Where do I start the process of interior design?
The
beginning stages of home décor can be daunting for some. The
step-by-step process will take you from developing your own personal
style to outlining the priorities when considering each room.
Professionals will use the principles of good interior design, high
quality and value for money to turn your design vision into a
reality. However, you may still mastermind your own decorating ideas
to suit your individual style and preferences.
If
you are looking for any room ideas in particular, homify have a
simplified rooms page. This lets you view the most popular
photographs of the day. It also acts as an overview for the available
categories for room ideas and home decor and even where to find local
experts in South Africa alongside international inspiration. The
website has been designed to help you easily navigate your way around
the platform, with the rooms tab acting as the starting point for
your interior design journey. By listing out each category, you can
be sure to find exactly what you need efficiently and quickly. With
popular homify experts, architecture and design you may find yourself
completely immersed in the thousands of interior design ideas at your
fingertips.
How
do I discover suitable home decorating ideas?
Initially
professional interior designers would present you with a design
concept booklet or “lookbook”to inspire you. The homify website
has an impressive collective knowledge of current market trends. Just
take a look at our ideabook function. No matter which stage your
project is at, it helps you to find inspiring ideas and pictures you
like. To help you prepare, you are then able to create a scrapbook
with all your interior design ideas, with the function of writing
exactly what made you like them.
It
takes a certain eye to create rooms that are both extraordinary and
functional. Collecting decorating ideas in one place helps design
decisions from the start. Magazines and design websites are full
of design inspiration.
If
you have not already begun to create inspiration boards for your home
decor, then begin now — this is the first step to creating the home
you desire. Gather design images that excite you, or simply grab some
design magazines and cut out pictures that you are fond of.
After
gathering creative images this should tell the story of your
particular taste. This is useful for preparing the exact design style
of your project.
Start
using the homify ideabook function to search for home styles that
appeal to you. There are hundreds of different pictures under every
category, so whether you’re looking for just bathroom designs or
for your perfect kitchen idea; we have it all. You can save a photo
into your personal ideabook and it is then automatically stored in
your profile with the possibility to add text. On homify we have
everything from bedrooms to dressing rooms, accessories to storage,
furniture to unique lighting ideas so take a look at some of our
brilliant architects, interior designers and furniture designers
to gain some inspiration for your home.
Is
colour scheme important when choosing interior design ideas?
Now
that you have a good idea of your individual style, you may wish to
choose a color scheme for your home decor. It can be incredibly
personal since colour choices affect our moods differently. Look out
for prominent colour patterns in your ideabooks. Try to notice the
three recurring colour combinations for walls, accessories and
furniture. If you decide only to go with one colour for a particular
room, use three different shades of your favourite colour.
How
do I attain unique home décor for small rooms?
Having
too many small pieces in one room is a common interior design flaw.
To avoid a cluttered look, add some big statement furniture pieces. A
well mixed room of big and small items can dramatically change a
rooms look and feel. Mixing furniture sizes adds balance. Even if you
are decorating a small room there are plenty of room ideas to try.
Most
designers will recommend that even the smallest of rooms have one
large statement piece, such as a large cupboard or dresser. A mixture
of big and little is key to a successful design. On the homify
website you can browse thousands of smaller room ideas to get
started.
What
type of detail should I add to my room ideas?
Pictures
of a room will allow you to see the interior design from a different
view point, helping to see if you went wrong somewhere along the way.
It’s your space so create a home that portrays who you are. Natural
arrangements add the final touch to a room.
It
is a simple design tip but adding flowers to every room will give it
a final touch.
To
arrange loose items you could use trays, decorative bowls and baskets
on your coffee table or side table. Smaller items and accessories are
imperative to a layered, decorated aesthetic and can hide a lot of
clutter.
You
could also start thinking about texture which is just as important as
colour. Fabrics and textiles like velvet, silk, linen and cotton are
all effective elements creating a warm, rich environment.
How
do I choose the right paint colours for my walls?
The
homify website if filled with inspiration to help you picture varying
colours for your homes walls. Visiting different paint store gets the
inspirational juices flowing too. There are also some useful apps
such as the Dulux Visualizer which you can download to see your
favourite colours on your own walls. It uses the latest augmented
reality technology so you can instantly see how colours look in real
time, as if they’re right on your walls. Just open the app, point
your phone or tablet at the wall you’d like to paint, and tap a
paint colour. You can quickly and easily swap between paints. When
you’ve finished exploring, you can save your colour choices and get
the opinions of family and friends.
What
are suitable decorating ideas for my kitchen?
A
solid, well-fitted kitchen can open up and improve your homes entire
ambience and the idea is to fit one that can withstand style trends.
If you are working to a tight budget, start with small changes such
as replacing handles, door units and the worktop. Replacing the wall
tiles will provide an effective, simple refresh.
When
redesigning a kitchen, put function first and allow for enough
storage for appliances that otherwise would clutter up countertops.
What
are some good finishing touches for my interior design ideas?
Your
finishing touches will differ for every room. For example, adding one
accessory that is oversized and out of proportion will make a room
far more interesting. Eliminate items when rooms get overly cluttered
and display only what you love. An important element in successful
design is to also acquire and surround yourself with meaningful
objects that inspire you and take you on a journey. Accessories, art,
plants, rugs and flowers bring “life” to any room. Always keep a
little in the budget reserved for these finishing touches.
Are
there any tips to further improve my home décor?
Focus
on a corner or wall that you loveand take note of why you think
its working. Take what’s working and spread it out around the room a
little more. See what adding more of what you love in the room does
to the feel of it.
For
added detail, consider room ideas and textiles that suit your
lifestyle. If you have kids and dogs, then you may not want a light
cotton sofa, rather a darker leather or mohair sofa may suit your
needs. If you crave luxury then consider high-end silk draperies and
pillows.
Whatever
your style, try to add plenty of texture by adding numerous textiles
into your home.
How
to: use accessories to decorate your space
Collectibles,
memorabilia, antiques, sculptures, keepsakes,
wall
art and cushions are all accessories which complement a design.
Choosing a monochrome theme will blend colours in and create a
soothing affect. Contrasting colours will stand out and provide a
visual pop. Consider the overall aesthetic of your room and choose
the colours of your home décor accessories accordingly.
While
its good to keep within the style constraints of your interior
design, your personality should also be reflected in the choice of
accessories.
How
to: window treatments
Choosing
the right window treatment for each room will depend on whether you
want privacy, light, or both. There is plenty of inspiration
available for blinds, drapes, curtains or shades. Depending on the
number of windows in a living room for example, it may need some
extra light. If you would like natural light to help brighten the
room, semi-sheer fabric window treatment would help in this case
How
to: Staging
For
most people the hardest part of staging your home for living is
finding the motivation to get started. Tackling repairs is often
last on our to do list when life gets busy and they can be costly. If
the time ever comes when your house needs to be sold, real estate
agents will ask you to carry out repairs. Eventually, the repairs
need to happen. Take a notepad and create a to-do list of minor home
repairs and you will find that most of the minor repairs can be
handled in just a few minutes.
How
to: Lighting room ideas
It’s
always good to consider the function of the room when putting
together decorating ideas for lighting.
A
dimmer for example works best in a dining room, but is recommended
throughout the house to give you mood and flexibility. When it comes
to bathrooms, some say to go the clinical route—the brighter the
better in bathrooms but Much ambience can be achieved with the
addition of candles, especially in the bathroom.
How
to: Spot clutter
Reducing
clutter has become a main goal of many renovation projects, and there
are a number of ways that you can integrate organization into your
home’s new interior design.
It is a sure-fire way for your home décor
to feel more organized, clean and manageable. Ironically clutter is
also created by the stuff we use to decorate our homes. Another
source of clutter comes from the items we love but never use.
Memorabilia, souvenirs and old things we are attached to can cause
clutter. Organized homes often require plenty of shelving and a home
remodel can be an opportunity to create uncluttered rooms for a
cleaner look. Other common clutter sources can include bills,
paperwork, piles of dirty or clean laundry, old music, photographs,
tools, related hardware, appliances and their parts, electronic
devices and chargers.
