- Identify your Style:
It is most important to ask yourself how you want to feel in the space you are decorating - do you want the space to feel elegant, modern, cozy or comfortable? A good tip for identifying your taste is to simply take a look at your closet - do you prefer a tailored piece or do you prefer looser, more comfortable pieces? Is there a repetition of certain colors or patterns?
Think back to a certain hotel or restaurant you've visited that really caught your eye with its decorating style. Ask yourself what were the components of that décor that caught your eye - was it the colors, the texture of the furniture or something else?
- Think about the Things You Don't Like:
It might even be much easier to figure out what you don't like than what you do like. A good tip is to write down a list of the things you don't like so you can hone in on the things and ideas that catch your eye to make the perfect decor. For example, dark Mahogany colored furniture may remind you of gloomy winter days and these memories and reactions are very personal and individual, but they also determine our taste.
- Build a Design Around Your Space:
Scale and proportion are very important when designing the interiors of a property. If you have a large space at your disposal, then you have a free hand to opt for large furniture. On the other hand, if you have a small space, it will be more appropriate to choose neat, low-line furniture. Symmetry can often make a room feel too contrived, while an asymmetrical arrangement will feel much more casual. Proportion and scale are key in any design.
- Take a Paint Sample:
The choice of paint is so important when choosing a color to consider how colors affect our mood and go back to the first point as to how you want to feel in that room.
Test the colors in the room in both natural daylight and artificial light at night. Pay close attention to the shades of paint, some have cool undertones and some have warm undertones. Your paint specialist will be able to help and advise you. Also, keep in mind that outdoor vegetation and surroundings can strongly affect the light temperature.
- Mix High and Low Points:
Not everything has to be gorgeous to be important. For example, a display of a collection of simple pebbles from a beach may look just as appealing as a collection of valuable silver teapots, depending on your space. A vintage rug found at a flea market may compete with a contemporary wool rug. However, it's always worth splurging on something you truly love and know you'll cherish and enjoy for a lifetime.
- Start from Zero:
People often wonder where to start and a design project can be very overwhelming. Always start from scratch. Thinking about the floor will help you visualize how other elements can be placed on it. If you select a neutral tone or a natural fiber without a lot of patterns or colors, you will have more options for colors and upholstery. If you decide to start with a vintage rug, you can draw colors from it to use in the rest of the scheme. If you choose your sofa or drapery fabric first, you will be more limited with your choices for the overall design. Starting with the base is much easier to layer.
Last and not least, it's essential to take your time!