The questions you’ll want to ask yourself when trying to spark inspiration for your next decorating project!
The intention is to ignite your own senses to creatively bring your interests and passions into your favorite spaces…
The thought of starting a decorating project is exciting! But for some, it can be terrifying depending upon your experience. If you’ve never done any decorating before, you might feel you don’t know where, or how to get started. So… what should you do first?
You really can start wherever you want, but it really does help if you start with a plan.
Ask yourself – What’s working in my space now, and what’s not? How do I feel when I’m in my space?
Let’s break it down further by applying 5 questions to these before and after examples…
1. Does my space inspire me?
Finding inspiration for your new look can come from almost anywhere. For example, what you do for a living, how you spend your downtime, where you like to go on vacation, or even your hobbies. Not all ideas have to come from your own experiences. Magazines, style blogs, your favorite restaurant or hotel can start those creative juices flowing. houzz.com has oodles of inspiration pics as well!
Inspiration:
The inspiration for this space came from the homeowners trip to Turkey. I’m thinking that might be obvious! 🙂
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2. Does my space feel like me?
When you get home and walk in the door, do you have that ahh – feeling of complete serenity? Do you feel your space nurtures you? It should.
A place to look for inspiration is right in your own home. Start with the things you love and build a room around them. Not everyone can afford to start with an empty space. Most of us already have furniture, accessories, and architectural features that we’re not ready to get rid of. When trying to find your personal style, stay away from furniture stores that sell collections where every piece matches. Instead, find elements that speak to you as an individual.
Inspiration:
The inspiration for this space came from family heirlooms passed on to the homeowner when she inherited her mother’s home. She loves being surrounded by the things she grew up with and cherishes. Sweet memories!
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3. Does my space feel blah, boring, or bland?
When your space feels uninviting and/or uninteresting, you’re less likely to want to spend time in this space. Instead of a peaceful sanctuary, it feels forgotten. A surefire way to combat that blase’ feeling is to make sure your space has enough texture, pattern, and shine. Not only will your space look interesting, you might find that you can’t help wanting to spend time in it!
Inspiration:
The inspiration for this space came from the homeowner. She felt that there was something off with her space. She knew enough to identify that something wasn’t quite right, but she didn’t know how to fix it. Here’s what we did: TEXTURE: We used an existing rug and sofa from another space, a new reclaimed wood coffee table, and a cashmere throw blanket. PATTERN: We used existing chairs and rug, new pillows (forefront of pic), and three new pots. SHINE: We added this with a new polished nickel light fixture and coffee table. Smart thinking!
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4. Does my space feel dark, and maybe a little depressing?
Evidence shows that on sunny days people are more optimistic than on dark, gloomy days. This can affect our emotions, energy, happiness, and even our appetite. Check out these 6 Ways Light Can Affect Your Emotions.
Inspiration:
The inspiration for this space came from the homeowner’s desire for a lighter, brighter, more modern space. They love their portrait paintings and pop art collection. We were able to lighten up this space by changing the curtains from cream to white, adding a white rug and coffee table, and installing a modern 8-Light Sputnik Chandelier. The space became brighter in color with the addition of the aqua sofa, the red chair and the yellow lamp. All colors found in their artwork. Fun space!
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5. Does my space feel closed off from the rest of the house?
Get the most out of your home by utilizing underused rooms. Do you find yourself not wanting to go in a space because it’s completely isolated from the rest of the house? Do you find yourself wanting to eat at the kitchen counter or the sofa rather than the dining room? Well then! It’s time to open things up! Trust me, it’ll feel like you’ve added square footage.
Inspiration:
Nothing motivates us to take on a major decorating project more than a special event, holiday, and/or empty nesting. All three of these scenarios were the motivating inspiration for the transformation of these spaces.
By doubling the existing opening from the living room to the dining room, and creating an 11 foot opening to the family room, we completely transformed the functionality and appeal of this home. The key to the success of these spaces was making sure they felt cohesive. We achieved this by tying everything together with freshly-refinished floors, neutral wall colors, off-white linen upholstery, and gold accents in all three spaces. The party was a huge success – BTW!
Just remember, the most important part of all this is to have fun. Arm yourself with knowledge and a good plan. Then, go for it!!!!
HAPPY TWEAKING!
"12 Tips to Tweak Your Way to a Happy Space”