Sundays with Ydp: How to decorate an empty room
We’re back! Thanks for understanding our need for a little break. My daughter is gearing up for an internship in New York, my son has taken on a summer job waaaay across town, and my hubby has been traveling a bit….so guess who had to wear a lot of hats the past few weeks?
It’s all good though because I am finally back in the groove.
The inspiration behind many of my posts often come from questions that clients and friends ask. Most recently, I was asked “What is the best way to decorate an empty room”? This is especially challenging for new homeowners who are starting from a blank canvas.
So where do you begin?
- First decide what furniture goes and what stays. Some of us have a favorite item or heirloom piece that we love. This could act as the inspiration for the room.
- Take note of the architectural elements of the space ( stone fireplace, unique ceiling, or niche?) and decide if you want these areas to take center stage.
- See what architectural challenges need to be addressed. Is a fireplace mantel too high? Are the ceilings too low? Is there plenty of wall space or is the room full of windows?
4. Find each room’s focal point. If it doesn’t have a focal point create one. Many times a room can have a primary focal point and a secondary one.
5. Decide on the vibe of each room. This is an important part of our process here at Your design partner. It is essentially the starting point for most projects. Our clients select at least 5 “mood” words that describe the feeling they want to achieve in their space.
Once this is done, all selections and colors are chosen based on the vibe or mood each client is seeking. If you’re going for a calm zen-like atmosphere, you probably want to shy away from excitable hues for example.
6. If you’re unsure where to begin, choose an inspiration piece to get you started. It can be fabric, art, a rug or even an image from your favorite magazine. The colors in the fabrics below can act as the inspiration for an entire room for example; from wall color to carpet, window treatments to furnishings.
7. Try to create a space that is functional, liveable and conversational. You don’t want your furniture to be wallflowers. Bring the seating away from the walls and create spaces that invite intimacy. Make sure there is a place for setting drinks and snacks and you have good lighting options.
8. Take measurements of your room and sketch it out before buying furniture (this will help you purchase the appropriate scale and choose the best layout options.
9. Create an inspiration file on pinterest and houzz and look for a common thread in your images. You just may find your design aesthetic hiding in there.
10.Keep a folder of your inspiration pics, paint swatches, measurements, flooring and fabric samples. These will come in handy as you shop your design plan.
Here’s an example of what we mean
This is our empty room from 2 months ago
And the vibe we wanted for the space
And here are the after shots of the room
Did we achieve our goals? We think so, but we’ve got a few more things to do….so stay tuned.
Design tip this week
Find one inspirational piece for each room you design along with the vibe you want the rooms to have. Once decided, making selections become easy. Your selections will be intentional and with purpose. Stick with the plan and see the magic of each room unfold.
Thanks for stopping by friends. What is your favorite starting point for decorating an empty room? Please share in the comments below!
We help busy homeowners create spaces they can be proud of. Contact us to learn more about our products and services. You can email us at rjackson@yourdesignpartner.com or call 513-409-3759
Inspiring Creativity,
Ricci
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