Overview : 

To make this creative process easy for you, I've created a digital workbook to be used throughout the course. So, if you haven't already, download your workbook attached below, and let's get started.  

Module 1 : Evaluate Your Space

The very first step when creating a great space is to create your vision, and you can't create a vision without knowing where you're going, and where you're coming from. So, this next module is all about defining what you want. Once you have an idea in place, I'll teach you all about design principles and best practices, so you're equipped with the right tools to help you bring your dream space to life. So, with that being said, here are the six most important things you need to solve for and think about when evaluating your space :

1. Function
2. Seating
3. Storage
4. Focal Point
5. Special Needs
6. Mood

 

Module 2 : The Design Principles

In every great room, you will see these design principles in action. So, for this section, I'm going to use one room as an example to show you how they've applied all eight principles in the same space. As we go throughout the rest of the course, I will always be referring back to these principles. So, if there are some principles that come easier to you or harder, don't worry because the rest of this course will just be review.  

Module 3 : Colour Theory

Color is one of the most powerful ways we can influence our feelings and mood, and it is also one of the hardest things to master. But, don't worry because I'm going to walk you through how to choose your colors, and how to apply them in a way that works for you. So, go ahead, you want to probably reopen your workbook to the section, and let's get started.  

Module 4 : How to Light your Space

There are four different types of lighting.

• The first is your main lighting, which is usually the biggest light source in your entire room. So, it's things like your recessed lighting or your chandeliers, basically whatever is the largest. Just as a fun good to know, chandeliers are properly hung about 36 inches from your table or your surface.
• The second type of lighting is your ambient light, which is smaller light sources that help fill the space, so things like candles, lit kitchen cabinets, or entertainment centers, and so on.
• Then you have task lighting, that's meant for a specific thing. So, these are usually things like floor lamps or table lamps, so you can read or play the piano.
• Finally, accent lights. These are usually used for highlighting art or up lighting plants, things like that to help bring attention to a specific function in the room.

 

Module 5 : Place your Furniture

The very first rule in placing your furniture is to always place your items from large to small. This is so you establish the fundamentals and then you add in all of your decorative elements to help fill in the space. So for example, you would first start with your rug, then add your couch, your chairs, your piano. Maybe you like a china cabinet, if you're doing a dining room and then you fill in with your smaller furniture like your coffee and your side tables and then you finish with your accessories and lighting.   So the next thing to do is place your furniture closer together than apart. Remember the design principle of proximity? So, it's not like you want to be so close that you're breathing on these people, but you want to be able to touch their knee if you need to console them or something. You want to be close enough to be able to interact with them. So, this is an example of what not to do, and is somewhat of a common mistake. I'm sure you've seen this, where people push their furniture up against walls leaving these huge rivers of space in between. In fact, there's a name for this and it is called bandwagoning.  

Module 6 : Introduction to Accessories

So, here's a step by step process you can use when you accessorize your shelves. So, start with weight, place two visually weighty items at each end of the shelf. Objects look heavy if they're big, colorful, dark, or patterned, or have an unusual shape. So, here I placed a dark book and a big set of vases. Next, would be to add height and color. Tall objects give a sense of movement and now I'm adding a pop of color with this plant. So, really now we're kind of creating this triangle shape that's really balanced and feels grounded.   Then, finally we finish with the filler. So, small items help offset the larger objects and they add some color and texture, so you can use some interesting like glass pieces or woven balls, whatever you want.  

Module 7 : Create your Floor Plan

Foyr Neo is a great cloud based  Interior Design Software to create your floor plan. You can convert your ideas from 2D plans, to 3D designs, to photorealistic renders within minutes. Start off in 2D to draw the walls of your room, or simply upload a floor plan and trace the outline. Then, instantaneously shift to 3D to add more details and get a realistic feel for your space. The best things is they have a free 14 day trial. A Neo subscription comes with a catalogue of 50,000+ pre-3D modeled products. Drag and drop these customizable items directly into your work, or add them to your shortlist for interior design inspiration. You can also upload your own 3D models for limitless designing. Designing in Neo is up to 50% faster than in any other professional interior design software. For the first time ever, you can work through a complete, end-to-end interior design process, in just one platform.  

Click here to sign up for free. 

 

Module 8 : Conclusion

Now that you've learned everything there is to creating a great space from beginning to end, and you have your floor plan, you are ready to go shopping. I've included a page, and your workbook has a shopping list, to help you keep track of the items you need to buy, as well as a resource page with all of the links that we've discussed. It's a great way to budget and keep you on track.  

Congratulations friend, you're on your way to creating a great space.