There are a lot of terms associated with Interior Design.
Sometimes, it’s overwhelming to hear all of the “shop talk” and understand what’s going on.
I thought I’d define a few of the most common terms:
Interior Design: A process which follows an organized and systematic methodology, including research, analysis, and integration of knowledge into the creative process, whereby the needs and resources of the client are satisfied to produce an interior space that fulfills the goals of the project.
(Bottom line: A designer’s job is to use their knowledge and education, combined with research to creatively analyze your space and come up with a plan that satisfies your needs and meets your budget.)
Floor Plan: A diagram, usually to scale, which shows relationships between rooms, spaces, and other physical features at one level of a structure. (Plan view: from the top)
Color Wheel: A circular diagram of the color spectrum which shows the relationships between colors.
Color Scheme: The choice of colors used in a design to show style and create appeal. Some of the most commonly used color schemes:
Monochromatic: Using mainly one color or hue. This scheme is usually less vibrant
Analogous: Using colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel. For example; green, yellow-green, and yellow.
Complimentary: Using colors opposite each other on the color wheel. An example is red and green. These schemes are usually more energetic.
Split-Complimentary: Uses a main color and the two colors on each side of its complementary color. For example; pair orange with yellow-green and red-violet for a modern, exciting color scheme
Triadic: Uses 3 colors that are equally spaced on the color wheel. Red, blue, and yellow are triadic.
Style: A theme or consistent idea used throughout a room. Used to create a feeling of unity and completeness.
Furnishings: Objects that are meant to increase comfort or utility; especially an article of furniture in a home or interior
Ambiance: A mood, tone, or feeling that characterizes a space. (Basically, it’s the room’s personality!)
Accessories: In design, accessories are the objects or devices that add to the beauty, convenience, or effectiveness of something else. (They’re the jewelry of a room. Without accessories, you’re missing the personality of a space! These are the touches that make a room uniquely YOURS.)
LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – Provides building owners and operators a clear, concise framework to identify and implement practical and measurable green building design. Uses a certification system to provide third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using “Green” strategies.
Green: Preserving environmental quality by being recyclable, biodegradable, or non-polluting. Intended to improve performance in metrics such as energy savings, water efficiency, carbon monoxide emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources.
