Decorate Your Room with Better Foresight
When you decorate a room, the first thing you’d probably think about is the theme. Deciding what you want it to look like gives you a clear sense of direction and helps you plan out your project more easily. When you do this, you also have to think about the possibility of having to change it eventually.
When you were a child, it was probably hard for your parents to persuade you that you might not like hot pink anymore when you grow older. Now you are here, finally ready to renovate and redecorate your childhood room into something more mature, something less embarrassing. This time, you’re more careful about what permanent change you’d make because you don’t want to be stuck with an eyesore, and you don’t want to regret your choices eventually.
That said, you don’t have to be too stiff and end up not satisfied with your work. You can definitely choose design elements that will show off your personality and current style without worrying too much about the next time you’ll want to redecorate. You have to think two steps ahead.
Always, Always Plan
Whatever part of the project you’re in, whether you’re just about to start moving furniture pieces or ready to paint walls, cross out materials you need from your checklist, check the surroundings and make sure you don’t damage other objects, and be prepared for cleanup after. A commonly overlooked part of DIY home renovations is not aware of the surroundings.
For example, before you remove a bathroom mirror and carve open the wall behind it to install a medicine cabinet, you must know if there is piping you’d potentially hit. If you are about to paint a wall, protect every other surface you don’t want to be accidentally painted.
This also applies to your budget. It’s better to overestimate than to assume the numbers are final. Problems are inevitable, and there will be instances when you might change your mind, so make sure to give yourself breathing space.
Work with Outlets, Lighting, and Vents in Mind
Before buying furniture, check and make a list of utilities that are in your room. You can also make even just a rough sketch of your room’s layout that includes said utilities. This way, you can avoid hazards and awkward mistakes that might cost you more.
You can have such a beautiful plan for your room with stylish lamps, a gorgeous rug, and wonderful furniture, but if your lamps don’t even reach the outlet, then you’d have to either return them or work around it and buy extensions. That’s definitely more stress than necessary and will possibly cost you a bit more, too.
Another problem waiting to happen is if you forget to factor in where your vents or heaters are situated. Ensure that the drapes you’ll get will not affect your heating system, or it could be a fire hazard. Make sure you won’t cover vents either, so you can keep your room feeling cozy no matter what season.
Don’t Be Too Excited With Colors and Patterns
Don’t go overboard, but don’t be scared of colors either. Unless you are going for a minimalist look, be wary of neutrals because it will tend to make your room look bland, as if it’s unfinished. On the other hand, patterns and color should complement, not fight each other.
Even as a minimalist, you don’t have to stick with just white. Have an accent wall, hang a painting or furniture that will serve as a focal point, or place plants strategically to liven up the room. Depending on how you define minimalism for yourself, you can still have a room that’s light on the eyes without compromising your self-expression.
As for patterns, do not make the mistake of trying to copy what you find nice-looking from a catalog or showroom. Those are designed to sell you products. The look is specifically made to look good in that controlled environment. That doesn’t always translate well once you see the patterns in your own room, with the kind of lighting you have. Having too many different patterns will make your room look and feel crowded and messy.
Opt for a consistent pattern for your wall or a big piece of furniture, and keep the rest solid so the look won’t be too busy. You can also choose to paint your wall a solid color and use decal wallpaper to design it. This is especially useful if you’re the type who likes to change things up now and then because it’s fairly easy to remove decals.
Meta title: Factors to Consider When Decorating
meta desc: As you ponder on redecorating your room, you’ve probably gone through a lot of design catalogs. But it isn’t just about buying new furniture and painting walls.