Interior design isn’t just about pretty furniture and well-placed mirrors. Space planning plays a huge role in the interior design process. Whether for commercial or residential interior projects, planning appropriate spaces for their respective usages is as crucial as the aesthetic design. Many factors have to be considered to complement and enhance the space, using it to its full potential. And that’s the key difference between a good design and a smart one.

In this article, we’re going to share with you some key factors to consider when you’re planning the spaces for your restaurant, hotel rooms, or other personal projects.

24/7 CONVENIENCE

Besides pleasing the eyes of the beholder, the unseen role of interior design is also to provide convenience and aid users in everyday life. As such, before any major planning is done, the first thing to do is ask yourself how and what the space will be used for. That simple step will help you understand the objective of the space to give you a better idea of what furniture is needed and how it should be positioned. For example, in co-sharing spaces like a hotel lobby, seating furniture should be comfortably distanced to accommodate different parties while still having the common coffee table within reach of all seats. Comparatively, the intimacy of a family-sized hotel room allows you to place furniture closer together while still having enough living areas for multiple concurrent uses such as allowing one to watch the TV on a couch while the other does their work on the desk.

GOING WITH THE TRAFFIC FLOW

Where are the entry points? How will they move around from one corner to the other? These questions do more than just inform the traffic flow of your space. They also help to identify areas of congregation and obstruction. When you consider the unmovable structures in the space—such as windows, doors or built-in units— you’ll gain a better idea of where to usher your traffic into and how to utilise the space so it’s convenient for users to move around easily. In commercial spaces like restaurants or retail shops, people should be able to get in and out easily without any blockage. Looking at the structures in the room will also help you plan which kind of lighting should be installed for maximum illumination at all times of the day.

SIZING IT UP

The height of your furniture should correspond to the dimensions of the space itself. If your furniture is oversized, the space will come off a lot smaller and feel more cramped up. On the other hand, if your furniture is too small, the space might feel less cosy and echoes will be amplified around the room. When it comes to smaller spaces, it is best to blur the edges of the room to break up the lines between the floors and walls—choosing furniture with legs will give the illusion of more space.

PULLING THE RIGHT RUG

You might think of them as mere floor decoration, but something small like a rug plays a large part in transforming the look and feel of a space. Rugs can be cleverly utilised to make a statement or define zones in the space while adding to the overall aesthetic. And when used harmoniously with the right furniture, they can also amplify a space even further. For example, in smaller spaces, rugs should sit in front of a sofa so that a narrow strip of the floor is seen, to make the room appear lighter and more spacious. Whereas in big and open spaces, rugs should sit under the legs of sofas to create a distinct cosy zone.

SPACE PLANNING IS THE FIRST FRONTIER

Learning more about how to plan spaces to their maximum potential is the first step to creating efficient and organised areas for your various needs. Every project will have a different objective. Here at onestop, our expertise extends beyond just furniture manufacturing. Our years of working on various commercial projects have given us a breadth of experience in dealing with all types of spaces. As a dedicated ‘onestop’ location for all your fit-out needs, we’d be delighted to assist you in your latest projects—simply reach out to us here for a free consultation.

29 March 2021