A loving home or a productive office space is far more than the way the interior is designed. There’s far more to it than the perfect colour scheme and the ultimate in accessories. We need to design our spaces to create atmosphere. But just how do you do that? And is it achievable on a budget?
Atmosphere is defined as the pervading tone or mood of a place, situation, or creative work. And it exists whether you like it or not - so here are some ways you can control it to get the best out of your space.
Work with all your senses to create the atmosphere you want.
Sound
- Home office? Create a quiet area away from noisy neighbours.
- Open plan kitchens make it easy to be sociable and allow conversations to flow.
- Use curtains, blinds and soft furnishings to soften the sounds in a bedroom or snug.
Scent
- The smell should match the purpose: bathrooms should smell fresh and clean; kitchens should have the comforting smell of baking. Get it the wrong way around and the sense make the atmosphere uncomfortable.
- The quicker you can cover the small of new paint the sooner you will establish the true atmosphere of your new room.
Texture
- Begin at floor level with bare boards or sharp concrete for a clean efficient atmosphere; luxurious deep carpets and rugs for a cosy feel.
- Volumous, made-to-measure curtains will soften an environment and blinds will create a more efficient tone.
- Work with the space to get the flow of energy you aspire to.
- Think how the furniture affects traffic flow or directs the focus of the conversation.
- Use lighting to enhance a feature and make it a focus or to bring in darker areas to the centre of the room.
