We can’t tell you how many times we’ve received this question for our Decorating Dilemmas column: “I just moved into my new home, and I have no idea where to begin!” That’s because designing a room from the ground up might be scary! You don’t know where to begin and are faced with a plethora of options. We’ve compiled a list of simple starting points so you may start designing your space from scratch:
1. Choose a piece of art that you adore.
We face the same problem while designing rooms for the guides4homeowners.co.uk catalog. We’re working with a fully blank canvas that offers limitless possibilities. The majority of the time, we’ll start with a piece of artwork. If you look closely at this painting by our Exclusive Artist Rick Reinert, you’ll notice persimmon oranges and a variety of blue colors. We used those colors in our upholstery, pillows, and a vivid blue rug to emphasize the hues in the picture.
2. Begin by placing a rug on the floor.
Because it’s understated but has some really gorgeous light blue tones, our Catherine Rug is one of our all-time faves. We used complementary materials and artwork to really bring out the chilly blues in this living area. The Cleo Glacier and Minsk Glacier fabrics are a great match.
3. Locate a Fantastic Fabric
We selected our new Beatrice Black Fabric as our guide for this room because large-scale florals, especially ones with a black background, are very popular in 2017. We chose largely black and white pieces, similar to the cloth, but there are tones of purple in this fabric if you look closely. With our Shiloh Spool Chair and pillows, we brought out the lavender in the cloth.
4. Other Sources of Insight
A tear of inspiration is a terrific way to give your room some focus. Use a room you like as a reference when you’re beginning from scratch, whether it’s for the color palette, the layout, or just the general mood. At the 2016 Traditional Home Southern Style Now Showhouse, designer Jonathan Savage used a pair of our Isabella day beds in his modest guest room. We wanted to feature his fantastic idea in our catalog, so we based this bedroom on his place in our Winter 2017 brochure.
5. Pick a Color
Color has a significant impact on how a room feels. Every color has its own personality, so if you find a color that creates the mood you want, use it liberally around your home. Suzanne Kasler, in the area above, is a master of this method. Everything in the room is neutral, but she intentionally incorporates touches in her mandarin orange linen to add coziness and warmth to the space.
6. Select a Layout
If you’re working with a strangely shaped room or a short space, start by deciding on a plan that works for you. You’ll be able to narrow down your options and get started in the proper path if you have specific furniture pieces in mind. We knew we wanted two settees facing each other in this little living room, and the area’s compact layout meant a light, bright vibe would keep it from feeling claustrophobic. We then selected neutral pieces with contrast and texture but little color.
7. Begin with a focal point.
An entire room might be inspired by a single spectacular piece. The black exterior and gold interior of our Kent Dome Pendant served as a starting point for the rest of our choices in this living space. The black and white geometric design on the sofa, as well as the black and white wall art, complemented the light’s sleek black shape.
8. Neutral Doesn’t Have to Be Boring
Although neutral rooms have a terrible rep, if you’re looking for a blank canvas, consider using an all-over neutral color scheme. Choose one neutral color, such as gray, white, or beige, and incorporate neutral pieces with varying textures. Linens, leathers, velvets, rustic wood, metallic pieces, and wallpaper can all look great together if they’re of the same color. In his living room at the 2016 Southern Living Idea House, designer Mark D. Sikes achieved just that. We can dig it if it’s good enough for Southern Living!
9. Make the best of what you’ve got
As a beginning point, consider using a piece from another room in your house. Perhaps it’s a family treasure, a piece of children’s art, or a set of blue and white porcelain. Use something you already like in a fresh way to reinvent it, and allow that one outstanding item (or pieces) guide all of your other decisions for the room.
10. Keep Track of What You’re Collecting
Not having a plan is a plan in and of itself for some people! Allow inspiration to come to you if you can’t think of anything. Visit an antique store, browse your favorite catalog, or visit a local home store; inspiration may strike when you least expect it. Simply layer in new pieces as you come across them, and watch your space change over time!
