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| Image: LoveLiveDIY |
Your room is bare. It needs a facelift. Whether you are starting from scratch in your first home or starting over in a new home, don't be overwhelmed with how to phase-in decor. Just take it one step at a time.
Here are a few simple steps for follow when decorating (or redecorating) your home, one room at a time.
1. Find Inspiration - To get a good idea of the styles that you prefer and that will work well with your space, start by perusing photos of other rooms, spaces and homes that you find most appealing. These other designs will be a good starting point upon which to base your style. By no means should you "copy" the room, but it does give you a good visual starting point.
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| Image: CasaSugar |
2. Keep your Space in Mind - Very often the current fit out and architectural design of your space can dictate your design style. A very contemporary home would not pair well with oversized victorian furniture. Of course, if your preference is more eclectic, you can seamlessly mix styles without it seeming out of place.
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| Image: Mimosas in the Morning via Elle Decor |
3. Budget - Set budgetary limitations so that you know what you will be able to afford. It is not uncommon to phase-in large pieces of furniture or other key aspects of your decor, rather than purchasing everything at once.
4. Floorplan - Create a rough floor plan of where you might want items to be placed. This is a great way to, at the very least, get some measurements down. You'll figure out very quickly if the sectional sofa you wanted will really work.
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| Image: CasaSugar |
5. Purpose of the Room - Is this a smaller room with cozy nooks and crannies or is it wide open to encourage openness and socializing? The purpose of your room can dictate exactly what type of decor would fit best. If you are trying to maximize on space in a small apartment, you need to consider small pieces that will show off your space, while making the room appear larger than it is. Likewise, in a large open, loft-like space, you may want to consider larger pieces that create certain breaks in the landscape of the room.
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| Image: Eclectic Trends |
6. Color Schemes - You may have absolutely no clue about where to start with picking colors. That's ok. It's not uncommon. Even if you have an idea, you may quickly change your mind once you start thinking of how elements in the room will come together. We are so fascinated by the color selection process, we wrote about selecting colors for your home and tips for pulling color schemes from decor. It is a good idea to put the color scheming to use and paint small areas of your space, just to see which color fits best. Even if you only end up painting one wall as an accent wall, it adds so much more personality to your decor.
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| Image: Cents and Centsabilities |
7. Investment Pieces - The most important pieces of furniture, the ones you use the most, should really be considered an investment in your home's future. When you skimp in this area, often you trade comfort, durability and satisfaction for price. It's ok to have some less expensive pieces put in place while you wait for your big purchase. Then, you can just move those other pieces to another part of the house.
8. Accessorize - Don't forget that accessories can add just as much personality to your space as your big furniture purchases. Search for art, rugs, photos, lamps, throw pillows, fabrics and collectibles either from your own stash or for purchase. The best part about accessorizing is that you can mix some relatively inexpensive excellent finds in with expensive investment pieces and most people won't notice the difference. Don't forget the old adage (well, at least a popular designer quote): "a rug can make a room." Finding that one piece to pull all of decor together can truly make a difference.
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| Image: House Beautiful via South Shore Decorating Blog |
9. Make Mistakes - Don't worry about making mistakes. It is bound to happen. Don't be afraid to test items in your space. If you hate them, return them or exchange them. You may not get it right the first time, but that's ok. Let your space be your creative palette and have run expressing yourself.
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| The "After" of the Room Above Image: LoveLIveDIY |
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