How to Plan Home Interiors: A Step-by-Step Guide

Confused?? Where to start??

Home Interior Design isn’t rocket science but it can be a bit tricky if not planned properly. So, a step-by-step guide to where to start an Interior Design project

Over the internet, there are many home interior design options available, it's very easy to be overwhelmed and confused to not know where to initiate or even how to plan. There is no hard and fast rule, whatever the plan for home interiors it must include your comfort. Below are some indicative steps that won’t go wrong for a new plan.

1. Forming a plan:

An index finger rule is to form a plan, in the beginning, to proceed with an entire home interior change or build. A plan is a basic requirement in adjusting even an architectural construction, electrical fixes, plumbing lights, etc. The plans consist of many other specifics, that includes, members in a family, basic needs in a kitchen, bedrooms, even in a storeroom.

If you aren’t in contact with any professional yet, then you should ask these few Q’s to clear your doubt further:

• If the interiors can be made as per clients recommendations,
• How to make the Design adjusted for all the members in the house?
• If a pet can also stay in the same home with his place?
• What is the Kitchen design best suited for the client’s family?
• What are appliances can be
• How to have storage spaces hidden? Wardrobes and shelves to not look ugly in the designed home, to have enough spaces in a wardrobe.
• How to have complete functionality of a beautiful home with a proper electrical, water supply.
• If prayer rooms can be made a bit traditional in a modern room?
• What would be the substitutes for interiors like lights, appliances, furniture, air-conditioning?

These are the most common questions asked to an Interior Designer, But any query is better to resolve before forming any plan. The purpose of a home is very basic, but the purpose of home interiors is to focus on the people living in the home and all the purposes of it should be served.

2. Make a budget:

Most of the time budgets are the crucial elements for home interiors. Though an estimated budget is very vague it gives ideas to the decorators, or professionals to plan as per the client's financial standing. Make sure, by choosing a designer who doesn’t break your bank. A little extra or below the belt is expected but to go beyond the budget is a blunder.

The priority is given to quality to cut costs in other specificities. Such as the fittings are given more priority, the electrical lines, the pipelines; the rest of the other things like furniture can be compromised in the beginning just to make some adjustments with the priorities.

3. Look for a theme:

The theme is a style or specific design that the home needs when turning for an interior's specialty. For example, classical styles are comfortable but fuzzy, whereas modern styles are very clean looking in appearance, cut edge technology used, and are also very sleek. Everything else, like furniture, artifacts, accessories, textiles, and colors, circles around the theme.

Colors are the biggest elements in theme, a mixed-matched color looks confusing and ends up in a bad result if not properly done by an Interior Design. Whereas the same color tone is safer to choose, it is a safe play and looks sleek and very neat, and comes under a modern theme. Some colors also define the personality, some reflect muscularity like blue, dark brown, grey, etc.

4. Natural and artificial lighting:

Natural light is very important for home interiors and people living in the home. It brings in a positive vibe and good health, also brings in a fresh environment. But if natural light isn’t possible directly, then artificial lighting is used to give a lift and make a dark home appear bright.

The direction and position of windows or doors are placed has a great significance and also has a similar impact on natural light. Rooms face in the northern hemisphere, and windows facing the south appear bright and vice-versa.

Apart from natural and artificial lighting, appropriate electrical points must be obtained, every room must have an entrance electrical point, with bedside two points. If a study is needed, in a room, add the same in the plan, to not clutter the room with electrical wires later but have an advanced electrical point. If the reading nook has adequate natural light then ensure a beautiful area to place a beautiful designer study table.

Besides, ceiling lights that provide uniform lights, ceiling lamps, overhead lamps, give enough light for work, but bedside lamps are a must, they help in daily functioning. Spotlights offer a soft ambiance like in kitchen cabinets, hidden in stairs, or hidden in the false ceiling. With the right amount of lighting, for home interiors, moods can be elevated and can define any space.

5. Essential Electrical Points:

A layout for electrical points is as necessary as an architectural layout. Such as a big room would look even better if freestanding floor lamps can fit the environment, giving it a more modern look. A lighting grid over your dining table or even kitchen and task lighting in your study areas are better choices too.

In the kitchen safe wiring is the key to sophistication, it must be done very clean as electrical points are heavily used such as dishwashers, microwave, food processors, refrigerators, coffeemakers, can be run all together at the same time. A simple disturbance at any point of the line can create the worst nightmares in the complete home. Laundry areas and TV units are second and third essential electrical points that need to be taken care of showing a quick-witted intelligence. The same goes for Plumbing points—

6. Plumbing Points:

Take time to plan the plumbing as required. A house doesn’t only need a water supply sturdy in the washroom but also the kitchen, and other areas like garages and outdoors in the garden as well. The layout of the bathroom is planned as per the layout of the plumbing. Either the pipings are concealed like modern themes or visible like industrial themes.

If the plumbing isn’t done properly, it might take up a lot to clear or redo the initial layout for the water supply. But better late than never — if any changes are needed to the structure, it should be carried out before the rest of the interiors are done.

7. Air conditioning:

Just like gas piping, air conditioning also needs a proper line for functioning properly. It is better to finish the exact work before the interiors. If planning a centralized Air Conditioning, an air duct system is to be added. The proficient technicians will inspect the ductwork to make sure it's sound and sealed. To move the air through the house efficiently and functions properly the airway duct system is needed to be obstacle-free. Careful planning and the provision of ducts and the AC unit are required. Restoring these units may also need some reorganizing of electrical wiring, so this should be coordinated with the electrician.

8. Gas piping specifications:

Another one of the important key elements of interior designing is to maintain good gas piping. A central line is provided but the area manages the community or even the state government. If such a facility isn’t available in the location, a separate gas cylinder is another best way to keep it on purpose or even in unity.

A gas pipeline may be a choice for many homeowners but it is safe to choose to make it primarily after a layout is made for the kitchen. Hence, get a copper pipe laid out behind your lower kitchen cabinets accordingly and give a much innovative feel in the design. A canceled pipe for an inlet for the LPG unit and outlet for the kitchen chimney looks more appealing.

9. Flooring Plans and options:

What is the type of flooring options available in the area? The market doesn’t allow many options based on climate change like proper wood flooring. But again it is upon the client's wish if they opt for hardwood, laminate floors, or vitrified tiles fully or partially.

Wooden floors offer warmth to the home interiors and can be spread all over the living, dining, bedroom. But Vitrified flooring is the more sensible and common choice in areas in Indian homes. With lots of spillages in the kitchen, wood flooring is not resistant to stains, hence, more durable, comfortable, the cost is taken as priorities when planning for flooring.

Conclusion:

These are all references I have taken from a top interior design firm, HSAA - based in Delhi, India. You can find more by going through the reference link. These few functional elements in terms of input help in achieving the best output. The forming a plan, budget, floor plan, or layout, electrical points, adhere to finish a complete project, though it doesn’t reflect directly to the eyes, it makes living life smoothly.

Elements like woodwork, false ceiling, furniture, artifacts, artworks, accessories, customized shelvings, light fixers, are visible to the naked eye but to make these objects completely functional the above elements are very important.