Choosing the design of a room is a rather complicated process. You should divide a large task into several smaller steps to do everything wisely. Some stages will require your utmost attention and precision; for others, you will only need your imagination. So, here’s how to create a perfect design project yourself from scratch.
Insights and Ideas
The more visual experience you have, the more ideas you can generate. There is nothing wrong with peeping something interesting in other’s projects. Besides, it’s almost impossible to keep up with all modern trends and technologies. That is why if you plan a renovation, start saving pictures from the Internet, subscribe to thematic groups and social media accounts, and buy interior design magazines. Collect even what seems absolutely unreal to implement in your current conditions. Such a library will give you ground for insights and creative ideas. You can analyze the concepts you see and transform them to suit your space.
You don’t have to like the whole picture. One photo may demonstrate good lighting, another a combination of furniture, and a third one a nice color scheme. Learn to highlight exactly what you want to implement in your own interior. By the way, you don’t have to stick to one style. You can choose several directions, pick the most interesting elements, and link them, for example, to a single palette. Boho, minimalism, and retro 50s can look great in the same room with the right approach.
Room Measurements
Mistakes made on this stage might cost you dearly in the future. Therefore, be extremely careful when measuring rooms and zoning. You need to clearly understand how much free space you have by up to tenths of an inch. To do it, take the following measurements:
- height of ceilings;
- length of each wall;
- width, length, and even the diagonal of entries;
- capacity of corridors and flights of stairs;
- distances between windows, radiators, and so on.
If there are any obstacles in your path in the form of protruding beams, poles, or low-hanging lighting fixtures, these should also be taken into account. You should measure not only the rooms themselves but also the passages in them to be sure that you can easily bring in bulky furniture. Professionals advise choosing items that are on average 4 inches smaller than the size of a passage. This way, you will be able to manipulate them easily.
All measurements are recommended not only to be written down on paper in a column but to be applied to a technical drawing. You can make it yourself on paper at 1:50 scale using a pencil and a ruler. You can also draw it in a graphic editor or resort to a more convenient and modern way and use a free house planner. Transfer all the measurements taken to the drawing, indicating door and window openings and communications.
Technical Task
Although you yourself work on interior design, drawing up a technical task with all the important details will not be superfluous. This way, you can ensure that you haven’t overlooked anything critical. Of course, the exact plan of further actions differs depending on the characteristics of your premises. As a rule, you should take into account the following aspects:
- vibe of a room;
- color spectrum;
- lighting;
- storage space;
- key elements of furniture;
- textiles and decor;
- zones, and so on.
To make it easier for you to think through all these details, take a close look at the room, apartment, or house in which you live now or lived before. Determine the strengths and weaknesses of the old interior to understand what you would like to improve and what can be left as is.
When drawing up your plan, consider how many people will be living in the accommodation in question (including kids), whether you have pets, and how much storage space you need. The last point is especially relevant for small apartments, especially if you have some kind of hobby and, accordingly, non-standard and large items (for example, fishing rods). The choice of style and decor will largely depend on all this.
Visualization
The final step is to combine the dry measurements of a space, the plan, and your ideas into a single solution. The most successful option is to use a digital planner since it allows you to visualize the developed concepts and even create several designs to choose the best one. Transfer your ideas and dream furniture to the plan in an app or program. Always remember that space should be organized ergonomically, taking into account the comfort of all residents. Of course, the concept of comfort is very different for everyone, but a few recommendations work well for most. You should adhere to them, perhaps slightly changing them for yourself.
For example, when furnishing a living room, you should leave a passage about 18 inches wide between a coffee table and chairs. So you can walk between them without hitting anything and stretch your legs when you sit. If the distance is greater, it will be inconvenient to take items from a countertop. When filling a dining room with furniture, leave at least 3 feet between a dining table and walls (or other pieces of furniture) so that you can move freely around the room even when people sit at a table.
Since you do not yet know the exact dimensions of the furniture that will be in your room at the planning stage, you can focus on average parameters. For instance, a standard rectangular table for six people is usually about 60-70 inches long, and a twin bed is 39 x 80 inches. You can easily find similar data for all major pieces of furniture on the Internet.
Proceed to Pick the Filling for Your Room
Now that your detailed room, apartment, or house plan is ready, you can start exploring the range of finishing materials, lighting fixtures, and furniture. Paints, flooring, and ceramic tiles should suit all aspects of the place, not just its size. For example, if natural light is rather scarce, it is better to choose bright colors and enhance them with artificial lighting. With such careful planning, the success of your project is guaranteed.
