Architecture & Design

Architecture & Design | 29 brings life into space, adds depth, livens a room and makes it more appealing. COLOUR MAKES A DIFFERENCE The spatial experience of a room can be achieved without making any structural alternations. Applying different coatings and materials to surfaces may be the right approach for you. Colour is sometimes the magic ingredient in interior design. It does not only combine separate elements within a room but it also influences the mood and perception on the individual. Using contrasting hues tricks the eye in perceiving depth to a space. It's about adding a mix of light and dark shades. Depending on the maximum effect of contrast you'd like to add in the room, highlighting the difference between two colours will create this effect. The darker hue will help the lighter hue enhance the depth. (Souza, 2020) There are various ways of how people translate this approach. If the room is relatively small, one may consider painting the entire room lighter and add a slightly darker hue on one wall. Highlighting part of the space using an accent colour on a far wall will draw the eye and create an illusion of more depth. Keep in mind that light and cool colours make the space appear larger, whilst, darker colours make the space appear enclosed and smaller to the eye. THE ARRANGEMENT OF COLOUR Whether you want to make a room appear longer, taller, wider or even highlight a particular element, the colour arrangement will change the perspective of the environment. To create a feeling of spaciousness in a room, opting for light colours that reflect natural light is a smart method. This makes the surfaces look larger to the eye. On the contrary, stronger and darker colours work well when trying to achieve a more compact, cosier and at times, even dramatic effect. These colours will absorb natural light and will project closure. This can be beneficial for certain spaces to achieve a lower ceiling height. Painting them darker or leaving the material texture visible will give off this impression. In certain spaces, this can provide a pleasant and welcoming feeling. In today's buildings, we see many low ceilings. Painting the walls in a darker colour or material and leaving the ceiling white, creates the illusion of a higher ceiling. This elongates your room. A lighter white ceiling gives the impression that the room is larger, whilst the darker maroon ceiling gives the impression that the ceiling is lower, making the room feel more compact. To make a space feel wider, the ideal way is to paint the ceiling and the back wall in the same dark colour, leaving the side walls lighter. This method is strongly used in narrow rooms or corridors. To make a very wide room feel more compact, painting the two side walls in dark colours and leaving the background and ceiling in light colours, will create the illusion of a narrower space. One of the tricks to shorten walls may be achieved by applying a darker shade at the bottom of the wall. Drawing attention to a particular colour is attained by keeping a light colour and darkening the rest of the walls. In this way, the lower third of the room is brought to eye-level, giving the impression of a higher ceiling. This is widely used where seating is involved, such as cafeterias, living rooms and dining rooms. POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE SPACES This is one technique us interior designers use to create the perfect balance between a space that is not too visually chaotic nor too minimalist. Both positive and negative spaces play an important role in how the room's scheme works. Taking for instance a bedroom, the positive spaces are the actual objects: The wardrobe, bed, nightstands, chest of drawers, armchair etc, while the negative space is the empty space that is left between or around the furniture. Embracing the positive space is about giving the pieces you choose room to breathe, whilst creating a feature. For example, a shapely armchair in the bedroom as seen in the image requires space around it. By giving space, it's curvatures can be appreciated more, whilsts invading it with cushions and throws will lessen the impact it creates. VISUAL WEIGHT Typically, adding layers of texture and textiles grounds up the space, whilst making it feel more well-rounded. On the other hand, this typical method may not apply for smaller spaces as it may end up making the room overbearing for it's size. Focusing on making the room feel as light and open as possible might be the best way of going about a small space. Picking the right decor and choosing minimal furniture with clean lines enhances the room. Opting for natural finishing is also the right approach. NOT FORGETTING MIRRORS We have no doubt that at least once in your lifetime you have heard someone mentioning that mirrors play an important role when adding depth to a room. It is important to note that the wrong mirror or position can end up drawing attention to unwanted details. The size and placement are key elements. The viewpoint you'll be using is the first thing to consider. A mirror should be placed against the wall furthest from that spot. Hint: Placing mirrors where the light naturally echoes is one of the oldest but best tricks in the books. It reflects the natural light and makes the room appear much larger and brighter. If your room lacks natural lighting, placing a lamp or wall light adjacent to or in front of the mirror can double its effect. Creating a space where you feel at home and welcome is important. Just by applying a few touches within the room, the perception of the space transforms drastically. Remember, it's all about making the right and smartest choices! The Scandinavian Colour Trends of 2020 from Jotun Lady Bloomingville fête son 20e anniversaire avec sa collection décoration et mobilier pour l'automne hi-ver 2020 2021, 2020

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