Have you ever tried to drive to an unknown location without directions a GPS, or Siri? Even if you didn’t get lost, the results could have been much smoother with a plan. The same goes for decorating your home. The “throw everything against the room to see if it sticks” approach does not work. Instead, take a proactive approach to get things done right the first time around.
Use these tips to create your decorating plan:
Create a Design File
This file should include your floor plan, paint selections, fabrics, photo inspirations, and a tape measure. Be prepared with the knowledge of the items in your home and the look you want to create. Don’t be afraid to ask for swatches and take them home to view them in your space.
Establish a Budget For Your Decorating Plan
When many people think about their budget, they do not look at all of the extras that pop up. Take into consideration things like shipping, tax, delivery, installations, electrical work, flooring, etc. Things extra items can add up to an additional 20% of your budget.
Be Realistic With Your Time Frame
Every November, I receive a phone call from a potential client that wants to have their home decorated for Thanksgiving. Although Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday in November, it seems to creep up on all of us towards the second week of November. Prepare for the unexpected. Don’t wait till the week before a special occasion to decorate for it. That perfect item may be on back order.
Consider Your Entire Family
Do you have children, pets, or elderly family members in your home? Do any members of your family have special needs or allergies. You must answer this question to determine the items you want for your home. Maybe you need to purchase hypoallergenic fabrics or have a need for grab bars.
Entertainment / Activities Needs
Are you planning to entertain in your home? You may need to designate an area for entertainment or other activities. Determine if you will need to repurpose a room. Determine what items are needed to accomplish this task.
I hope you found these tips for creating a decorating plan useful. Please feel free to leave any comments, questions, or suggestions. I would love to hear your thoughts on how you use a plan to decorate your home.
If you need help getting your home and life organized, register for my free “5 Days to an Organized Home & Life” email course. You’ll receive tips and suggestions for five days and a copy of my eBook. You can register for the free course at www.decoratorsvoice.com/free5daycourse.
For information about my Full Home & Life Organizational Strategies course, please visit www.decoratorsvoice.com/homestrategiescourse.
As always, thanks for stopping by. If you have any organizational or decorating questions, please do not hesitate to ask. I would love to hear from you. For information concerning our decorating services and products, please visit www.divineelementsofdesign.net
Thank you for these! I’m in a habit of just deciding to do a project at home without considering all the planning.
Such a great post. These are simple, but often overlooked concepts.
Thanks for stopping by.
Yes! Great summary of tips! I usually underestimate how long projects will take. Whoops!!
Redecorating can be so overwhelming. Thanks for the tips!
Yes it can. Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for stopping by.
Great tips! It’s definitely a good idea to plan for shipping/taxes, etc.
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Yes, many people tend to forget those. Thanks for stopping by.
Yes, we often forget about those. Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for the great tips! Hope you have a great weekend!
xo, Jessy | http://www.currentbliss.com
Thanks for stopping by Jessy, from http://www.currentbliss.com 🙂
Ah yes a budget…so important. Otherwise you can easily get carried away with all the things you can buy for sure!
Yes, it can be overwhelming. Try to take things one step at a time.
These are all great tips! I tend to overthink decorating way too much, so I’ll need to keep these in mind!
Shannon
Clothes & Quotes
Yes, please do. Thanks for reading.
Thanks for sharing this decorating plan for us! I’ll plan to redecorate my house either this month or next. Keep up the great work!
You’re very welcome. And thanks for reading. I hope these tips help.
You make a great point about being realistic with your time frame when it comes to designing your interior. My parents are hoping to design the interior of their home when they get a chance. They’ll want to make sure to hire an experienced professional to help them with this process.