real marble. You might not need to worry about how heavy the base of your lamp is because no one is likely to climb it. Though there might be exceptions.
Do you wish you could have a little bit of both? You can, you just need to be strategic about it. If you want real stone, do go with a marble with lots of figuring and veining so if there is etching over time, you won’t notice as much because the movement of the material will conceal it. Use real wood, but make sure it has 2 coats of polyurethane to prevent staining. Wood that is clear coated but left in its natural hue, or close to it, wears better than stained wood because when it gets scratched, there is more of the same color underneath. That doesn’t mean everything in your home needs to be a natural wood tone, however where it is being used becomes important. Floors (more so in a home with pets or if shoes are kept on), or the surface of a table will see more wear than a chair leg. In other words, where we are using the finish is as important as what the finish is. So, for all the rules that exist, there are ways to break them. It is important to do so thoughtfully.
INVESTMENT LEVEL
Investment level has as much to do with actual dollars spent as it does amount of time you intend to live with your selections. We can spend more when we have more, but sometimes we are being considerate about how much we are spending because we know our lifestyle will be evolving and we will outgrow selections because of circumstances. Are you in the period of life when things are changing quickly (ie. just starting out / just had kids etc.. ) when your home decor and furniture needs to change and evolve? Might you be in a starter apartment or home where your selections simply might not be the right size or style for you next space? Or, are you more established and looking for investment pieces that stand the test of time?
If you are less invested in the items you are buying, either for financial or stage of life reasons, you might take bigger risks with trends because you will likely be upgrading these pieces in a few years. Or if, for example, you want to get a sofa that could move with you, you might consider a sofa over a sectional or a sectional with an ottoman that can be relocated to either side vs. a fixed chaise. This might not be the time to buy overscale or custom furniture that is space specific. Certainly, your furniture and decor can move with you, but keep the larger investment to items that are versatile.
If you are looking to make a bigger investment in your furniture and decor, you might want to take your time and look for items that speak to you now and those that will also feel like a good fit ten years down the road. Think about styles that have always resonated with you. This would make the most sense for the larger ticket items in particular. This doesn’t mean trends are to be avoided, but they might be better to incorporate in small items, for example a side table that is trend forward vs a dining table that is. If you are at this place in your life, one could presume you have a clear sense of what speaks to you. Chances are, if you have always been drawn to floral prints, you will likely still enjoy them for years to come. Maybe you want to take the leap with custom upholstery. Perhaps sleek and modern has always been your thing. If it is, that is classic to you. What is timeless to you doesn’t have to be traditional, but if it is, then this is the time to double down on it. Investment pieces don’t need to look the same for all people, but they should be the style that made you look for as long as you can remember. You can search for hints of your personal style in the accessories you buy and the close you wear. Defining what feels authentically you is even more important when making these larger investments, whether that be in longevity of pieces or financial investment level in said pieces.
MOOD AND WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO CREATE
The mood you are trying to create can be achieved no matter the investment level and lifestyle needs you are trying to accommodate. This aspect of your design is about both a vibe and aesthetics, crafted through the lens of what meets your current needs.
Casual
Come as you are! You want people to feel immediately at ease. Think multifunctional spaces and layouts that change to accommodate the crowd. Lots of extra pillows, blankets, and layers to make everyone feel super cozy. Many personal touches around the space and a generally laid-back attitude about design. Still intentional but in an effortless looking way.
Photo Credit: Designer – Amber Interior Design Photographer - Tessa Neustadt
Serene
This mood is all about relaxation, airiness, organic feels and earthly inspired textures and materials. Less is more here. Picture lots of empty space and breathability. This mood enhances natural light as much as possible. Lots of whites and muted colors. Texture over pattern. Natural materials over synthetics. This mood brings the outdoors in and feels calm and spa like.
1 Hotel Miami Photo Credit – Meyer Davis Studio
Playful
You want your space to have a cheerful and energetic vibe. Think color, pattern, texture, contrast, and atmospheric artwork. The more shimmer and sparkle, the better. Incorporate metallics and crystals, anything that bounces light around the room. Maximizing natural light is also helpful in this type of atmosphere. This color palette is playful and saturated. It exudes whimsy. This mood is about having fun and breaking rules. More is more here.
Tribeca Loft Photo Credit: Olivia Stutz Design
Refined and Polished
This approach can be more formal and is meant to impress. There is less fluidity to the furniture arrangement and placement of items. Everything has a specific place. You will often see a strong axis of symmetry guiding the furniture layout. Materials are opulent and pristine. Selections are structured and soft goods are tightly upholstered.
Photo Credit: Interior Design: Lauren Haskett Architecture - Rodney Stevens and Himanshu Madhani
As you begin your design journey, note that none of the above are meant to be rigid or mutually exclusive. Most designers have the expertise and know how to create a balance of aforementioned elements perfectly tailored to their clients’ needs. The important thing to do is stop and take stock, as we often do at the beginning of a new year, and make sure that before you start making those decisions or purchases, you are doing so with intention to set yourself up for years of enhanced living. Once a home is well designed, it should simply be enjoyed.
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