How to start designing a blank space
We just finished painting our entire house and I can’t tell you what a difference a fresh coat of paint makes! (For those of you asking on IG, the color is BM Swiss Coffee). And after getting rid of a lot of ‘stuff’ last year, I now have a few blank rooms/spaces in the house that are getting a refresh. As I stood in one yesterday for about 25 minutes doing absolutely nothing, I though, where do I even begin?? The possibilities are endless, which is sometimes fun but mostly paralyzing.
So here are the first 3 things to consider and actions to take to take to help you stop staring and get going!
1.Function First
I say this to clients all the time: when designing a room, form follows function aka how the room functions should come before deciding what pretty things to put in it. If you fill a room with beautiful stuff but it doesn’t function the way you want, then what’s the point?
A good designer will always first think:
What’s the primary purpose of this room?
Who will be using it?
Are there children or pets?
What time of day is mostly spent here?
In this space, will there be entertaining? sleeping? working?
ACTION ITEM: Write out a quick list of the function of the space, and when you start shopping and inevitably get distracted while sifting through the millions of choices, refer back to this list to guide you. Do I need a dresser in this guest room? There’s plenty of closet space and it gets used three times a year, so no.
2. Draw it up
If you’ve read any of my previous posts you know I am a big proponent of scale and proportion. Again, if the size of the item or its size in proportion to the room are off, it doesn’t matter how beautiful or expensive it was. The room. Won’t. Work. It will feel off, or a chair won’t have room to back out from a table, or you’ll have to squeeze through a narrow walkway.
ACTION ITEM: The secret to avoiding this mistake is spatial planning. And you don’t have to be an architect to create a good drawing that’s to scale! You can use one of the many FREE online room planning tools.
Or you can use a simple ruler and blank piece of paper. Start by creating a scale (ie. ½ inch = 1 foot) then draw the outline of the room including doors and windows, and the main pieces of furniture you plan to put in it.
A floor plan is so so important to do before you even begin shopping because it will guide you in your purchasing.
3. Plan a palette
Now that you have the room drawn out, time to consider the color palette! If you plan to paint, check out this article on How to Select the Right Pain Color.
If you aren’t planning on painting, or you like a crisp white wall, then try instead to build off a favorite piece of art or rug. These are usually large pieces or focal points and can help guide you to set the tone of the space. Instead of working off the primary color, see if you can find a hidden second or third color to bring out in other items like pillows or accent chairs to tie it all together.
Photo credit: Urbanology Designs
ACTION ITEM: This is the point where you can finally start shopping! YAY. As you start adding things to your cart, copy and paste a picture of each one into a blank document to create a mood board. Seeing all the items together will not only make sure you have a cohesive design, but will save you money in the long run. (And sometimes what we think looks good in our head, may not translate or has too much black or not enough texture, etc.).
And as always, if you want help designing your space, reach out! Elise@elevatedbyelise.com
