Here's how you can spot and prioritize design problems as an interior designer.

I have observed that identifying the clutter while commencing a design will actually help you to land on the problem and help you to navigate. Because, if we can understand why the clutter is there, we can come up with a solution and that can help you progress through design smoothly

As an interior designer, spotting and prioritizing design problems involves a unique blend of empathy and analytics. Start by engaging deeply with clients to understand their lifestyle, needs transforming their insights into a personalized design vision. Use a combination of floor plans and 3D visualizations to identify and map out problem areas, ensuring both functional and aesthetic considerations are balanced. Prioritize issues by categorizing them based on safety, usability, client impact, and budget constraints, while also identifying quick wins that can provide immediate improvements and build client trust. This client-centered approach ensures that the design solutions are both practical and unique.

As a Designer and Material consultant myself, I look at having a holistic approach towards any given brief. Firstly, I like to Analyze and Dissect pain points in a given space and asses how it affects the user experience. Secondly, Identify Necessities: for the user or what the space demands as usually every space/client/user always has something that is particular to them, The real question that follows is, Whether that is a necessity? Finally, Develop a comprehensive circulation plan; This always helps to provide an ideal solution for the user's movement in the space as well as create an opportunity to allocate where things need to be; This is usually the ideal part of the process where you can go into the details of the design.

I look back on my career, I curate a mental gallery of milestones, memories, and achievements. I reflect on the challenges that tested my skills, the designs that brought me joy, and the wisdom I've shared with others. This introspection fills me with a sense of pride, fulfillment, and closure. My personal gallery of professional memories celebrates the impact I've made, the lives I've touched, and the legacy I've built. It's a testament to my dedication, expertise, and passion for design.

Sometimes clutter indicates inadequate storage, and other times it is due to an improper consolidation of task zones that your proposed design should delineate. You will encounter plenty of both. When addressing the former category, consider the amount of workspace needed for the task relative to the equipment. Is a wall of floor to ceiling cabinets necessary? Does the storage need to be half height to allow workspace on top? Is a built in desk or table needed? For the second category, create some line of demarcation between the two zones. This can be as overt as a wall or as subtle as a projection of millwork (such as a peninsula or built in table).

Lighting is the unsung hero of interior design. It has the power to transform a space from dull to dramatic, and significantly impact our mood and experience. As I assess a room, I carefully evaluate the harmony of natural and artificial light sources, ensuring they complement the space's purpose and design. If the lighting falls short, I prioritize it as a crucial design element to enhance, as it can make or break the ambiance, functionality, and overall aesthetic of the space.

Proper lighting is essential for both functionality and ambiance. Assess the lighting in each room, considering natural light, task lighting, and ambient lighting. Prioritize rooms that are frequently used, such as the living room and kitchen. Poor lighting can detract from the beauty of home furniture and make spaces less inviting.

If a space is well designed, in every way, be it the appearance of objects or the functionality, but if the lighting isn't taken care of, all goes to waste. Lights are the most essential elements to highlight/create the right mood in a space.

Lighting in a space is the cherry on top of any design project. It's a crucial element, as it affects our body, mind, and overall mood. Therefore, it should be given a high level of importance when working on projects. In addition to influencing our mood, lighting is used to highlight design elements in the space by creating focal points or emphasizing on specific features.

La iluminación adecuada, para cada espacio en particular, es el elemento primordial en cada dise?o. Debe acompa?ar sin opacar, creo firmemente en el uso natural de la luz, como integrador entre el dise?o, la luz y el sentimiento acogedor que todo dise?ador queremos brindar.

Creating a harmonious and functional living space goes beyond just aesthetics; it involves understanding how people interact with their environment. One of the key elements in achieving this balance is ensuring a smooth flow throughout the room. Flow refers to how people move intuitively and comfortably within a space. Mastering flow begins with keen observation and analysis. Take the time to walk through the space, imagining yourself and others using it in various scenarios. Pay attention to any obstacles that disrupt movement, whether it's a poorly placed sofa that blocks a natural pathway or a cluttered corner that impedes navigation.

Traffic patterns are essential for safety and accessibility, but they serve a dual purpose as transitions between zones and furniture groups. Perhaps you considered your zoning matrices in design school as an afterthought (I know I did!), but they are a quite useful starting point in arranging any layout, especially as the scale increases. For each zone, let the level of anticipated traffic to each adjacent space inform the size of your pathways (after meeting accessibility requirements, of course). Orienting furniture towards a central focal point rather than toward the traffic patterns contributes an additional visual enhancement.

Evaluate the flow of movement within the space. Furniture placement should facilitate easy navigation and comfortable interaction. In the living room, for example, ensure that the arrangement of the sectional sofa and chairs does not obstruct pathways. Prioritize reconfiguring spaces where flow is disrupted. "During a living room redesign, I noticed that the existing layout of the sofa set and chairs created bottlenecks. By rearranging the furniture to create clear pathways, I enhanced the room's flow, making it more functional and welcoming."

Movement is something that most of the designers miss out on, given their emphasis on merely making a space beautiful, mostly leading to uneasy movement in spaces especially like bedrooms. I believe, vacant spaces in a room are as important as the occupied ones, which can be evaluated by estimating the occupancy during the design process.

Zoning the different areas in a room and identifying the high and low traffic areas are the starting points for adequate furniture placement. This helps create an optimized layout with minimal flow disruption, allowing each person in that room to carry out their daily activities efficiently.

Color is the heart and soul of design, influencing both visual appeal and emotional response. When a room's color scheme is off, it's a call to action. I prioritize creating a harmonious palette that unifies the space, evokes the desired mood, and adds depth. By transforming a disjointed room into a cohesive oasis, I harness the power of color to uplift and inspire, demonstrating that a thoughtful color scheme can make all the difference.

Color cohesion is crucial for creating harmonious and visually appealing spaces. Assess whether the colors in each room complement each other. Prioritize rooms where color clashes are most noticeable, such as the living room or bedroom. Ensure that the color scheme ties together elements like the sofa, chairs, and decor. For example:"In a living room project, I found that the colors of the sofa, chairs, and accessories were mismatched. I proposed a cohesive color palette that brought harmony to the space, using complementary shades for the furniture and decor."

Colours, if appropriately used in a design, can do wonders. The psychological importance of correct colours in a design is very crucial. To begin with, every designer must consider the basics like whether a space demands warm/white/muted/bright/monochrome colour scheme.

Colors can make a space feel big, small, high, low... Colors also can make it feel loud, quiet, messy, organized... ,essentially evoking various sensations. Therefore, colors should be chosen carefully when working on a space to ensure the perfect combination for its specific use.

Crear espacios en paralelo con la paleta de color, nos ayuda para armonizar desde el comiendo el dise?o de dicho espacio. No solo debe fluir de manera espacial, sino visual, y el color nos brinda esa herramienta.

Functionality should always come first in interior design. Assess whether each space meets the practical needs of its users. For example, ensure that a bedroom has adequate storage and that a living room provides comfortable seating. Prioritize fixing functionality issues that impact daily living. Example Response: "In a recent bedroom redesign, I focused on improving functionality by adding built-in wardrobes and a comfortable chair for reading. These changes not only enhanced the room's usability but also made it more personalized and inviting."

Style and function are not mutually exclusive. As I assess a room, I seek harmony between aesthetics and practicality. I identify design elements that compromise functionality and reimagine them to serve the space's purpose. By prioritizing livability, I create spaces that not only look beautiful but also work beautifully, ensuring that form and function unite to enhance the lives of those who inhabit them.

Form definitely follows function. Beautification can definitely follow once the functionality is sorted. Although this doesn't mean that the purely aesthetic elements aren't as important. To aesthetically make a place livable for humans is more important than pure functionality is what I believe. #humanise

Creo que la funcionalidad es la base de fundamental de un buen dise?o. Siempre busco que mis espacios sean funcionales, creando mobiliarios acordes a lo que busco como resultado final.

Adding personal touches makes a space feel unique and welcoming. Assess whether each room reflects the personality and preferences of its occupants. Prioritize incorporating personal items and custom elements, such as a favorite chair in the living room or personalized decor in the bedroom. Example Response: "To personalize a client's living room, I incorporated their collection of travel souvenirs into the design. Displaying these items on shelves around the sectional sofa added a personal touch and made the space uniquely theirs."

Surveying the clients' requirements properly, is one of the best habits/ethics for any designer. The very purpose to engage a designer is to mould the design according to the requirements of the inhabitants/visitors. #humanise

In my experience, achieving harmony and balance in interior design is crucial for creating spaces that feel inviting and cohesive. Balance ensures that no area of a room feels too heavy or sparse, using symmetrical or asymmetrical arrangements to distribute visual weight evenly. Harmony, on the other hand, ties together various design elements—colors, textures, and styles—to create a unified look. When a space is balanced and harmonious, it not only looks aesthetically pleasing but also promotes a sense of calm and well-being for its occupants. These principles have consistently proven vital in my projects, transforming rooms into functional, beautiful environments.

Ergonomics is crucial for ensuring comfort and health. Evaluate whether furniture, like chairs and sofas, supports good posture and comfort. Prioritize making ergonomic adjustments in spaces where people spend the most time, such as home offices or living rooms.