- March 5, 2021
- Jenn Lambert
Are you thinking about updating the design of a room in your home and are not quite sure where to start?
Here are some tips to help you get you get started
1. Scroll
My favorite way to figure out what I want (and the most fun) is to go onto Pinterest and search for the room that you want to update. Create a board for that room and Pin any image that you like. You don’t even have to think about why you like it or what you like about it, just save the images you like. I suggest not doing this all at once maybe over a week or two. After you have several images saved (at least 20), open up your board so you can see all the images in one place and notice if you see any patterns. Did a certain color appear in several images? Or a certain size and shape of furniture? Is there a “feel” to the images you chose (light and airy or dark and moody, lots of color or monochromatic, patterns or solids, relaxed or formal, minimalist or maximalist, etc)? We are visual creatures and most of us know what we like when we see it, but we often can’t quite describe it until we see it. Almost always when you are looking at bunches of images that you liked a pattern or “style” will emerge.
2. Measure Your Space
Measure your space and design for the space you have. Scale and proportion are important in any design. If you are designing a large room with tall ceilings you want to choose some large pieces to anchor the room. And, if your room is on the small size, you want to steer clear of a room full of oversized furniture.
3. What Will The Space Be Used For
Think about that your space will be used for. This is a little easier for areas like bathrooms and laundry rooms, but some areas of the home are definitely multi-purpose. In the COVID world we are living in right now we might be using one room for an office, kids homework, family movie and game nights, or quiet conversation. If space allows, try to set up zones for all the activities that will take place.
4. Foundational Piece
Choose one main foundational piece and build on it. Starting with the flooring first and layering on it can be really beneficial. If you choose something neutral you have more options for furniture and accessories. If you have a rug you love, you can use the colors to create the color palette for the entire room. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, you can build a complete color palette and style from a pillow. Whatever, you choose for your foundational piece, it helps to have one piece that you absolutely love to build your room around.
5.Paint
When choosing paint, buy sample pots and paint large swatches on the wall in the room it will be in and live with it for a few days. Pay attention to how the color changes throughout the day in different lighting situations. If you can see it next to the flooring that will make a difference as well. Paint almost never looks the same on the teeny tiny swatch as it does in an entire room.
6. Mix Different Price Points
Higher price doesn’t always mean better. Choose items based on comfort, practicality, and your life stage and individual needs. If you have young children, you might not want to invest in really expensive furniture that you are going to fret about. You might choose something a little less pricey, maybe with a slipcover option 🙂 so you can enjoy the sticky fingers and rambunctious littles without worry. Etsy is a great place to find a new designer or artist for some great one of a kind pieces that won’t blow the budget. The same can also be said for something that you absolutely love that might be worth a splurge. Buy items you love and don’t let price be the only consideration. Mixing price points is a great way to stay in budget and create a unique look that feels like you.
7. Know When To Call A Professional
Take note of plumbing, electrical, and HVAC when deciding to update. What lies behind the walls and beneath the floor matters a great deal…especially in a kitchen or a bathroom. If you have to move plumbing in a bathroom, the joist layout beneath the flooring can be the deciding factor on what can and cannot be accomplished. Ask a professional before you have an entire design planned and then find out that it is either not possible or eats up the entire budget.
