Create an Interior Design Visual Board

We all desire to live in a space that uniquely reflects our own idea of beauty. You may be searching for an eclectic side chair for your bedroom, or a vintage ottoman to prop your feet up in the living room.  If you are like most design enthusiasts, you can never seem to find the perfect combination to fit your concept. When selecting furniture or accessories, you may find a solution, but it is the wrong dimensions or it is not affordable.  Here are some tips of the trade to keep in mind before you start designing your home.

      1.    Create a Visual Board: We all can walk into a space, and fall in love with the feeling a well-designed space creates.  Do you find yourself trying to pinpoint how to recreate that feeling in your home? Creating an inspiration board can help you bring together all of your thoughts.  Find images in magazines, online, or even take photos of concepts you see at your local furniture showrooms.  This color board will inspire creativity and help you visualize what colors you tend to gravitate towards. 

Best Practice: Do not underestimate the power of this planning phase of the design.  The more time you spend on conceptual design, the better prepared you will be when shopping for items.  Otherwise you may find yourself buying items that do not coordinate, or a wide array of colors that do not fit your vision.

      2.    Layer Materials:  One of the secrets to creating an eclectic and unique space is to layer various materials throughout the room.  You want to have a balance between color, fabric, texture, metal, mirrors, glass and wood.  If you select a vintage wood side table on one side of your textured sofa, pair that with a coffee table made from metal.  Keeping a balance of these materials in the room can add a personal touch to your space.

Best Practice:  Do not be afraid to replicate an existing design concept.  You do not have to recreate the wheel to achieve your own distinct style.  Look for similar material combinations in your favorite design magazine, or online image gallery.  Study these images, and take note of how the designer has utilized these various materials.

3.    Start Window Shopping:  Although we all tend to make impulse decisions when shopping for furniture, it is important to explore before making a purchase.  You may see an image of a modern bedroom set, and when you see it in person it may not be what you are looking for.  Take your color boards, materials and journal with you on your shopping trip.  Write down your thoughts and take notice of items that you would like to include in the final design.

Best Practice:  This is one of the most important phases of the design process.  You will get the money to begin a project and your instinct will be to go buy everything you thought you wanted.  You will most likely end up with a room full of items that do not align with the vision you had for the space. 

      4.    Create a Plan: Sit down with all of your research and begin to plan your space.  Confirm the style, dimensions and materials for each item.  Paying close attention to every detail is the only way to create a well-designed space.

Best Practice:  Do not worry if you are looking for an item with a particular style or dimension.  Colorado is very fortunate to a wide array of furniture stores, consignment shops, antique collections and custom design studios.  Do not settle for something that does not meet your vision.