Making a house into a home is not an easy endeavor. Whether you’re starting from the very beginning and building, or renovating an existing house to meet your needs and aesthetic more appropriately, it can be overwhelming to think about where to start in terms of interior design. While there are a million and one style inspirations out there, it’s important to think about what you and your family like – your dream home is one that aligns with your personal style, and is beautifully suited to your lifestyle, after all! We list some of the best tips to kickstart your interior design journey, whether you’re starting at the very beginning or needing some fresh ideas!
1. Find your own style
This is the time to experiment. Look through style inspiration blogs and websites, or scroll through interior design Instagram accounts to see what does and doesn’t pique your interest.
But don’t stop there – trial pieces that you like, whether it’s art installations, bric-a-brac, or even furniture to get a feel for how they look in a given space and how you feel about it. This not only helps you to try out new styles that you may not have considered before, but it also helps you to reinvent your own personal style in order to create a gorgeous space that you’ll love.
2. Don’t be afraid to shop around
Whether you’re trialing new styles, or you’ve found the one interior design theme that you want to base your home on, don’t be afraid to look around and canvas your options on the market. Sometimes, furniture or art pieces can be expensive, so don’t hesitate to look at alternative places to shop, from garage sales, op shops, and maybe even farmer’s markets. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a unique piece that perfectly fits for less!
3. Colours and textures go hand in hand
Colors bring life to any space and are a welcome addition that helps draw the eye and evoke specific moods and feelings for any room. Have a think about what colors and shades you’d like to use for your walls, furniture, curtains, and even blinds, as these take up wider spaces and need to be considered in order to ensure the cohesion of the design. Try to stick to three colors, with two main shades and an accent color to help tie everything together nicely.
4. Samples are key
In the world of interior design, samples are an essential way of test-driving your options before you commit fully. Whether you’re looking into paint shades, catalogs, fabric swatches, or flooring options, try to find businesses that offer samples to help you decide what you really want. There’s nothing worse than buying something in bulk and realizing it isn’t the right fit, after all! So make good use of samples, checking how they look not only against each other but also at different times in the room, as sunlight and fluorescent lighting can make or break a cohesive look sometimes.
Thinking of getting engineered timber flooring but not sure which one to choose? Ask for samples to help you pinpoint the flooring that fits your design just right. With light beige tones, warm reds, yellow blondes, to deep chocolate shades, there’s a lot to choose from, so ask your engineered timber flooring supplier if they offer samples for you to take home.
5. Take your time
Don’t rush! While it can be tempting to buy things and design or redesign entire rooms in one go, don’t settle for pieces that you’re not enthusiastic about. Instead, shop around, take your time, and buy pieces that you love. Not only does this help you to slowly create a curated space that you can be proud of, but it’s also a way to save your hard-earned money for pieces that you really want.
6. Analyse your space and bring out the tape
Create a mockup of the space; this is especially a great idea if you’re in the process of redesigning an existing house. Whether you’re drawing a scaled-down version of the room or utilizing a shed or an outside space to create the mockup, make sure to measure where furniture is and can go, and use objects such as boxes to help you visualize how the room layout can be moved around. Basically, this is to help you figure out what you have, what you need, and how you can move things around to create a more harmonious layout.
7. Out with the neutrals, in with the bright colors
Interior design nowadays is more flexible. Gone are the days of bright white door frames, skirting boards, and even ceilings. Play around and find out what color scheme you want your home to have, and if you want a pro tip: paint skirting boards the same color as the walls if you’re wanting to make the room feel bigger, as it tricks the eye and elongates the look of the walls!
8. Make sure to plan for storage solutions
Clutter can take any home from dreamy to drab. Make sure that when planning out your interior design, that you’re utilizing all unused spaces for storage solutions. Whether you’re using joinery, bookshelves, or quirky storage units, there is a wide range of options available for personalized displays that have both form and function.
The Takeaway
When designing your dream home, a lot goes into putting together the perfect place that fully encapsulates your personal style whilst oozing comfort for you and your family. Hopefully, some of these great tips have helped you plan and begin to create the home of your dreams!
