Creative Expression
Stop Wandering Around
Do you find yourself wandering around furniture stores endlessly hoping to find some kind of inspiration? Like something is going to jump off the shelves at you and then you will know?
I’ve dealt with so many people who do just that. I ask them what they are looking for and I usually get, “I’ll know it when I see it” answer. I’m hear to tell you that you will never find anything that way.
What you might be envisioning just doesn’t “appear” somewhere and you wind up wasting so much time and energy going from place to place, getting frustrated with no answers.
Sometimes you magically come upon a piece that you love, but that is usually rare. Interior Design takes planning and research. If you are willing to put in the work, then you will be rewarded with a fresh, new look you will love.
Replace or keep
You realize that you want to change things in your home but have no idea where to start. Maybe it’s a little outdated or needs a “re-fresh” with some new paint, carpet or the furniture is worn and needs replacing. It can be difficult to navigate and research through design trends and find out what fits your personality when you don’t know yourself. Hiring a designer is an excellent way to help with all of these concerns.
At the same time, it can also back-fire on you if you aren’t familiar with interiors, colors and styles. Too often than not, a designer will push a client into creating a look that the designer likes, instead of what the customer wants. They have one style they can achieve and then try to convince everyone to go in that direction. Designers should be familiar with all styles of interiors.
I have dealt with this issue many times when a client hires me to help them fix the mess that the previous “designer” created. I use the designer word loosely, because so many are not real designers with a degree or years of training. You don’t hire someone that woke up yesterday and decided to be a designer today. Big mistake! As well as some designers don’t listen long enough or take notes to actually hear what the client is telling them about their needs and desires. The whole point of being a designer is to create a vision for others, but only based on what “they” want and not what the designer wants.
Dream big
One of the first things I always tell my clients is to never follow trends. Why? Because trends come and go like the wind. What is popular today may not be tomorrow and now you are stuck with a look that you spent a lot of money and time on and you wind up disliking it shortly after. It’s okay to follow certain looks if you are attracted to them but make sure it’s something you are really interested in and have wanted for quite some time. In addition to, I always educate clients into picking options based on their personalities and what makes them happy. If the current trend is neutral grey and your favorite color is orange, then we go with orange.
The next step is to learn about balance, so that the final look is pleasing, comforting and not a financial regret in six months. Whatever makes you happy is the decision you should go with. You might need some advice as to how to make this dream come alive and this is where a designer is a big help. They can help with things like space planning, colors, textures, walls, windows, accessories, symmetry, etc. Which are all extremely important. I see many houses that are perfectly fine in decor, except for a few small tweaks that need to be done to improve the space.
Find a Theme and it will flow
Most designers have a natural “eye” for things; you either have it, or you don’t. I can walk into a room and within minutes tell you what needs to change. Space planning is the most problematic issue that I see in almost every home I visit. Not knowing where and how to put things and how they should work together. Color is also important, due to the tones and hues either complementing or fighting with one another.
Most people are afraid to put color anywhere, for fear of making a mistake, and they leave everything neutral or plain white. Not only does it get boring over time, but decisions like these can alter the complete look of the home, losing the natural architecture of the rooms. Everything just “blends” together and all the lines and creativity all disappear. No excitement, no color….just a bland, blank canvas.
The reality is, most people don’t have a specific theme or “look” in mind. I see many items from past to present thrown together in a hodge-podge way with no thought in mind. Eventually over time, nothing seems quite right and it feels uncomfortable in the space(s). You can’t put your finger on the reason, but you just know you don’t like it.
There is a science to Interior Design, and it doesn’t have to break the bank giving you that “model-home” look all the time. Unfortunately, most people don’t know how to rearrange, organize or place items and furniture correctly to create that natural flow that needs to occur in every home, creating that peace that is so paramount in all our lives. If you find yourself in that position, don’t hesitate to hire someone to help you. Not all DIY projects are easy and can leave you broke and frustrated. It’s okay to be creative, as a matter of fact, I encourage it. Your home is for you and not everyone else. You will be much happier in the long run.
