Having the ability to style and shoot an Instagram worthy interior, whether it’s your own home, a client’s or a SketchUp scene is super important for your thriving Interior Design business.  You want to make sure that your images stand out and attract lots of attention and engagement.

Engagement (likes and comments) are gold on Instagram and can help propel the visibility of your brand, which will in turn help you cement your expert status and hopefully attract your ideal followers and potential clients.

WE SHOW YOU HOW WE STYLED AND SHOT THIS SCENE FOR INSTAGRAM

Photo-real render created using SketchUp and Maxwell Render

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR 3D VISUALISATION SERVICE FOR INTERIOR DESIGNERS HERE

THE DESIGN & STYLING

We wanted a slightly quirky design that included lots of colour and pattern.  Grey has been huge on Instagram and rightly so, it goes with EVERYTHING and won’t date but we’re finding that colour is making a comeback!  And when it’s combined with the right patterns, it creates an interior that is steeped in character and individuality.

We chose a colour palette of muted grey/blue, mustard and dark blue.  Then we added a mid blue and vivid red for added visual interest.  This interior is a celebration of colour but it still retains a certain level of control with how the colour has been applied.  The cool and contemporary wall colour provides a soft shade of blue, while the injections of mustard help to add warmth.  White has been used on the lamp base, bedding, the rug and woodwork to keep things crisp and fresh.

Pattern is super important in this design because we wanted a playful and uplifting vibe.  And we knew that the headboard was going to feature a statement pattern to contrast with the cool tone of the wall.  We initially considered navy and white geometric patterns but nothing seemed to work for us, they were too heavy on the eye.  When we stumbled upon the lovely Art Deco inspired John Lewis fabric we knew it was utter perfection!  We opted for a simple oversized headboard but added red piping to help lift the pattern and create a striking contrast between the pattern on the headboard and also the wall colour.  We then made sure the statement cushion included red too so that there was cohesion.

INSTA PRO TIP: USE BOLD COLOUR AND/OR PATTERN SO THAT YOUR IMAGE HAS OPTIMUM VISUAL IMPACT.  ALSO CONSIDER INCLUDING COLOUR OR PATTERN THAT IS TRENDING ON INSTAGRAM TO MAKE YOUR POST MORE DISCOVERABLE AND INCREASE ENGAGEMENT

The chest of drawers was given a mini-makeover!  This was originally wider and had wooden drawer fronts with moulded plastic handles.  We reduced the size of this piece of furniture so that it would fit neatly into this 1080 x 1350 image, we used a dark blue on the drawers and replaced the handles with vintage brass knobs.  The injection of blue helps to make this unit a little more contemporary looking and the brass adds much needed bling.  Using small chests of drawers as bedside tables has become very popular over the last few years and it’s a very effective way to personalise your space.

Both the Vintage Chest of Drawers and the Small Chest of Drawers can be viewed in our 3D model shop

INSTA PRO TIP: IF YOU’RE CREATING A SKETCHUP SCENE, WHETHER IT’S A 2D ELEVATION OR 3D INTERIOR, DON’T BE AFRAID TO EDIT YOUR 3D MODELS TO SUIT YOUR DESIGN/SHOT. MAKE USE OF THE AMAZING VERSATILITY OF SKETCHUP!

It was really, REALLY important that we had the lamp positioned in front of the muted blue wall because we wanted the contrast between the mustard lampshade and wall to be highly visible (super important when posting on Instagram, as these styling tricks help grab attention).  Plus, the white base was a very sharp contrast too, it kinda all worked very nicely without being too garish.

We sprinkled a few accessories on the chest of drawers ensuring they were at different heights and then opted for a casual approach to hanging the art.  The accessories combined with the placement of the art all helps to build visual interest and intrigue; surefire ways to increase the visibility of your post!

INSTA PRO TIP: TRY TO INCORPORATE ART IN YOUR SHOT.  IT’S INCREDIBLE AT CREATING DRAMA AND A SENSE OF PRESENCE

When it comes to styling, we think it’s very important to throw in a curve-ball.  Something that makes your image or design memorable.  In this particular shot we think the polka dot rug is super quirky and adds a lovely dollop of charm to this interior.  It’s not something you see too often and therefore should entice your followers to take a closer look.

INSTA PRO TIP: THROW IN A CURVE-BALL TO MAKE YOUR IMAGE MEMORABLE

SETTING UP THE SHOT

Image Size

It’s vital that you understand the importance of image size/orientation when posting images to Instagram.  We recommend that ALL of your interior shots should be portrait and at least 1080 x 1350 because this makes full use of the real estate available on your phone.  All of the glorious details of your interior will also be clearly seen and this also means you’ll make a HIGH IMPACT first impression.  Chances are you’ll need to crop your image too, so make sure sure you select the most appealing composition!  When styling your interior be mindful of the fact that it will need to be fairly ‘tight’ to fit into the final (portrait) image size.  Move items of furniture etc. closer together to make sure they will all fit into the final shot.

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG POST, INSTAGRAM FOR INTERIOR DESIGNERS PART 1, FOR MORE USEFUL ADVICE ON HOW TO OPTIMISE INSTAGRAM FOR YOUR INTERIOR DESIGN BUSINESS

Lighting

Lighting is so important for both real interiors and renders.  We recommend that you use only natural daylight and switch artificial lights off.  If the image looks a little dull, you can always tweak the brightness/highlights in Instagram’s image editing tools.  The problem with artificial lights is that they can create a yellow tone in images and if you decide to edit the brightness, 9 times out of ten the light being emitted from bulbs will become over-exposed (the light from bulbs is usually over exposed in images even before you brighten them).  The beauty of natural lighting is that it can also increase a sense of drama.  Go natural!

Camera Position

In this render we have lowered the position of the camera so that it is at the same height as the table lamp.  This was very intentional.  Shooting at eye level or lower creates a very inviting view of this aspect of a room, to the extent that the person looking at the image can imagine themselves standing in this space.  It’s also a very intimate viewpoint, with so many design details on display.  We decided to capture this space straight on because it creates an image full of visual impact.

INSTA PRO TIP: KEEP YOUR VERTICALS STRAIGHT IN YOUR IMAGES, THIS IS A TRUSTED PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUE USED BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS ALL OVER THE WORLD.  IT IS THE OPTIMUM WAY TO PRESENT YOUR SHOTS.  

Another reason to consider capturing the shot straight on, is that you are left with more cropping options.  This means you can use this image many times with different viewpoints.  Take a look at our example below.

ONE IMAGE: THREE DIFFERENT SHOTS

We hope you like our refreshing bedroom design and are inspired to take some amazing shots of your completed commissions to impress your Instagram audience!  Always remember that it’s super important that the images on your Insta grid are polished, represent your brand and grab attention.  Let us know what you found most useful in this blog!

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