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White Hutchinson Leisure & Learning Group, Kansas City, MO, USA

Good interior design requires far more than architectural design

Good design of an indoor location-based entertainment venue requires far more than architectural design. It requires a professional interior designer with a deep, specialized understanding of how spaces affect the functions, emotions, behaviors, and comfort of the people who inhabit them. Interior designers' focus on the interior experience distinguishes their work from that of architects. While architects concentrate on the building's structure, safety, compliance, and overall form, interior designers dive into the more subtle details of finishes, furnishings, color, lighting, materials, and personalization, designing functional and appealing environments that create a welcoming atmosphere for your guests.

One example of interior design is how paint can dramatically change the perceived shape, size, and proportions of a room through various optical illusions. Using different colors, finishes, and techniques can make a space feel longer, wider, taller, or more intimate.

Lighter, cooler colors can make a space feel larger and more expansive by reflecting light, while darker, warmer colors can make a room feel cozier and more intimate. By strategically painting different surfaces and using contrast, you can make a room appear taller, shorter, wider, or narrower without changing any walls.

• To make a room feel larger or more open
  • Use light colors: Paint walls, ceilings, and trim in light, cool colors like shades of white, light blue, or pale gray, which reflect more light.
  • Reduce contrast: Paint the walls and ceiling in the same or a similar light color to create a seamless, expansive feel and minimize visual breaks.
  • Paint the ceiling white or lighter: A lighter ceiling can make it feel higher, which makes the entire room seem larger.
• To make a room feel cozier or more intimate
  • Use dark or warm colors: Darker, warmer colors like deep reds or browns absorb light and can make a room feel smaller and more enclosed.
  • Paint the ceiling a darker color: This can make the ceiling feel lower, creating a more intimate and cozy atmosphere.

• To alter the perceived proportions
  • To shorten a long room: Paint the farthest short wall a dark or contrasting color to draw the eye to it and balance the dimensions.
  • To make a room feel wider: Paint opposing side walls a different color to draw the eye inward. Horizontal paint lines can also make a space feel wider.
  • To lower the ceiling: Paint the ceiling a darker color than the walls to make a high ceiling appear lower and the space feel more pleasant and welcoming.
  • To make a room appear taller: Use light colors on the walls and a lighter color on the ceiling. Painting the walls a different color from the ceiling can also draw the eye upward.

All our company's LBE design work includes both interior designers and architects. That may account for why we've won 17 first place design awards for LBEs we've produced.

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