In many ways, your home should be what you want it to be. Not only should the overall architecture and layout serve the needs of you and your family living there, but the design should also contribute to serving you concerning form, function, and beauty. Gerard Construction has several tips to help you design the room of your dreams to help it serve you better.

Mood

The mood you want to create in a room will differ throughout your home, varies from person to person, and should guide you when you design your space. The mood you want for your bathroom will be different than what you want for a workout space which will be different from a home office. Choose a few words you want people to feel in that room and begin thinking about the colors, materials, and textures associated with those words.

Inspiration

There are already great designs out there to borrow from. By browsing through social media, magazines, websites, and other places to see design, you can get inspired for your own space. When you settle on a picture or concept, think about what you like specifically about that space. It may not even be the entire picture, but a few elements of that room that you want to combine with something else.

Reality

At the end of the day, your design must function. What is the purpose of a space you are designing? If you are working on a kid’s playroom, does it make sense to have breakables and pristine white couches? If you are constantly entertaining, does it make sense to have a small table? Design should support the living you are doing in each of your spaces.

Eliminate

When eliminating design choices you know will not work for you, go ahead and eliminate any items you don’t need in your space. Far too often, we hold on to items that don’t serve a purpose for us or that we don’t love. An item could be better used elsewhere or have a second chance with a friend or family member, but anything irreparable or broken must go.

Plan

Designing a space also involves the layout and furniture you will use in a room. Make a map, either with traditional pen and paper or using free online design tools, play around with different arrangements and make sure what you may envision will work in reality.

Color

You will want to choose a color palette early on to help guide your other design choices to create a cohesive look. You may choose complementary colors, shades, or something more neutral and add in pops of color with small items that can be changed out.

Finishing

Before you put the finishing touches in place, you can look at the actual finishes in the room. Maybe you can paint walls to refresh a space. Other homes may benefit from changing a light fixture or installing built-ins. Even small touches like replacing hardware or updating light and plug covers can help a design.

Start big

You want to choose an anchor piece or two before you work on your smaller elements. If your space needs storage, choose a large hutch or decide on cabinets before you pick aesthetically pleasing baskets to put in them. If you need seating or other large pieces of furniture, start there before you pick out bedding or other items. You want the big pieces to drive the design.

Seconds

Next you will want to choose the smaller pieces of furniture. Some designs can mix and match different styles, finishes, and materials. Others look better with a cohesive look. Build textures and interest in ways that makes sense.

Textiles

A crucial design element is all the textiles and fabrics you will use. From rugs to curtains to bedding, you can choose almost any color and design through the internet, large box stores, or local shops. There is a wide range for the budget you may use on these but be sure the quality will last the period you are looking for. Some homeowners want to switch these items out every few years, while others want something that will last longer.

Lighting

Lighting can come from several sources, from built-in pot lights to a ceiling fan with a lighting fixture to outside sources like windows. Pay attention to the lighting in the room and add lamps and sconces as needed.

Play Around

Now is the time to add in the accessories you want, whether they are travel souvenirs to new items you bought recently. There are different ways to style shelves or to add items to tables and other flat surfaces to bring your design together. You can mix and match until you are happy with your new design.

Designing a space doesn’t have to feel overwhelming, and you can start with any area in your home before moving on to the next. If you need more help with the design of your renovation or if you are considering a new build, contact our Gerard Construction team, today. We can give you the expert advice you need in any step of the build or design process to make the home of your dreams.