Architecture is often associated with how the home is viewed from the exterior, but there are many opportunities to impact the lives of those who live and visit there in the views from within a home. Interior views are comprised of diagonal views, long views, connecting views, partially hidden views and surprise views.
Diagonal views
We learned in geometry that in a right-angled triangle, the longest line is the hypotenuse, the line connecting the two perpendicular legs. In most houses, the side and front or back walls make a right-angled triangle. If you visually draw a line from one corner of your house to the opposite corner you create a hypotenuse. Creating a diagonal interior view along the hypotenuse in your house will make your house seem larger. This is a trick we use in architecture to make a small house seem larger.
Long views
Another visual trick to make your house feel bigger is to create long views. The long view is an alignment of multiple openings and pass-throughs or a view down a long hallway from one end of the house to the other. The long view draws attention to the next space and the one beyond that, encouraging you to explore the house further. A long view requires a focal point at the far end. A window works well and extends the view even further into the yard. If the view ends in a wall, there should be an intentional use of furniture and art as well as lighting to provide a pleasant conclusion to the visual journey.
Connecting views
If a room is visually isolated from the primary living space, it is often forgotten and therefore rarely used. This is a common problem with formal dining and living rooms. The connecting view is designed to combat being out of sight, out of mind. If you can see a space, even with a partial view, you are more likely to use it. By making a new opening in a wall or by widening an existing doorway to visually connect unused spaces to your primary living space, you will make your home more functional. The wider the opening, the stronger the connection.
Just as we say that bigger is not necessarily better, we could also say that open is not always better. When you walk into a house where everything but the bedrooms and bathrooms is on display, the result can be visually confusing. Defining spaces and providing intentional visual focal points helps those who live in and visit the home understand the hierarchy of the spaces and appreciate the design and function of each space.
The next two categories explain design tools that can add interest to your home.
Partially hidden views
Interior views should not only make your home more functional but also make it more interesting. Adding intrigue to a house is achieved with the use of partially hidden views, which is often is often a long view from one end of a hallway or from a front entrance. Psychologically, a partially hidden view draws you in, engaging the eye and making you want to experience more of the home. This can be a view to the next room partially hidden by a fireplace or a hallway arch. It adds a sense of mystery for guests and subtly reminds homeowners that the room is there to enjoy. Just make sure it adds interest instead of awkwardness.
Surprise views
Adding surprise views is another way to add interest to your house. These are interior views that can only be seen from certain angles where they are generally not expected. Creatively adding a view of a piece of art only seen between two cabinets, for instance, adds a certain level of appeal to the architectural design of the house. The surprise view sometimes is a happy accident, though it can be intentionally planned during a thorough design process.
You can enhance your interior views right now by strategically placing art and home dcor pleasantly in sight lines. Complimentary paint colors and floor coverings flowing from room to room will also impact interior views. Purposefully placed interior views can stimulate and recharge the occupants of a home and a home designed with interior views in mind can connect the family and create a more comfortable, inspiring place to live.
Diagonal views
We learned in geometry that in a right-angled triangle, the longest line is the hypotenuse, the line connecting the two perpendicular legs. In most houses, the side and front or back walls make a right-angled triangle. If you visually draw a line from one corner of your house to the opposite corner you create a hypotenuse. Creating a diagonal interior view along the hypotenuse in your house will make your house seem larger. This is a trick we use in architecture to make a small house seem larger.
Long views
Another visual trick to make your house feel bigger is to create long views. The long view is an alignment of multiple openings and pass-throughs or a view down a long hallway from one end of the house to the other. The long view draws attention to the next space and the one beyond that, encouraging you to explore the house further. A long view requires a focal point at the far end. A window works well and extends the view even further into the yard. If the view ends in a wall, there should be an intentional use of furniture and art as well as lighting to provide a pleasant conclusion to the visual journey.
Connecting views
If a room is visually isolated from the primary living space, it is often forgotten and therefore rarely used. This is a common problem with formal dining and living rooms. The connecting view is designed to combat being out of sight, out of mind. If you can see a space, even with a partial view, you are more likely to use it. By making a new opening in a wall or by widening an existing doorway to visually connect unused spaces to your primary living space, you will make your home more functional. The wider the opening, the stronger the connection.
Just as we say that bigger is not necessarily better, we could also say that open is not always better. When you walk into a house where everything but the bedrooms and bathrooms is on display, the result can be visually confusing. Defining spaces and providing intentional visual focal points helps those who live in and visit the home understand the hierarchy of the spaces and appreciate the design and function of each space.
The next two categories explain design tools that can add interest to your home.
Partially hidden views
Interior views should not only make your home more functional but also make it more interesting. Adding intrigue to a house is achieved with the use of partially hidden views, which is often is often a long view from one end of a hallway or from a front entrance. Psychologically, a partially hidden view draws you in, engaging the eye and making you want to experience more of the home. This can be a view to the next room partially hidden by a fireplace or a hallway arch. It adds a sense of mystery for guests and subtly reminds homeowners that the room is there to enjoy. Just make sure it adds interest instead of awkwardness.
Surprise views
Adding surprise views is another way to add interest to your house. These are interior views that can only be seen from certain angles where they are generally not expected. Creatively adding a view of a piece of art only seen between two cabinets, for instance, adds a certain level of appeal to the architectural design of the house. The surprise view sometimes is a happy accident, though it can be intentionally planned during a thorough design process.
You can enhance your interior views right now by strategically placing art and home dcor pleasantly in sight lines. Complimentary paint colors and floor coverings flowing from room to room will also impact interior views. Purposefully placed interior views can stimulate and recharge the occupants of a home and a home designed with interior views in mind can connect the family and create a more comfortable, inspiring place to live.