How To Choose The Best Materials and Finishes for Interior Design Projects

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Materials for Interior Design

Some designers look at a blank canvas and feel full of inspiration. Their brain immediately starts to populate with tons of creative ideas, and they begin pulling together materials, samples, design trends, different colors, and materials for interior design to help bring their ideas to life.

However, it’s also natural (especially when you’re first starting out) to feel somewhat intimidated by all of the potential choices for new materials and finishes on interior design projects. 

In this guide on how to choose materials for interior design, we’ll cover each aspect of material selection for interior design, including some of the most commonly used materials, how to pair different materials together, and 15 expert tips you can start using today!

Read also – How to start an interior design business?

Understand the Importance of Material Choice in Interior Design

All good interior design processes start by answering questions about layout, flow, focal points, styles, and other conceptual elements. As the project progresses, though, designers eventually need to start making recommendations for very specific interior details and materials.

Often called ‘finishes,’ these materials are the elements that will be used to accentuate the design, cover up structural components, and add any outstanding functionality still needed.

Decisions about interior design materials and finishes will truly determine how the entire design comes together, and whether it meets the client’s needs and feels complete, coherent, and intentional. Knowing how to choose materials for interior design properly is a critical skill for success.

Read also – 20 Common Interior Design Mistakes To Avoid

Explore the Common Materials Used in Interior Design

What kinds of materials are most often used in interior design? Unless the material you’ve chosen will be part of the home’s structural integrity, almost nothing is off-limits. Considering which material is best for interior design depends heavily on the project’s specific needs and aesthetics. However, the list below is a good starting point for brainstorming ideas for the best materials for interior design during your next project.

1. Granite

Most often used for countertops, granite is a naturally beautiful and incredibly durable material that makes a great surface for preparation. Granite also looks great with lots of different interior styles, and you can pick paint options that will accent the granite’s natural coloration. While polished granite is usually preferred for surfaces that are used to prepare food (or to go on top of vanities), unfinished granite can make a beautiful backsplash.

2. Wood

One of the most versatile construction materials, wood is used throughout the interior and exteriors of many homes. From floors to ceiling beams and decorative walls, wood can adapt to many different styles and it’s often pretty affordable when compared to other options.

3. Copper

Though it can be expensive, copper is truly experiencing a comeback. Copper can easily elevate a room, and it works well across many home styles. It’s not always practical to use real copper, however, so you might end up opting for copper-colored materials. As with many materials, less is more when you’re using copper. A small pop of color from an oven hood vent or drawer handles might achieve the look you want without too much effort.

4. Fabrics

Fabrics like silk, cotton, suede, wool, and others can add a nice finishing touch to a room and bring together the full design in a welcoming, comfortable way.

5. Renewable materials

Hemp, bamboo, and other materials that can be sustainably harvested might add a touch of personality while meeting your client’s desire to reduce their environmental impact. Other eco-friendly and natural materials that are growing in popularity include cork, concrete, recycled glass, and reclaimed wood.

Additional read: 10 Smart ways to create eco-friendly interior design

6. Tile

Often used in kitchens, bathrooms, and other multi-purpose rooms, ceramic tile is preferred for its clean look, easy-care, versatility, and ability to match many different styles.

7. Synthetic materials

Synthetic materials like vinyl and laminate are typically used when the budget is a concern. This choice of material is more affordable and gives the appearance of tile, wood, or other natural components when used as a wall covering or as a flooring material.

Read also – Installation Day Tips for Interior Designers

Follow These 15 Expert Tips for Choosing Materials and Finishes

Once you’re ready to start making real suggestions and picking interior design materials and finishes, where should you actually start? How do you know you’re making industry-vetted recommendations to your clients?

Here are expert tips for choosing the best materials for interior design:

1. Understand your client’s requirements

Understand your client’s style, tastes, and preferences. It’s a great idea to have your client provide examples of rooms or homes that they feel reflect their style. The more information they can share, the better chance you have of picking materials that they’ll love.

Depending on the type of contract you have with a client, you could also spend time with them at a specialty provider or home improvement store, going through materials and having them pick out ones they’d like to incorporate.

Read also – Tips to Master Client Presentation for Interior Designers

2. Commit to Your Design Choices

Determine how the room should feel. Yes, feelings are subjective. There are, however, proven ways to influence the emotional impact that a room has on inhabitants. Incorporating darker colors and harder materials might give a sense of luxury and even quiet, which is why these are often chosen for private spaces in a home. 

The process of choosing materials for interior design is also about creating a mood. Bright colors and warm materials are much more inviting and conversational, making them preferred for common areas like a kitchen and shared spaces like the living room.

Read also – 14 Best Living Room Interior Design Ideas

3. Maintain a Consistent Design Language

Be consistent throughout the home, and tie together concepts in thoughtful ways. Unless your client has fairly unusual tastes, they will want a theme to be present in the colors and materials used for each room.

4. Align Interior and Exterior Materials

For exteriors, ensure that the materials you choose are appropriate for the environment, style of home, and neighborhood. There are fairly set conventions that you should follow to help your clients preserve and grow the value of their home and maximize their personal enjoyment of the property.

Read also  – How to Design a Home?

5. Match Material Selection with the Design Concept

Match your material selection to a room’s function. For example, hard surfaces might make the room easier to clean, but they will also have a significant acoustic effect. Does your client want conversations or clinking dishes to be heard around their home? Probably not – and there are plenty of ways to mitigate excessive noise through proper space planning.

Lastly, when selecting materials for interior design for a home renovation as per budget, make sure that you account for who will be living in the home. Is your client a family that has young kids? Think about how this will affect choices regarding noise-dampening materials and whether you’re making selections that are durable and easily cleaned.

6. Establish and Follow the Project Budget

Don’t forget about the budget. Custom materials like stone, woodwork and metals will cost significantly more than stock versions. If budget is an issue, use small details and accents as a place for more lavish or unique materials and finishes. This can help save money and draw more attention to special, personal touches.

7. Include Reclaimed Materials for Character

Can you incorporate reclaimed materials from a piece of the property, a furniture item, or some other element that has sentimental value for your client?

8. Pair Materials With Color Palette 

Pair materials with colors in a sensible, complementary way. There’s no hard and fast rule about whether it’s best to choose colors or materials first (though designers maintain strong opinions on this point).

Your decisions to choose colors or materials first will likely depend on the opinions and input of your client. If they are deadset on using a specific material, and this decision clearly has priority over the color palette, then learning how to choose materials for interior design should be your starting point.

Read also – How to Use Color Theory in Interior Design

9. Learn About Different Material Types

Remember that materials can be both structural and decorative. Some materials might be used to cover wall studs (e.g., facing materials) or overly textured ceilings, while others are purely decorative. Knowing how certain materials will be used is crucial for giving your client the right guidance, ensuring that the home is safe, and passing an inspection – if necessary.

10. Prioritize Materials Based on Impact and Budget

Understand if specific materials will take a long time to source, or if they will be difficult to find. Having all of the relevant information will make it easier for your client to decide what’s best for them. Make sure you prioritize the material choices that will potentially hold up an entire renovation project.

Read also – How To Master Sourcing and Procurement For Interior Design?

11. Vary Your Material Selection

Vary your material selection. Use a combination of soft and hard materials, and incorporate multiple textures. Aim for moderation in your variation, though. Busy designs can be distracting and off-putting, while overusing one specific material can be remarkably unattractive.

12. Balance Your Material Mix

Don’t mix too many different kinds of the same material. Wait, is that a contradiction? No! One of the most common interior design mistakes is combining multiple types of materials and misunderstanding how to properly layer.

A key part of the decision on how to choose materials for interior design is understanding their inherent properties. You should pay close attention to the natural shape and texture of the materials that are being considered. Which way does the wood grain go? Will opposing grains, textures, or finished end up clashing when brought together?

13. Leverage Natural Lighting

Look at the natural lighting available within a specific room or throughout the entire house. Natural light can significantly change the way that certain materials (e.g., wood) look throughout the day. This could affect the final decisions regarding material choice, paint colors, window treatments, and more.

Read also – Best Kitchen Lighting Ideas

Pro Tip: Visualize Lighting with Foyr

Unsure how natural light will impact your material choices? Foyr’s advanced lighting settings let you visualize your space at any time of day, from the bright morning sun to the soft evening glow. This allows you to test materials and colors in realistic lighting conditions, helping you make confident decisions before purchasing any product.

14. Focus on Interation of Material Elements

Clearly establish which elements of a room or home are staying, and whether they will remain in place, or if they will be moved somewhere else (or changed in any way). If your client wants to center the design of a room around a nice focal point like a fireplace or bay window, then this decision will guide recommendations about which materials to use.

15. Prioritize Sustainability in Material Choices

Sustainability continues to be a growing trend and one of the top reasons that consumers one material over another. You’ll need to understand if your client has strong preferences about using sustainable materials, and how they could impact the design, project timeline, and overall cost.

Read also – 9 Best Sustainable Architecture Design Ideas

Learn How to Pair Materials for Cohesive Interior Design

Interior design is equal parts art and science. While radical or unique designs often make magazine covers, there are some tried and true methods of pairing certain materials that are proven to create compelling and unified designs that are functional and aesthetically pleasing. 

Here is a quick cheat sheet for how to choose materials for interior design to get you pointed in the right direction if you want to double-check your instinct, or get some inspiration:

? Pay close attention to things like wood grain and color if you plan to use multiple types of wood, or if wood will be used for multiple purposes (e.g., walls, floors, ceilings, etc.).

? Use a variety of colors and textures, but don’t use too many or you’ll lose a sense of purposeful cohesiveness.

? If you’re using patterns that are different sizes and shapes, try to use similar or complementary colors unless you have a keenly trained eye for ‘mismatched’ style.

?Test, test, test! Get as many samples, swatches, and demo elements as you can and use them all around the house to see exactly how they all work together.

Read also –7 Best Interior Designing Software Tools

Elevate Your Interior Design Skills with Foyr

Are you looking for further resources, training, and community support to grow your career as an interior designer? Foyr offers complete software for interior designers, meaning that you get the support, training, and opportunities needed to take your side hustle or full-time career to the next level. 

At the core is Foyr, a powerful software designed to streamline your creative process. With Foyr, you can:

• Access a vast library of 60,000+ pre-modeled 3D assets and textures.
• Create stunning mood boards and work on detailed floor plans for your projects.
• Generate photorealistic 12K renders of your interior design projects in just minutes.
• Streamline your entire design workflow, from initial concept to the final visual presentation.
• Impress clients with professional and high-quality visuals that bring your creative ideas to life.

Beyond the software, the Foyr community provides unparalleled support and resources. It is a premier online group of interior designers from all backgrounds and experience levels. 

Join our design community to access free training, discover work opportunities, share your portfolio, and connect with a growing network of professional peers.

Ready to transform your design process? Sign up today and start your no-obligation, 14-day free trial of Foyr.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which material is good for interior design?

The best material depends on the room’s function, desired aesthetic, and budget. Wood is incredibly versatile, offering warmth and adapting to many styles from rustic to modern. Natural stone like granite or marble adds a luxurious, durable surface ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. For budget-conscious projects, high-quality synthetic materials like laminate and vinyl can effectively mimic the look of natural materials. Ultimately, a good design often involves a thoughtful mix of materials.

 What is the 70/30 rule in interior design?

The 70/30 rule is a simple guideline for creating a balanced and dynamic space by mixing two different design styles. In this approach, 70% of the decor, furniture, and elements adhere to one primary style (e.g., modern), while the remaining 30% introduces a secondary, contrasting style (e.g., vintage). This prevents a room from looking too uniform or staged, adding layers of visual interest and personality to the overall design.

What is the golden rule in interior design?

A widely accepted golden rule in interior design is based on the golden ratio (approximately 1.618), often simplified to the 60/30/10 rule for practical application. This principle helps create balance and harmony. It suggests that 60% of the room should be a dominant color, 30% a secondary color, and 10% an accent color. This concept can also apply to the placement and scale of furniture to create visually pleasing proportions.

Which color is best for homes?

There is no single best color, as the ideal choice depends on the room’s purpose and the desired atmosphere. Neutral colors like whites, grays, and beiges are popular because they create a versatile and calming backdrop that allows furniture and art to stand out. To visualize how different shades will look in a specific space with its unique lighting, tools like Foyr Neo allow you to test endless color palettes and combinations before committing.