Essential Interior Design Tip #3:
Dream…and dream BIG!
Why is it so important to dream?
Because the ABSOLUTE first thing you MUST do in ANY design project is create your CONCEPT. Your concept is crucial! It is the guide by which all design decisions are based.
In the overall design of your home,
Your CONCEPT = Your STYLE
I don’t want to say it’s impossible to find your style without dreaming – BUT it is. So you’d better get to it!
How do you start dreaming?
By intentionally seeking inspiration.
- Flip through magazines.
- Cruise Pinterest (my personal favorite).
- Look at blogs.
- Visit some stores (to browse, not to buy – because you already know that “shopping” is one of the last things you should do).
- Go to a showhouse or a furnished model home.
- Observe your surroundings and take note of your likes.
Besides getting inspired, you need to begin to visualize your room. Not necessarily how it will look, but more importantly, how it will feel.
What if you’re afraid to dream?
On the surface dreaming seems like an easy enough task. But in truth it can be quite difficult. The adult in us resists dreaming because it often seems completely unrealistic. I get it. You don’t want to be disappointed when your reality can’t live up to those dreams. Especially if you feel like you don’t have the time, money, skill, or will to even start a project.
Well that’s the beauty of dreaming for design. You’re allowed to ignore reality for a bit. You’re dreaming up a concept, not the final outcome. You’re dreaming simply to define your style. Not your whole dang room.
DREAMING is big picture.
DREAMING doesn’t do details.
DREAMING has no budget.
Beyond the dream – 4 Key Steps to REVeal your style:
- GATHER {inspiration}
- DEFINE {what appeals to you}
- ANALYZE {the similarities}
- NAME {it}
That’s right! Name it and claim it. Short and sweet. All you need is a 3-word name for your style and you’re ready to move on to the next phase of the design process.
WHAT is not as important as WHY.
What you name your style is not nearly as important as to why you name it that way. Don’t worry about whether you’ve used certain terms correctly. As long as you understand and can explain why you used them, that’s all that matters.
So how about it? Are you excited to get dreaming? Great! But I have to warn you…
Once you start dreaming, it can be hard to stop.
Which leads us to our next tip…
Essential Interior Design Tip #2: Stop Dreaming. Start Doing.