I love designing. If I had it all to do over again I would definitely go to interior design school. Maybe I will someday. The whole process is so fulfilling. You start out with a vision, slowly build your design, shop, execute, and VOILA! You have a beautiful room to enjoy everyday of your life, until you are ready to change it. LOL! This happens to me every 5 years or so. I get the itch to change my entire house. That’s when I have to get creative or put a lid on it.
McKenzie is 6 now and we’ve had the same color scheme in her room since she was a baby. I’ve changed things here and there to grow with her but my style has changed so much and I can’t wait to design something for her that matches her personality! I asked her if she wanted to work with me on it or if she wanted to be surprised. She said, “Surprise Me Mommy!” Woohoo! I can’t wait to see her face light up when we reveal her new bedroom to her. I’m pumped to create a space for her that she can enjoy when she needs a little quiet time.
I’ve created a process for designing a room that really works for me, so hopefully you will gain something from it when you feel stuck or don’t know where to start when designing a room in your home. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions.
1. PICK A COLOR SCHEME AND/OR THEME.
McKenzie’s favorite colors are pink and purple. So of course I am going to do mainly pink and purple with rose gold, white and grey. These colors are gorgeous together. If you are having a hard time picking colors, go to Pinterest and type in color palettes for inspiration! Maybe you know you want pink and green but you aren’t sure what other colors coordinate with it. Pinterest color palettes really help! I am not too much of a “theme” person but I do like to add special touches to a room that incorporate a person’s favorite things. McKenzie LOVES the moon! She always has and we always tell her that we love her to the moon and back. Moons and stars are going to create a whimsical space where she can daydream and snooze.
2. START WITH ONE SPECIAL PIECE
Find something that inspires you as your focal point. It could be a special piece of art, a photograph, or pillow etc. Anything that encompasses your vision for the room and that you can’t live without. For McKenzie’s room I found this amazing Mrs. Mighetto print of a girl sitting on the moon. I am a huge fan of their work and knew I had to have it!
3. CREATE A DESIGN BOARD
Create a design board by cutting and pasting all of the furniture, bedding, décor and accessories you want to use in the room. I simply use a word document but I know there are fancier design apps you can use for a more professional feel. I just want to see the entire design on a piece of paper so I can see how all of it melds together. Without doing this I get lost.
4. WORK WITH A FRIEND
I’m so lucky to have my best friend Tiffany. We grew up together and know each other so well. We love design and both have our strengths when it comes to decorating a room. When I get stuck I call her and she helps me look at things a little differently. It’s so much more fun to phone a friend than to do it by yourself. If you don’t have a friend to call, call me, I’ll help you!
5. HUNT FOR SPECIAL ACCESSORIES
Instagram and Etsy are my favorite places to find the most unique items. There are so many amazing mom and pop shops out there you just have to hunt. Search by hash tags on IG you will be hooked! I wont admit to how many hours of my life I’ve spent daydreaming on Instagram.
6. FOCUS ON LIGHTING, TEXTURES & LAYERING
Lighting is so important, don’t overlook it. Try to have at least 3 different light sources in a bedroom. Some examples are: sconces, ceiling light, desk lamp, bedside table lamp, or a floor lamp. Lighting sets the mood in the room. Having choices for different times of the day can really make an impact. Texture and layers give the room depth. I look for accessories that are crocheted, embroidered, fuzzy, sleek, natural, metallic etc. I love combining different textures to create a warm feel. I want you to look at a photo of the space and picture yourself enjoying it. Kind of like a scratch and sniff sticker but different. Layering gives a bedroom a sophisticated I’m a pro decorator vibe. The bed is the most important piece that begs to be layered. Use sheets, shams, accent pillows, stuffed animals, quilts, duvets, throw blankets, bed skirts and finish it off with a rug underneath.
7. SPLURGE AND SAVE
I’m a believer of splurging on the special items that personalize the room and saving on the big items like furniture. Handmade dolls and pillows that will be family heirlooms are the items I splurge on. They are the special pieces that make a room authentic and one of a kind. I love shopping at IKEA, Target, Wayfair and Overstock for furniture. Its inexpensive and still looks beautiful. Change out the knobs or paint it with chalk paint for a look all your own.
8. BE PATIENT
This can be hard. I tend to get excited and want to rush and finish but it always ends up biting me. Take your time. Enjoy searching for the just right items that will complete your space. You will be so much happier in the end.
