Design & Plan Your Project

Getting Started With Your Decorating Project:

Analyze your home, your style, choose a theme, and plan your decor. Sounds pretty simple doesn't it? If only it were true!

If you prefer a step by step guide that you can follow to plan your design project, you'll like this decorating worksheet. It's also handy to start a decorating notebook. I personally use a 6 x 9 1/2 spiral notebook that has pockets inside the covers and on the tabbed dividers. I've been dragging mine around for 10 years, and two houses!

I staple fabric, wallpaper and paint samples in there, and have my measurements written down for each room. Pages from magazines with style and theme ideas (and pictures of the room I'm doing) and notes and business cards go in the pocket. I even have gone so far as to use a zip-lock baggy with all the above in it (except the notebook), and keep it in one of the pockets, so when I run into a store I can just grab it and stick it in my purse. You never know when you'll find that perfect piece.

Decorating Those Awkward Rooms:

It seems we all have one of "those" rooms. No matter what you do, you just can't seem to get the decor and furniture arrangement to feel right.

If you have a room with all kinds of angles, nooks, and weird corners, it helps to paint the walls and ceiling all the same color. This will make all those angles less distracting. If it's a huge room, and you're a little more adventurous, color block those weird walls/ceiling. If you have a spot that several angles come together, can you paint just that area a "kick it up a notch" color, and do a special furniture arrangement there with some gorgeous accent pieces? Add a big mirror to make it even more noticeable.If you have a flat wall to hang one on!

Decorating Ideas Search
 

Choosing A Style Or Theme

You probably know what you like. Do you know what the style is?

I found a site that has over 35 design styles. Each one shows you pictures of items that relate to that theme or style, like paint techniques, furniture, wall decor etc.

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Your Style & Design

Christoper Lowells 7 Layers of Design

Style Guide

Explore Colors in actual room scenes at Sherwin Williams

Decorating Do's and Don'ts

10 Tips to find your style

Planning Your Budget

Budget doesn't mean cheap. It simply means knowing what you plan to spend going into your decorating project.

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How are you going to pay for it? Cash on hand, or do you see some sort of financing in your near future?

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Steps for Planning Your Project

  • The first thing you need to decide is exactly what area you are designing. Is it a hallway, a single room, or will there be multiple or adjoining rooms?
  • How will you use this space? Adults only, kids area, office? What would be your ideal end result?
  • Analyze your room. Is there a focal point or will you need to make one? Now would also be a good time to take measurements and draw a floor plan, as well as window & door measurements.
  • What's your style or what theme are you going for? Tear pages out of magazines or make copies, or print ideas off the internet. (You can even use a digital camera to take pictures of rooms on TV that you like. . .if you have the ability to pause the show. )What colors do you want to use with your theme?
  • Determine what your budget is & how you're going to pay for it. Your budget will determine how you answer many of the following questions.
  • Get yourself a tote bag of some sort to start compiling all your choices in. You can keep the ones you eliminate elsewhere, but the tote goes with you 'everywhere'! Get one with comfortable handles because it's going to get heavy.

cont'd - Now You Can Get Serious!

  • You've defined the space to be decorated, how you're going to pay for it and how you intend to use it and what the focal point is or will be, so now you can make a list of what you will need in the space. Consider furniture, lighting, flooring, accessories, window treatments etc.
  • Look at your list of needs and see what you already have that you can use 'as is' or reconfigure some how to make it work in your room. Make new list of things you need to buy.
  • If you need to repaint or install new flooring you can get that started, while you're shopping around for the remaining items that you will need.
  • If possible it's best to start out with the big stuff first. Read The 7 Layers of Design at the link above if you didn't already.
  • Accessorize your room with some accent lighting, pillows, candles or whatever it is that makes it 'you'.
  • Pat your self on the back, sit down and relax with your favorite beverage, and enjoy your new space!