Many clients ask me where they should begin when they consider a new design project in their homes. There are some good basic guidelines that everyone should follow.
1. Start with a Master Plan
The very first thing you should do is draw a floor plan of the space you want to work on. Sketch it out with the windows and doors in place and figure out where you want the furniture to be placed. Have some short term and long term goals in mind when planning the space. For instance, if you have your eye on a beautiful antique that you are saving up for, plan the space around this piece for the future when you can afford to bring it home.
Keep an eye on how this room interacts with the rest of the home. How do the floors connect? The wall colors should not be jarring and disconnected from the other adjoining spaces.
Don't forget that rooms should evolve over time.
2. Focal Point
Every room needs a focal point. Decide what in the room draws the eye when you enter the room. It can be architectural like a fireplace or it can be a great piece of furniture like a secretary or a fabulous work of art. Build the rest of the room around your focal point. Enhance it with the right colors and furniture choices. Don't have all the furniture at the same height. Your eye should be drawn to something tall that is best situated centered on a wall.
3. Comfort and Lifestyle
Every room should look great but don't forget that it needs to be comfortable too! Make sure that your sofa is not only inviting to look at , but comfortable to sit in. If you are tall perhaps choose a sofa that is deeper if your room allows the space. You can always get a sofa that has a tight back without any back pillows if your room won't allow an extra deep sofa. Just make it interesting with throw pillows.
If you have young children or pets....maybe put off that white sofa you love and wait until the kids are older. You need to consider how you live and how much maintenance you are able to spend time on.
4. Consider Scale
Room proportion is key to help you decide on the scale of your furniture and fabric selections. All the furniture should be in similar proportion to each other. You would not want to put a very small scale club chair next to a huge sofa. It would look out of whack!
Don't have all your fabric prints be the same size in pattern. You should choose one larger pattern which is best suited for either drapery panels or a window treatment or put it on a large piece of upholstery like a sofa. Choose smaller patterns that enhance the larger pattern, and of course have a solid or textured fabric in the mix as well. The carpet or area rug choice is also determined by the fabrics you choose...nothing should be too busy. If you have lots of fabric patterns happening in the room , go with a simple rug. Your eye needs some calm in the room.
Our homes tell so much about us and our personalities. Take the time to plan your next project. Let it evolve over time and enjoy the whole process!
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