Modern interior design: Essential tools of the trade

If you've ever wondered what it takes to be a modern interior designer, it's important to get acquainted with the proper tools. Technology has changed and added many tools used by modern interior designers. However, the basics remain an integral part of many designers' processes. Tools like measuring tape, drawing materials, fabric samples and other physical objects are just as indispensable to planning a design as the more complex aspects of color theory and inspiration gathering.

Every professional designer is different, but most can agree on what they find essential. Here are some of the other most-used tools in modern interior design today:

Color wheels

Color is an essential element in interior design, so designers like to have an easy reference. Great interior design depends on color choices working well together rather than causing uncomfortable clashes. To determine the best color choices, designers use color wheels to find the relationships between primary, secondary and tertiary colors.

There are many digital color reference and matching apps available to help this process as well. However, it's still common for modern interior designers to carry a physical, printed color wheel to account for differences in display quality and make the best possible color decisions.

Inspiration boards

Gathering ideas on inspiration boards is a process many professional designers swear by. Whether digital or physical, inspiration boards allow you to collect elements from many sources and combine them to create a cohesive aesthetic. Physical inspiration boards might include photographs, fabric scraps, paint swatches and other decorative elements to guide a design.

Online and digital inspiration boards offer designers the opportunity to collaborate directly with clients. Both sides can share images and other sources of inspiration to create a perfect design together. Modern designers use both online social media tools such as Pinterest and graphic design programs to make collages essential to their process.