It’s a matter of finding your inspiration!
Finding that ONE item that makes you smile every time you look at it is key to a successful interior design scheme. It doesn’t have to be furniture; it could be a scarf, a vase, a painting, for example. That item is then the starting point to create your theme.
For Nik and me a sofa was ‘the thing.’ I guess as I work with them more days than not, it was an obvious choice – I see lots of them! But this sofa is awesome. Comfy, colourful and a little bit out of the ordinary. It’s now providing the ideal inspiration for what is becoming our favourite room.
Start building the picture
When you find your inspiration, whatever that might be, you can start to build a picture. Some people are better at this than others, and the ideas flow thick and fast. But if it doesn’t come naturally to you, and you feel you’re continually hitting a wall, don’t worry. Find your ‘muse’ and work back from there.
I’m not saying it’s easy if that’s not the way your brain works. The key is to break it down – don’t think of the project as a whole room. Working from a colour you love, a picture or something that has some significant meaning is, as I said, a great starting point. It’s amazing how other ideas can fall in to place from this.
Once you have that one item as your focus, you’ll start to notice other things that link to it – without realising you’re doing so. It’s incredible how this works – there’s lots of science behind how/why – but I won’t bore you just yet J
Collecting samples and pictures to create a scrapbook or mood board of your ideas allows you to test what can work (or not!). You can progress ideas before spending lots of money on paints, wallpaper, carpets etc.
What’s your Focal point?
Rooms without architectural details can present a challenge. Fact. A newer home will often not have a focal point like a fire-place. But featuring a statement piece of furniture can similarly focus attention. Sadly, it won’t keep you as warm J
That sofa (or chair, or mirror, or light fitting…) will set the tone for your décor. Link this by colour to curtains and window treatments to draw the eye to frame a view and pull the room together. By playing with stripes, patterns, textures it will draw the eye and help build a theme. One of our clients has a successful formula which she has implemented to great effect in each of her (40 odd!) rooms. Here’s what she does: She selects a single item, a small painted antique chair, or a favourite fabric, and builds on that. She tries to incorporate nine different design elements into each room; linking each through a colour scheme with each element referring back to that one article.
It’s YOUR room – own it!
Interior designers use mood boards with colours, pictures and fabrics. Add different samples to see what effect a different quantity of each colour can have on a scheme. Bold accent colours are often used in small amounts. Adding a few scatter cushions in a bright colour can bring life into a room, without making it overwhelming. Link these to a ceramic dish in a similar hue and a lampshade or two, and you will begin to see a theme emerging that’s nice and easy on the eye.
Don’t forget; it’s always going to be what works for you – what makes you smile every time you walk into the room. It’s worth remembering too that people (yep people like me!) are very good at giving advice and telling you what to do. But remember, at the end of the day, it’s your home, your place to relax and enjoy. So take on board any advice but only do what feels right for you.
See, once again, simple!
