Albert Einstein once said, “Out of clutter, find simplicity.” Whenever you are facing the difficult task of taking on an interior design project or a redesign, it’s best to go back to the beginning.
Fred Albert, Houzz staff writer and editor, recently wrote a great article on starting with the basics, “Decorating 101: How To Start A Decorating Project.” In it he suggests these steps to facing the sometimes daunting task of beginning the project:
- Look at what you already have – do you like some of the room, the color, fabric, decor, etc?
- Repeat what you like and discard the rest.
- Write a “wishlist” of what you want if money were no object as opposed to what you can do now.
- Prioritize that list.
- Save pictures of design you love like on Houzz or Pinterest – take your time to collect your ideas.
- Get your significant other involved, otherwise – it may be a fight at the end!
- Trust your instincts – if you gravitate toward color, decor, furniture, architecture, etc. there’s a reason.
- Now, start weeding out the best – what design is calling your name? Which furniture pieces can you see yourself lounging in? What colors make you feel good?
- Figure your budget.
- Decide if you’ll wait and do it all at once or a bit at a time – although for some it’s hard to live with a partially finished project.
In the end, it’s about living with that environment. Fred gives a great quote to keep in mind: “Life’s too short to live with things you don’t love.”
What’s a project you are struggling to start?