Carpets N More

Interior design is a coordinate plan with clear guidelines in place to help enhance a home’s aesthetics and functionality. Plus, there are hundreds of styles that we can use to help create our space. Many interior design styles have come and went while we see interior design evolve over time, just like fashion and beauty. Some styles have indeed survived the test of time where others come and go. Many bold and contemporary designs seem to be much shorter-lived than safe and neutral designs. Typically, this is because neutrals do not make such bold statements where other colors can be very influential. Yet, when new bold design themes do come about, they usually change the perspective entirely and can revamp the next generation of design.

During the 1980s, Italian designer Ettore Sottsass and his design team created a daring and novel design theme that would break all the rules of the current design times. This design was referred to as Memphis design, which was named due to the famous Bob Dylan song “Stuck in Memphis.”

What Is Memphis Design?

Memphis design is nothing short of abstract. It is probably the easiest design to recognize because of how whimsical and unique it is. During the 1940s, Mid-Century Modern took the forefront of many designs. It revolutionized architecture and home designs throughout the United States. However, having too much of a good thing can soon make it overused. Since Mid-Century Modern was a very minimalistic and neutral color palette, it had constructed rules which help create and make the atmosphere. During the 1980s, Sottsass and his team decided to make something untraditional or “radical, funny, and outrageous” as they put it. They created the rule-breaking, whimsical, pop art, and colorful Memphis design.

The Return of Memphis Design

Likewise, we have seen neutral color themes for the last several years. For instance, many rooms have been painted gray, beige, and white, and as children grew up with this color palette, they began to want more color. However, those children are adults and homeowners today, and we notice that generation X loves their colors. They are adding colors more than ever into their homes and apartments. So, we slowly see the return of rule-breaking colors and patterns to create an artsier and maximalism-styled home.

How to Master This Whimsical Style

The color palette is completely open but thrives off bold, neon, and pastel colors and a lot of them! Many rooms will have more than a dozen bold colors incorporated in their design. Plus, this style has unique and contemporary geometrical shapes to construct furniture and patterns. It also uses a ton of patterns where most designs stick to one or two.

What do you think of this crazy design? Is it refreshing to see colors back into homes, or is this design too much? We would love to get your opinion below in the comment section.

Things that we see every day, we begin to build immunity toward. It is easy to walk into a new home and see its strong and weak design attributes. However, consider your own life. Sometimes, we do not even notice ourselves aging because we see ourselves every day. However, run into someone you have not seen in ten years, and they may look different! Likewise, this immunity can occur in our own design themes in our homes. Over time, we become numb to weak points in our design and do not make them priorities to fix.

Step Back and Reevaluate

We live in our homes every day. It is easy to come immune to clutter or outdated designs. It is time to step back and unbiasedly assess your space. Are there areas that are outdated? Are there places that could use some decluttering? Stepping back and honestly assessing your space is the only way to reveal weak points. Do not look at your home as yours anymore. Try to disconnect your personal attachment and truly critique each room.

Declutter

One sure way to improve a design is to declutter. While minimalism is not for everyone, it is a style or genre which is easy to follow. The process truly consists of less is more. If you are at a total loss on where to begin in your design, you may need to declutter. We accumulate a lot of stuff over time. From furniture, outdated electronics, and décor, our homes are filled with miscellaneous clutter. Try to remove clutter from rooms to help reveal a more minimalistic aesthetic nature to your own design.

Continue to Learn

Another way to improve your design is to enhance your knowledge continually. Expand what you know and explore different designs. From social media, design catalogs, or blogs, all these can be continual avenues to explore in your own design. Maybe you have outgrown your old-style, or it has become outdated. Try to explore some of the newer trends and see which may work in your home.

Too often, we become content. There are endless tasks to be completed in every household. It comes down to how much you prioritize them. Try to assess your own design honestly.

Interior design is not only about having functionality in a space but creating a visually appealing atmosphere. While aesthetics and beauty are subjective, there are several ways that you can help enhance the design and visual outcome of a room.  One tried-and-true trick that has been commonly used throughout the centuries is allowing pairs to complement each other.  There are several ways you can use the power of pairs to help enrichen your atmosphere and create a harmonized and compelling environment. 

Symmetry Through Seating 

Symmetry influences the space’s flow.  There are many different ways to accomplish this but pairing furniture takes the win.  Create the scene by allowing complementing chairs or couches to mimic each other in the room.  These duos can create balance and make a more coherent and harmonized room.  You can even cattycorner your pairs or use them asymmetrically to add interest.  In these layouts, the pairs will still be noted as one and help enhance the overall space. 

Harmony with Lighting 

Another way to help harmonize the atmosphere through pairings is through the use of lighting.  Duplicate lamps can help give the room a more “even” illumination.  With lights paired correctly in a room, you can create even shadowing and consistent lighting throughout the space.  You will find that lights are a powerful tool in design.  Complement them with pairing two and watch them transform your home. 

Balance with Décor 

Décor is an artistic and creative way to express your design theme.  While contributing to the overall appeal of the room, décor does not need to stand alone.  Using duplicate décor can create symmetry back in the room and make it feel more balanced.  Try doing this with a simple bowl, baskets, books, or other decorative objects in your home. In doing so, you will add interest and aesthetic appeal. 

There are three types of balance: symmetry, asymmetry, and radial.  You can incorporate all in your home to create different feels in your room.  Never neglect the power of pairs though in your space.  While singular chairs or art can be unique, duos work together to complement one another.

Details are what make a professionally designed room stand out. Interior designers and decorators know that designing and decorating a space is more than just arranging lighting and furniture, selecting wall colors, choosing flooring and buying accents.  Design is in the details. Small touches that might be overlooked at first glance are the things that make good design great design.

One design detail that many people probably overlook is stitching. Decorative stitching, as opposed to the stitching that holds a piece together, can add an extra bit of flair. Decorative stitching can be something like quilting or a blanket stitch on the edge of a throw or rug. As seen in this picture, detailed stitching can be done on leather as well as fabrics.

For leather or suede furnishings, decorative stitching is a common design element. The stitching can be done in a white or contrasting thread so it stands out. Just like quilting where the thread can blend or become a decorative element on its own, decorative stitching on leather can be subtle or bold. Stitching can be purely decorative or as part of the construction of the piece. Seams can be highlighted with contrasting thread for a decorative look.

Pillows and other soft goods can be embellished with embroidery as well as quilting. Embroidery can be done in geometric, abstract and representative patterns—the possibilities are endless.

Next time you are purchasing a rug, piece of furniture or decorative accessory pay attention to the details like stitching.

Contemporary spaces that have minimal ornamentation and decorative flourishes rely heavily on the beauty of the materials used within them. This living room is a beautiful example of using stone in a contemporary space. Stone is a good choice for contemporary style that puts an emphasis on green and natural materials with clean lines and surfaces.

The largest area of stone in the space is the stone floor.  The warm hued stone covers both the living area and the step up to the hallway.  Continuing the material throughout both spaces helps the areas flow together into one large space. Placing the same tiles on the steps leading down into the living room makes the steps blend into the floor, enhancing the seamless flow between spaces. Using a tile that is a foot square adds enough variety to create a pattern while maintaining a uniform look. Larger size tiles could also work on this floor.

More stone is used on the fireplace wall. Extending the tiles beyond the fireplace surround gives this focal wall more presence in the room.  The stone on the wall is different than the stone tiles on the floor, but both are in the same color group so work together well.

Carrying the stone from the floor up onto the wall wraps the room in the natural material. Despite its cool surface, the natural stone color warms the space and gives it character. For a room that has neutral, light furnishings, the stone adds color and subtle pattern too.

When writers get stuck it is called writer’s block. We’ve decided that there is also something called designer’s block. It is similar to writer’s block in that both are the feeling of being stuck and unable to move forward with a project or decision. Designer’s block can strike at the beginning, middle or end of a design project. It can stem from a problem floor plan or awkward room design; or be something like choosing which throw pillow is perfect for the sofa.

Designer’s block can be frustrating and infuriating. Choosing the right hardware for a cabinet or pillow for the sofa should be easier than it often is. We can get stuck in a cycle of thinking “what if this is a mistake” that can prevent us from moving forward with a decision.

Collecting samples of flooring or paint chips can be a great way to make a design decision but can also be overwhelming. The sheer number of choices available can leave our heads spinning at the paint or flooring store.

If you are stuck on a design decision and stuck with a case of designer’s block, start looking at design blogs and magazines for inspiration. Just as reading something else can help with writer’s block, looking at completed design projects can help us get over the block.  Walk away from the project for a few days to get a fresh perspective. Seeing the project or pillows with fresh eyes can make a once difficult decision perfectly simple.  Like writer’s block, designer’s block is often very temporary so don’t fret. This too shall pass.