As we enter the season of rebirth and renewal, you might be tempted to give your entire space a refresh.
Of course, you can always hire a professional … but there’s something so exciting and fulfilling about taking charge of your own decor. Whether you’re craving a new look in your existing space or you’re starting from scratch in a new home, we’re sharing our top tips on becoming your very own interior designer below!
Interior design can seem like a daunting task to those who have never decorated their own space before. You might have a natural flair for your personal style, but still be overwhelmed when it comes to interiors. Don’t worry – this is perfectly normal and can be overcome with a little guidance.
The root of interior design uncertainty likely stems from the sheer amount of space you’ll need to work with. An entire house will require many design elements, from core pieces of furniture and foundational materials to smaller accent pieces. It will take time to come up with a cohesive plan for every room, which is why it’s important to start small and build your confidence up.
Remember: interior design is subjective, like any creative field. There’s no right or wrong way to decorate your house in an aesthetically pleasing manner. There are just guidelines you can follow to make sure everything flows as beautifully as possible.
With that said, here are some key tips to help you start your DIY interior design journey.
Before you start any decorating, you’ll need to decide on a design aesthetic. There are many you can choose from: contemporary, mid century modern, art deco, bohemian, Scandinavian, eclectic, industrial, coastal, rustic, farmhouse … the list goes on!
Take some time to research design styles and browse sources of inspiration to figure out what resonates most with you. Keep in mind that it’s not just about looks. You’ll want a design style that also works for your lifestyle. You can look at interior decor magazines and books, social media accounts, watch movies, or visit physical spaces (your friends’ homes, hotels, boutiques, galleries, etc) in your region to get inspired.
Once you’ve figured out what look you want to go for, you can channel the experts and create a mood board that will help you stay true to your vision. It can be physical or digital, but regardless of the format it should map out the colors, textures, silhouettes, and other design elements that you want featured in your home.
Now that you have an aesthetic in mind, you can narrow it down by choosing a color palette. Many design experts recommend sticking to no more than three to four colors for a cohesive look. Bear in mind that one of these colors should be a neutral for balance.
If you’re still not sure where to start, just pick one color and build the rest of your palette from there. You can always look to the color wheel for inspiration, or use the principles of color theory and symbolism to find the most suitable colors for each room (for example, blues and greens are calming hues, while yellows and reds bring more energy).
You can plan where and how you’ll incorporate the colors in your space by using classic design principles like the 60-30-10 rule: 60% of a dominant color on walls and floors, 30% of a secondary color on larger items like big pieces of furniture, and 10% of an accent color on accessories. If you’re ever in doubt, just keep your color palette as clean and simple as possible.
Redecorating an entire house is no small feat. You can – and should – start with smaller areas to hone your new craft and avoid feelings of overwhelm. Adopt a room-by-room approach, and feel free to break down the rooms even more by specific areas. For example, if you’re redecorating your living room, you might want to just start with the seating area before getting into the entertainment section.
This method makes the decorating process more manageable and budget-friendly, since you’ll be able to plan accordingly as you move through your space. And once you get the hang of it, decorating an entire room (or two) will feel like a breeze!
If your home refresh turns into a full-scale renovation, remember to start from the ground up. Many design professionals recommend starting with big, foundational pieces like flooring before tackling walls and furniture. This starts you off on the right base, so your other steps can go smoothly. If you’re repainting or moving furniture around, be sure to put measures in place to protect your beautiful new floors.
Timeless, high quality materials never go out of style. One of the easiest ways to make your home look more luxurious is to simply invest in premium materials, like natural European hardwood for your floors or high performance paint for your walls. You’ll be saving money by being your own interior decorator, so why not put it to good use by investing in better materials?
If you’re considering a DIY interior design project for your space in the near or coming future, our team will be more than happy to help you find the perfect European hardwood flooring. Don’t hesitate to contact us for tailor-made advice for your home!