As an interior decorator, the ultimate goal is to create a room that not only looks beautiful but also functions seamlessly. To achieve this, it’s always best to begin a project with space planning.
It’s the foundation of any interior decorating project, and it’s important to get it right.
Space planning is the process of analyzing a room’s size, shape, and traffic flow to determine the most efficient use of space. It involves drawing a floor plan, selecting furniture, and arranging decor to create a cohesive and visually appealing room.
In this article, we’ll share our expertise in space planning and explore why this is an essential step in interior decorating. We’ll begin with the following three primary stages of space planning:
- measuring the area
- drawing accurate floor plans
- determining the best layout for the room
We’ll also go through several ways to design a functional and visually appealing interior.
Learning about space planning is an important step toward becoming an Interior Decorator. It’s a fundamental aspect of interior decorating that can help you create spaces that are both visually appealing and functional. Through space planning, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills to design a space that maximizes its potential.
Measure the Area
As an interior decorator, accurate measurements are the foundation of a successful decorating project.
Before beginning any project, measuring the space accurately and recording all the necessary dimensions is crucial.
This will help you create accurate floor plans and ensure everything fits perfectly.
To measure a room, you’ll need a metal tape measure. It’s important to choose a measuring tape with a lock to ensure that you get precise measurements. Begin by measuring the length and width of the room, including any angles or irregularities in the space. You should also measure the height of the walls to determine how much vertical space you’ll have to work with.
When measuring, ensure that you record all parts of the room, including:
- Walls and archways
- Doors and windows
- Closets and fireplaces
Also, ensure you factor in the location of electrical outlets, light switches, and any other items or permanent fixtures in the room.
It’s often helpful to have a second person assist with the measuring. This person can hold one end of the measuring tape while you read and record each measurement, making the process more efficient.
Remember to double-check your measurements to ensure accuracy.
Try to get into the habit of measuring everything twice and cross-checking your work to avoid costly errors.
Record all the measurements accurately in a notebook and ensure they are easily accessible when you begin designing the space.
Creating a precise floor plan will ensure your design ideas are feasible and achievable.
You can create a floor plan using a ruler and graph paper. Alternatively, use one of the many online tools available to create a more detailed plan. Your floor plan should include all the measurements you’ve taken and any other relevant details, such as furniture placement.
After completing and recording all measurements, draw a rough floor plan during the initial meeting with your client.
Taking photos can also be a helpful aid. You can refer to these when you’re drawing the accurate floor plan to ensure you have remembered every aspect.
In addition, these images can be used as “before” pictures for your portfolio, allowing you to showcase the transformation of the space.
The next step is to prepare an accurate floor plan.
Creating the Floor Plan
When it comes to interior decorating, creating a floor plan of the room drawn to scale is an essential part of the process.
A visual representation of the entire space allows for a better understanding of how the room can be transformed.
However, creating a floor plan is more than just a visual aid; it is also an essential aspect of space planning and the foundation for any interior decorating project.
By drawing a scaled plan of the room, you can determine the best placement for furniture and other decor items.
For example, when you know the room’s dimensions, you can accurately determine if a particular piece of furniture will fit.
This can save time and money, allowing for better decision-making during the decorating process.
Furthermore, creating a floor plan can also assist in identifying any potential issues with the space. For example, if you notice that the electrical outlets are not in the best location, you can plan to have them relocated during the renovation process.
Using your measurements and rough floor plan, the next step is to create a detailed floor plan to scale.
The most common method interior decorators use is graph paper with a grid of squares to represent the room’s measurements. Each square on the graph paper can represent a specific measurement, such as one foot or one meter, depending on the unit of measure used.
Using the graph paper scale, you can quickly draw the room’s dimensions, including the width and length.
After drawing the basic outline of the room, the next step is to add details to the floor plan.
This can include windows, doors, fireplaces, built-in bookshelves, electrical outlets, and switches.
Accurately noting the location of these items on the floor plan allows for better placement of furniture and other decorative elements.
If you have missed anything, refer to the photos you took of the room.
In addition to traditional graph paper, there is also computer software available that can assist with creating floor plans.
These programs can offer 3D visualizations of the space, which can be helpful in accurately representing the room.
One of the benefits of utilizing computer software for floor plans is the ability to experiment with different design options easily.
You can quickly see how different layouts look by simply dragging and dropping furniture into the space.
This can be especially helpful when working with clients with other preferences regarding design style or functionality.
Having a visual floor plan and images of the space provides a thorough overview of the room and allows for the development of a better decorating concept.
While a floor plan can be a valuable tool in the decorating process, remember that it is not set in stone. There may be alterations that need to be made once the renovation process begins.
However, having a visual depiction of the space will help you manage these changes.
