Three F's of Interior Design
- Rebecca
- May 31
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 18
In interior design, the three foundational elements of any successful space are often referred to as the Three F’s: Floor Plan, Finishes, and Fixtures. These elements work together to ensure a space is functional, visually cohesive, and beautifully tailored to its purpose.
1. The Floor Plan
A floor plan is a scaled drawing of a room or building, viewed from above. Think of it as a bird’s eye view of your space. It shows the placement of walls, windows, doors, furniture, and built-in cabinetry. Floor plans are essential for visualising the flow and layout of a room before any furniture is purchased or construction begins.
Interior designers use floor plans to:
Determine furniture sizing and placement
Design cabinetry and custom joinery
Ensure traffic flow and circulation is functional
Avoid overcrowding or under-utilising the space
A well-considered floor plan brings structure to a design concept, guiding the layout for both beauty and practicality.
2. The Finishes
Finishes refer to the surface materials used throughout your interior. These are the architectural layers that define the look and feel of a space—materials that are touched, seen, and experienced every day.
Examples of interior finishes include:
Tiles and flooring
Benchtop surfaces
Wall paint colours
Cabinetry finishes
Wall cladding and feature materials
Finishes are selected based on aesthetics, texture, durability, and how they interact with light and colour within the room. They play a critical role in defining the mood and personality of a space.
3. The Fixtures
Fixtures are the permanent accessories and fittings in your home, often found in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundries. These include:
Tapware (kitchen mixers, basin taps, shower heads)
Towel rails and hand towel holders
Cabinet handles and hooks
Soap dispensers or built-in bins (when integrated)
While they may seem like small details, fixtures carry a lot of visual weight and can greatly influence the overall style of a space—whether you're aiming for timeless, coastal, contemporary, or minimal.
Bringing the Three F's of Interior Design All Together
The art of interior design lies in curating the right combination of floor plan, finishes, and fixtures to reflect both form and function. From selecting the perfect tapware to choosing a paint colour that complements your benchtop, every decision should serve the overall design vision while supporting the space’s daily use.
Whether you're planning a full home renovation or refreshing a single room, keeping the Three F’s in mind ensures your design stays intentional, balanced, and cohesive.
How does Shaping Interiors work with the three F’s?
Shaping Interiors offer a surface and fixtures design service. This service is ideal if you have design plans for your kitchen, bathrooms or laundry and need to select your surface finishes, tapware and accessories. We will create a well-curated sample board of a selection of cohesive finishes and fixtures that you can give to your builder, cabinet maker or tiler. We will work through a concept phase to narrow down what you really like and that suits your house so you feel confident and at ease with your surface finish and fixtures selections.
Explore the three F's in Shaping Interior's Interior Design page here
