(1) Know your space
It sounds obvious, but it’s imperative that you understand how much space you have available, and how it functions in day-to-day life. Where are the walkways and transitional spaces? Are there high-traffic areas that need to be left uncluttered, or “dead zones” you could be using more effectively? Often, we don’t even realise these things, as we rush through or busy lives on autopilot. So, take the time to stop, sit down and think about how you use the space before making any grand plans.
(2) Think about the purpose of the space
It sounds obvious, but it’s imperative that you understand how much space you have available, and how it functions in day-to-day life. Where are the walkways and transitional spaces? Are there high-traffic areas that need to be left uncluttered, or “dead zones” you could be using more effectively? Often, we don’t even realise these things, as we rush through or busy lives on autopilot. So, take the time to stop, sit down and think about how you use the space before making any grand plans.
(3) Create a mood board
The best way to see how your ideas complement one another (or clash!) is to lay them all out on mood or vision board. You’ll need samples of colours, tiles and fabrics, and pictures from magazines or online searches, so you can create a model of how the space will look. Your mood board can help you realise you’ve overdone it with those teal accents, or that you need to add interest to the space with a little texture amongst all the clean lines.
(4) Pay attention to both form and function
Remember, the functionality and aesthetic of any space must exist in delicate balance. You don’t want a gorgeous room you can’t use, or a hardworking yet dreary and depressing space either. Go back to Tip 1 and remind yourself how you really use the area. Consider variables such as the climate in your city, heating and cooling needs, outside noise and aspect, along with which wood stain you like best or where the chandelier should hang. That balance can extend throughout your home, too: where you may sacrifice beauty for usability in, say, a kitchen, you can then go all-out with the glamour in a space that has less work to do, such as a bedroom.
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