Interior Design Hub
Interior design, from the first concept to the last finish
Every interior design guide we publish, sorted by the questions a project raises: the concept and the style, the colour and the light, kitchens and bathrooms, furniture and materials, small homes and workplaces.
Open the interior tools →Start with the basics →Updated November 2026
Most read interior design guides
The guides readers open most often from Google search, based on the last 90 days.
- 1
Concept Ideas for Interior Design, 10+ Unique Examples18 min read - 2Architectural Casework: Definition, Types & Construction Guide10 min read
- 3Museum Interior Design: Complete Guide to Stunning Spaces11 min read
- 4Designing Fitness Spaces: How Architecture Shapes the Modern Gym Experience8 min read
- 5The Language of Interior Design: Elements and Principles Explained7 min read
A learning route through interior design
New to interior design? Read these nine guides in order. You start with concepts and the rules of a good room, then choose style, light and materials, then design real spaces.
How a design concept starts, the elements and principles of a room and how to fit it to the body.
Pick a style, bring in daylight and choose sustainable materials and finishes.
Apply the basics to built-in furniture, flexible homes and public interiors.
Free Interior Tools
Build a colour palette for a room or a board, then work out how much paint the walls need. Free, runs in the browser, no account.
All free tools →Interior Design Basics
The elements and principles of interior design, how a concept guides the whole scheme, how ergonomics sets the size of things and how architecture and interior design overlap.
Guides and examples
Interior Styles and Colour
Pick a direction and keep to it. Popular interior styles and concepts, how to mix modern and traditional pieces, minimalism against maximalism and the colour palettes that hold a room together.
Free tools for this step
Color Palette CreatorBuild a consistent colour palette for your boardsFREE · OPEN TOOL
Paint CalculatorHow much paint a room or facade needsFREE · OPEN TOOLGuides and examples
Lighting and Natural Light
Light shapes every interior. How architects bring daylight in, how light and shadow give a room depth and how artificial lighting is layered for mood and for tasks.
Guides and examples
How Architects Use Natural Light to Transform Spaces: Techniques & Iconic Examples
Light and Shadow in Architecture: A Design Guide
Steven Holl Architecture: Light, Space, and Signature Works
Modern Interior Lighting: 7 Design Ideas That Transform Spaces
The Importance of Natural Light and Weather Conditions for Health and Productivity
Natural Elements in House Design: Light, Water, Wood and GreeneryKitchens, Bathrooms and Wet Areas
The rooms with the most fixed parts. Functional kitchen ideas, a minimalist bathroom, tile choices for wet areas and the layout and materials of a sauna.
Guides and examples
Furniture and Casework
Built in casework, modular systems and loose furniture, and how each piece changes the atmosphere and the use of a room.
Guides and examples
Interior Materials and Finishes
Choose surfaces that last and suit the space: sustainable material options, glass, wood veneers matched to the colour scheme and parametric interior surfaces.
Guides and examples
Small Spaces and Flexible Living
Get more from less floor area with flexible rooms, open plan living and compact apartment ideas that work hard in a small footprint.
Guides and examples
Offices, Shops and Public Interiors
Interiors for work, retail, hospitality and culture: commercial space planning step by step, agile and flexible offices, cafes, gyms and museum interiors.
Guides and examples
Museum Interior Design: Complete Guide to Stunning Spaces
Designing Fitness Spaces: How Architecture Shapes the Modern Gym Experience
How to Design a Minimalist Office That Boosts Productivity
Cafe Design Trends 2026: Sustainability, Comfort, Community
Commercial Space Design: 7 Principles That Work
Commercial Space Planning: A Step by Step Process Guide
The Fundamentals of Agile Office Space Design
Designing Flexible Workspaces That Move with YouWhich interior style fits your space
Every style mixes colour, material and furniture in its own way. Compare the main styles in this hub, then open the guide for more detail and example rooms.
| Style | Look and feel | Works well in | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modern | Clean lines, little decor, whites, greys and blacks | City apartments and new homes | Read → |
| Minimalist | Neutral tones, clean-lined furniture and open space | Calm rooms with as little clutter as possible | Read → |
| Maximalist | Bold colour, layered patterns and collected objects | Personal homes full of art and memories | Read → |
| Mid-century modern | Organic forms, tapered legs and bold accent colours | Homes that mix retro charm with daily function | Read → |
| Industrial | Exposed brick, concrete floors and metal fixtures | Lofts and converted industrial buildings | Read → |
| Scandinavian | Light colours, natural wood and simple layouts | Smaller homes and apartments | Read → |
| Farmhouse | Natural wood, shiplap walls and vintage furniture | Suburban and countryside homes | Read → |
| Transitional | Classic forms softened with modern, neutral finishes | Homes that should feel familiar and fresh | Read → |
Downloads for Interior Projects
Free colour palettes and a space design guide to start with, plus furniture blocks, cutouts and board templates from the illustrarch library.
Browse the library →Free downloads
Interior Colour Palettes36 room ready palettes in 18 stylesFREE DOWNLOAD
Space Design Principles eBookA student guide to designing spaceFREE DOWNLOADFrom the illustrarch library
Interior Design Mega PackBoard templates, PBR materials and furnitureIN THE LIBRARY
Furniture CAD Blocks: Home and WorkBlocks for homes, hotels, offices and shopsIN THE LIBRARY
Floor Plan and Room Layout CAD BlocksFurnished plan layouts in DWG and DXFIN THE LIBRARY
Flat Furniture CutoutsIsometric, front and top view itemsIN THE LIBRARYFrequently Asked Questions
What are the elements of interior design?
Space, line, form, light, colour, texture and pattern are the usual elements. Principles such as balance, rhythm, scale and harmony describe how to combine them in a room.
How do I choose a colour palette for a room?
Start from one main colour, add one or two supporting tones and one accent, and check them in the light the room actually gets. The colour palette creator lets you test combinations before you buy paint.
How much paint do I need for a room?
It depends on the wall area, the number of coats and the coverage stated by the paint maker, minus doors and windows. The paint calculator works this out from your room size.
How can a small space feel larger?
Use light colours, keep circulation clear, choose furniture that folds, stacks or does two jobs and let daylight reach deep into the room. Our small space guides show this in built examples.
Are the interior tools on illustrarch free?
Yes. The colour palette creator and the paint calculator are free, run in the browser and need no account.
Explore more hubs
Every illustrarch hub collects the guides, tools and downloads for one subject. Pick the next one for your project.
Visit the Students Hub →All free tools →
