Everyone should be let in on some secrets about home improvement. You might have a vision and mission in mind for your home, or you might only know you want a change but are not sure what to do. No one blames you if you’re from the latter group because home-design is a big project to take on. It can include remodeling, renovating, repairing, or even demolishing parts of your house; all for the sake of improving it. All of us can learn some design secrets that will make your home look as if designed by a professional. Here are six secrets that professional designers use for home improvements.
1. Floor Plan
A lot can go wrong without a floor plan. A floor plan is a scaled diagram and will make it much easier for you to design one room or even an entire house. It includes the measurements, architectural features, doorways, placement of furniture and appliances, and other aspects of your home. When you develop a floor plan, it will create a nice flow and accordance when you move from room to room. A good floor plan takes into consideration the number of people in a house, your lifestyle, and is flexible and versatile.
2. Be Bold
If you can’t be too bold, at least don’t be too scared. There’s no point in making improvements if it doesn’t add something new and different to your home. For instance, the old and new always create interesting design statements. Also, you can mix and match different patterns or use bold colors in things you usually wouldn’t. Instead of a plain boring ceiling, for instance, treat it as the fifth wall and give it some color. Add different textures of fabrics and invest in some unique art pieces. Use your creativity to break away from some design rules. Think of not only redecorating your furniture pieces but maybe fully replacing them in order to create a completely new environment. Certain types of chairs and sofas may even change the whole purpose of your room and inspire you for future renovations. Take recliners, for instance. If you add a recliner sofa and a couple of reclining armchairs to your living room, odds are you’ll want to turn it all into a home cinema (click here to see which models are ideal for such a room). This will encourage you to add a huge projector screen and some hi-tech design elements to surprise and impress your guests when they pay you next visit. Don’t be afraid of experiments and interesting combinations, as only you can know how to make your room special and create a wonderful atmosphere.
3. Choose the Style
You already know there are modern and traditional designs, but these are two broad terms. Contemporary, shabby chic, industrialists, for instance, are considered modern.
Traditional usually means a classic, where the furniture tends to have ornate details and uses fabrics rich in texture and color like a piece you see at a Chesterfield Sofa Company or Antique furniture shops.
Transitional design tends to be a popular choice because it mixes the classic with the modern.
Starting from scratch is less of a problem, but when working with areas and pieces in your home that will remain as is, it gets difficult to create a harmonious look. Not everyone has an eye for design, and if you don’t, it’s a good idea to check this site which gives you a 3-D room design where you can see online how your home or room can be transformed. Just send in a picture of the area you’re remodeling and get expert designs specially created for you.
4. Color Scheme
Choosing a color scheme isn’t the fun part; it’s the difficult part. A wrong color scheme can make everything look out of place and chaotic. Color is a very subjective choice, so you want the colors that you are drawn to but also suit the style you have chosen.
This is where the 3-color combination will help you a lot. This combo includes the wall color, the color of large furniture and main pieces, and accent colors. The best way to get started is to use a color wheel to make good choices. There are different approaches to using the wheel. One way is getting split complementary colors, such as blue, yellow-orange, and red-orange. You could paint the walls blue, have furniture in hues of yellow-orange, and pop in some bright red-orange accessories or work differently using those three colors.
It’s difficult to mess up using a color wheel. It’s easy to use and will give you a very good idea about matching basic colors. You can use your judgment when wanting a particular hue or tone. More specifically, you want colors that suit the style of the room. For instance, red or orange won’t be the best colors for a room meant for relaxation because those colors are energetic. Blues or greens are more relaxing colors. They’re the popular choice, but not the only choices.
5. Storage Space
Most homes scream out for more storage space. This can be done simply through more floating shelves, or maybe have bigger projects in mind like expanding your existing walk-in closets. Don’t go too wild because too much storage space tends to beget more items and it can become a messy situation. There are plenty of furniture items that give enough storage, like an ottoman piece that is both appealing and may come with small built-in storage space. Drawers can have built-in outlets to hide cables and cords from routers, printers, and scanners that usually are a ghastly sight.
While making more storage space, you will find items you only bring out for special guests should now have their due fame and come out from hiding and be on display. Most likely, once you declutter, you will find storage space you didn’t even know you had!
6. The Art of Display
All your efforts can be understated if you do not display items, pieces, and furniture in a way that makes them picture-worthy. For instance, no rule says books on a bookshelf have to be placed vertically, or a rule that states bookshelves are only for books. Put some books in a horizontal position, and 1/3 of the bookshelf can have accessories and art pieces.
There’s also a little bit of magic in odd numbers. You can group objects on the tables or shelves in threes. The same goes for couch cushions and pillows. Don’t overcrowd areas so that everything is spaced nicely and has an appealing look.
Remodeling or renovating a house used to be a scary procedure because you mainly only had yourself to depend on to make the right decisions. You’re definitely going to depend a lot on your gut feelings and taste, but with today’s apps and technology, you can find plenty of ways to get help and get your creativity bursting. Use what you can to simplify the process and come out with a home to be the talk of the town.
