Design That Matters: Your Exterior = Your Interior
Designing for the senses incorporates aesthetics of nature, accentuation of meditative and stimulating elements in an effort to create lasting impressions. This requires the use of textures, colors that stimulate the senses, bringing the outdoors in, and the incorporation of scents. As I design a space I use these elements to create rooms that have the ability to connect and enhance the client’s life experiences. Client’s taste evolves over time as trends come and go, thus a great designer must not only design and execute, but allow space for future growth.
Fall is the prelude for change! As the wind shifts, leaves change color, and birds retreat to the south, this time of year makes me feel overjoyed. Watching these changes unfold brings excitement as the textures of the season are visibly illuminated by the light of the sun and crispness in the air. Balancing various combinations of textures such as reclaimed wood, metals, and the produce at a farmers market, indigenous wall hangings and handmade textiles. Fall provides numerous inspirations for an interior designer.
The same aesthetics of nature can be brought inside your personal environment creating a sense of outdoors through the use of stone, wood and water features. Using these natural elements will assist in producing a meditative and stimulating environment. The Fall color palette will revitalize your environment, while allowing you to explore and add fresh colors inspired by the local farm. Wheat, pine cones, and gourds provide a neutral color palette. Pumpkins have a wide range of oranges from spicy to subdued, while corn provides a scope of yellows and browns. The color green is prevalent in various shades suitable for many environments.
Colors have meaning and should be used accordingly. Much research has gone into proving their healing properties and ability to relive stress. Yellows are a joyful color associated with sunlight and good luck. This color can be uplifting to the spirit while stimulating energy, flexibility, and positivity. Orange creates a warming effect, induces sociability, creativity, and humor. Green brings nature inside and promotes balance, luck, and prosperity. Never be afraid of color…it adds depth and character!
The use of color can be translated into the use of various scents to create a stimulating aroma promoting a warm, cozy, stress free, productive environment. Eucalyptus, a shade of green, smells excellent and keeps the nasal passage clear. Scented candles in vanilla or lavender will generate interest in your visitor’s nose. Fresh fruit, particularly oranges, and citrus infused aromatherapy oil provides visual and nasal stimulation. The combination will assist in creating the total environment one is aiming to achieve.
Engaging every sense will create and promote lifelong design mirroring the soul through splashes of color to enliven our visual sense; lush textures engage the sense of touch, while aromas excite our sense of smell. Interior design is more than a superficial concern. Your environment must reflect every aspect of you!
Tip of the Month
Take a trip to the great outdoors, a hayride, pumpkin patch, walking trail, a beautiful lake, secluded cabin, a Caribbean island and take lots of pictures! Take the time to find 3 favorites…..from these 3 favorites narrow it down to one photo. Go shopping with your photo in hand and locate new accessories (art work, statues, foliage, vases, picture frames, pillows, throws, containers for storage, etc.) for your living room, bedroom or bathroom. I would love to see the final picture of choice and a picture of the accessories you purchased from your inspiration! Don’t forget to tag me on IG @azlewisdesigns.
Be inspired by nature….bring it inside