Interior Design Essentials: How to Make Your Home Feel Like You

Transforming your home shouldn’t feel like solving a Rubik’s cube blindfolded. But for many people, it does. Between layout choices, color schemes, and that one chair you picked up on Facebook Marketplace that never looks quite right—things get overwhelming fast.

Whether you're juggling a demanding career, navigating family chaos, or finally refreshing your empty nest, learning a few key interior design essentials can help your space feel intentional, elevated, and entirely yours.

Let’s break down the essentials—no fluff, no jargon. Just real-world advice (and a few insider tips we usually reserve for clients).

Let’s Explore the Interior Design Essentials That Actually Matter

1. Space Planning: Think of Your Seating Area as an Island

When it comes to layout, even the most beautifully furnished room can fall flat if the flow is off. A smart space planning guide starts with how you move through a space—not just what fits.

Think of your seating area like an island: well-defined, comfortable, and easy to navigate. Whether you're working with an open-concept layout or a smaller room, creating zones with purpose is key.

Castaway Oceanfront Getaway – A serene coastal living room layout with ideal space planning principles, designed by Adina Hall Design.

Key Measurements & Guidelines:

• Rug Size: At minimum, the front legs of your sofas and chairs should sit on the rug—ideally, all four.

• Sofa to Coffee Table: 16–18" for comfort and accessibility.

• Between Seating Pieces (Access Areas): At least 30".

• Main Walkways: Aim for 36–42" of clearance for easy flow.

• Dining Table to Wall or Console: Minimum of 42" to pull out chairs comfortably.

Design Tips:

• Arrange furniture in seating circles to encourage connection.

• Anchor each zone with a rug, pendant, or focal point.

• Mind your view lines to fireplaces, art, or windows.

• Leave multiple access points in and out of each zone.

Pro Tip: In open-concept homes, define rooms with rugs, lighting, and furniture placement rather than walls. It keeps things visually cohesive without closing off the space.

2. Color Palette: Mood, Personality & Closet Clues

When it comes to choosing a color palette for your home, forget trends. Start with something far more reliable: your mood and your wardrobe.

Color isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about emotion. The colors you surround yourself with have a deep impact on how you feel in a space, day after day.

Start with Your Closet

What colors do you reach for when you want to feel calm, confident, or energized? Chances are, those hues resonate with your personality—and they’ll do the same in your home.

Personality & Color Preferences

• Introverts: Tend to favor soft, cool tones that create calm and sanctuary. Think dusty blue, sage green, warm taupe, or creamy ivory.

• Extroverts: Thrive in bold, high-energy spaces. Warm tones like mustard yellow, terracotta, coral, and deep red help energize the room and spark conversation.

• Ambiverts: Enjoy balance. Moody neutrals like navy, olive, and greige offer calm with contrast—perfect for layering textures and expressing both focus and warmth.

Color palette inspiration for home design – introvert, extrovert, ambivert style guide

So How Do Colors Affect Our Mood?

Color	Mood / Energy	Best Use
Blue	Calm, focused, grounded	Bedrooms, offices
Green	Restorative, peaceful	Living rooms, kitchens
Yellow	Cheerful, optimistic	Kitchens, playrooms
Red	Passionate, energizing	Dining rooms, entryways
Orange	Friendly, creative	Family rooms, gyms
Purple	Luxurious, introspective	Bedrooms, nooks
Black	Sophisticated, bold	Powder rooms, built-ins
White	Fresh, open	Walls, trim
Beige/Taupe	Cozy, timeless	Bedrooms, living rooms
Gray	Calm, modern	Offices, bathroom

Pro Tip: Choose how you want to feel in a space first, then layer your colors using the 60-30-10 rule: 60% dominant base, 30% secondary contrast, 10% bold accent. It’s foolproof

3. Lighting: Layer It Like a Pro

Wondering how to layer lighting in interior design to make your home feel inviting, functional, and warm? It’s all about mixing the right types of light—just like a well-balanced recipe.

Lighting isn’t just a practical element—it’s a major mood setter. A thoughtfully lit room feels alive, dimensional, and tailored to how you actually live.

The Three Layers of Lighting:

• Ambient Lighting - The base layer. Think ceiling lights, chandeliers, and recessed fixtures that provide overall illumination.

• Task Lighting - These are your hardworking helpers: desk lamps, reading lights, vanity sconces, or under-cabinet strips that help you focus.

• Accent Lighting - The jewelry of your space. Picture lights, art lights, candles, or uplighting that highlight your favorite features.

Want to know which essentials are worth investing in? Download our Furniture Investment guide for clear breakdown of what to expect and what to look for when curating your home:

Best Practices for Layering Light:

• Use dimmers to control intensity for different moods and times of day

• Mix at least two to three light sources in every room

• Opt for 2700K to 3000K bulbs for that warm, golden “candlelight” glow

In our Adler on the Park Mansion home office, we layered an ambient chandelier with functional desk lighting and artful floor lamps. The result? A cozy, elegant space that works hard but feels like a retreat.

From the ambient glow of the chandelier to the task-focused table lamp and the accentuating floor lamp, our lighting design in the historic Adler on the Park Mansion home office exemplifies the perfect integration of three layers of light. Design by Adina Hall Design

Pro Tip: Swap builder-grade fixtures for artisan or sculptural pieces to elevate your entire space.

Curious how our full-service design process really works?

Get the AHD Approach Guide

4. Texture & Materials: How to Layer Texture in Interior Design for Depth and Warmth

If your space feels flat or sterile, texture might be what’s missing. Learning how to layer texture in interior design adds instant depth, warmth, and visual richness—especially in neutral or minimalist spaces.

It’s not about clutter; it’s about contrast. Mixing materials creates a tactile experience that engages both the eye and the senses.

How to Layer Texture Like a Pro:

• Mix materials: Combine wood, linen, velvet, stone, metal, and glass

• Play with contrast: Think soft vs. structured, matte vs. glossy, smooth vs. rough

• Balance bold and subtle: Use texture to add personality without visual overwhelm

Adina Hall Design layered rich materials such as terracotta stone, velvet, linen, wool,, tambour wood in our Modern Fusion Home to create a tailored environment that reflected our client's unique stories and responded to the way they live

In our Modern Fusion Home, we layered rich materials—terracotta stone, velvet, linen, wool, and tambour wood—to create a space that felt inviting, luxurious, and deeply personal.

Texture Combos We Love:

• A bouclé chair with a stone coffee table

• Linen drapes against brushed brass hardware

• A hand-knotted rug on wide-plank oak floors

• Velvet pillows atop a saddle leather sofa

Pro Tip:  A chunky knit throw, vintage wood bench, or handmade ceramic vase can add just the right touch of dimension to a neutral room—without taking over.

5. Personal Touches: Tell Your Story

A beautiful space is nice. But a meaningful space? That’s where the magic happens. Knowing how to personalize your home with interior design transforms it from just “well-decorated” to deeply yours.

Design isn’t just about trends—it’s about telling your story through the details you live with every day.

Try Showcasing Your Flair Using These Ideas:

• Family heirlooms or framed travel photos that remind you of where you’ve been

• Handmade ceramics, textiles, or artwork that make you feel something

• Books that reflect your interests and values

• Custom murals inspired by your heritage or favorite places

In the powder room of our Modern Fusion Home, we collaborated with an artist to create a hand-painted mural inspired by our client’s love of Japan—a detail that makes the space feel soulful and one-of-a-kind.

The Powder Room in our Modern Fusion Home is adorned by a custom mural inspired by our client's love of Japan, design by Adina Hall Design

Pro Tip: Not everything needs to be on display—but everything that is should spark joy or start a conversation.

Real Story: A Real-Life Interior Design Transformation That Brought Joy Back Home

We were invited into the home of a lovely couple with two young kids to help refresh their first floor. The home was spotless and clearly well cared for, but the furnishings had grown tired. Hosting had taken a back seat until their home felt more aligned with who they were and how they wanted to live.

We started with the living and dining rooms, bringing in a modern Ralph Lauren-inspired aesthetic: timeless, tailored, and just the right amount of mood. Clean lines, classic patterns, and heirloom-level craftsmanship brought the design to life.

Some of the details that made the difference:

• A custom saddle leather Chesterfield sofa with hand-tufted detail, paired with wool plaid throw pillows

• Custom wood trim to add warmth and architectural presence

• A moody dining room layered with plaid wallcovering and authentic Ralph Lauren lighting

The result? A real-life interior design transformation that didn’t just elevate their space—it reconnected them to how they wanted to live. They’re now planning to host their first gathering in years, and that’s the kind of full-circle moment we love to see. This story is a reminder: great design reflects your personality—and invites others in.

A clean and modern take on a Ralph Lauren inspired design aesthetic for our family in Lakeview, Chicago by Adina Hall Design

What Is the 60-30-10 Rule in Interior Design?

This classic interior design color rule helps you create a space that feels visually balanced and intentional. It's one of the simplest and most effective tools to build a cohesive look—especially when you're feeling overwhelmed by color choices.

Here’s how to use color in interior design with this formula:

• 60% of the room should be your dominant color—usually neutrals or calming hues used for the walls, large rugs, or major furniture pieces

• 30% is your secondary color—this adds contrast and interest, often found in drapery, side chairs, or accent walls

• 10% is your accent color—a bold pop used sparingly through throw pillows, artwork, or decorative accessories

This balanced color palette keeps your home from feeling too busy—or too bland.

Example:

Soft gray walls and a neutral rug (60%)

Navy blue sofa and curtains (30%)

Mustard yellow pillows and art (10%)

= Instant harmony.

Our gallery-style design for the Heritage Auctions showroom in Chicago’s River North Design District. A bold, cohesive space created using the 60-30-10 rule. Design by Adina Hall Design

Example: Soft gray walls (70%), navy sofa + curtains (30%), mustard pillows (10%). Done.

Practical Tips to Elevate Your Space Today

Now that you’ve got the fundamentals down, let’s put them into practice. Here are some interior design tips you can implement today—no full renovation required.

• Start small. You don’t need to redesign your entire home overnight. Choose one corner or one room. Change up your throw pillows, swap out a lamp, or layer in a new rug. These low-commitment updates can make a major impact.

• Invest in quality anchor pieces. A well-made sofa, a statement light fixture, or a custom rug does more than just look good—it grounds the entire space. These items are worth the investment.

• Declutter with intention. Design shines when it’s not fighting for attention. Clear off surfaces, keep what you love, and store what you don’t need every day. A clean room feels more spacious and calming.

• Use mirrors wisely. Mirrors are your best friend when it comes to bouncing light and making small spaces feel bigger. Try placing one opposite a window or in a hallway that needs some visual expansion.

• Design for the way you live. A room that looks beautiful but doesn’t function is a missed opportunity. Whether you’re hosting dinner parties or chasing toddlers, your layout should work for your daily life.

 A tailored dining room design from our Blooming Gardens project—where family functionality meets refined interior design.

When to Call in a Pro

Even the most design-savvy homeowners hit a wall sometimes—and that’s where a professional interior designer can make all the difference.

Hiring an expert means:

✅ Avoiding costly mistakes

✅ Making confident, fast decisions

✅ Accessing trade-only resources and custom design solutions

✅ Saving time, energy, and stress

At Adina Hall Design, we specialize in full-service interior design that blends architecture, function, and soul. We don’t just make homes beautiful—we create spaces that support your lifestyle, reflect your personality, and feel like a natural extension of who you are.

Our Urban Haven Dream Home project—where custom millwork, layered lighting, and thoughtful spatial planning came together to create a space that feels both luxurious and deeply livable.

Next Steps to a Beautiful Space

Creating a home that feels like you doesn’t happen overnight—but with a few intentional steps, you’ll be well on your way.

Start here:

• Take inventory of what’s working (and what’s not)

• List your top 3 priorities for your home

• Apply one of the interior design essentials from this post—color, lighting, or texture are great places to begin

And if you’re ready for expert guidance, we’re here to help.

At Adina Hall Design, we offer full-service interior design that’s deeply personal, technically sound, and tailored to your lifestyle. Whether you’re dreaming up a full home transformation or starting with just one room, we’ll guide you every step of the way—with clarity, creativity, and care.

Ready to Start Your Own Transformation?

Your home deserves more than guesswork—it deserves a process that brings clarity, creativity, and care. Share your vision with us and we will reach out to schedule your Complimentary Design Consultation

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www.adinahall.com

Here’s to creating a home that feels like a warm hug at the end of a long day.

—Adina Hall Design