Design Tips From Valerie

Design Tips From Valerie

Whether you’ve just moved, looking for a simple home face-lift, or perhaps something more significant, there are many tricks that designers use to create a big impact for minimal effort and cost. A beautifully decorated interior not only functions well, it uses color, patterns, and texture to create a mood that reflects the individuality of the owner and their family. By sticking with these three main principles of design—mood, function, and individuality—you will be on the path to a successfully designed living space.

Let’s begin by setting the mood. Before selecting paint or rearranging your existing furniture, spend some time thinking about what mood best suits you and your family. Most designers suggest finding an inspiration from a magazine, or perhaps the color or pattern of your favorite dress, before making larger commitments. Once you have selected an inspiration that suits your individual style, it’s a good idea to create a name for it. Maybe your style is coastal transitional, bohemian chic, or modern contemporary. Once you are descriptive and specific with your style, design ideas will begin to flow naturally. Colors and patterns should also support the mood of your space. Be sure that accent pillows, rugs, and artwork have complimenting and matching color schemes to ensure the style flows throughout the room.

Functionality is key to a lived in space. Contrary to popular belief, design is more than just aesthetics. By complimenting focal points with a functioning floor plan you will create a space that is both stunning and comfortable. Since each space differs from the next, its important to highlight natural focal points such as a fireplace or a beautiful view. If there is not a natural focal point in the room you can create one with a accent wall or a dynamic piece of art. Then, determine whether the existing furniture works well in the given room. If a piece of furniture is too large or small for the room, consider trading it with something else that makes more sense for the mood and function you’re going for. Finally, when selecting lighting fixtures for a room, be sure to consider both the style and function of the space. Soft mood lighting suits a conversational space such as a living room, whereas recessed or track lighting is a good option for kitchens.

Home is where the heart is. Therefore, your home is a space in which you are able to express your personality through elements of design. Redesigning your living space is a chance to show off your personal style. In my experience, most clients have sentimental items that they want to make an integral part of a space. I always suggest each accessory adds and supports the theme of the space, but items such as souvenirs from trips, collectables, and framed family photos are great accessories that easily add a personal touch. A general rule of thumb is to limit the amount of clutter to a room. Thus, by being selective with your accessories you can manage to leave a bigger impact.