Interior Design
Interior design may often seem like nothing more than just leafing through paint samples and matching creamy walls to burgundy sofas; or fussing over which shade of curtain best matches the morning sunlight. In actuality, it is a serious consideration that can make or break the place you have decided to call home. Aside from the providing the obvious visual enhancement of any space, the best interior designers can optimize and harmonize space with carefully selected objects that add depth, clarity and character to your living environment.
Many subtle factors come into play when you are considering whether to take the plunge into home interior design. Naturally, there is the space itself to be considered: but how it will be used and whether you manage to attach significant meaning to it is what separates a home that is well-designed as opposed to one that is merely furnished.
The dimensions and construction elements are usually the first areas that must be considered; for the size of any given space has a profound effect on a design plan, and will anchor any dreams of radical renovations. Other key practical considerations include: ease of access, natural light, and acoustics. These all have a significant interplay which are overlooked when choosing or designing an apartment - only to be realized much too late. Health and safety issues naturally need to be analyzed; architects and builders usually have a much stronger sense of structural integrity than interior designers. In Hong Kong, especially, where there is a current rage for re-doing old Chinese-style flats, it is a good idea to get an architect's opinion on the structural integrity of the building before you go ahead and start knocking walls to create an en-suite bedroom or open-plan office.
In this day and age, another factor that responsible consumers must take into consideration is the environmental impact of their design. Solar panels, energy-saving light-bulbs, roof gardens are features that most home-owners are now trying to integrate into their new homes. Some go even further and use sustainable resources such as furniture made of salvaged materials or paints that are chemical-free; how much you choose to incorporate into your own is obviously entirely up to you. But remember, thinking green will not only create a better living environment for yourself and your children, but quite often, you will find yourself reaping economic benefits in the form of lower energy bills.
