Some people have a natural flair for home design. And some people can’t so much as buy a new throw cushion without consulting a stack of decor magazines, blogs full of home design tips, and a whole lot of Pinterest boards.
If you’re in the second category, we got you.
Deciding how to design your new home can be difficult even if you’re clued up on the dos and don’ts of interior design. From paint colors to furniture layouts, lighting to wall art there are a whole lot of decisions to make when you’re trying to create the perfect new home design.
Luckily, there are some fail-safe ways to ensure your home decor is both stylish and unique. Keep reading to find out more!
1. Define Your Interiors Style
Before you get started, it’s important to consider how you want the space to feel.
An easy trick to help you define your interiors style is to take a look in your closet. Are you drawn to chic tailoring? Do you tend to stick to a neutral color palette? Are you a fan of bold patterns? Your home is an extension of your personal style so it makes sense that your clothing inspires the direction your home decor takes.
Another way to determine how to design your new home is to think of words that conjure up the kind of ambiance you want for your space. Are you looking to create a traditional and inviting look? Or do you prefer the idea of a more modern, streamlined vibe?
To get a feel for the kind of look you want, open yourself up to inspiration in every part of your life. Start collecting ideas, themes, and home design concepts and use them as a way to inform buying decisions. For example, before you splurge on that millennial pink velvet couch, ask yourself whether it fits your minimal aesthetic. Just because you like something, doesn’t mean it will go with the rest of your home.
2. Plan for Your Space
As well as choosing home decor to fit your style, it’s vital to select pieces that fit your space. And this rule doesn’t only refer to your furniture – you need to consider the size of the room you’re working with for everything from the TV to wall art.
Starting with a good floor plan is the best way to make sure your furniture works with the room’s proportions. Small items can look lost in a space that’s too large while oversized pieces of furniture can make a small room look even smaller. Taking this into account can also highlight which of your current pieces will work in your new home design and which you’ll need to sell.
In larger rooms, consider creating different zones for different activities such as an entertainment area, a dining area, and a reading corner. Play with alternative arrangements to see what works best in terms of window placement, light, floor space, and other existing factors. Then, with a floor plan in place, you can start looking for items that work with the scale and proportions you’ve chosen.
When it comes to deciding on what size TV to go for or where to hang a mirror, your best option is making cardboard cutouts of these items. You can then tape the card to the wall and take photos to see what works best.
3. Sample Paint Colors
Never underestimate how much of a key role paint colors will play in your new home design. And, while paint is a cost-effective home design tool, making the effort to get it right the first time will save you a lot of money and trouble in the long run.
Rather than painting one room at a time, establish a basic color scheme to run through the whole house. Using this color palette to guide you, it’ll then be easier to achieve harmony throughout your home without every room being exactly the same color.
The best way to see which color works in each room is to paint samples of the different options on your walls. You’ll then be able to observe how these colors adapt to the changing light and different ways we use each room throughout the day.
For example, a living room that gets a lot of natural light in the morning but tends to be a little dark in the afternoon may need a paint color with warm undertones to counteract this effect.
4. Mix Textures
More neutral or minimal styles can fall a little flat if you play it too safe with your home decor choices. To avoid this happening, make sure to include a variety of different textures and materials.
Different textures add interest and make your choices feel more intentional and considered. Even in a room with a tonal color palette, adding wicker baskets, an armchair upholstered in linen, velvet throw cushions, and a heavy woolen rug can bring structure and depth.
Beyond this, metallic details, plants, stoneware, tiles, marble, and a variety of other materials and fabrics can help elevate your space with minimal effort. To make an even bigger impact, try combining contrasting textures in close proximity. For example, a fine gauze curtain swaying in the breeze next to a heavy terracotta pot creates a dreamy effect.
Different materials and textures also reflect and absorb the light in different ways. With a combination of different textures, your home decor will come to life as the light changes and moves across the space.
5. Make it Personal
One thing that you can lose sight of when deciding how to design your new home is how to make it personal.
Sticking to a theme or concept can help you express your style. But this doesn’t guarantee your home design will be in any way unique. Nor does it mean that it will be a true reflection of your tastes, loves, hobbies, and experiences.
After all, many people like soft fabrics, muted colors, and traditional furniture but none of them live in your home.
Beyond well-chosen home design concepts, it’s important to add character with home decor that inspires you or means something to you. It might not be to everyone’s taste but it will be authentic and original.
From DIY artwork to your collection of silver coins, that strange flea market lamp to your childhood blanket, making room for these special items will ensure that your space is one of a kind.
6. Layer Your Lighting
All too often, lighting is often an afterthought in home design. This is a huge mistake as lighting has a much bigger impact on the feel of your home than many people realize.
The way you use a space will change depending on factors such as the activity you’re doing and how many people are there. This often means that your lighting will need to adapt to these changes too.
And, while overhead lights have their place, you shouldn’t rely on them as your only source of light. One central spotlight may not set the right tone if you’re throwing a dinner party, or it may not be suitable for illuminating the reading area you’ve installed in the corner.
As well as your main lighting fixture, supplement this with floor lamps, table lamps, sconces, and spotlights. You’ll often find layering different light sources allows you to create the perfect ambiance every time.
7. Pay Attention to Small Details
Often, the smallest home decor details can bring the most joy.
It might be because these updates are more for pleasure or as an indulgence rather than anything necessary or useful. Regardless, it’s these details that elevate your space and show that you’ve considered every inch of your new home design.
For example, silver light switches with a beaded edge make an elegant feature out of something functional. And adding crown molding to your walls ensures your space looks high-end while adding a much-needed finishing touch.
Paying attention to small details can also mean searching flea markets to find the perfect wrought iron vintage handles for your kitchen cupboard. Or it could mean taking the time to DIY a Moroccan-inspired chest of drawers.
Other people might not even notice these details. But if they’re important to you, you can be sure they’ll put a smile on your face every time you see them in your home.
Inspiring Home Design Tips
With these home design tips to guide you, creating the perfect space just got a whole lot easier.
All too often, making big decisions when it comes to home decor can be overwhelming. But, by considering the space you have to work with and your personal style before anything else, you’re already halfway there!
For more great advice on everything from tech to design trends, check out our other blog posts.
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