The art of interior design is just that, an art. It takes a certain kind of skill and eye to turn interior design into a career, but that does not mean you can’t DIY yourself into a lovely warm and welcoming home.

Colours, textures, lighting, featured extras and furniture placement can make all the difference when you want to turn a room in your home from drab to fab, and it does not have to cost you an arm and a leg, either. All you need is some proper planning, research and knowing what it is that you want to achieve.

These 5 interior design tips will help you transform that awkward space in your place into a space that you’re going to love spending time in and one that you can really make your own. So let’s get into it.

1.   Colours are your best friends

First and foremost, when you plan to make any changes to the interior of your home, you have to think about colour. Colour is what gives your space its personality and its atmosphere and helps you create that ultimate embracing space.

Colours and emotions tend to go hand-in-hand, and no matter what vibe you intend to create in the room, you’ll have to take this into consideration. Do you want to create a warm and welcoming space? Or a space that’s alive and energised? Do you want something more intimate and relaxing?

When choosing your colours, you need to consider how they make you feel. We’re attracted to different colours because of the emotions that they evoke within us. This is important to remember when planning and laying out the design of the room, as they’re part of the basis for what you’re trying to achieve in that space.

2.   The light of your life

Lighting is more important than you may think. Have you ever walked into a badly lit room? How did it make you feel?

Bad lighting changes the entire feel of a space regardless of what the room actually looks like or the furniture that’s in there. That’s why it’s so very important to have the right kind of light to help accentuate the room’s good features and furniture.

Lighting is a crucial element in the design and feel of your home, and it has the ability to completely change everything about a room. It can add space (believe it or not), make a room feel more inviting or it can make a room a place you want to avoid. Strange… but true.

3.   Keep design in mind

Yes, it’s exciting when you decide to renovate or redecorate your home. The new paints and wallpapers, the alternative colours and cabinets. But all this should not distract you from what it is that really matters.

Atmosphere, function and practicality are aspects of any interior decorating project that you overlook at your peril. You want to create an atmosphere that’s warm and inviting, as well as being functional for the purpose of the room and practical to be in and move around.

For example, adding a corner display cabinet in the living room is a great way to add shape to an otherwise square corner space while at the same time being a functional and practical piece of furniture that looks great. Remember that bigger is not necessarily better in this case.

4.   Don’t forget about the finishes

Although they’re sometimes (OK most times) overlooked, your room’s furniture finishes can be the thing that either makes or breaks the whole look and feel of a room. Finishes add rounding and completeness to the look that you’re trying to create and achieve.

Surface finishing is crucial for many pieces of furniture, dictating the look that the furniture is trying to achieve. They create the completeness of the look you’re aiming for and help your furniture to really stand out as being as unique as you are.

Surface finishes, for example, make your furniture look polished and distinctive, not to mention adding a layer of protection from coffee mugs or cocktail glass stains. More than that, a great finish to your furniture adds a particular visual appeal, not to mention an additional layer of texture and/or splendour.

5.   Layer, upon layer, upon layer

Adding layers to any room is a great idea. It is a means of combining a wide range of prints, colours, textures, fabrics, and accessories that bring character to the room. It also makes the room feel “alive” and not afraid to be lived in.

You will, however, have to avoid the temptation of bundling everything into the room at once. Instead, take a step back and add your layers from the ground up, not forgetting what we discussed regarding colour earlier on.

Carpets, rugs, furniture, tables, books, pillows, plants, blankets and lamps are just some of the ideas that can be added to the layering concept of your room. Either matching colours or something contrasting and perhaps a bit of shock value too. Whatever looks and feels good to you and fits the theme you’re creating for that space.

Don’t be afraid to be bold and experiment with the colour scheme. You may even shock yourself with the hidden talent you discover you have.

Take a step back

Once all is said and done, take a step back and look at what you have created. Get a wider view of what you have put out there and pat yourself on the back for taking charge and owning the day.

Re-designing a room can be a challenging and exciting project, and once you have done one room, I can guarantee that you are going to want to do the rest of the house. Have fun!

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