If you’re thinking about redecorating a room in the next few months, the following “rules” are followed by every decorator as he/she starts and moves through the process:
1) Decide which pieces, if any, from the existing room have to stay. This may be for financial reasons, sentimental reasons or a piece the family loves and can’t give up (this should be a piece of artwork, sculpture, baby grand piano etc. – not a sofa because it’s comfortable. If a piece is kept for financial reasons, have a plan in place to change out that item when it’s financially feasible. That piece and it’s fabric should be incorporated into the new plan but held back until it makes economic sense.
2) Take pictures of the room on your phone to have with you when you shop. Take pictures of all walls, flooring and any interesting details on the ceiling.
3) Decide on your inspiration piece. This could be an existing piece you want to keep in the room. This could be a painting you found. If there’s nothing you have that’s existing, the three items most often used for inspiration are: a new area rug (if there’s hardwood flooring), a piece of artwork you fall in love with or 3) a piece of fabric. I once did an entire condo off of one piece of fabric that set the tone for the entire space.
4) If you have or want an area rug, let that be your starting point. It is much easier to pick a paint color or find a few fabrics that go with an area rug than the other way around. Don’t settle for a rug until you find something you truly love. It can make or break the space.
5) Develop a “to scale” floor plan so you know exactly where the furniture will go in the room and you know exactly how many pieces you need to buy and the size they need to be. * I’ll discuss “How to do a ‘to scale’ plan tomorrow.
Tomorrow: A “to scale” floor plan and the next steps designers use in decorating a room.
