5 Helpful Tips for Designing Your New Space
Whether you are working on a new build or beginning a renovation of an existing home, there are many components that go into creating a beautiful space that is both functional and beautiful. The process can be overwhelming, but it can also teach you a great deal about yourself, your tastes, and what atmosphere makes you feel most at home. To hit that nail right on the head, here are five tips to help you figure out exactly what you want your dream home to look like.
Have A Plan For Your Remodeled Space
When you decide to make changes to your home, whether it’s one room, or a total gut job, it is always important to have a clear vision of the end goal. Your concept could come from something as simple as creating a mood board to visualize colors and textures or as complex as creating an entirely new floor plan. When you sit down to design your project, think about,
- Function- (how do you currently use the space vs. how you would like to use the space in the future?)
- Zones- (specific areas for specific function). Family room, dining, prep area, food storage, coffee bar, office, etc. Everyone has their own routines, hobbies, and spatial needs. Design your home to serve you in a way that is functional, effective, and accessible for your everyday life.
- Existing Pieces- What furniture, artwork, accessories are you keeping? These will play a major role in the layout and design inspiration process
Find Inspiration For Your Remodel
What’s your style? Sometimes that’s a difficult question to answer. There are many ways to approach this concept. Here are a few.
- Mood/Feeling- Sometimes, using descriptive words to explain how you want to feel in your home can help with defining your style. Cozy, rustic, and charming? Elegant, modern, and bright? Welcoming, clean, and natural?
- Previous Experiences- Drawing inspiration from past experiences that have brought you joy, relaxation, or a general feeling of home and warmth, can be a great way to figure out a design style. Think about past vacations, beautiful restaurants, a childhood home, or memory. Use photographs to devise a color scheme, create throw pillows that remind you of your mother’s bedroom wallpaper, or style a shelf with pottery that reminds you of your trip to Italy. Be creative and tap into your most loved memories.
- The Closet Method- Take a look in your closet. What kind of clothes do you see? What colors do you seem drawn to? What patterns do you like? Are the fabrics more fitted or flowy? This method gives you a better idea of what makes you feel comfortable.
- Architectural Inspiration- Use the architecture of your home to help determine the design style. More than likely, if you had a part in choosing your home, there’s a reason you chose it. Let the features you love, and the time period your home was built guide your design choices.
Select Furnishing That Fit Your Space
This one is simple but it also makes a big difference. Design around the space you have. Too many bulky items in a smaller space will disrupt traffic flow and make your home feel smaller. If your home is large and open, use zones to create defined spaces.
Get Samles Whenever Possible
This is especially important for paint colors. Many factors can affect paint color (accent lighting, sunlight and the direction of the room, accent colors, the previous wall color, the paint finish, etc.) Make sure to get samples, put them on the wall, and check them throughout the day to see how they change. Additionally, get samples of flooring, tiles, countertops, hardware, or any other major aspect of your design. Place all the samples next to each other to see if they complement one another.
Mixing Things Up
To put it plainly, mix the lavish with the simplistic in both style and price point. A simple shaker cabinet with a gorgeous, fluted sink, or a budget friendly tile with a custom vanity. Not every part of the design has to be expensive or one of a kind. What makes the design special is how all your chosen elements work together to create the feeling you were searching for.
If you need any assistance designing your new space, Ability Remodeling would love to help!