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Designing and decorating your home and your personal spaces is a project that is never ending and only increases as your home becomes more and more old and weather worn.
So, needless to say, if you have an interior design project which you have been putting off all those years, then now is the time to pull up your socks, buckle your shoes
and get started on it right away!
However, before you dive in head first, it is always very important to do your research before hand, most especially if you have no experience or idea about the complexity of the process involved.
In such cases, the best and most efficient way is to find yourself an expert – an interior designer, who will take away your headache and also make your home and your rooms look gorgeous.
But, on the flipside, if you choose the wrong one, then trust us when we say this, but things have the potential of turning disastrous.
But you have nothing to worry about since we are bringing to you a comprehensive guide on how to go about interior designing your house!
Before we get into the nitty gritty of the intricate details, it is important to understand what exactly we mean by the term ‘interior design.’ As the name suggests, interior design is essentially the method by which you design and decorate you’re the interiors and exteriors of your house or any of the rooms in it. But most of all, interior designing depends on how you decide to experience and decorate your personal spaces. Some people don’t realise it, but how your rooms and other spaces are decorated can really have a positive and comforting impact on you, like coming to your room after a long day of hectic work can feel very relaxing, or spending your Sunday mornings in your living room, lazing on your plush couch is probably the best feeling ever! The only reason that you are able to unwind, relax and mostly feel safe in your room or your living room is because these rooms are designed according to your tastes and expectations. Believe it or not, an interior designer does exactly this and much more. They will understand what you want and offer you all the best practices for turning your expectations into a reality!
The history of interior design can be traced back to the 19th century to a man named Owen Jones, who was a well known designer and practitioner of the designer arts! He had started out as an architect, who, after being influenced by the standard of the middle class, came out with theories which would make interior designing easily accessible to them as well as. His most famous work is the “The Grammar of Ornament” which contains theories and styles of interior designing that still continue to be in vogue! During the middle to late 19th century, the concept and idea of interior design really expanded across the American and European continent as the middle class rapidly became richer and prosperous. This change also led to the birth of large furniture companies, which soon started to offer a variety of decorating services like fully furnishing your homes in a variety of styles, management and consultant on how to interior design your homes and much more. Eventually by the time the 1914s rolled around, many interior design firms and companies were pushed out of the limelight by a budding crop of independent interior decorators and designers, who became even more popular after the end of the world war II. This led to the introduction of schools and courses which exclusively taught you how to become an interior designer and many important organizations like the Chartered Society of Designers, American Designers Institute etc, were established during this time.
It is obvious that if you have considered designing and decorating your home, then the biggest question looming before you probably which style to go for.
Following are the top décor styles!
1. Modern
Modern style is all about styles which became popular after the the 20th century. It includes, clean and crisp designs which have straight lines and involve the use of chrome, metal,
glass etc and a have a basic set colour palette. This design is all about being sleek, stylish yet simple.
2. Minimalist
This style is basically a simplification of modern style of decorating homes. It involves keeping things airy, neutral and ultra-clean giving the while thing a very functional look.
3. Contemporary
The only difference between contemporary design and modern design is that contemporary style is all about being fluid and may even be a mix of several design types depending on your tastes.
4. Traditional
Traditional style here is a reference to the classic European designer styles which were all about attention to traditional details, abundant accessories and luxurious furnishings.
It is defined by rich colouring and a regal feel.
5. Rustic
As the name suggests, this style is a pleasing mix of the raw natural elements like wood, stones etc. It all about using elements which you can find in the outdoors.
6. Transitional
This style is an extreme crowd favourite which is an amazing mix of the traditional and modern.
Not surprisingly, a lot people go for it since this style can help you decorate your homes in a manner which is super sleek and stylish yet very warm and welcoming at the same time.
7. Industrialist
This style is inspired by the raw, unfinished styles of traditional industries and warehouses. One of the many elements used while using this design are classic red bricks, old timber, high ceilings and sparse furniture etc.
8. Scandinavian
This home décor style is all about keeping things simple, minimalistic and functional. It got its name due to to its popularity in the Scandinavian countries during the mid 21st century ear.
It features the use of white walls mixed with natural elements like stone and wood all of which are brought together with a palette of neutral yet heavy colours.
9. Bohemian
If you are a carefree person and have a light hearted personality, then this home design and style is just the right fit for you!
This home décor style is all about following your heart’s desires and having fun mixing and matching various eclectic styles, right from vintage furniture items to a glamourous chandelier.
10. Mid-Century Modern
This design is basically a throwback to the styles that were at the height of their popularity during the mid – century era, which is basically the period from 1950s to the 1960s.
This style is all about being retro and nostalgic about the good old days.
11. Mountain Contemporary
Also popularly known as the contemporary Colorado home décor and style, this style is all about incorporating tones of warmth, cosiness and protection – things which we all crave for during a cold wintery night in the mountains!
12. Coastal
12.Also popularly known as the ‘Hamptons Style,’ the coastal style of home décor is inspired from the American beachside look. It features a light palette sporting cool beachy shades like the blues, whites and greens.
You can also incorporate wooden elements like white wood, beige or light toned furniture etc.
While you may know that your house is in need of a makeover, but the true battle lies in deciding the type and style of makeover that you should give. It is a tough truth,
but this is a question which puzzles most people who are trying to find their home décor style.
If you are confused about the styles and designs suitable for you and your home, then the first thing that you need to do is look for an inspiration or as most people call it – research work.
Go through magazines and surf the internet, select all the elements which speak to you. You can also introspect by asking yourself questions about your vibe and the kinds of styles you prefer – like,
if you are more inclined towards keeping things minimal, then you could go for home décor styles which are modern, contemporary or Scandinavian, on the flip side if you are a person who likes it more,
then you should go for contemporary, eclectic etc. The location of your house can also be a deciding factor in determining the style of your home décor, like a house along the coast lines, will be
better suited to coastal tones and vibes, while your mountain cabin will look excellent in a Colorado mountain theme.
Don’t fret if you are taking your time but this exercise is surely going to help. Trust us, you are bound to come across something which will click with you. Thankfully, you don’t have to worry about
sticking only to one style because if you have a talented interior designer.
The next step after you have decided on your home design style, is to find an interior designer who is not only talented but also gets your vision for
your home and does his/her best to realise it. To find the right fit, you must go through the following steps:
1. Get Your Budget Straight
First things first, get the budget of your home décor project straight. This should include a list of all the things you want to change and evaluate how much changing those things will cost.
It is best to do a research beforehand while deciding your budget. This will give you a clear idea on how to develop the right strategies to set your home décor budget.
Do keep in mind that you are extremely sure and meticulous about the budget you make since your interior designer is most definitely going to make their proposal for your home designing on the basis of your budget. So, check again that you have allocated just the right amount for every improvement that you wish to make. Feel free to look up guidelines on remodelling your house and definitely consult an expert if you are still confused or facing problems in setting your budget.
2. Refer to as many proposals as possible
The only way to choose an interior designer for your home is to go through a ton of them. Fortunately, or unfortunately, that is the best way to find your right fit. Based on the proposals they present to you and the ideas they discuss with you, you can shortlist designers. If it helps, feel free to look into their testimonials and get feedback about all the previous work done by them. This way, at least you will get a fair idea of exactly what you will be getting into. Also don’t hesitate to ask questions, since they will help you really judge the designer’s talent, experience and expertise.
This way, you will know which designer will be the right fit for you, your budget and most importantly your home.
3. Determine the level of interior improvements your home needs
A lot of interior designers offer a long catalogue of all the services they offer and can do for your home. As a homeowner, it is your job to identify all the services which you require – sort of like creating your very own a la carte menu of services.
At the same time, you also need to keep in mind the kind of charges that your chosen interior designer charges, like whether they charge on an hourly basis, or have a set rate for each room they will be renovating. You need to be firm and sure in your mind regarding it. The best thing for you to do would be to communicate with your designer – not only with respect to their fee charges, but costs for all the purchases they shall me making. Keep it mind that while another person may be designing your home,
it will be your pockets that all that cash will be coming out from. So, don’t leave room for any miscommunication or faulty guesswork to take place.
4. Thoughts post your Meeting
Once your first meeting with your interior designers is over, it is again time to introspect. The key to this introspection is honesty – be true to yourself and trust your gut. The best way to introspect is to quiz yourself with a series of
questions – did the rate and cost of that designer fell within your budget? Did they pay attention to your ideas and concerns regarding various home décor ideas? Did they have enough creativity,
resourcefulness and efficiency to realize your dream home décor style and promise to fulfil more?
If you answer in the affirmative to all your questions and are sure that the person you will be hiring shall prove to be trustworthy, then you should definitely go for that designer without a doubt. As a word of caution however, be careful and wary of con men, who may try to fleece you of your money. While they may be fairly easy to spot, they are most certainly some exceptions. Be sure that you do a thorough check before signing someone up!
5. Final Selection
The interior designer that you finally select should be one who is a true professional when it comes to realising your home décor dreams, is a guiding force in helping you make the right selections
when it comes to choosing all the materials, furniture, fabrics etc that you want and desire.
While it is important that your interior designer has an artistic eye and a creative flair, it is even more important that they have an in depth knowledge of how to procure the right quality
of material, home accessories and art, furniture and all other things required which will be home and budget friendly. So, when you are making your final decisions, be sure that you keep these
things in mind.
First off, congratulations on finally selecting your right fit interior designer! Once you have selected the ‘The One’ for your home, half your problems are over.
Your burden of decorating the interiors of your home is now shared with your interior designer. So, well done you!
Now, you are finally ready to begin the process of improving your home décor and the following are the steps involved in it:
1. Discovery
As the name suggests, the first step is all about your interior designer discovering all your design ideas and needs. Usually, in this step, the interior designer will basically quiz you
all about your likes and dislikes, so that they can understand what exactly you want for your home. This will let them gather all the relevant information, survey and inspect the
existing furniture, and plan their proposal as per the budget.
2. Development of Concept
In this step, your job is to show all the home décor visuals you have been collecting, this includes your magazine scarps, online images, Instagram pages and more.
This will help your interior designer to actually get a fair idea of what exactly it is you are looking for. So, be sure that you preserve all the material you collected!
3. Development of Designs
In this step, it is the job of your interior designer to explore various interior designs which will be suitable for your home.
All this will be on the basis of the above two steps. So, be prepared to go through tentative floor plans, colour schemes, furniture designs etc.
4. Construction and its Administration
If there is any construction work which is involved in the designing of your home, then it is quite possible that your interior designer will be consulting the contractor as well.
Be sure that you are a part of this and maintain a clear path of communication with both to ensure that everyone is coordinating and essentially on the same page.
5. Installation of items and their sourcing
After you have approved all the designs and given the green signal for their budgeting as well, your interior designer will place the order for those items.
Be sure that you have a proper storage area for all the items which arrive before their installation date. The main job of your interior designer in this step is to coordinate with
the sellers, expedite the procurement process and make sure that the installations take place on time.
6. What happens when your project is complete?
Upon the completion of the home décor project, your interior designer will generate a list of all the improvements that have been made, including the ones which you wanted and the ones which had to be made during the course of the home designing.
Your job as the home owner is to go through this list thoroughly and cross check each and every detail and improvement made to your satisfaction.
The entire idea behind this interior design guide is to help homeowners who are new to the process home décor and need guidance when it comes to selecting and deciding all the right styles and designs for your home. It also helps in choosing your interior designer, and also gives clarity on the entire process involved in interior designing of your home.
Here at Floma, you can easily search for more than 1000’s interior designs for your house or office and more. Come and find the best interior designers out there on our website.
We at Floma offer the best authentic home décor products from over 40 categories to choose from and also offer the services and expertise of interior designers Pan India.
So, if you are still reeling with confusion, about getting the best interior designer products for your house and other personal spaces, then connect with us so that we can help you and your house get and be the best!