We do not all have the budget to hire an interior designer when planning but if you are keen on giving it a go yourself Read On for our simple guide that will help you kickstart your DIY room interior design. In part one we start with six steps to get you started on this fun journey.
Before we start, keep in mind that interior design is more art than science, and there are no hard and fast rules about how to decorate a room. It is your space your way.
Set the Mood
We always ask ourselves, how we want our spaces to look but instead start your decorating journey by asking yourself, how you want your space to feel. Once you have the answer to that question let that mood and feelings guide you toward colours, textures, furniture choices, and décor accessories. Focus on the mood you want to create rather than a particular style or trend and this will help you to create a space that works for you and the ones you share your home with.
Find Inspiration
Have a look at your favourite interior influencers, interior design magazines, books, and websites for inspiration. Then focus on places that evoke happy memories or feelings of joy and relaxation and then analyse why those places evoke those feelings. Create mood boards to visually recreate those feelings through images and colour.
Be Realistic
Rather than dreaming up a space that is over budget and too far out of your reach. Design a space for the way that you live now. If you have a busy household with kids and pets choose upholstery fabrics and surfaces that can handle the busyness of family life but will still look great when guests come over. So, really take a look at your life and the things you enjoy doing in your home and before you buy anything, come up with a realistic budget that will help you prioritize your spending along the way.
Declutter
If you are redecorating, start by removing anything that you do not need anymore and if you are designing an empty room from scratch, think about the things you want to bring into the space before you commit to buying anything. Make sure that there is enough space for personal items and the things that matter, remember successful interior design starts by embracing the essential and building on from that.
Plan It Out
Use the internet and its fast free online room design tools and home design software. Use tools that can help you create a floorplan and space planning mark out furniture placement with painter's tape to get a sense of scale and flow. Before buying any furniture, measure your space otherwise you might find that your sofa is too large or too small for your living room. The same goes for the bedroom and every other room in your home.
Decide on a Colour Palette
Deciding on a colour palette early will help you to create a cohesive look. Neutral rooms can be brightened with accessories that can be changed out easily. Or if you decide on brighter colours, pick three complementary shades to keep it interesting. Or if you are more keen on an all white space try to stick to shades that will allow you to mix and match furniture styles with ease.
So, once you have these six steps under your belt we will follow on with six more steps to help you to design you spaces like a pro!