Collaborative Post
The world has gone decorating mad over the past year. With every time stuck inside during the lockdown, home renovation projects boomed, with 3 in 5 UK households using the time to finish an interior design project.
However, interior design is changing all the time. Whether you are a follower of the craft or not, there are some things you can do to boost your creativity when it comes time to put a brush to paint.
Visualize with Software
Computer software has many applications, and one of the best is accurate visualization. For example, when planning a project, you could sit down with a professional at your local showroom to use a bathroom design tool. But there are home software packages you can use as well.
Houzz is an excellent tool for AR visualization. At the same time, SketchUp is the best free interior planning tool, easy enough for beginners and comprehensive enough for professionals. Alternatively, you could use your kids’ copy of The Sims 4 for a rough idea of what you want.
Check Current Trends
Whether you are a dedicated follower of fashion or not, it might be by checking some of the currently trending ideas in interior design. While you might not want to outright copy the ideas of someone else or go with the flow, as it were, you can always find some inspiration on the web.
The image-based nature of Pinterest means it is always an excellent starting point for visualization and generating your own ideas of where you want to go. From there, you can begin to research how to execute your vision with professional advice from top designers.
Try Something a Little Different
Just because something is trending doesn’t mean you have to follow it. Keep in mind that you are decorating your home and the finished project is ultimately for yourself or your family. Therefore, it needs to be comfortable for you and not for others.
Perhaps you could go against the grain a little and try a different approach to an established idea. Maybe try some unpopular interior design ideas such as retro tiling, false plants or geometric wall patterns.
Decorate for Yourself and Your Family
As mentioned above, you decorate your home for yourself and your family. However, it is best to keep in mind that some rooms are used by everyone while others are personal. Therefore, it is helpful to decorate these rooms accordingly.
For example, your 4-year old little girl may not appreciate the subtle earthy tones that accentuate your oak furniture. This is fine for your lounge, but the kids might feel it’s a bit boring for their bedroom. They will prefer brighter colours and more unicorns, if possible.
Experiment with Different Styles
This is a horrific thought for some designers, but mixing styles will allow you to apply your own ideas to a project if done subtly and correctly. Clearly, not all types are mixable; ultra-modern and Mission just won’t blend. However, Mission and Shaker are similar and compatible.
The same can be said of colouring and decor patterns. You are probably aware that some colours accentuate each other perfectly, but pattern grouping can achieve great results. For example, polka dots and stripes work well with floral prints.
Your post made me smile. Trying something different is surprisingly difficult! Good tips, though.