Jeanette Joy Fisher
 Interior Design Philosophy

n. philosophy
Love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means.
A set of ideas or beliefs relating to a particular field or activity;
an underlying theory.

Which Interior Design Method Would Best Help You?

By Jeanette Joy Fisher

Before you embark on a home makeover project, stop and think about your goals and your way of living in your home. Explore the different interior design philosophies and choose ideas specific to your needs.

Vaastu - Vastu Shastra -  Sacred Vedic Architecture

The Oldest Architectural Philosophy
For over five thousand years, sacred architecture has been practiced in India. The oral traditions were written in Sanskrit mantras and called "Vastu Shastra." Practitioners design and build living environments in harmony with the physical and metaphysical forces/energies of the cosmos such as the gravitational, electromagnetic, supernatural, and metaphysical.

Some similarities sound like the more popular Feng Shui. However, even though Vastu harmonizes the flow of energy, called Life-Force or Prana in Sanskrit, (similar to Chi in Chinese), through the house, Vastu and Feng Shui differ in the placement and directions for objects, rooms, and materials.

Interesting tidbit: I did a map of our home to rate it according to Vastu principles and our home got the highest rating!

Feng Shui Practice

Although some designers claim that Feng Shui is based on superstition, many of the Feng Shui principles can help to make a home that "flows" well. Feng Shui comes from the Chinese art or practice of positioning objects, especially graves, buildings, and furniture, based on a belief in patterns of yin and yang and the flow of chi that have positive and negative effects.

I like many of the Feng Shui decorating ideas, like using mirrors next to my desk so I can see behind me. However, I could find no scientific reason to not use mirrors in bedrooms.

Wabi Sabi

"Wabi Sabi" (pronounced "wah-bee sah-bee") was formalized as the Zen Buddhism tea ceremony evolved. Zen Buddhism originated in India, traveled through China in the 6th Century, and to Japan in the 12th century.

The ancient wisdom of Wabi Sabi practitioners helps today's busy home makers with interesting interior design ideas. Wabi Sabi interior design followers learn to relax, take time to appreciate the beauty and simplicity of natural design, and to know that their home doesn't need perfection to bring joy, which compares to our research findings in residential Design Psychology. I love Wabi Sabi!

 

Traditional American Interior Design

Interior design as a practice became popular in America in the early 1900s with books on entertaining. Flamboyant interior decorators like Elsie de Wolf created spaces to impress people. Although Elsie promoted individual style, the trend for much of the 1900s was to decorate to show off your home and possessions. In the 1990s, "cocooning" became the rage and homemakers tried to add every amenity to their home.

Shabby Chic

Shabby Chic, started by Designer Rachel Ashwell in 1989, ties time-worn objects with slipcovers, soft white pastels, and flowery fabrics. Shabby Chic takes off from the Country decorating popular in the 1980s.

Shabby Chic interiors often fill spaces with a lot of interesting finds, which can end up with too much to care for AND eye clutter, according to Design Psychology principles. This lesson of too much design detail, which stops the eye and makes you feel overwhelmed, became apparent to us when we moved from our expansive Victorian home into a smaller house and had to choose the more important furnishings from the treasures discovered over ten years of collecting, both in antique and thrift stores.

Environmental or "Green Design"

"It's not too easy choosing green."

  -Kermit the Frog
  Extreme Makeover Home Edition

 

Environmental Psychology, an interdisciplinary science, focuses on the interplay between human beings and their surrounding environment.

The science of Environmental Psychology encompasses a number of areas, including such disciplines as architectural and ecological psychology, environmental design and sociology, and social ecology. In order to be effective, a practitioner of Environmental Psychology will commonly draw information from a number of other areas, such as anthropology, architecture, political science, psychology, and urban planning and design.

Green Design practitioners choose building materials with a strict eye on the environmental impact.  See Environmental Psychology

Design Psychology

Based on scientific research, experimentation, and the way human emotions react to interior design details, Residential Design Psychology helps homemakers redesign their homes for happiness. Design Psychology borrows from the good ideas found in all design methods. Residential Interior Design Psychology

Based on the way humans respond to interior design details, you can also make your office support your productivity and joy. Office Design

Finally, Design Psychology helps home sellers and real estate investors with remodeling, redesign, and home staging to attract a home buyer willing to pay top-dollar. This atypical home staging strategy profiles the target buyer and uses design details to make homes "simply irresistible!" Home Staging with Design Psychology

Choose one interior design philosophy or use strategies from many. The important outcome for you: design your home for yourself and those you share it with.

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher. NO Permission Granted to use this article in any manner.

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Enjoy your personal interior design philosophy!