What Is Interior Design Layering?

Hooker Furniture Living Room Citizen Stationary Sofa: Can you identify the layered elements in this room?

The success of interior design is all about getting every element right. Each piece must be able to work with the other pieces while still being able to stand on its own. This entire process is what’s known in the design world as layering. You might wonder why it is not included in the principles of design since it plays a huge role in making a room stand out.

Bringing your home to the next level in terms of design is all about incorporating the correct layers. This is a process that can be learned and followed.

It’s Not All About Clothing

People have a tendency to think about clothing when the word layering is brought up. The world of fashion design considers layering as a dynamic step. The mere addition of a scarf or a necklace can make a huge difference in the ensemble. Clothing is no longer merely utilitarian.

Interior design is no different. Make time to consider the different elements that are used to pull a room together. Each of these design elements plays a distinctive role but altogether, they also need to work to establish harmony.

Layering is the very act of building a room from the flooring all the way up to the ceiling. It is all about taking every design element and putting them to form cohesion. Layering is no less than the secret ingredient to adding depth to spaces.

Design Elements to be Layered

Now that you know what layering means, your next step is to use it to your advantage. To layer effectively means you need to know the function and value of every component that is placed in every room.

The wall covering, for instance, has the wallpaper or the paint as a means to layer. Flooring options include vinyl, wood, and carpet. Tables, chairs, and beds are examples of furniture that can be layered (e.g. the bed can be dressed up using bedding, pillows, pillowcases, duvet, etc.

You can also layer with textiles such as area rugs, blankets, bedding, and pillows. Go ahead and layer the table lamps, overhead lights, and ambient features. As for decorative items, use coffee table books, photos, mirrors, artwork, and flowers.

Consider each of these elements as a separate layer. Every single one of them is a crucial part of the design and, thus, must be taken as a part of the room. Remember to build the room by carefully adding layers at a time.

Use Contrast

Layering is seen to be more effective when it is accomplished with different materials. The beholder must be able to differentiate the key pieces. To effectively separate each piece, you have to learn to use contrast.

Contrasting helps in making your design stand out. This is not a one-size-fits-all type of thing, though. There are also several elements that you need to use to make it happen.

First, you can use colors. Pick opposite shades using your color wheel. As for patterns, be sure to pair the bold designs with a block color. You can also contrast metals with some natural materials. Also be able to juxtapose soft and hard stuff or rough and smooth ones. As for the size, group the small and big items together.

Use Common Threads

Contrast is important but it is only successful when you know the common elements that tie them. Without these things, the room would feel cluttered rather than busy. Layers should be similar enough so that they feel purposeful and deliberate.

As you create each unique layer, think about contrast and commonality. All the others elements should be harmonized. That’s all there is to it.

Tags: layering, layering in interior design, layers, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 14th, 2018 at 10:00 am and is filed under Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.