5 Things to Consider Before an Interior Design Makeover

Practically everyone has drooled over some luscious magazine spread of a room in a home that has been professionally staged to within an inch of its life. Even the most disinterested individual will have an opinion about at least one facet of their home’s interior design. Whether it’s a guy who thinks “interior design” is synonymous with frumpy throw pillows and paint chips or a college student living in a institutional-style dorm, everyone is interested in comfort and, even if they’re not aware of it, function. To that end, there are a few things to keep in mind when you begin planning to feather the inside of your own personal nest.

Stage of Life
The first thing in interior design is to consider what your life is like right now. That one element should be the foundation to start building your design on; not the architecture of the room, the type of flooring or the color of the paint. If you find yourself in the parent-of-young-children stage you certainly won’t want an interior designed for a single individual with no pets or kids. On the other hand, if you’re in the empty-nest phase of your life, you may want a décor that features the experiences of your life, travels and grandchildren (if you have any.)

Your Style
Walk through your home, sift through your wardrobe and consider the style clues that your clothing and existing furnishing hold. The clothes and furniture choices you’ve made and really like can tell you the color scheme and general design style you are drawn to. Numerous home improvement reality shows have preached this idea and it has a great deal of merit. If your favorite outfit is a classic blazer, button-down shirt and slacks, it’s a good bet that you probably like a more traditional style of décor. Now if you love the blazer but wear it with jeans and a trendy top, you probably lean toward the moderately traditional with a bit of an eclectic slant. A sleek pair of trousers, a cashmere turtleneck and elegant, understated shoes probably means you’d enjoy a contemporary design.

The furniture you really like will also provide style hints. If you are smitten with that nightstand that’s covered in mirrors, you’re probably attracted to the glamorous and luxurious. What if you like clean lines but know you’re not excited about a contemporary decor? Check out the Arts and Crafts style. It’s filled with clean lines and is down to earth and very livable. The texture of an item can also tip you off. A rich leather, plush velvet or sumptuous silk lends themselves to some styles better than others.