This design blog is for people who want to have an understanding of how to style their own spaces. This will be aimed at the Do-It-Yourselfers. I hope to provide the basics that will give you enough confidence for you to be able to get a style and graciousness in your rooms. If you have a question that I can answer while you are going through this blog, send me an email and I will try to help you as much as I can over email.
You need to know two things before you start: the budget and you should begin every design by finding out your objective for the room. Exactly what are you using the room for and how do you want to feel when you are using the room. You might want to start a budget and design diary. In this way you can look back to see what path you started on and where you are currently going towards. Now, it doesn’t mean you have to stay on the path your initial objective started you towards but you have to be mindful of how far in another direction you can go by just how far you already are… taking in the reality of the budget.
Start by asking yourself some questions to define your objective for that particular room. To do this you have to find out your answers of how you want that room to function (purpose), the type of mood (feeling) that you want you, your family and/or your guests to feel in that room, and what choices will you make to harmonize (style) the room to get to your objective for that room. Also think about how any current furniture in the room will harmonize with your new plan. Ask yourself if you will be replacing pieces or keeping pieces (and if keeping how do you want them to fit in).
So, after deciding on the budget, start by asking yourself: I want the function of this room to be X (formal or casual, dining, guest room, hobbies, kid’s space, game room, work, entertaining, tv room, etc.), I want the mood of this room to be X (contemporary or traditional or modern, happy, quiet, intimate, serene, productive, etc.), I want the harmony of the style of this room to be X (do all the pieces in the room compliment the desired style, are colors harmonious, is there a slight contrast, is there a focal point, does the current furniture fit in, etc.). or any and all questions that you can think of for your particular situation.
As you are going through the above with your design diary and budget, don’t forget to add in to your thoughts the information on color that my last blog had. Further along, we can discuss a “Design Board” to help you visualize how the colors and fabrics look together.
