A new season may mean that it is time for some new designs to try out so you can make your space look fresh and unique for the changing months.
If you have just moved into a new house with the help of a reliable real estate company like Finlay brewer, then this is a great time to flex your design muscles. You can use your creativity to turn the existing house into the home of your dreams. So how do you go about getting these projects started so your dream home is exactly as you envisioned it?
Anyone can design their entire home or an entire room with a little creativity and some helpful interior design tips, and maybe some interior design apps too. While it may seem daunting at first, following these simple steps will make the process much easier.
Plus you can bring in your family members too if you are doing quite a bit of it yourself. They may not be professional interior designers, but they will help you bring out your personal style and probably help you pick out a sofa and coffee table, for example, that suits you.
So whether you are starting from scratch after moving into a dated property with the help of movers georgetown tx or similar movers in your area, or just looking to update your current space with some wall art or a new paint color, hopefully, this article will help you make the right decisions, whether that is tackling the design yourself or turning to interior design professionals to give it that added shine and style from a different perspective.
Are you good at interior design?
The first step is to figure out your style and how you want your interior space to look. This will help you determine the overall aesthetic of your home and make decisions about furniture, decor, and more for your house. Your creativity should be coming out during this time.
If you have a small room like a back bedroom or powder room you want to get started with first, then that could be a good base to jump off from with deciding on your color scheme, and your layout.
It would be wise to pick up some swatches from a paint store to get a good range. You can test these on one wall next to each other or the ceiling to see how the different colors work in that particular room, you may want the same color throughout, nevertheless, a different style in each room can be done if that is what you are aiming for. Picking out a fresh new color is a good base to start from.
Building a space that showcases your style is essential. This is your own house, your dream house, the house you are excited to live in, so make it feel that way. If you want to put in some wicker furniture, then perfect, however, you do need to make sure that you know how to care for it first. A few accent tables, area rugs, and throw pillows could be all you need for one area.
What do you envision?
Every homeowner has ideas of their home about where and how it should be. You might have done enough research about the neighborhoods before purchasing your dream home. For instance, you might have decided to move to and live in Westfield, NJ, after reading a blog (like https://sharonsteelerealestate.com/moving-to-westfield-nj/) that gives details about the place’s educational facilities, cost of living and other attractions. Try to put the same research effort into deciding what you want for your interior designs. Give it some time, and think about what you want.
Do you prefer a modern look or something more traditional? Are you drawn to bright colors with geometric shapes and decorative arts or more warm subdued hues that may have a practical element? Would you like to incorporate more natural light to save energy or add different types of lighting?
Once you have a general idea of the direction you want to go in, you can start planning your design and the patterns that go with it. Think about what you want to say with your style. Mull around the ideas in your head and write them down if needs be.
If you have developed different tastes over the years then think about what you want to keep with your current layout and what would be best to send to a charity shop or pass on to a friend or relative.
Thoroughly consider your design ideas and if they need tweaking. There are important rooms in everyone’s house, you may want to tackle those first as they could be the focal point you want the attention on. Your four walls are yours to design, go with it.
Have a think about –
- What colors go together?
- Are you looking at patterns throughout?
- Thought about a singular statement wall?
- Could re-upholster your furniture without having to get new pieces?
All of these things need to be considered, as you could find that you do not actually need to get rid of most of what you already have because you could re-paint them or change up the style with a few tweaks that will make it look fresh but without the price tag. Painting can hide a multitude of design sins.
Get out the measuring tape
Next, you will need to measure the area that you are designing, e.g. living room, dining room, any bedrooms, etc., and the furniture. This will help you determine how much of each item you need and where it will fit in your home. Once you have these numbers, you can start shopping for the pieces you require.
If you are carefully watching your finances, do not worry – there are plenty of ways to save money on furniture and decor. Most people are searching for bargains these days, so you are not alone in finding cheaper options.
Buying second-hand
Second-hand stores and charity shops (back to them again), can have some great additions to your home, you just need to know where to look and how you can incorporate that into your design plan. You may be worried about buying a second-hand table or rug, but as long as you check over the pieces and make sure they are not damaged or have stains on them, you should be fine.
If you find something that you think would be wonderful for your space but it does not exactly fit into the area you want, you may want to look at how you can switch that up by rearranging the room to see if it will fit, or, if you are still struggling, you can always take it to someone to resize it.
For example, you have found a dining room table that will pull the room together and have it be the pièce de résistance of the room but it takes up too much of the space. You can take it to a upholster who can design it in your image. You may want to search online for someone who can do that, or find a local professional.
Budget, budget, budget
As previously mentioned, saving money on designing a home is important. You do not want to spend every last bit of your savings on a design that you may get bored of in a few months, or use a large chunk of your finances on paint. After picking out your style and taking all your measurements it is time to source exactly what you need and how you can factor the cost in.
Create a list
Write a detailed list of what materials you need and a separate list of what you already have that you can repurpose to fit in. Going to a variety of shops that have the items you need will give you a general idea of the price which you can compare to cheaper areas.
Aiming for something bigger?
If you want to expand on your design process and look at maybe adding a construction project to your house plans, you will need to think about what you have to spend and how that will factor into what you want. There are a few things that you must consider before going down this route –
- The overall cost
- What building materials are needed
- Will you need a builder or builders?
- The space you have available
- How long the construction work will take
- Will it be time-consuming?
- Will it affect your family?
- Do you envision the house being this way in the future?
All of these things will need to be looked into before embarking on this journey. Now may not be the time to build your very own custom home from the ground up. You might just want to stick with a simple home design for your property with a few areas being re-designed.
Online assistance
Do not forget to utilize online sites too as they may be able to have something for a lot cheaper than stores. You can also check out blogs that do DIY posts on how to construct an item that looks expensive but is actually cheap, like making a statement bowl out of concrete and paint or doing your own wall pattern with painter’s tape. It may seem weird to do initially, but it will be unique to you and your home.
Some items you may find useful for DIY projects are –
- wood
- flower pots
- paper
- string
- paint
It really is up to you and what you think you could make into something that fits in with your aesthetic.
The final piece to the puzzle
Finally, it is time for the physical design phase and putting your plans together for the various rooms you have chosen to do this process with. This is where you will be able to really get creative and make your home your own.
Have fun with it and do not be afraid to experiment. Hang art on the walls, and fill your room with plants and painted objects. Or, you can opt for customized window blinds, or curtains to enrich the final look of the house. You can also use Motorized Blinds with automated sensors for your window shades. If you do not like anything, re-do it or take it down. You can always save these items for future projects. You need to feel confident with your choices and the process you are going through.
Speak to an interior designer
It is important that you experiment with what you have got. Knowing how to design your own home is important, so speak to specialists like an interior designer to see how they can help you pick out just what you need. You can then build on that and incorporate different designs that fit into your overall plan. They are specialists in interior design for a reason, they have great insights.
Conclusion
Designing and decorating your home can seem daunting, but it is actually quite easy if you know what to do. Just start with your style, measure your space, plan your finances, speak to a builder if needs be, and shop for the pieces you require. Then put it all together and enjoy your new home!