Are you stuck with a room in your home that really needs updating but you don’t know where or how to begin? Perhaps you lack the vision needed to see the whole finished space. You are most certainly not alone.
It’s the most common challenge I hear from my design clients. You feel you lack the vision of what your kitchen or living room could look like. You kinda know what you like but just can’t pull it all together. And so you either do nothing or you buy a piece here and there and end up with a room without any cohesiveness.
The process can be daunting and frustrating that’s for sure. But just because you can’t vision it, doesn’t mean it can’t be done. In fact, you likely already have a good idea what you like and just need someone to put it all together in a style that is uniquely YOU.
That’s where I as a designer am able to come along side you and help you discover your style. Are you contemporary or rustic, transitional or industrial? Here are a few things you can do to start discovering what you like.
4 things You Can Do to Discover Your Style
1) Identify what you like
Find inspiration by tearing images from magazines and catalogs or printing images from websites like Houzz, Better Homes and Garden and Wayfair.
If you like a specific design show, check out their webpage and print out the images of their big reveals. Consider what attracts you to favorite objects, destinations, and even restaurants and shops.
Creating a scrapbook of your favorites is one of the best ways you can help me the designer understand your style.
Here’s a tip for clipping and saving images from websites. It’s called a snipping tool. It’s likely on your computer already. It allows you to crop images and save them as a screen shot. Just search snipping tool on your computer and start saving your images to a file specifically for your design favorites.
2) Explore stores together
One of my favorite things to do with my clients is to walk through furniture showrooms and have you point out all the pieces you love. From couches to flooring, to lighting, shopping has never been so fun!
It is the best way for me to get a sense of your style, what you like and what you don’t like. We’ll look at colors, textures and styles, all so we get the best fit you and your space,
3) What’s the mood you’re looking for
Think about how you want to feel in the space when it’s all done. Do you want it to be relaxing and comfortable? Or more energy-filled and active. Setting the right mood is key yet can be difficult if you don’t understand colors and textures. That’s where I can help make sure you get the end result you desire.
Lastly, open yourself to possibilities.
One of the benefits of hiring a designer is that we often have the ability to see things in a different light and come up with designs you hadn’t even thought of. Open yourself up to new ideas and designs that not only fit your style, but will ultimately create a new space you simply love.
The key to successful design is about discovering your style and helping you clarify what you want to do with your space.
Remember it’s all about you and what you like. My job as a designer is to listen and learn what you want for your dream room and then make your dream a reality.
Thanks and have fun clipping!!
Betsy Lavin
If you would like to see my 7 step design process, check it out at www.betsylavin.com
