When you start decorating your home you have dreams, needs and they will fill quickly your Wish list. We make our Do list, but even more important is a Not To Do list. This list will help you to realize without extra stress your dream project.
Don’t go shopping without intention
I know the feeling when you can finally start decorating your new home or have the budget to redecorate a room in your house or apartment. Let’s go shopping! We see a nice armchair, a rug, some amazing wallpaper. All will stay in boxes or wrapped in plastic till the moment that you can unpack and arrange the room and than you discover that the color of the armchair doesn’t fit the wallpaper and the rug is not exactly what you had in mind as color or dimension. A good plan will help you to reflect on what you need and what you want, than you go shopping.
Don’t put to much furniture in a room
A part of planning well you project is taking care that all you will see and want to buy fits the room. Take the time to make a furniture plan and you will know if you can buy a sofa of two meter or can have a longer one or even two meter won’t fit the space. It is important that there is space to get around the room without bumping into the furniture. Imagine some sharp edges, yes, a good furniture plan will prevent this.
image on the right via Home Designing - living room via Twitter
Don’t buy without checking dimensions
So we know now the size of the sofa, the length of the table, dimensions of the rugs. Great start, but there is more to take a look at. It looks amazing to have at the head of the table a type of armchair in combination with normal chairs along the table. Check seat height, it should be the same as the seat height of the other chairs. The armrest can go under the table top? Small details can make the difference between a beautiful interior and an amazing interior.
dining room via House Beautiful - meter via Unsplash
Don’t start by deciding on the paint color
Painting the walls in a color can have an amazing impact. So choosing a special color for a wall in a living room before you buy the sofa or decide on the color of the the curtains can make you paint allover again. It is much easier to adapt the paint color to the fabrics than the other way around. There are thousands of colors for paint, fabrics come in a limited color choice. A good way to start getting into your project is by selecting images of things you like and take this as a color inspiration for your home. But don’t get scared now and paint all in white.
image on the left via My Attic - other images via Pinterest
Don’t use different colors in each room
Making this mood board will help you to have a general color harmony to use throughout the house. Don’t start painting each room in a different color. Repeat colors: maybe you paint the entrance in a color and use this color for the headboard of the bed, repeat it in small touches on the decorative pillows. The color of the walls in the living room can be the color for the curtains in another room. A painting can give inspiration for the color of the sofa. Choosing colors can be stressful, but like this you have a guideline and you can choose your colors and fabrics with confidence. Don’t be afraid to use colors, they bring life to the space.
living room via Sarah Vaile Design - bedroom via Apartment Therapy
Don’t use to bold colors in the living room
You love strong colors? Great, you can use them, but maybe not such a good idea to paint the walls in the living room in a dark and strong color, you will spend a lot of time in this room. How do you want to feel in this room? Think about a room that will look amazing in a bold color. Could be the entrance and you create a wow effect for your guests. Or even for yourself, every time you come home. Another room where you can make more impact with color is the powder room.
living room via Regards et Maisons - entrance via Elle Decor
Don’t create a showroom look
Years ago it was very stylish to buy a set of furniture. Now it is no longer a statement of good taste, but as you were not sure what to buy and by buying a set you were sure not to make a mistake. Make it personal, make it you. Look in magazines how interior designer are combining furniture and different styles. I know it is not easy, but you can do it.
curtains Good Earth - chair La Furniture Store - hanging shade Cicra
Don’t just follow trends
Great to see those latest trends, they all inspire us to do something new. But think twice: are you still going to like your bathroom with all the sanitary objects in color in a few years? Remember the bathrooms of the fifties and the seventies, they also had this trend. Or that dark kitchen you see now in every interior design magazine, is it really you? Just get inspired and add touches. Colorful towels will change the look of your bathroom in an instant, same for some small accessories. Black in the kitchen? Paint one wall in black chalk paint or invest in an amazing cooking stove, this you will still love in 10 years.
black kitchen via Pufik - white kitchen via Houzz - Bell lamp Normann Copenhagen - cooking stove La Cornue
Don’t go shopping without intention - Plan well from the start
Don’t put to much furniture in a room - Make a floor plan
Don’t buy without checking dimensions - Small details can make a difference
Don’t start by deciding on a paint color - Make a mood board and a color harmony for your project
Don’t use different colors in each room - Repeat colors in other proportions
Don’t use bold colors in living room - Use bold colors in entrance and powder room for a wow effect
Don’t create a showroom look - Make it personal, mix it up
Don’t follow trends - let trends inspire you
Hope this blog post helped you to get organized. Don’t hesitate to write me if you have questions. And I can always guide you through the process in a few coaching sessions so you will have all the confidence you need to get started and create your dream home.
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