You don’t need an office or a storefront to become your own interior designer. While your interior decorator brings you samples she thinks you might like, you yourself can browse through the extensive range of exclusive furnishings and decide after contemplating its suitability to your lifestyle. These decorator’s secrets are sure to make a pro out of you.
1. Make A Plan
Planning is the foremost task that needs due attention bearing in mind the kind of style that suits your home and lifestyle. Make a list of all the pieces your space needs with interior designing tools that can give you a clear picture of how exactly your space will look with all the additions you are considering; from the paint colour to the upholstery fabric. Plan your budget in this process so you don’t end up going with the surge of your impulse.
2. Keep Your List Handy
The list of additions should go into your personal file and a copy should be in your purse that goes places with you. This list will come handy with all your last minute shopping sprees that can take place any time & anywhere. You may find that hurricane lantern you have been searching, in an unexpected thrifty store.
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| Photo credit: usatoday30.usatoday.com |
Flipping through home décor magazines and looking into interior designing websites, you are sure to be well-accustomed to the designer lingo. It is vital to know what exactly these words mean to avoid second looks from the salesman who is helping you with home décor accessories.
4. Buy From The Source
Interior designers reach out to wholesalers for all their projects. Wholesalers enable you to decorate your home inexpensively since you save on retail overheads and middlemen profits. Resort to the best wholesale sources; from Bokhara rugs to beautify your flooring to upholstery for the entire house, a reliable wholesaler should be your first choice.
5. Factory Outlets & Discounters
Designers opt to buy furniture form factory-owned outlets since they offer better prices than the wholesalers. Most of the unusual and unique furnitures are best found in factory outlets and discount sales that are offered directly to the public; which is the main reason designers reach out to these sources for their furniture needs.
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| Photo credit: homedecor-idea.com |
6. Watch The Trend
While adopting current trends, make sure not to use alterations that are difficult to change. The interior design trends are constantly evolving that leaves a downright awesome design to go out of fashion and worst still look ugly very soon. Designers have already worked with many such trends and know about designs in the long run. Aim to create timelessness in your work or use easily changeable trends like the paint or accessories.
7. Shop Wise
What is style without comfort? Check for your comfortbefore picking that trendy armchair or the fancy dining chairs while thinking like an interior designer. Trying to incorporate each and every trend that come and go could be a pricey & wasteful affair. Instead, give importance to your comfort and choose other comfortable and stylish designs that suit you.
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| Photo credit: luxartinstitute.org |
Patterns add instant interest to your space. Designers play with patterns and layers to create that visually perfect home. Paisley, Ogee, Scales, Polkas, Toile, Flamestitch, Honeycomb – there are thousands of designer patterns to meddle with. Pairing patterns with plain furniture & adding layers like wool rug, jute carpet & fleece throw blanket and many more; are a hot favourite among interior designers.
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| Photo credit: decor-guide.com |
If you are decorating your home during the fall and have made it all warm and cozy, some of those additions should suit the sultry months as well; adding a handmade wool rug is one such addition that is ideal for interiors. Designers choose wool rugs most of the time as they are the most versatile additions that suit every season and to top it all; they add instant charm to your home.
10. Keep It Unique
Creating a style of your own by adopting designs and styles from elsewhere will give you a distinct eclectic outcome. Pick designs that you feel suit your lifestyle and pile on as many personal belonging as you wish; this is your home after all and being surrounded with things you love is the best way to keep your interiors unique – an ultimate outcome that every interior designer aims to achieve.
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| Photo credit: decoist.com |
This article was written by Lubna Ali Khan. She is passionate about home improvement, beauty, arts, writing, healthy living and entrepreneurship. She regularly blogs at ALRUG
