There's no place better than home!
A comfortable home to learn from Sweden, the country of design.
How to create your own cozy space

Frida Ramstedt, an interior design expert representing Sweden, the country of design, reveals the secrets of a cozy and comfortable space.
It contains everything about space design and home styling that I have learned over 15 years of experience in the field.
Unusually for a practical book, it ranked first on the overall bestseller lists in Sweden, Norway, and Finland, and its copyrights were exported to over 30 countries around the world, including France, the United States, Japan, Spain, the Czech Republic, Portugal, and the Netherlands.
We have compiled not only interior design theories such as space, color scheme, lighting, styling, dimensions, and proportions, but also know-how utilized by experts in the field.
It also provides detailed information on the design of each space, including the entrance, bathroom, kitchen, living room, bedroom, study and study room, and multipurpose room.
It won the ELLE DECO Design Award and the Swedish daily newspaper [Aftonbladet] Big Blog Award.
It is by far the most talked-about interior design book published worldwide recently.

When I moved from an old apartment to a newly built terraced house a few years ago, I was faced with just about every interior design problem that could arise in a space that was tidy but devoid of charm.
Although I worked as an interior design professional and had success in styling for famous companies, designing my own space to embrace my life was more difficult than I thought.
Experiencing countless frustrating moments that drained me of energy gave me a new perspective and way of thinking about interior design.
What makes an interior feel cozy, harmonious, and meticulously planned? What secrets lie within a comfortable "home" that warms our souls? I jot down ideas that come to mind in a notebook and captioned the cover "The Fundamentals of Interior Design and Styling."
This note was strictly for the common man.
It was not suitable for industry colleagues or other experts.
Since I started taking notes, I've been able to delve deeper into how professionals navigate the countless and challenging situations they face.
And interior designers and stylists have transformed the 'intuition' and 'insight' they have gained through experience and learning into specific and clear principles and guidelines, expressed in language that everyone can understand.
I hope you'll use this book when you find yourself stuck in your thoughts, thinking, "What should I do?" or when you find yourself searching for a better solution, thinking, "There must be a better way."
The many examples, experiences, and recommendations I'll share from now on will help you go beyond your tastes and preferences.
--- From the "Prologue"

While many tasks in the realm of interior design and styling ultimately aim to create balance, when it comes to 'decoration', it's a different story.
In the world of decoration, odd numbers are usually more interesting.
Some argue that it is due to the brain's desire to pair things up.
Our brains tend to erase the remaining items if they are not of the same number.
And some people say that when three objects are placed together, a natural center is created between the two objects, and that this center is more eye-catching.
Regardless of what is right, odd-numbered layouts are a very common practice among interior designers.
This principle has many applications in photography and architecture.
It can be applied to all problems, from 'how to place furniture' to 'how to assemble props'.
This principle, called the 'Rule of Three', essentially means avoiding even numbers.
So, if you arrange the items in groups of 3, 5, and 7, the composition will become more interesting.
--- From "Odd Rule"

In addition to the number of lighting spots, the appropriate height for diffused and indirect lighting, and functional lighting, interior designers have one more thing to consider.
This is to create a difference in lighting height, so that not all lighting points in the room are placed at the same height.
In a typical home, all lighting except ceiling lights are generally at roughly the same height.
But what makes a home special is that it uses spotlights that can be raised or lowered, and the light can be adjusted up and down.
Point lighting in dark corners can also make a room appear larger than it actually is.
If you don't feel like your home is welcoming when you enter, I'd suggest changing the lighting before anything else.
As mentioned earlier, lighting is a subject that amateurs neglect the most and professionals utilize the most dramatically.
I want you to quickly scan the space you're in, whether it's a room or a living room, to see if there's any light at any height (high, low, or in the middle).
Maybe there are just ceiling lights and table lights.
Here are some examples of lights that can be placed at different heights:

--- From "Variations in Height"

How high should a picture frame be hung? American interior designers and stylists often use the rule of thumb of "57 inches to the center" when hanging frames.
If you hang the frame so that the center of the motif is 145 centimeters above the floor, it will be displayed to the viewer without distortion.
Of course, in rooms with particularly high ceilings or walls in front of sofas with very low backs, the height may be different.
However, it is a great dimension when you need to find the optimal height to hang a picture frame in a regular space.
Let's remember.
145 centimeters!
--- From "Hanging a Frame"

Interior design is fun and exciting, but it can also be challenging.
I've explained the unspoken agreements and principles of interior design in simple terms that anyone can understand.
And added objective numbers to it.
It encompasses laws derived from long experience, the latest theories in architecture and design, and consensus recognized by experts.
We also tried to incorporate ergonomic knowledge.
Interior design is important not only for it to look good, but it must also be comfortable and functional.
You don't have to follow every suggestion in this book.
I just hope I can help you feel a little better at home.
There is no place better than home.

--- From "Epilogue"