Are you settling into a new home or considering a refresh for your current space? Embarking on a decorating journey can initially feel daunting, but in the end, it is rewarding. We understand it, so we have crafted a comprehensive guide to facilitate your home decor journey.
Our guide covers everything from the initial steps of brainstorming and planning to the practical execution of your decorating goals. With this guide, you can confidently and easily navigate each stage of the interior decorating process.
So, let's start on this exciting journey.
Brainstorm Decor Inspiration
Gather Inspiration And Ideas
Before starting:
- Brainstorm to gather many ideas.
- Browse through home decor magazines and books.
- Check for new design trends, color schemes, and decorating ideas.
- Explore online platforms like Pinterest, Houzz, and Instagram, which are filled with millions of images and styles, DIY projects, and decor ideas.
The House and Garden Facebook page is also a great source of inspiration. Create a board or folder to save your favorite images and organize them by room or theme names. You can also visit showrooms and home stores near your area.
Furthermore, watch many HGTV remodeling shows and interior designer YouTube videos. Another crazy way is to play home decorating games such as Sims and Home Design to understand color combinations and item size adjustments.
Define Your Style
Your home reflects your personality and tastes. Therefore, selecting a specific style allows you to express yourself. The style is also important for the coherence of the room's different areas. It gives your space a professional touch when all rooms are synchronized. Perform a good search when selecting the style. Scroll through social media, especially Pinterest, for idea generation.
There are various interior design styles, such as modern, traditional, contemporary, Scandinavian, rustic, minimalist, farmhouse style, etc. Take some time to think about which decor style is more connected to you.
Select The Color Palette
Selecting a color theme for home decor is crucial to creating a cohesive and harmonious living space. You can start by considering your personal preferences. Think of what colors you like most. Are they vibrant or light? Choose two to three basic colors and search on the internet for their combinations.
Finally, select the combo that you like the most. Colors significantly impact your mood, so choosing cozy and light colors for your bedroom and living room is the best idea. Whereas vibrant colors can be selected for the passage, the kitchen, etc.
Decide Functionality
Each house space should define the function you want it to perform. For instance, do you want to use your bedroom for relaxation, or will it designate a workspace? The same goes with the living room. Will it be utilized for watching TV, or do you intend to include a kids playing zone beside the TV station? This helps you plan the furniture and accessories that will fit the specific space according to its size.
To fix the puzzle, you must carefully look at each space, corner, and wall and imagine which furniture, paintings, and accessories will fit each corner. Sometimes it’s best to take a deep breath, stare at your room, and start visualizing.
Develop A Plan
Planning will tell you whether you want to decorate the entire space or need some places to change. Look for fixtures you don't have the budget to change, such as cabinets, molding, doors, windows, and millwork. Also, consider painting them to give them a fresh look. Furthermore, make a separate written plan for each room.
Define A Budget
Here comes the most important part. A budget is something that can be a hindrance to executing your chosen style and theme. But not to worry; if you have budget constraints, you can go thrifting, buy second-hand furniture on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, and do DIY projects. Various home decor YouTube channels also teach you awesome, easy DIY ideas.
While allocating your budget, mark big items as priority, such as furniture, decorating plants, wall art, paint, etc. For small items, either visit thrift stores or go with DIY decor. DIY ideas on social media are enough to blow your mind and open new doors for modern interior decorating resources.
Prioritize Rooms
Decide which rooms are the most important for you and your family. Identify the most-used room. We recommend starting with the bedroom, living room, and kitchen. After that, focus on other spaces like a hallway, study room, kids room, etc.
Turn Inspiration Into Reality
General Cleaning
Whether starting from scratch or considering renovating an existing home, cleaning is the most important part before starting. If your home is new, start cleaning walls, washing the floor, and dusting off cabinets and fixtures. This will help you get a clear visualization of the decor setting. When redecorating an existing house, make sure to minimize things as much as you can. Remove old furniture, decor, books, and other accessories.
The Most Exciting Part Begins: Shopping
This phase gives you excitement, motivation, and energy. Gathering all furniture, fixtures, and accessories is not a piece of cake, and it takes time to gather them. Try to scroll through social media first; Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook do wonders. If your budget is low, try adding yourself to the Facebook communities created for thrifting.
Visit your nearby interior decoration stores. Do some research and shop around. Don't limit yourself to one store. Prefer quality over quantity, and check for functionality as well. Since your plan and budget are already set, it has made this phase more organized and quick. Don’t rush in your shopping and buy things gradually as they click you.
Get The Paint Done
Walls serve as the backdrop for all other decor elements in a room. By painting them, you help to adjust the rest of your decor in a room setting. Therefore, if painting is included in your plan, the first and foremost task is to paint the walls, doors, grills, cabinets, and shelves. Try to keep the wall color natural or a light shade.
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A Pro Tip: There are apps on the App Store where you can upload a picture of your room and try different wall paints to see which looks best.
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Start With Key Items
Pick the key items to start decorating, such as sofas, beds, dining tables, and accent chairs. Choose items that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Consider factors like comfort, size, and style.
Layer Textures And Patterns
Different textures and patterns add depth and visual appeal to your room. Mix and match wood, metal, fabric, and glass to create aesthetic interior balance. In addition to this, add patterns and primary colors to your rugs, cushions, curtains, throw pillows, and artwork. This helps to improve the ambience of the room.
Must-Add Accessories
Incorporating accessories like plants, art prints, mirrors, lighting, huge rugs and throw blankets, and decorative pillows amazingly enhances the aesthetic of your space. Accessories add personality and style and help tie the room together. Using large-sized artwork and plants will do wonders for your decor. In addition, using a large rug and centering the sofa, table, and chairs on it will create an improved sense of cohesion and visual balance, making the room feel more spacious and inviting.
Add Personal Touch
When you choose everything yourself, the interior ultimately resonates with your personality. However, displaying personal mementos, family photos, and cherished belongings gives the space a more personal touch. Try to create vignettes and focal points that tell a story and evoke emotions, ultimately becoming conversation starters.
Take Your Time
Decorating a house is a process that takes time and patience. Don't feel pressured to complete everything at once. Take your time to make thoughtful decisions. Experiment with different ideas, and enjoy the journey of creating a home that reflects your unique style and personality. Never be afraid of mistakes; rethink the ideas and replace them if something doesn't look attractive after implication.
The Importance Of Choosing An Artwork
A few accessories give a space a luxurious and classy look. Wall art is one of them. Carefully chosen artwork immediately changes the look and feel of your place. For a large wall, choose huge desert landscape art, and for small spaces, you can go with miniature donkey art prints. It’s up to your budget to go with paintings or prints. Original paintings are expensive, but Giclee prints can meet everyone's affordability.
Feeling Stuck?
It's completely normal to feel stuck or overwhelmed when decorating a home. Keep the following golden advice in mind.
- Decorating a home is a journey, and taking time is okay.
- Explore different ideas until you find what works best for you.
- Be kind to yourself and permit yourself to take breaks when needed.
- Break down your decorating goals into smaller and more manageable tasks.
- Don't run after perfection if your decoration doesn't satisfy you. Relax! Things can be re-changed and rearranged.
- Look for inspiration from various sources, such as magazines, websites, social media, and nature.
- Create a mood board or Pinterest board to collect images and ideas for each room separately.
- Trust your instincts and intuition when making decorating decisions.
- If stuck, step back and take time. Visit a museum or park and spend time in nature to recharge your energy and mind and start again with fresh inspiration.
- Decorating should be enjoyable, so don't be afraid to experiment with different ideas and styles. Try mixing and matching patterns.
- Don't hesitate to seek help and support from friends, family members, or professionals if you feel stuck.
- Celebrate each step, no matter how small it is.
Final Verdict
Start your decoration journey by following two phases. One is brainstorming ideas and inspiration. This includes generating ideas from websites and social media and visiting a physical home decor store. After that, decide the style you want your home to reflect and choose the colour scheme. Followed by making a detailed plan on the budget and functionality of each space and decor item.
Now comes the second phase, where you execute your planning. This includes cleaning your space, shopping for decor, wall painting, incorporating different texture layers, mixing, and creating a personal touch. Finally, take time to get things done, be patient, and follow the process.