How to Decorate a Room Part II: Design Inspiration

In the last hub, "How to Decorate a Room," we mentioned you could obtain inspiration from your favorite piece of art to something as simple as your favorite colors. In this hub I'd like to take it a step further. Sometimes inspiration comes from seeing others at work or their finished work.

My spouse and I often visit area model homes for ideas. Think about it, builders hire only the best when it comes to decorating their properties for potential buyers. The idea is to give the potential home owners something to imagine before they see a spec home. The builder wants them to view the spec home as a blank canvass. My spouse and I visit every room in the home looking for that special quality that speaks to our taste. Consider visiting a model home in a stunning community for inspiration on decorating your home or office. Inspiration is everywhere.

Wow, isn't it great to have HGTV at your disposal? There are so many shows on the network that fosters do-it-yourself projects for individuals and families alike. Tune into HGTV for inspiration on home decor. From shows like Color Splash to Design on a Dime, you're sure to walk away with a plethora of ideas to enhance your space.

HGTV not only features shows with stunning design techniques, but it also takes you into the lives of everyday people like us, who need a little help in bringing creativity to their space. This type of reality television is rather inspiring for others who sometimes feel they're the only one out there stuck in a rut of blah and dreadful decor. The truth is, life happens. Our work, the kids, their activities and a lot more often clouds our ability to function. Tune in to HGTV and feed your creativity.

When it comes to creating, most artist work from a framework of reference, like employing concepts from a particular era, theme etc.  Well, most consumers aren't trained artist, and as a result work from inspiration with a little help from research.  With the rise in bookstores, it's normal to see countless people checking out how-to home decor books, design and more.  In addition to books, there are all sorts of wonderful magazines showcasing projects you can do within your home or office.  

The magazines feature great reading and real life stories of individuals who tackled an assignment and WON!  If you're thinking about designing a room, or performing a makeover on one, it might be a good idea to subscribe to one of these magazines or at least check out a few books from your local library on home decor.  However, don't throw out your personal design aesthetic, it’s what makes it uniquely you.   

This is a critical process. Because ideas often come out of nowhere.  Some are achievable, while others are not.  Don't discredit your ideas, but rather jot the concept down and look for ways to connect the dots to fulfillment.

I always recommend collecting your items in a binder or notebook. Make notes by each fabric swatch, paint sample, wallpaper swatch, receipts etc.  Bringing your ideas together in a concise way will help you edit.  The editing process is easier when you have all items in one place and notes that indicate what your thoughts were when you originally selected the item for inclusion in your space.  

Once you've settled on your design it's important that you purchase the right tools, fabrics, paint, supplies etc., to complete your project. It's like a good recipe, you need all of the key ingredients in order to be successful. You can deter a little to add your own kick to it, but don't stray too much. It's the same with design. In order to achieve the level of success you seek, purchase the right equipment, supplies and fabric. Buying something substandard will only frustrate the process. Some of your tools can be garnered from an area pawn shop or thrift store. Think out of the box, it will add up to savings in the end.

Now you're ready to create the unimaginable...Get Moving!