Moving into a new home can be one of life’s greatest joys, but it can also be a time of uncertainty, especially when it comes to decorating. How do you make your space look its best while reflecting your personal sense of style? Do it well and you’ll end up with a comfortable, happy home. Do it poorly and you’ll end up with a hodge-podge of furniture, fabrics and paint colors. With a little planning, and by following the same steps used by professional interior designers, you’ll have a much greater chance of success.
Think of your room in layers- that will be the easiest way to process each phase of your design. Each layer makes your home cozier than the last. Think of it as a pyramid with 5 layers. Start at the bottom and work your way up in manageable steps.
Start in the room you’re looking to furnish, armed with a measuring tape and a notepa
Matching the scale of furniture to the scale of a room is critical. Before you start designing, measure the length and width of each room you intend to decorate, along with the ceiling height and elements that could get in the way – stairs, columns, radiators and other obstructions.
Once you have the measurements of your room, it’s time to put them to use with a floor plan that gives you a bird’s eye view of the entire home. Once you have the outline of the space, start experimenting with the placement of furniture, making sure that the footprint of each piece is scaled to match the size of the drawing.
Some people say you should pull your color palette from the flooring. Others recommend starting with a piece of art. I suggest starting with the item you’re most in love with. If that’s a rug, pull the color palette from that. If it’s an artwork you own or an outfit you adore, let that dictate the decor. If you’re madly in love with the color yellow, start there.
Paint is the cheapest way to personalize a space, and it will give you the most bang for your buck. Even if you prefer white, find a wonderful white that lends atmosphere.
If you’re reluctant to paint the whole place, just paint an accent wall. If you’re afraid of committing to a bold hue, choose an in-between color. I promise you it’ll look more interesting than linen white.
The ability to control light – both natural and artificial – is important. Sunlight will still usually enter the room from edges. To block it, add curtains with a blackout lining. At night, it’s helpful to have layers of lighting. An overhead light allows you to illuminate the whole room quickly, but may not do much to set the right mood.
The last step to finishing any room is to add art work, but there is no one-size-fits-all approach. In a minimalist space, it might be just a few objects in a grander setup, it could involve displaying entire collections and layers of Objects d’art.
Architect Architect Raghul