Daunted by reorganising your space and don’t know where to begin? Here’s a step-by-step guide from Shah Akshat, Founder and Entrepreneur of a design company, to help you get started on designing your own living or workspace. While hiring a good interior designer will help, knowing the basics of aesthetic design can give you a head start!

1. Less is always more
As cities get populated and space becomes a prized possession, practicality should be your new mantra. Space has to be used optimally and not merely to a decorative extent – hence prime use of a property’s carpet area and ideal positioning of furniture is paramount. Good space planning in fact is key to make an area look its best.

2. Let the sunshine flow
A significant part of creating a good interior design is the optimum use of natural light, along with ventilation. More natural light fills the space with positive energy and also makes the space look bigger. Not just that, your power bills will also go down substantially.

3. Shade & Shape
Colours can enhance the illusion of space and intimacy, depending on what you choose to splash on the walls. White and other pastel shades, such as blush pink, can make a space appear larger than it is – more so if the space is bathed in natural light. Conversely, if there’s very little or no natural light, consider using dark pastel shades to give a sense of intimacy and cosiness. For a soothing and safe touch, go for pastel shades as they are easy to merge in any design setting.

4. Multifunctional territory
The concept and culture of work from home during the pandemic has given birth to multifunctional rooms as bedrooms, living rooms and even dining rooms that double up as workspaces in the last two years. Multiple uses of rooms is now the new norm as apartments and houses have limited scope for expansion too.

5. Tech is the future
A smart home for a smart you! Even though technology has reached new realms of advancement, its introduction to private homes came pretty late. A smart home will involve operations of all your appliances and gadgets, such as televisions, music systems, lights, curtains, etc., with a simple voice command. This is all the rage in 2022; the world is rapidly moving towards intelligent living and technical help assistants.

6. Texture & ToneJust as colours make a space feel warm or cool, texture lends tone and weight to the space. In interior design, texture implies the surface quality of a material used. To give an example, rough textures set off a feeling of warmth as they reflect less light, giving the object a rustic and weighty feel whereas smooth and shiny textures lend themselves to a modern look as they reflect more light, making the living space feel more contemporary. Quite simply, without texture, a space will fall flat. It's the perfect way to add depth, dimension, and decadence to a room.