This post is presented by New View Designs by Laurie Cole Inc.
Some people struggle with determining the style of their home when it comes to the overall design look or decorating the interior. You can spend hours on Pinterest or Houzz, watch endless episodes of HGTV and pour through hundreds of magazines in pursuit of finding that perfect look for your home. Achieving the look you want takes work and a lot of planning! People can often have difficulty pinpointing what style reflects who they are, and have a disconnect between what they like and don’t like. This can result in an endless struggle to create the home of their dreams but never quite getting it right. This is where hiring a design professional can be beneficial.
Determining your style first and foremost should be all about what you love and figuring out what characteristics they have in common. There are many ways to do this; one way is to take a look at your wardrobe. Think about the style and color of the clothes in your closet. What are your favorite items that you wear? Are they tailored or loose fitting, colorful or neutral blacks and whites? Fashion usually dictates design so look at what’s on the runway for a hint of what’s down the road in design trends.
Another thing to do is to think about how you use your space, along with consideration of the architectural period of your home. It’s important to distinguish what design styles will work in your existing space or if contemplating a new home, the neighbourhood you are thinking of building in. Think about your lifestyle, and think about functionality. Do you entertain a lot? Is it casual or formal? Do you prefer a quiet retreat or are parties a regular occurrence at your house? Do you usually entertain small intimate groups of people or host large groups of 20 or more?
Defining different design styles can be confusing as well. Traditional, Country, Contemporary, Coastal, Shabby Chic, with so many different design styles ( and new ones popping up every year such as Global Fusion, New Vintage, etc.) coming up with the right direction can be daunting.
To find other hints about your design style; grab a pen and write out answers to the following: Are you the type of person who places a priority on sentimental items, and enjoy collections of things? Are you all about minimalism and less stuff? Do you prefer dark colors, rich woods and textures or do you like lots of natural light and open spaces? Do you like all things beachy or do you have a thing for global identities? All of these factors come into play in determining what direction or style you want your home to reflect. Use your Pinterest or Houzz to help you filter through these questions creating boards of things you love.
Once you have a good idea on what your style is, the next step is defining how you will implement them and this is where Professional Design Services is crucial. When it comes to interior design, there are rules in place when it comes to the “bones” of your home. If you are building new or renovating, a professional designer is the perfect person to talk to as they have experience in making a home cohesive to your (now) defined style. A design professional will ensure the overall look of your home will coincide with the things you put inside it. They work in the business every day and are knowledgeable on construction rules and regulations while staying up to date on trends and pricing. They help guide you in the right direction and will make sure your home is filled with things you love.
Research Design Professionals
Deciding on who to work with requires a bit of research.
If you really have no idea what you want, and are looking for the right professional to help you, start by searching an online database like Houzz. or search design websites online. It’s best to really spend some time doing this so you can find someone who has a style you really like. Hot tip: make sure you find a designer who takes their online presence seriously. A company with no pictures of past projects, or reviews is a sure sign they won’t take you seriously. While it’s your designer or decorator’s job to help bring your style to life, it’s always best to work with someone who has created similar looks in the past and has a proven track record of successful projects.
An experienced design professional will be able to find commonality in your likes, will consider your preferred lifestyle and help you come up with a plan. They will look at colors, patterns, textures, furniture, layouts and your lifestyle to help you to figure out how to incorporate the things you love in a way that’s pleasing to the eye, and filter out the things that might not work as well.
Don’t panic! – you don’t need to decide on one style and stick with it forever. Determining a style is more about discovering what things you like, figuring out what characteristics they have in common, and then giving this overall look a name. You may find that your style fits in nicely with a pre-existing look, or (and this is more likely) you may find your style consists of several different elements of other styles. The benefit of giving the look a name is that it will help your decorator (as well as yourself) to assess what you like and how the elements fit together.
Laurie Cole
Like what you see? Check out more posts from Laurie and her team here!
New View Designs by Laurie Cole Inc. | Phone: 506.472.8163 | Email: info@newviewdesigns.ca | Follow us on Facebook!
Clean, simple spaces. Unique, subtle patterns and textures. Bold splashes of colour. To define Laurie Cole’s designs is to realize that the space between objects is just as important as the objects themselves.
Whether designing a home from the ground up, renovating an existing room or house, staging and decorating a home to enhance saleability and price, or creating stunning model suites for condominiums, New View Designs brings a modern eye, and a unique flair to every project.
Most importantly, New View will listen to you, and discuss myriad options to suit your taste and budget. Contact us today for a consultation, and we will show you why we are simply the best in the business.
