Indoor Decoration Aesthetics and Science

Indoor decoration is a blend of aesthetics and science. Aesthetically, it involves selecting styles, colors, materials, and layouts that create visually appealing and comfortable spaces. This includes choosing harmonious color schemes, using quality materials with different textures, and arranging furniture effectively. Scientifically, it focuses on ergonomics for comfortable furniture dimensions, acoustics for noise control, optics for proper lighting, material science for durability and safety, and construction quality for a well-executed finish. Balancing these aspects ensures both beauty and functionality in a living space.

I. Aesthetics in Indoor Decoration

(1) Style and Theme

• Diversity of Styles
  • Modern Minimalist Style: Characterized by clean lines, pure colors, and simple geometric shapes. This style emphasizes functionality and a sense of openness in space. It often uses neutral colors such as white, gray, and black, with a few bright colors as accents. Furniture is designed with simplicity, focusing on practicality and comfort, and avoids excessive decoration. For example, in a modern minimalist living room, there might be an L-shaped sofa with a low profile, paired with a simple glass coffee table, and the walls are painted in large areas of white, with an abstract painting as decoration.
  • Scandinavian Style: Emphasizes nature, comfort, and humanization. It mainly uses light-colored woods such as oak and pine, creating a warm and rustic atmosphere. The colors are mostly soft tones like white and beige, complemented by green plants to bring vitality to the space. Scandinavian-style furniture has smooth lines and a simple yet refined design. For instance, in a Scandinavian-style bedroom, the headboard might be made of wooden wainscoting, the bedside tables are simple wooden structures, and soft linen bedding is used.
  • Chinese Style: Rich in traditional Chinese cultural elements. It extensively uses wood such as redwood and rosewood. Furniture has a dignified and grand design with smooth and varied lines. The colors are mainly traditional ones like red, black, and yellow, combined with exquisite embroidery and carving techniques. For example, in a Chinese-style living room, there might be a set of redwood sofas, with a landscape painting on the background wall and a pair of blue-and-white porcelain vases beside it, creating an elegant and classical atmosphere.
  • European Style: Stresses on extravagance, elegance, and romance. It features a lot of decorative moldings, carvings, and complex patterns, such as the intricate curves of Baroque style and the delicate decorations of Rococo style. The colors prefer bright tones like gold, silver, and white, combined with gorgeous crystal chandeliers and heavy fabric curtains. European-style furniture has a gorgeous design, focusing on the delicacy of details, such as exquisite carving and inlay techniques. For example, in a European-style dining room, there might be a large crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, with a long rectangular wooden dining table surrounded by dining chairs with exquisite carvings.
• Personalized Themes
  • Themes can be determined based on the owner’s interests, hobbies, occupations, and other factors. For example, if the owner is a marine enthusiast, a marine-themed indoor space can be created. In such a space, the walls can be decorated with blue wallpaper featuring patterns of waves and starfish. Furniture can be chosen with marine elements, such as steering wheel-shaped decorations and shell-shaped lamps. Curtains and cushions, among other soft furnishings, can be designed with blue and white striped patterns reminiscent of the ocean.
  • For an artist, the indoor space can revolve around an artistic theme. The walls can display the owner’s own works or collected artworks. Furniture can be modern design pieces with artistic flair, such as chairs with sculptural shapes and abstract coffee tables. The color scheme of the space can be more daring, using bright colors often favored by artists to create a creative atmosphere.

(2) Color Matching

• Psychological Effects of Colors
  • Cool Tones: Including blue, green, cyan, etc. These colors give people a feeling of calmness, freshness, and tranquility. For example, in a south-facing room with plenty of sunlight, using cool-toned wall colors can balance the heat brought by the sunlight and create a comfortable atmosphere. In a bathroom, using light blue tiles with white sanitary ware can make people feel more refreshed and clean.
  • Warm Tones: Such as red, orange, yellow, etc. Warm tones can create a warm, enthusiastic, and lively atmosphere. In a living room, using warm-toned sofas and carpets, combined with warm yellow lighting, can enhance the warmth and sense of closeness of the family. In a dining room, using red dining chairs and orange decorations can stimulate appetite and make the dining atmosphere more pleasant.
  • Neutral Tones: Including white, gray, beige, etc. Neutral tones have strong inclusiveness and can be combined with other colors to play a harmonizing role. White can make the space appear brighter and more spacious, often used in small apartment interior decoration. Gray gives people a sense of stability and elegance, suitable for modern-style indoor spaces.
• Color Matching Techniques
  • Monochromatic Matching: This is a simple and safe matching method. Choose one color as the main color and enrich the spatial levels through different shades and lightness of the same color series. For example, use different shades of blue to decorate a bedroom, from light blue walls to dark blue curtains, and then blue cushions, forming a harmonious color transition.
  • Analogous Color Matching: Choose colors adjacent to each other on the color wheel for matching. For example, yellow and green can create a natural and fresh atmosphere; orange and red can give a feeling of enthusiasm and vitality. This matching method can produce a relatively soft and harmonious visual effect.
  • Complementary Color Matching: Choose colors opposite to each other on the color wheel for matching, such as red and green, blue and orange, etc. This matching method can produce a strong visual impact and is suitable for spaces that need to highlight a certain element or create a lively atmosphere. For example, in a children’s room, using blue walls and orange furniture can attract children’s attention and stimulate their imagination.
  • Contrasting Color Matching: Contrasting color matching is a special case of complementary color matching. It refers to the colors opposite to each other on the color wheel. This matching method can produce the strongest contrast effect and needs to be used cautiously. For example, purple and yellow are complementary colors. If these two colors are used in large areas in a space, it may be too dazzling for the eyes. Generally, one color can be used as the main color, and the other color as an accent color to balance the visual effect.

(3) Materials and Textures

• Classification and Characteristics of Materials
  • Natural Materials
    • Wood: Wood has a warm and natural texture, giving people a feeling of closeness and comfort. It can be used to make furniture, flooring, wall decorations, and more. Different types of wood have different textures and colors. For example, oak has clear textures and a light yellow color; walnut wood has a dark color and beautiful textures. For example, in Chinese-style interior decoration, furniture made of walnut wood can show classical charm.
    • Stone: Stone is hard and wear-resistant, with unique textures and textures. Marble is often used for floor, wall decoration, and countertop production. Its textures are rich and varied. For example, white marble with gray textures can create a luxurious and grand atmosphere. Granite is more suitable for kitchen countertops because of its high hardness and heat resistance.
    • Fabrics: There are many types of fabrics, including cotton, linen, silk, wool, etc. They are used to make curtains, sofa covers, bedding, and other soft furnishings. Cotton fabrics are comfortable and breathable, suitable for daily use. Linen fabrics have a rustic and natural texture. Silk fabrics have a soft luster and a smooth texture, suitable for creating a gorgeous atmosphere. Wool fabrics have good thermal insulation and are suitable for soft furnishings in winter.
  • Man-made Materials
    • Glass: Glass has good light transmission and transparency and can be used to make windows, partitions, lamps, etc. Transparent glass can make the space appear more open. Colored glass or glass with patterns can serve as decorations. For example, in a modern-style indoor space, a glass partition can be used to divide the space without blocking the light.
    • Metal: Metal materials have a high gloss and a cold texture. Stainless steel is often used for hardware in kitchens and bathrooms, such as faucets and handles, because of its corrosion resistance and easy cleaning. Copper metal can be used to make lamps and decorations. It has a retro and gorgeous texture, suitable for European-style indoor decoration.
    • Composite Materials: Such as artificial stone, fire-resistant boards, etc. Artificial stone is a material that imitates natural stone. It has rich colors and controllable textures and can be customized according to design requirements. Fire-resistant boards are panels with fire-resistant properties. They are often used for the surface decoration of furniture such as cabinets and wardrobes. They have a smooth surface and a wide range of colors.
• Material Matching Techniques
  • Texture Contrast: Combining materials with different textures can enhance the spatial sense of layers. For example, combining smooth glass with rough stone, or soft fabric with hard metal. In a living room, a glass vase can be placed on a wooden coffee table, with some stone decorations next to it, to form a contrast and harmony of textures.
  • Color Coordination: The color matching of materials is also very important. Try to choose materials with similar colors or colors that can coordinate with each other. For example, in a Scandinavian-style indoor space, use light-colored wooden furniture, white fabric curtains, and light gray carpets to create an overall harmonious feeling.
  • Combination of Function and Aesthetics: When choosing materials, fully consider their functionality and aesthetics. For example, in the kitchen, the countertop needs to choose wear-resistant, heat-resistant, and easy-to-clean materials, such as quartz stone or stainless steel. In the bedroom, the wall can choose materials with sound insulation and thermal insulation properties, such as sound-absorbing wallpaper or soft packaging materials.

(4) Space Layout and Proportion

• Principles of Space Layout
  • Clear Functional Division: According to the structure of the house and the owner’s living habits, the space is divided into different functional areas. For example, in an open kitchen and living room combination space, the functional areas of the kitchen and living room can be divided through the placement of furniture, changes in floor materials, or the design of the ceiling. The kitchen area can be equipped with countertops and cabinets, etc.
  • Reasonable Movement Lines: The movement lines in the indoor space should facilitate people’s activities. In a residence, the main movement lines include the passage from the entrance to each room, the transfer movement line between the kitchen and the dining room, and the movement line between the bathroom and the bedroom. For example, between the bedroom and the bathroom, there should be enough space to avoid disturbing each other when using the bathroom at night.
  • Maximization of Space Utilization: Make rational use of every inch of space to avoid waste. For small apartments, multifunctional furniture can be used, such as sofa beds and folding tables. The wall space can be utilized by installing built-in wardrobes and shelves to increase storage functions. For example, in a narrow corridor space, a row of built-in wardrobes can be installed, which not only saves space but also increases storage capacity.
• Space Proportion and Scale
  • Golden Section Proportion: In interior decoration, the golden section proportion (about 1:0.618) can be applied to the division of space and the placement of furniture. For example, the size of the TV wall can be designed according to the golden section proportion, so that the TV screen is located near the golden section point of the wall, which will be more comfortable visually. When placing furniture, the distance between the furniture and the wall or ground can also be determined according to the golden section proportion.
  • Furniture and Space Scale Relationship: The size of furniture should match the size of the space. In a small space, choose small and simple furniture to avoid making the space feel crowded. In a large space, you can choose larger and more gorgeous furniture to enhance the momentum of the space. For example, in a small bedroom, choose a compact double bed with two small bedside tables. In a spacious living room, you can place a set of large sofa combinations with a large coffee table.

(5) Decoration and Details

• Selection of Decorations
  • Artworks: Including paintings, sculptures, photographic works, etc. Artworks can enhance the cultural atmosphere and artistic taste of the indoor space. When choosing artworks, they should be selected according to the style and theme of the interior decoration. For example, in a modern-style indoor space, abstract painting works can be chosen. In a Chinese-style space, traditional Chinese paintings or calligraphy works can be selected.
  • Ornaments: Such as vases, candlesticks, decorative plates, etc. Ornaments can play a role in decorating the space. When choosing ornaments, attention should be paid to the coordination of their materials, colors, and shapes with the overall space. For example, in a European-style living room, a set of exquisite ceramic candlesticks can be placed on the fireplace, with a decorative plate with carvings next to it.
  • Plants: Plants can not only beautify the space but also improve the indoor air quality. Common indoor plants include pothos, spider plants, aloe vera, etc. Choose suitable plants according to the size of the space and lighting conditions. For example, in a bright corner of the living room, a large monstera can be placed. In the bathroom, some shade-tolerant plants such as ferns can be placed.
• Importance of Details
  • Line Treatment: The lines in the indoor space, such as the edges of furniture, decorative lines on walls, and joints on the ground, should be smooth and neat. For example, when installing baseboards, ensure that they fit tightly against the wall and have straight lines. When placing furniture, pay attention to the coordination between the edges of the furniture and the edges of the wall or other furniture.
  • Material Splicing: The splicing of different materials should be natural and beautiful. For example, at the junction of the floor and the wall, use appropriate edge strips for treatment to make the transition between the two materials natural. At the junction of the cabinet door and the cabinet body, pay attention to the uniformity and neatness of the gaps.
  • Lighting Details: The details of lighting can create different atmospheres. In addition to the main lighting, auxiliary lighting and decorative lighting can also be set. For example, in the sofa area of the living room, floor lamps or wall lamps can be set as auxiliary lighting to create a warm reading atmosphere. Above the dining table in the dining room, a chandelier can be installed as the key lighting to highlight the dining area.

II. Science in Indoor Decoration

(1) Ergonomics

• Relationship Between Furniture Dimensions and Human Body Dimensions
  • Seat Height: The height of the seat should match the height of the lower leg of the human body. Generally speaking, the height of the seat is about 40 – 45 centimeters. When a person sits on the chair, both feet should be able to be placed flat on the ground, and the angle between the thigh and the lower leg should be close to 90 degrees. For example, the height of dining chairs is usually designed to be about 45 centimeters. When people are eating, they will feel comfortable.
  • Sofa Depth: The depth of the sofa should ensure that the legs of the person sitting on it can be fully supported. Generally speaking, the depth of the sofa is about 80 – 90 centimeters. If the sofa is too shallow, people will feel uncomfortable when sitting on it. If it is too deep, it will make people feel as if they are sitting in a nest and restrict movement.
  • Desk Height: The height of the desk should match the height of the human elbow. When a person sits in front of the desk, the arm can be naturally lowered, and the elbow can be placed on the desktop, forming an angle of about 90 degrees with the desktop. Generally speaking, the height of the desk is about 70 – 75 centimeters. At the same time, the height of the desk chair should also be coordinated with the height of the desk to ensure the correct sitting posture.
• Space Activity Range and Ergonomics
  • Channel Width: In the indoor space, the width of the channel should ensure that people can walk conveniently and transport items. Generally speaking, the width of the main channel should not be less than 90 centimeters, such as the channel from the living room to the bedroom, from the kitchen to the dining room, etc. For some special spaces, such as the entrance of the bathroom, the channel width should consider the passage of wheelchairs and should not be less than 80 centimeters.
  • Furniture Placement and Activity Space: The placement of furniture should leave enough activity space. For example, in the living room, the distance between the sofa and the TV should ensure that people can comfortably watch TV. Generally, it should not be less than 2.5 meters. In the bedroom, enough space should be left on both sides of the bed to facilitate people getting on and off the bed. Generally, about 50 – 60 centimeters of space should be left on each side.

(2) Acoustics and Optics

• Acoustic Design
  • Application of Soundproof Materials: In indoor decoration, a variety of soundproof materials can be used to reduce the interference of external noise. For example, double-glazed windows or vacuum glass can be installed on doors and windows to effectively block external traffic noise. Soundproof cotton, such as glass wool and rock wool, can be filled inside the walls to improve the soundproof performance of the walls. Sound-absorbing suspended ceilings, such as mineral wool sound-absorbing panels and aluminum buckle panels, can be installed on the ceiling to reduce the noise from the upper floor.
  • Use of Sound-absorbing Materials: In some spaces that need to reduce indoor noise, such as meeting rooms and recording studios, sound-absorbing materials can be used. For example, sound-absorbing soft packaging can be installed on the walls. Its surface is a soft fabric, and the inside is filled with sound-absorbing materials, which can absorb sound and reduce sound reflection. Laying carpets on the ground can also play a certain sound-absorbing role and reduce the noise of footsteps.
• Optical Design
  • Utilization of Natural Light: In indoor decoration, natural light should be fully utilized. Try to reduce the obstruction of windows, such as avoiding placing large furniture in front of windows. Translucent curtains, such as gauze curtains, can be used to allow the maximum amount of natural light to enter the room while ensuring privacy. In terms of indoor layout, the main activity areas should be close to the windows, such as placing the desk near the window to facilitate reading and working.
  • Design of Artificial Lighting: Artificial lighting should be designed according to the functions and usage requirements of the space. In the living room, a combination of various lighting methods can be used. For example, ceiling-mounted lights can be installed on the ceiling as the main lighting to provide even light. Floor lamps or wall lamps can be installed in the sofa area as local lighting to create a warm atmosphere. Hidden light strips can be installed near the TV wall to reduce the reflection of the TV screen. In the bedroom, bedside lamps are essential. They should be installed at a suitable height to facilitate reading and switching on and off the lights. In the kitchen and bathroom, there should be sufficient lighting brightness, and attention should be paid to the evenness of lighting to avoid shadows.

(3) Material Science

• Selection of Environmentally Friendly Materials
  • Formaldehyde Release: Formaldehyde is a common indoor pollutant, mainly coming from man-made panels, adhesives, and other decoration materials. When choosing decoration materials, products that meet environmental protection standards should be selected. For example, man-made panels of E1 and E0 levels are common environmental protection levels in the market. The formaldehyde release of E0 level is lower. When purchasing furniture, attention should also be paid to whether the panels used meet environmental protection requirements.
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC): VOCs mainly come from paints, coatings, adhesives, and other materials. In indoor decoration, try to choose water-based paints, low-VOC coatings, and other environmentally friendly products. For example, water-based paints use water as a solvent. Compared with traditional oil-based paints, they release fewer harmful substances during construction and use, and have less impact on indoor air quality.
• Consideration of Material Properties
  • Fire Resistance: In indoor decoration, some materials need to have fire-resistant properties. For example, the ceiling materials usually require a certain level of fire resistance, such as mineral wool panels and gypsum boards, which have better fire resistance. In the kitchen and bathroom, where there are more electrical appliances, the materials for walls and floors should also consider fire resistance, such as using tiles and other non-combustible materials.
  • Waterproofing: In bathrooms, kitchens, and other spaces that are prone to contact with water, the choice of waterproof materials is crucial. The walls and floors of the bathroom should use waterproof coatings or waterproof membranes with good waterproof performance, such as polyurethane waterproof coatings and SBS waterproof membranes. In the kitchen, the area around the sink should also be waterproofed to prevent water from seeping into the cabinet and causing damage.
  • Moisture Resistance: In some humid areas or spaces, such as basements and bathrooms, materials with good moisture resistance should be chosen. For example, moisture-proof films or moisture-proof coatings can be used on the walls and floors of the basement to prevent moisture from seeping into the room. In the bathroom, moisture-resistant wooden materials, such as specially treated moisture-proof wooden panels, or waterproof tiles and other materials can be chosen.

(4) Structure and Safety

• Protection of Building Structure
  • Identification and Protection of Load-bearing Walls: During the indoor decoration process, load-bearing walls cannot be demolished at will. Load-bearing walls are an important part of the building structure and bear the weight of the upper floors. Generally speaking, most of the walls in brick-concrete structure buildings are load-bearing walls, while columns and some walls in frame structure buildings are load-bearing structures. Before carrying out demolition and modification, it is necessary to consult with building professionals to determine the nature of the wall.
  • Protection of Beams and Columns: Beams and columns are key supporting components of the building structure. During decoration, beams and columns cannot be drilled or cut at will to avoid affecting the safety of the structure. If it is necessary to install lamps or cabinets on the beam, a suitable installation method should be adopted to avoid damaging the structure of the beam.
• Safety Measures in Indoor Decoration
  • Electrical Safety: In indoor decoration, the installation of the electrical system must comply with safety regulations. Wires should use copper core wires that meet national standards, sockets and switches should be installed firmly to avoid looseness. In kitchens and bathrooms and other humid spaces, waterproof and moisture-proof electrical equipment should be used, and a residual current device should be installed to prevent electric shock accidents.
  • Gas Safety: In kitchen decoration, special attention should be paid to the safety of gas pipelines and gas appliances. Gas pipelines cannot be modified at will. If modification is needed, it must be carried out by a professional gas company. Gas stoves, gas water heaters, and other appliances should be installed in well-ventilated locations, and a gas leak alarm device should be installed to ensure the safe use of gas.

(5) Construction Technology and Quality Control

• Importance of Construction Technology
  • Wall Construction Technology: Wall construction includes base treatment, putty application, primer application, and topcoat application. The base treatment should be thorough, removing dust, oil, and other impurities from the wall to ensure the flatness and cleanliness of the wall. The putty application should be uniform to avoid cracks and bubbles. The primer and topcoat application should be carried out according to the specified number of coats and methods to ensure the uniform color and texture of the wall.
  • Floor Construction Technology: Floor construction includes ground leveling, waterproofing treatment, and tile or floor. Ground leveling should ensure the flatness of the ground to avoid unevenness. When laying tiles, attention should be paid to the uniformity of the joints and the firmness of the tiles. When laying flooring, attention should be paid to the tightness of the joints to avoid looseness and noise.
  • Ceiling Construction Technology: Ceiling construction includes keel installation and panel installation. The keel installation should be firm to ensure the load-bearing capacity of the ceiling. The panel installation should be flat, and the joints should be handled delicately to avoid obvious gaps and unevenness.
• Methods of Quality Control
  • Material Inspection: Before the start of construction, strict inspection of decoration materials should be carried out. Check whether the brand, model, specification of the materials meet the contract requirements, and check whether the quality of the materials is qualified, such as whether there are damages, deterioration, etc. For unqualified materials, they should be returned resolutely.
  • Construction Process Supervision: During the construction process, the construction site should be regularly inspected. Check whether the construction personnel are operating in accordance with the construction technology specifications and whether the construction quality meets the requirements. For example, check whether the wall putty is applied evenly and whether the floor tiles are laid firmly. For problems found, the construction personnel should be required to rectify them in time.
  • Completion Inspection: After the completion of the decoration project, a comprehensive inspection should be carried out. The inspection includes indoor air quality testing and decoration quality checking. Indoor air quality testing should meet national standards, and decoration quality should meet the standards agreed in the contract. Only after passing the inspection can it be officially handed over for use.