Design Tips To Turn A House Into A Home
A house is merely a roof over your head, but a home is so much more. It isn't an easy task to pull together furniture and accessories to create a room that is both stylish and functional. It's even more complicated when budgets and personal tastes are accounted for. But, with the right interior design, you can transform any house into a home.
More than just a home
The pandemic has had a profound impact on the way we live our lives, and it has caused many to rethink their priorities. Whilst, yes, it’s always been an attractive goal to have a particularly snazzy home, ever since the era of lockdowns and remote working began, the trend for making homes even more functional and comfortable skyrocketed. Trends such as transforming outdoor spaces, installing multifunctional furniture, and redesigning spaces to allow for working from home took off in a big way. No longer just a place to return to at night, our homes became a place where we spent every waking moment, attempting to work, rest and play all in one spot. Even home cinemas with recliners, spas and other home design extras reached a new level of popularity. Now, more than ever, is the time for turning houses into relaxing sanctuaries.
Photo by Chauhan Moniz on Unsplash
Your personal stamp
Ultimately, the first thing you should do when transforming a house into a home or vacation rental is to make it your own. You spend the majority of your free time at home so it should reflect you. Make decisions based on your personal tastes and likes. You can take a trend or popular item and still put your own spin on it. If you need inspiration, look at magazines and browse Pinterest and Instagram for ideas. Create your own mood board with the images you are drawn to and pull it together to make a cohesive picture of what you want to recreate in your own home. We often have a subconscious idea of what we like, but it isn’t until we see it unfold in front of us that we understand exactly what it is that draws us to it.
Fabric & colour
You should have a good idea of what you are looking for in terms of colour schemes and textures. Do you plan to wallpaper or do you prefer painted walls? How does that impact your choice of blinds, curtains, and furniture? Does it impact your ideas for cushions, linens, lighting, or other accessories? Just as you would with building an outfit, do your best to stick with three main colours that you use throughout each room. You can still include pops of other colours, but too many big colours can confuse the theme. For example, Pantone's 2021 colours of the year are grey and yellow, but you should have another big colour in there to tie it together. The direction you take that in is entirely up to you.
And with your colours, before you go out and buy anything or start making huge changes inside, use a sample to see how the light changes it throughout the day. Paint an experimental 420mm x 594mm sized patch on the darkest wall and the lightest wall in each room you plan to paint. Or you can tape your wallpaper samples up and see what they look like.
Photo by Christelle BOURGEOIS on Unsplash
Everything old can be made new
Life would be much easier if you could work with a blank canvas. However, if your budget doesn't allow you to start over, look at your existing furniture to see what you can revitalise or upcycle. For example, is there a piece of furniture that can be reupholstered for a new life? Don't be afraid to take pieces you love and reimagine them for a new design. Also, when it comes to furniture, you also need to decide what it is you need in each room.
Every room should have a statement piece. For example, though the bedroom might be small, a headboard on your bed could stand out. Your living space needs to be a mixture of small and large pieces, and you can test different fabrics or colour schemes, as mentioned previously.
Measure twice, cut once
You might not be literally cutting, but the idea stands. Before you order anything, measure and measure again to be sure you’re getting exactly what you want. There is nothing worse than getting a digit wrong, ordering an expensive custom item and realising it doesn't fit. This is particularly important if you're investing in custom-made curtains or couches. Check everything, and then check again. Make sure the colours you choose are suited to your home’s design, and that any patterns are reflective of the desired design outcome.
Finally, add your finishing touches. Accessorise your room with artwork, rugs, lighting, cushions, and plants to complete your look.
