If you’ve come across this you are probably wondering how to start designing your home. You’re sick of coming home to a place that doesn’t make you happy and you have finally decided to do something about it. But don’t worry, you’re not alone, we’re here to help you get through this. Just follow along the 6 steps provided and DON’T skip a single step. They’re in this order for a reason.
Now before we get started, I know you are probably wondering why you should listen. You’re on the website of an interior designer with almost 30 years of experience, and they’re offering you their approach for free, no questions asked. It almost sounds too good to be true. Except it’s not. We have nothing to gain and everything to lose from this transaction. We either do a good job so you won’t need us, or do a bad job so you won’t want us. So what’s in it for us? We recognize that there are only so many clients we can help a day, but that this only a fraction of those who actually need our help. Our company’s goal is to bring your dream home to life, and if we can empower you to do so, without needing our help, it’s a win-win. We are saving time in consultations and you are saving money on an industry professional. So with that out of the way, let’s get on to How To Start Your First DIY Home Design Project.
Step 1: Declutter
Decluttering is always the first step we suggest to clients because it rids the rooms of any distractions that may interfere with you finding the proper style for you. It also provides a clean space to think clearly and begin planning what you will decide to do. Anything that you aren’t planning to keep or throw away can be donated or resold to help fund the rest of your home’s project.
Step 2: Decide What to Keep
There’s always something that you will want to keep whether it is something of sentimental importance, or a piece that goes with the style you have in mind. These are good to have and important to keep in mind as you plan your project to ensure they fit the theme of the space you plan on putting them in.
Step 3: Choosing a Style
Choosing the right style is important because it determines the direction of the rest of the decisions you plan to make in your home. Take your time and choose what makes the most sense for you. It is always helpful to create a vision board or visual presentation of what you intend on going for, to help you imagine what the final space will look like. It also helps by providing a guide for you to follow and keep you aligned with your goals throughout the course of the project.
Step 4: Breakdown the Project Room by Room
Once you have finalized your plan of what the space will look like and decided what to keep, you should decide what room you would like to begin with. We recommend going room by room, so that you’re not a hostage in your own house and interferences to your daily life are at a minimum. This also helps manage your project’s budget and costs, so that you don’t get stuck with a house full of half-completed rooms.
Step 5: Perform Necessary Diligence when Finding a Contractor
This step is crucial in ensuring that the project goes according to plan. Dealing with a bad contractor can make or break the project. A “bad” contractor can be anyone from someone overcharging you because you’re uninformed, to someone who executes poorly because they are uninformed. It’s always helpful to go through referrals of people you know had work done on their homes, or to use sites like Nextdoor (https://nextdoor.com/) or Houzz (https://www.houzz.com/) that have reviews of your local professionals.
Step 6: Execution
At this point you are nearing the end of your prep, but here are some things you should keep in mind as you begin:
Start with structural changes first! You want to begin the project with any demolition or reconstruction before you begin painting, flooring, or adding any furniture. This will define the space you have to work with following the structural change and will be the messiest and most destructive part of the job, so best to get it out of the way first.
Be conscious of the space’s lighting. Natural light is a valuable resource for opening up a space and giving it some warmth and life when necessary.
Use space efficiently. Being organized and utilizing the furniture in a functionable way can prevent your home from feeling cramped or tight.
If you made it this far, I hope this guide has helped put you on the right path to creating your dream home. If things still seem a little unclear, or you feel like you need help refining your vision, it may be best to look for professional help. If you are located near the Greater Orlando area and would like to schedule a consultation with us, use the link below to get started.
Book a Consultation: https://redefine-furniture-more.mailchimpsites.com/book-online
