As an interior designer, I have heard a lot of stories (and seen examples) from clients who moved to a new house and made basic design mistakes. When you buy your dream home, it feels so good and exciting! Most people think the hard part is over, and only realize afterwards they need to furnish it as well.
You can avoid these honest mistakes with a little planning. These are the top five mistakes one should try to avoid:
5. Falling for items in catalogs that arrive in the mail. The glossy pages and well-lit photography make the products look appealing. Mail-ordering seems easy and convenient because you don’t have to leave your home, you just wait for your new furniture to arrive. But when you buy something sight unseen, you may receive a piece that is too big, too small, or of disappointing quality. Do yourself a favor and verify what you want in a store or with someone who understands your preferences and can tailor your look.
4. Calling the painter before selecting your paint colors. An impending appointment with the painters may send you into a panic and hurried decision making. Choosing exactly the right color and hue for a room can take time, and a professional designer can help you see how color, light and decor can complement each other to create the right feeling. It can be nearly impossible to stand in front of a wall of thousands of tiny paint chips and pick the right one. Do a color consultation with a professional, and avoid paying your painter twice to do the same job.
3. Thinking room design has to be done all at once, or quickly. When faced with the choice between doing something fast or doing it right, you can’t have both. Good quality furniture can take between six weeks and three months to be delivered. And as I mention above, it can take time to get the color scheme right. But buying good furniture means investing in a product that will last a lifetime, and it is worth waiting for. When setting your budget priorities for design, think long term. Make a short-term plan and a longer-term wish list, so you stay focused. This way you get the look you want, even if it takes you a year to achieve your ultimate goal.
2. Not having a floor plan before you go shopping. This is the quickest way to make the biggest and most expensive mistakes! Today we would get lost without GPS or Google maps, just like you might get overwhelmed and lost in a furniture store without a floor plan as your guide. A proper floor plan is your road map to success.
1. Not hiring an interior designer. Sure I’m biased, but I also know from experience how many mistakes — like the ones above, and so many more — will be avoided when you hire a professional. When you set out to design your new home, consider the bigger picture, not just mistake avoidance. An expert can help you develop flow in your home’s color scheme, make rooms feel inviting, and display an elegant yet livable style. Shouldn’t you love where you live? I make sure my clients do.
Heather McManus
Artistry Interiors
January 8, 2015
Marcio Wilges
1 Nov 2015Being in home removals for half a decade, I think it’s all exactly as you’ve said! It’s shiny and new and so exciting when there’s nothing in your kitchens and living rooms and bedrooms – all a blank canvas to play with. But without proper planning, you’ll never be able to achieve all those ideas in your head!