Interior design is fun to do, but hard to get right. Something that looks great on paper or in a magazine doesn’t always translate to our home in the way we’d like.
That’s not to say it’s impossible to nail; far from it! Some of the most beautiful homes imaginable didn’t get that way overnight, or on the first try. They were painstakingly crafted using every last tool on the planet, but ultimately, it’s worth it.
And you can get there too, with the help of the following top tips. Above all, don’t be shy to express yourself fully, and make the home that you want to live in.
Make sure your decorations match your house style
The great thing about modern homes is that no two look the same. Each house has its own identity, which can be used to your advantage if you’re smart. Depending on the look and feel of your building itself, you will have certain interior design choices that fit, and some that won’t.
If your building is more traditional, and a little older, then perhaps a traditional interior design choice would be suitable. The Hamptons interior design is a mix of old-world elegance and glamour, for example. A house that looks a bit more modern will find a more modern interior design more beneficial. Weigh up the look and feel of your property and decide on what style would best suit your interior.
Place your focus on things that will be there forever
Interior design covers many areas, from wallpapering to furnishings to appliances. Some of these areas will be more long-standing than others, and that’s where you should place most of your focus.
Imagine you were building your own house. Where would you pump most of your cash? Would you pump it into the temporary or unimportant measures, like your doorknobs or the look of your back door? Or would you focus on the architecture and the plumbing, the core materials that will be around far longer?
The answer is obvious, and the same goes with the interior, too. Your wallpapering will generally be more long-standing than say, your cushions, which can be destroyed by pets. Focus on the bigger picture before moving onto the tiny details!
Don’t worry about what other people may think
Doing so can restrict your creativity and can stop you designing a home that you truly want. You’ll be the person living in it, so it should be you who decides how it looks! Don’t let popular trends or the thoughts of your friends influence your choices. If you want a pink rug with brown wallpaper, you go for it!
Create a concept board
Noticing something in a shop, liking it and blind buying isn’t the way to build a perfect home look. You have to take a look at whether it will fit in your house, first. One of the best ways to do this is to create concepts, whether electronic or sketched, to get an idea of what you want.
You can either bring out the pen and paper, or use sites like Pinterest to create concept boards. There’s a lot of other inspiration on here too, so don’t be afraid to poach other people’s ideas!
