Interior Design: The Essential Tools of the Trade
Most interior designers need a few key traits in order to truly shine in the industry. A keen sense of color, sharp artistic ability, eye for unique and standout pieces, and strong creativity are all invaluable in a designer’s arsenal – but there’s more to it, too.
Just as important as these traits are the actual tools used by interior designers; their tools of the trade, so to speak. Like with any other trade, these tools make life infinitely easier for a design professional, while also allowing them to deliver a flawless final finish to their clients. Here are a few of the most valuable practical tools in the business!
#1: Sketching & Drawing Supplies
After a designer has surveyed the property, room or industrial area they need to remodel, their first step is often to sketch out their ideas for the space and work from there. Popular tools for this process include mechanical pencils, rulers, compasses, protractors and graph paper – very similar to an architect’s tool set!
Modern professionals also often use CAD (computer-aided design) software for this process, which delivers a more polished preliminary sketch. The software converts initial hand-drawn concepts and measurements into a 3D plan that gives both the designer and their clients a more realistic view of what the final product will look like. If you’re interested in exploring CAD programs further, there are plenty of free options that you can play with online.
#2: A Color Wheel
Color is an essential visual aspect of any interior design job, and it’s a designer’s duty to ensure that their chosen hues work harmoniously in the space at hand. A color wheel highlights the relationships between primary, secondary and tertiary colors, making it an excellent tool for a professional in the midst of any painting or décor project.
Designers use these wheels to help create attractive color schemes for living spaces based on a combination of analogous (clashing) and complementary tones. For a more futuristic approach, you can even download a few color matching apps to help you out!
#3: Paint Chips & Fabric Samples
Popular paint manufacturers all produce an array of ‘paint chips’ or color strips for every one of their product lines. Interior designers use these strips to pick the perfect colors for a room at hand, along with coordinating paint tones with furniture pieces, fabrics and accessories for a professional result every time.
Just like paint companies, fabric makers also provide designers with books of sample swatches to promote their latest products. The small, compact swatches make selecting fabrics infinitely easier, while also assisting décor professionals to develop a memorable color palette for a space they are working on. Having samples of fabric on hand is a great addition to any designer’s harem of tools, as it allows the client to touch and feel the texture of different materials so that they can be more closely involved in the decision-making process too.
#4: A Measuring Tape
Is there any profession in which a measuring tape isn’t handy? Designers rely heavily on these nifty tools to calculate and verify the dimensions of rooms, furnishings, furniture positioning, and everything in between. Rigid metal tapes are used to measure straight distances, while cloth tapes are preferred by experts to calculate angled or curved spaces.
Nowadays, modern designers are also gravitating towards using digital measuring tapes for even more accuracy and convenience. They allow professionals to precisely target and measure distant objects in bright light conditions, and many of them can also withstand the elements and the wear and tear that comes from being on a construction site.
#5: A Good Digital Camera
When you’re working with visual media, a camera is understandably a must-have in your plethora of work tools. Digital cameras are useful for creating records of work sites, progress, furnishings and more – and they can also help to create a ‘before and after’ portfolio to show clients exactly what’s been achieved! Designers can even download their images into CAD programs and integrate them directly into their design plans, creating an even more clear and concise picture of the final look they aim to achieve.
#6: A Handy Multi-tool
Like measuring tapes, multi-tools are always useful, no matter what the task at hand. Designers and décor experts rely heavily on these nifty items, which often pair screwdrivers, levels, pen lights and other helpful features in a single portable tool. Our team would never be caught without theirs on hand!
#7: A Sturdy Pair of Gloves
For an interior designer, work sites need to be approached with a pair of good gloves and an open mind. Sites tend to be dirty or freshly painted much of the time, so some protection from the elements is never a bad idea.
Are you mulling a design project and are keen to see exactly how interior designers use the aforementioned tricks and tools? Contact our team at Canaima Design with your ideas and watch the magic happen!
