Basic Interior Design principles + How to use them

7 min readNov 14, 2021

There is a total of 7 principles of Interior Design. Those are Balance, Harmony, Emphasis, Contrast, Rhythm, Scale & Proportion, and Details.

Before we start, I’d like to mention that I have my own Affiliate link to the Home Styling Guide, where all of these principles are one of eight chapters. This guide is basically a problem solver for those of you that like to decorate and adjust your own space by yourself, but don’t really know where to start.

You can find the full guide on this link. I’d recommend this guide if you’re a ‘’DIY’’ person. On a plus side, it will save you a lot of money!

Here is a quick overlook of all of them.

1. Balance

When you check what balance means, the dictionary says an evenly distributed weight that enables something or someone to remain steady and upright. In interior design, this means evenly distributing elements to create balance visually. It can be created through the introduction of different forms, colors, or textures or by creating literal space symmetry.

There are 3 types: Radial, Symmetrical and Asymmetrical.

— Radial is the most uncommonly used, It’s Mostly associated with stairs, round dining tables, or chandeliers around which we try to create a balanced space. Just as its name suggests, a circle is the focal point of the room — the center, from where we arrange items, either inwards or outwards.

— Symmetrical type is not hard to achieve and is mostly used in traditional focused designs. Also, it is very common in square-type rooms. Divide space into two equal halves going on an imaginary axis through the center. Each half is compensated equally as the other half. This gives a living space a calm feeling. After repeating items or mirroring them along an axis centrally to achieve symmetry.

— Asymmetrical type is the most popular type of Balance mainly for those modern designed spaces. To achieve asymmetrical balance, any elements in odd numbers can be utilized by keeping the focal point in an imaginary central axis. We use different elements with similar weights on the opposite axis.

2. Harmony

Harmony is when things seem to belong together. It has to do with sameness. Design repetition such as form, shape, texture, color is the best method of achieving harmony to create compositions. Harmonious space seems to contain everything that works together perfectly. Everything feels right. The end result is pleasant with everything exactly where it should be.

3. Emphasis

A room where everything gets equal importance will seem either scattered or boring. You need an anchor, we have points of interest such as a fireplace or a window with a beautiful view. You can choose to enhance the built-in focal point by arranging furniture around it to emphasize it. In a room that lacks such a built-in point of interest, you can create one through groupings of furniture or using an unusual or large piece.

4. Contrast

The contrast in interior design has to do with the difference in the color or luminance of objects differentiating them from each other. It is achievable using three elements. These are space, form, and color. One can use prints or pillows of two colors opposite such as white or black to achieve contrast and create a distinguishable object. Form and shape are great methods of adding contrast to spaces. It is not that hard to see the difference between rounded, smooth edges and angled sharp corners. These kinds of contrast are seen most often with home furnishings.

Some styles of design are going to work together much better when compared to others. You might try out various shapes and play around with Scandinavian shapes, mid-century modern shapes, or geometric shapes.

Mixing and matching is a quick, easy method of creating contrast. Inherently, every design is going to include various materials due to the elements of design you combined together to achieve the final appearance.

To create contrast, purposefully mix and match items that feel opposite of each other. This refers to what product or material the objects are made of and how the products look. Think of mixing natural stone and wood for furniture and putting these against steel and chrome. You can also use fabrics such as using simple solid color and then mixing and matching this with patterned items.

5. Rhythm

It is utilized to help the eye move around within a space in an organized thought and manner. Rhythm also plays a huge role in the way people perceive your interior, both in terms of whether or not it is pleasing aesthetically and in terms of functionality.

You can use five main techniques to encourage rhythm and the flow of movements within your rooms.

Contrast — putting elements of the design directly opposite the other will create contrast. It causes the eyes to move back and forth between the two design elements. Create it with opposing sides of the color wheel or you can also mix and match materials. Metal and wood would be great examples.
Transition — this allows elements of design such as shapes to move the eyes in a flow that is uninterrupted from one focal spot in the room to another spot. Walkways that are delineated are great examples of transition in rhythm. You create a path so people can follow it and navigate better in a particular space.
Gradation — this is a progression in a step-by-step sense to move the eye from one end of the room to the other portion of the room. One example of gradation is stars. Their shapes seamlessly let your eyes move from one end of the sky to another. Progression from light colors to dark is another way to achieve gradation.
Radiation — this is when many different elements of design come together to form a balance of rotation around an object in the center. You can see radiation in round dining tables. Radiation is found in sitting areas where there are furniture pieces arranged around a central focal point.
Repetition — best for less and my favorite way of applying rhythm is through the repetition of a pattern continuously through spaces to create a sense of stability. You can create it with the use of the same textile patterns, architectural features, or repeating objects, lights or shapes through your design space.

6. Scale & Proportion

Scale refers to one object’s size concerning another. Specifically, the concept of scale is used when one object’s size is known for certain. Proportion refers to the general size relationship between two different objects. When designers refer to proportion, they are trying to describe the way objects relate to each other in a room.

Focus on proportion rather than size. People often choose pieces that are too big or too small for their space, particularly sofas. So, a large sectional is unnecessary in a smaller space as you’ll end up feeling cramped. It’s better to prioritize everyday utility over one-off occasions.

Rule of Thirds

A lot of creative disciplines use the rule of thirds, and interior design is no exception. It’s a great tool to fall back on when grouping items because it generates a nice flow and cohesion. Stick with odd-numbered grouping such as three or five, and vary the height and size to create a tiered pattern.

Start with basic measurements. Figure out your square footage and ceiling height, to determine how much space you have for furniture and accessories. Observe how the space feels.

When it comes to choosing furniture, make sure to factor in comfort and functionality. Think about your lifestyle and how you use the space. If your living room is reserved for Netflix binges, you don’t need a ton of furniture. On the other hand, if you host often, you’ll want to give your guests plenty of space to sit.

7. Details

Whether it is product design, interiors, or architecture, never underestimate the importance of details. They create the design. Give the smallest parts importance and observe how they can work. This leads to overall unity. Let’s see what type of Details can we find in the interior.