The Best Interior Design Books

The Finest Rooms in America

Inspiration comes in many forms. Sometimes, for visionaries like Frank Lloyd Wright, inspiration may come from something as simple as nature itself. For others it might come from years of conditioning and exposure, and the ability to notice a nuance that sparks the imagination. Designers have always seen the world through a different set of eyes and sensibilities. They can take something old and make it new again. They can position an object or color in such a way that not only makes us notice it, but makes us feel it.

During my years in the business, I've met a lot of people working in the interior design business at different levels. Some of them are very successful but a better salesperson than a designer. Some have talent off the Richter scale but not a nickel to their name. For some it's a business but to a special few, it's a passion. These are the people who inspire me.

Anyone interested in interior design deserves to surround themselves with some inspiration from their peers. We've all hit that wall once in a while when we are trying to put together a presentation. Our minds are drawing blanks, the deadline is bearing down on us, and we feel like there isn't an ounce of creativity left in us. That's the time to put my pencil down, turn off my brain and relax with a great design book and get lost in another world. Seeing pictures of some of the most beautiful rooms in the world recharges me. It gives me a fresh outlook and I no longer feel trapped by the ideas of my past.

Interior Design Certificate Programs

Making a house look nice is not an easy job; you will find that people who can do it have attended what is called an interior design certificate program. If you feel that you want to get into interior design, because you feel that you can give people the homes they want, then you should look into the best interior design programs. Finding good interior design certificate programs is not hard, but you will just need to know where to look.

The first thing that you will need to look for in a program like this is that they offer you everything you need. You need to know about styles and cultures. You will find a lot of people looking for things that are a bit out of the norm. This is why you will need to know about styles of other cultures and other walks of life.

Office Interior Can Impact Productivity

Office Interior 

The interior design element of an office space is an often overlooked part of running a business, but the idea that the productivity of an office's staff can be influenced by the design of the workplace is gaining credence. There are many different kinds of offices, and the primary function of a particular business will naturally direct the design decisions to be made. Banks necessitate a different design scheme than a doctor's office, a home office or a sales office. But whatever the setting, there are design challenges that can be met with increased employee and customer satisfaction as well as increased and improved employee productivity.

If you need help with the implementation of your office's interior design, there are designers and design companies that specialize office design. The best help will be provided by companies or designers that have experience designing for your specific type of business, and will know what methods make the work experience the most efficient and pleasant one available to your employees, and if applicable, any clients or customers that will interact within your business space.

These designers will also be able to provide access to the most cutting edge office furniture and décor available. There are also many companies and designers with websites and software packages available online to the business owner that would like help decorating their office space.

There are many aspects of design to consider when developing your office's interior design plan. Acoustics, or noise maintenance is one important design element and there are several companies that specialize in office equipment dedicated to keeping noise levels in offices at their best for productivity. The colors used in an office space should also be chosen carefully and considered with care. People are stimulated and subdued by colors and the appropriate color scheme can do just that to a staff and customer base.

Offices are also heavily trending toward "green" design, or environmentally sound design and building procedures. These include not only interior designs including materials for recycling programs, but also actual building materials used to create the office. It is important to incorporate environmentally friendly concepts in an office space that allow for the possible use of recycled furniture and low impact resources.

There are also websites dedicated to the use of feng shui design for increased productivity. This theory uses placement techniques to aid in increased positive energy. Plants and windows or other sources of natural light are also considered to be invigorating and important design tools for an office space to have. A little lovely greenery not only looks nice, but also increases the oxygen levels of their surroundings. Windows are good because sunlight naturally brings up energy levels.

Chris Dohlander repeatedly edits publications on problems related to curtains and making drapes. His articles on ready made drapes are found on his webpage and also other websites.

Interior Design and Decorating and Kids

There are certain things you have to plan when decorating a kid's room such as the design concept, color theme, sleeping furniture, layout, storage space for toys, study furniture, play area, and decor accents such as canvas wall art and area rugs. When planning which pieces to get for your kid's room, consider how many children will be occupying the room, their ages, gender, and personal preferences of your kids.

1. Design concept - When discussing the design theme with your child, consider his or her tastes and practical issues such as how soon your kid will outgrow the design theme. When kids get older they will outgrow certain design themes such as a pirate themed bedroom or a fantasy inspired design.

You can still implement fancy designs in small decor pieces that can easily be changed or replaced when your child gets older. Instead of having a miniature pirate ships made as a bed, you can paint a mural of pirate figures and ships. When your kid tires of this concept, you can easily paint over the wall.

2. Color theme - Colors have an effect on people's moods and feelings. Colors such as red, orange and yellow can make one more excited and hyperactive. Cool colors like green and blue are calming. Use you colors moderately and create some tone balance. You can use strong warm colors to brighten up a room but try not to overwhelm a kid's bedroom with too much energetic colors.

Use bright accent colors on decor pieces like lampshades and canvas wall art. When you want to change the color theme, just change the decor accents with pieces in another color. Change the sheets from yellow to green, or replace blue curtains with red ones. Maintain a neutral color in large areas such as the walls so you don't have to repaint the whole room.

3. Sleeping furniture - If more than one kid will occupy a bedroom. Use bunker beds or storage beds that are space-saving and have multiple purposes. This cuts down the number of furniture pieces that occupy more space. Some beds can accommodate 1 to 3 kids and also serve as storage areas, wardrobe cabinets, and study area.

4. Layout - Study your layout and floor plan to accommodate the bed, play area, shelves for books and toys, study table and wardrobe closet. It is important to have all these areas in one room unless you have a separate play room and study room in the house. Plan the floor plan in a way that furniture pieces don't get in the way or crowd the room.

5. Storage and wardrobe space- Install fitted shelves and cabinets with doors to minimize a cluttered look. Children will have a hard time concentrating on studies amidst cluttered surroundings. You can never have enough storage space and kids tend to accumulate more junk as they grow up.

Use corners, wall shelves, vertical cabinets to save space. Make sure free standing cabinets are secured to the wall to prevent the furniture from toppling over young kids. Make use of double purpose furniture such as storage beds and tables and chairs with hidden storage bins.

6. Decor accents - Use age appropriate canvas wall art to beautify a kid's bedroom. Place a color coordinated area rug and bean bag in the bedroom. Use lamps with decorative shades in bright colors or cartoon prints. Make the window dressing match with the color and concept theme.

Decorating a kids room is fun and is one of the best parts of being a parent. Although you may be overwhelmed with excitement about planning your child's bedroom decor, you have to remember that you must consider your kid's opinions and decor ideas too.

Interior Design Ideas For a Home Office

Good Office Furniture Designer Should Be One Step Ahead of You

Home Office

In this new era, office furniture designers have a lot to think about rather than just building tables and putting chairs together. Modern office spaces today require huge requirements from the furniture it uses. In some cases the furniture and the design is custom made to fit the exact office space needed. Nowadays, businesses are becoming conscious that they are only piling up even bigger expenses rather than saving a few dollars.

Over the past three or four decades, furniture designers faced challenges on how fast office spaces changed. This had been primarily a direct effect of changes in technology. To most offices each new technical development had been bringing lots of changes and new requirements.