Buying, remodeling or building your own home is a significant investment. Whether you are planning to live in it or intending to rent or sell it later, careful planning is required to ensure your money is well spent. You want a house that is structurally sound, aesthetically pleasing, of good quality for comfortable living and equally important is maximizing its market value to ensure ease of selling it in the future.
Aside from the actual structure, there are so many other elements to consider including interior design. Here are trending ideas to help you visualize, plan and implement your home décor and layout.
Fabrics and wallpapers
In terms of colors, edgy, rich jewel tones and stark white and warm neutrals as opposed to cool grays are in. Abstract or chintz floral patterns, geometric and ethnic-inspired prints adds contrast, especially in minimalist spaces.
Kitchen Tiles and backsplashes
In most homes, the kitchen is probably one of the favorite focal points families focus on. Conceptualize your kitchen design scheme by incorporating bold colors, patterned motifs, glossy or understated subway tiles, and a myriad of options for backsplashes. Onyx or steel tiles, antique patterned styles to large, industrial-styled tiles, Carrara or Calacatta marble, Morrocan, Spanish or Portuguese tiles are only some of the many options to choose from.
Statement ceilings
Add another aesthetic character to your home by creating enticing, impactful ceilings through the use of lacquer, wallpaper, and moldings.
Smart, compact and multifunctional furnishings
Whether it is a country house or urban dwelling space, storage is important in keeping neat, organized and efficient spaces in the home. What these compact, multi-purpose furnishings may lack in size more than make up for with the aesthetics, function, and adaptability that they provide especially with challenging rooms and areas around the house.
Green, sustainable and hand-made pieces
Incorporating pieces that are made from earth-inspired, sustainable materials like clay and rice paper is not only a trend but a clear example of how you can make your home greener. For example, ultralight tempered glass may be used to create unique and exquisite tables. Glass is a recyclable and resource efficient material from sand and cullets. In the case of eco-friendly modular prefab homes, aside from natural hand-made pieces, you can also have other green spaces throughout the home customized to reduce your carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency throughout the home.
Energy saving appliances
In keeping with trying to leave as little impact on the environment as possible, installing energy-saving appliances, lighting and live plant walls inside the home is a movement that hopefully will continue to grow.
DIY or professional: Should you hire an interior designer?
If you are considering becoming your own home decorator, take the time to decide if this is the route you want to take. Hiring a designer is, after all, a matter of personal taste. Having watched Chip and Joanna Gaines, is this enough to make you an expert on taking up designing your own home? Before you take the plunge, ask yourself these four questions to find out.
1. Do you have substantial experience?
Considering the funds any building or renovation project requires, make sure you have the correct experience and skills to accomplish this project.
2. Is there a financial plan in place?
Every project requires a good financial plan. Knowing what you can afford and what you are willing to spend for is extremely important prior to initiating any action. Make sure you have sufficient backup funds in case unforeseen events and expenses arise somewhere along the way. Be realistic about how much you can actually shoulder including the cost of hiring a professional decorator.
3. What kind of services do you require?
You might have experience in certain areas and only require help with some. Many designers offer a long list of services including consultations, design and space planning, site measurement and assessment, procurement and project management. Identify which specific services you need help with and create a shortlist for reputable professionals in your area.
4. Are you good with making decisions?
Do you have a grasp of what your personal style is? This plays an important role in the decisions that need to be made in terms of achieving your design vision. Being able to communicate your ideas clearly has a direct effect on the end results and your budget. Miscommunication could lead to costly mistakes which may affect your finances. If you opt to hire an interior designer, you automatically become the decision maker in this formula. It is your job to give final approval for things to move forward. Carefully consider whether hiring a designer is what’s best for you.