What is interior design?

Style, color, mood, harmony, contrast, comfort, convenience and fit likely come to mind when considering a new design. Interior design concerns itself with more than just the visual or ambient enhancement of an interior space, however. It seeks to optimize and harmonize the uses to which the interior environment will be put.

Many factors come into play in formulating the design solution:

• The space itself--its dimensions and construction--with its potential and its limitations. How the space will be used--for work or leisure, entertainment or worship, healing or learning.

• The meaning of the space, what it signifies--be it power, authority, security, wisdom, achievement, playfulness or serenity.

• Practical considerations, like ease of access, amount of light, acoustics, seating and places to store or set things down.

• Health and safety considerations, attention to special needs and more.

• Psychological and behavior impact of the design.

• Environmental impact of the design.