Top 10 Ways To Find A Home Design Idea

Starting a home design project is all about tapping into your creative side and finding inspiration. If you want to redesign your home’s interior, but do not know where to start, use these tips to help you find a home design idea.

1. At home – Look around your house for pieces that make you feel happy. It might be a favorite photo, throw pillow, painting, antique plate, or handmade quilt you inherited from a family member. Think of a way to incorporate the item – or elements from the item, such as texture, colors, or patterns – into your home design project. One designer, for example, took a favorite black and white photo of his parents and had it enlarged to cover an entire dominant wall, creating a touching focal point in his living room.
2. Outside – Take a walk on the beach, through the woods, or along a lake to search for natural elements that inspire you. If you have any relics from an outdoor vacation, look at those items. Pay attention to the textures and colors and decide if you would like to incorporate a natural theme in your space.
3. Showrooms – Visit showrooms, design retail stores, and model homes to look for a home design idea. These are places that are staged by professionals, and therefore have all the elements a professional designer would use when decorating your new space. Pay attention to the details. Look at the lighting, patterns, color themes, accessories, points of interest, and arrangement of furniture. Take photos and make notes of which elements you like the most. Share that information with a design professional, or if you are doing a project yourself, use that information to set the parameters for your home design idea.
4. Books – There are a ton – a ton! – of home design books on the market. Go to your local library or bookstore to find home design books that feature the kinds of styles you like. Bookmark pictures of spaces that have elements you would like to recreate in your home. Keep these books on hand when you meet with a professional designer so they have images to help them envision the look you are striving for.
5. Restaurants and hotels – These establishments are where professional designers really like to let loose and get uber-creative. Visit fine dining restaurants in your area as well as five-star hotels to look for design elements you might want to incorporate into your spaces. If you find pieces, patterns, lighting, or other elements that you like, ask the manager on duty if you can take photos. Choose times that are not peak business hours for restaurants.
6. Professional home decorators – If you are really stumped for an idea, consult with a professional home decorator. Professional decorators are skilled at helping you define your personal style and design needs. Plus, they will have oodles and oodles of samples, design boards, floor plans, and catalogs for you to pore over to help you find home design ideas that truly inspire you.
7. Movies – Movies can provide a wealth of inspiration. Whether it is an avant-garde film that gets your creative juices flowing or a movie with a traditional Tudor home, a movie might provide the spark you need to start your home design project.
8. Art Galleries – Take a stroll through a local art gallery and take your time to really pay attention to the paintings and sculptures. Take note of which pieces you like the most. Are you drawn to colorful, contemporary pieces or classical paintings with muted colors? This may guide you toward defining your personal style and may inspire you to create some art to kick start your interior decorating project.
9. Fashion – Your clothes should definitely give some insight into your personal style. Look in your closet. How would you define your style? How does that style translate into home décor? Of course, your wardrobe may be in peril and not the best place to search for a home design idea. In that case, flip through some fashion magazines and mark clothes that have colors, patterns, or textures that you like.
10. Thrift Stores – Even if you don’t want to buy used furniture or accents for your home, thrift stores are a great place to shop for ideas. They have an eclectic collection of timeless pieces that cannot be found at contemporary retail stores. Look through the furniture, house goods, and art to see if there are any pieces that could inspire your home decorating project.