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Dear friends, successful design is a relative term. What is goodor successful for me may not be so from your point of view.

But when it comes to interior design, there are certain factorswhich are always present no matter what the use of the space is.Let's have a look at the bare minimum design factors a spacemust have so that it can be called a comfortable and habitable space.

1) Proportions of the room.

The word "proportions" is always used in the design field. Everyinterior space which is being used by humans must be proportionate.Proportions are extremely important in any design.

Every 3 dimensional object has properties such as length, width andheight. When these 3 are in accordance with the proportions ofvarious parts of human body we call it a "proportionate" design.

For example a handle of a wardrobe must have dimensions such that our fingers can hold it properly for effortless and smooth action.or a chair seat must have enough are so that we can sit comfortably.Again the type of seating will change the dimensions of the chair.A chair in waiting lobby of a bank will be different than a sofa.

So proportions play a major role in interior design and furniturein your bedroom must also follow these rules. The dimensions ofthe double bed, it's height from floor level, height of wardrobe,dimensions of dressing table, etc...all these matter as far asfunction is concerned.

2) Natural light entering the room.

There is no alternative for naturally lit spaces. Sun being thestrongest source of light and also helps to keep the biologicalbalance of the planet Earth, it is very much necessary in the interior spaces.

Study shows that natural light can penetrate in an interior spaceup to 20 feet (Approx. 7 meters). Using appropriate position for window opening can easily achieve this.

3) Natural Ventilation

A free and unobstructed flow of air can be a great way to keepthe atmosphere cool and clean in an interior space. This is possiblewhere bedrooms are located at the corner of the building where 2sides of the bedrooms have external faces.

Where it is not possible to provide windows on adjacent faces oropposite faces, a ventilator above the window is used. The concept behind the ventilator is simple. The lower half the bedroom height is always used by the habitants. Because of the constant use of thisare the air temperature rises and air becomes light weight.

This hot air rises above and must need an escape. At such times ventilators above the window openings play a major role ofcirculating the flow through the room in an upward direction. When the lower portion of the room becomes empty fresh air from window takes its position, thus maintaining a balance.

4) Clear Movement Patterns.

Every bedroom has certain exit points attached to it. Such as

a) Exit to balcony/ terrace.
b) Exit to toilet block/ walk in closet
c) Exit to backyard (if on ground floor)

If we draw an imaginary line from the entry point to all theseexit points, ideally the should not intersect. Since all otherareas are already occupied with furniture, keeping the insidecirculation space clear, helps to achieve a comfortablespace.

5) Good Provision For Inclusion Of Accessories.

Accessories in a bedroom have equal importance. When all otherfactors mentioned above are fairly met what remains is theuse of accessories which can make quite a lot of difference in thecomfort level of the habitants.

a) The first and the most important is a good provision ofartificial lighting. This includes basic lighting as well as special decorative lighting for decorative purposes.

b) Special provision for upholstery and linen. Small details suchas curtain rods, provision for bed canopies can make the room extra decorative.

c) Use materials that are easy to clean and maintain. For exampleif you are using PVC flooring sheets on top of standard tiled flooring,is it washable? Think of what will happen if your child uses it as a painting canvas.

The discussion above was an attempt to look for some universalfactor that can affect the comfort level of the users in a bedroom.Finally the feeling which you get when you use your bedroom is mostimportant and is a good measure to decide the success factor ofthe design project.

However it is important to note that these are not the only factorsthat need to be looked upon, but I'm sure these can help as a startingpoint for further creative thinking.

I hope this article was informative to everyone.

Copyright Shrinivas Vaidya