Decorating your own home can be an exciting yet daunting project. With some planning and organization, you can successfully manage the process while staying on budget and ending up with a space you love. Follow these 9 tips to keep your decorating project running smoothly from start to finish.
Research Design Ideas and Create a Plan
Before beginning any decorating project, it’s important to have a clear vision and plan. Spend time researching design ideas that appeal to your taste and lifestyle needs. Look through decorating books and magazines, browse online images, and create a Pinterest board to collect inspiring photos. Once you have a good sense of the look and feel you want, sketch out a floor plan highlighting the layout and dimensions of each room you intend to decorate. Note any problem areas or challenges, along with ideas for addressing them. Having this visual reference will help guide purchasing decisions and layouts.
Set a Realistic Budget
Create a detailed budget that includes every anticipated expense from paint and flooring to furniture and accessories. Get quotes for any contracted work needed. Include a 10-15% buffer for incidentals that pop up. Set a spending limit for key items like sofas or dining tables, remembering that less expensive items can update the look without breaking the bank. Track all expenditures and adjust the budget if needed as the project progresses. Setting realistic expectations will prevent stressful overspending.
Make a Timeline
A step-by-step timeline keeps things moving efficiently. List each task that needs to be completed, including preparations like repairs, painting and cleaning. Note target dates for finishing these tasks, shopping for items, scheduled deliveries and installation work. Remain flexible, but try to stick to the timeline as much as possible. Having clear deadlines will help avoid delays from endless decision-making or waiting weeks for backordered items.
Create a Mood Board
Gather inspiring images, fabric swatches, paint color chips and whatever else captures the look you envision for each room. A mood board provides a helpful visual reference as you select items and colors. Notice how the samples work together to create a cohesive feel. Keep your boards on hand while shopping to avoid purchases that veer off track. Update them as your decisions evolve. Mood boards ensure all the finishing touches work together.
Invest in Key Foundation Pieces
Allocate the largest portion of your budget to investment pieces like sofas, beds, dining tables or other major elements that will form the foundation of a room’s style. These anchor pieces can take some saving, but quality lasts. Upgrade their appearance with less costly throw pillows, blankets and accessories that are easier to swap out when you want to refresh a space. Keeping key foundation pieces neutral also makes it simpler to redecorate affordably.
Seek Quality Over Quantity
Carefully curate each space by seeking out fewer higher quality items rather than loading up on lots of lower priced goods. Search consignment shops and websites for unique vintage finds. Custom upholstered pieces often cost less than big brand items when fabric is purchased separately. Made-to-order custom cabinets and built-ins tailored to your space can be affordable. Take time to hunt for special pieces within your budget that highlight your personal style.
Mix High and Low Price-Points
Balance major investments with budget-friendly accents. An expensive sofa plays off inexpensive but chic throw pillows. Artisan pottery makes a statement next to simple woven baskets. You want enough splurges to elevate the design while saving on items that supplement these star features. This achieves great style on a real-world budget. Just take care that cheaper accents still coordinate rather than looking obviously inferior.
Leave Room To Breathe
Avoid overfilling rooms in an attempt to decorate everything at once. You can always add more later. Start with fewer, thoughtfully chosen pieces placed to highlight architectural elements. Let your eye move through open space to appreciate each item. Follow the less is more approach while creating individual vignettes that speak to how you live. Remaining intentional about what you include creates a welcoming, relaxed feel.
Accept It Will Take Time
Rushing through decor decisions often leads to regretted purchases and a disjointed look. Give yourself permission to slowly fill in spaces while finding unique items that fit your vision. Even professional designers stage rooms gradually as special pieces become available. Patience avoids creating a hodgepodge just to fill empty areas quickly. Live with new foundation pieces before accessorizing fully. All good things take time, so enjoy the process.
Completing your own decorating project requires staying organized, working within a realistic budget, and taking time to curate rooms mindfully. Maintaining a vision while allowing that vision to properly evolve creates a personalized space you’ll enjoy for years to come. With these tips for planning and pacing yourself, you can craft a home decor that uniquely reflects your style.
Frequently Asked Questions About Managing Your Own Decorating Project
Decorating your home on your own can be an exciting challenge. But it also comes with plenty of questions. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions to help your project go smoothly.
Should I hire a decorator or design on my own?
This depends on your budget, skills and how involved you want to be. Professional help ensures expert guidance, but can be costly. Doing it yourself is more affordable, though requires more work. Consider hiring a decorator for occasional consultations at key decision points if you want some pro advice without paying for full service.
How do I choose a style that suits my tastes?
Focus on how you want to feel in the space, then seek elements that evoke that. Make a decor vision board with images from magazines and websites reflecting colors, textures, architectural details and styles you’re drawn to. This helps define an overall aesthetic to guide your choices.
How can I decorate affordably?
Set a realistic budget and stick to it. Shop secondhand stores and websites for unique vintage items. Choose neutrals for big investments like sofas, then use cheaper pillows and accent pieces to switch up styles. Fill spaces slowly so you can seek out quality used finds. Prioritize key splurges while saving on supplementary décor.
Should I reupholster, refinish or buy new furniture?
Consider the construction and condition of existing pieces. Quality solid wood classics in good shape are often worth refinishing or reupholstering for a fresh look at less cost. Particle board furniture from big box stores doesn’t warrant investment. Calculate whether affordable supplies for DIY upgrades are less than the cost of buying new.
How do I choose the right paint colors?
Decide the mood you want to create, like calm or cozy. Collect paint chips in colors fitting that vibe. Paint large swatches on walls and study throughout the day as light changes to make sure colors look as desired. Stick to a color family for cohesion. Use neutrals in key rooms and save bold tones for smaller accent walls or minor spaces.
Should I DIY or hire contractors for major work?
If you lack experience with electrical, plumbing, flooring or complex carpentry, hire a professional to ensure safety. For minor upgrades like painting, simple tile backsplashes or cabinet hardware, DIY can save substantially. Create a list of every task needed. Research to determine which are best left to experts based on your skills.
How can I stay organized during a redecoration?
Maintain neatly labeled boxes or baskets for sorting items as spaces get packed up and decluttered during the process. Take detailed photos of furniture placement and wiring before dismantling. Set up a bulletin board or computer folder to collate inspiration images, receipts, paint swatches and other paperwork. Keeping everything well organized avoids getting overwhelmed.
Should I decorate room-by-room or complete whole areas?
It generally works best to finish one room fully before moving to the next. This allows you to focus, check that the style is cohesive and avoid feeling like the entire home is torn up indefinitely. However, completing related rooms consecutively, like a kitchen and adjoining dining area, can help ensure a continuous look.
How can I decorate on a strict budget?
Stick to small upgrades like paint, window treatments, new cabinet hardware or inexpensive decorative accents. Shop secondhand and online discount retailers. Repurpose furniture you already own by refinishing or covering with slipcovers. Work in stages, waiting for sales on pricier items like flooring or large furniture. Simple changes can make a noticeable difference without overspending.
Conclusion
Decorating your own home offers exciting creative opportunities while also requiring some strategic planning. Keeping projects realistic in scope and budget is key. Focus first on foundational elements like sofa, beds, dining sets or other costly essentials. Then layer in affordable accents over time. Maintain an organized process, allow a space to evolve gradually and work within your budget constraints. If you tackle the project in measured phases, the end result can be a personalized space you’ll love coming home to for years to come. With the right preparation and priorities, you can manage a successful decorating project that reflects your own style from start to glorious finish.
