How to Start a Decorating Project

Posted on: July 13th, 2018

Whether you’re looking to revamp a room that feels stale or you’ve just moved into your dream home, starting a decorating project can be overwhelming. With endless options for furniture, artwork, fabric and paint swatches, you need to have a plan in place, so you get your beautiful room and keep your sanity. Here is our step-by-step guide to getting your decorating project off the ground.

 

Step 1: Assess What You Already Have

Unless you have unlimited resources, a good place to start is by taking an inventory of what you already have. That vintage French settee might still have some use if you add the right accent pillows. Ask yourself:

• What pieces do I still like?
• Can this furniture be revamped?
• Do I have the budget to replace this or can I make replacements gradually?

 

Step 2: Decide How You Want to Use the Room

You may have fallen in love with a dramatic formal dining room in a magazine, but your kids just want to eat cereal on the countertop. Just because you can dream it doesn’t mean you should do it. Take into consideration your life circumstances when deciding on a room’s use. Some questions to think about:

• Who will use this room?
• How do you want the room to feel?
• Are there any fixtures or features that cannot be changed?

 

Step 3: Get Inspired

Here is where all the fun starts. Go on Pinterest, watch HGTV, flip through design magazines or visit hotels to find nuggets of inspiration. Whether you use an online tool or work by hand, create a vision board with pictures, sketches and words to figure out a cohesive theme for your project.

At this stage, it’s important to really hone your desired style. Whether its vintage romantic, shabby chic or French countryside, decide now what style you’re trying to achieve.

Step 4: Research

Now is the time to start pricing out furniture, art and other purchases you want to make. It’s also important to figure out if you need to hire a contractor or painter for any work that needs to be outsourced. Careful research will save you headaches down the road. 

Step 5: Determine a Budget

It’s easy to get lost in the fantasy of your beautiful new room, however, set financial limits. Choose what things you want to splurge on versus what you can make yourself. Setting a realistic budget will help you save money and ensure that you’re able to finish the project.

Step 6: Set a Schedule

Once you get into it, decorating is addicting. Make a schedule for yourself with achievable deadlines – this will prevent you from both procrastinating and getting sucked into a project that never ends. A schedule also helps you plan and manage expectations because in the world of design, there are always surprises.

Starting a decorating project is exciting but can also be daunting. A little bit of planning can go a long way in helping you achieve your desired room.