Now, interior decorating is quite popular. People love to design and change their homes. ‘Self-interior’ is a mixture of D.I.Y.(Do It Yourself), which has become very popular, and interior decorating. There are a lot of reasons for its popularity. The biggest reason is that one can make an ideal home that suits one’s personal tastes. We talked with Jasson, who is an interior designer and the very person who made D.I.Y. interior decorating popular. -Ed.




What was the reason for starting D.I.Y. interior decorating?

  When I was a university student, my commute time was long, so I found a room near my school. It was my first step. Then, I searched for materials about interior decorating because I had a desire to design the space by myself. That is how I started D.I.Y. interior decorating. I began to write my story about D.I.Y. interior decorating on my blog, and I became famous as many people visited my blog. As a result, I published two books about D.I.Y. interior decorating and broadcasted programs about interior decorating. Recently, I was a supervisor for the Art Exhibition of Seoul 2017, and I also worked as a professor.

What is the most important thing when you design a space?

  The most important factor is the tastes of the people who use that space. The latest interior trends have typically been minimalism and naturalism. However, I prefer maximalism rather than minimalism, so I like my home to be full of my stuff. The users’ tendencies should be the first priority for their interior decorating regardless of the latest trend. The design of a space varies depending on the necessary furniture, a favorite color, habits, actions, and routines. It is just like fashion. People’s fashion styles can also vary with favorite colors and designs of clothes. Thus, when I enter a house, I notice the main interests of a user because the space should resemble the person.

Are there some easy D.I.Y. interior decorating tips that students can follow?

  One D.I.Y. interior decorating tip that students can easily follow with little money is painting. Painting is thought to be a tough task, but it is not so difficult. Just pretend that you are coloring with paints in an art class. Actually, it is not difficult, so don’t be afraid and give it a try. Do you know what the main reason is for a room not looking pretty? In most cases, it is because the colors are not complementary. Coffee shops or exhibitions which are well-appointed show a temperate condition by using only 2 or 3 colors. However, in rooms, there are too many flashy colorful spaces such as beddings and walls, so the rooms can make an overly strong impression that seems sort of disorganized. If the colors are consolidated, you can feel that the room is much more organized. In addition, a simpler way to change the atmosphere is utilizing light. Changing only one light can alter the overall impression of a room and enrich the atmosphere. If it is hard to install, use a standing lamp. It is efficient for students because a standing lamp is easy to place and it takes up less space. I actually used to make standing lamps. In this way, you can create the atmosphere you want at an affordable price.

What should I know when I do D.I.Y. interior decorating?

  Many people misunderstand that D.I.Y. interior decorating costs less. The reason for doing D.I.Y. interior decorating is to design the way one wants. When you hire an interior designer, it is hard to focus wholly on the details you envisioned. However, with D.I.Y. interior decorating, you can design the spaces as you wish with a budget that you decide. If you want to invest in furniture, you can invest in furniture. If you want to invest in a lamp, you can invest in a lamp. Therefore, I think if you do D.I.Y. interior decorating just to save money, it might not work out for you. Many people also think D.I.Y. interior decorating is difficult and needs exquisite hand skills. You can gain insight into interior design the more you do it. For instance, no one has perfect fashion sense in the beginning. You can know your fashion style by seeing various clothes frequently. Therefore, you need to have a keen interest in interior design. When you are out in public, recognize what kind of interior design they made and what kind of atmosphere they wanted to create. You should pay more attention to the styles you see every day. For example, when most people go to restaurants, they don’t pay attention to interior design. What I want to say is they should focus on the interior design as well as the food. Try not to miss the forest because of watching the trees.

What is the difference that separates you from other interior designers?

  I think the relationships between people are the most important. One of the reasons that I do interior decorating is because I am curious about my clients who are from different disciplines. I started the ‘Meddlesome Project’, which is my own program where I decorate other people’s rooms for free. I started this project because I was just curious about my clients. I was wondering what stories they had to tell, why they lived there, and what their lives were like. When I received an offer to join the program ‘Hun jib julge, Sae jib da o’, the program that remodels entertainer’s rooms, I accepted the offer because I was curious about the people who were working in different fields and just wanted to know about their stories. I didn’t want to be famous. I think this makes me different from other experts.

By Kim Chae-hyeon l ch38@cbnu.ac.kr
By Yoo Jin-kyu l jk37@cbnu.ac.kr