Good interior design can do wonders for
your mental health. Eliminating clutter, using emotive colours, indulging in
soft textiles and investing in art are all things that can help you de-stress.
But here’s the thing – decorating can be stressful.
So how can you reduce the stresses and pressure of home transformation? From not knowing how to combine colours, patterns, textures and fabrics to rushing the job because you simply don’t have time for delays, there are many things that can make your experience taxing.
What often starts out as lots of energy and enthusiasm ends up being flat-out exhaustion. If your project goes off-plan, off-budget or off-schedule, it can drain your creativity. So here are 5 must-know tips for keeping your home a stress-free zone during renovation or redesign.
1. Form your interior narrative first
Interior design projects are like stories. Do you know what story are you trying to tell? A big mistake that a lot of homeowners make is diving head first into a design project without a plan or a clear concept in mind. This is why having a narrative is so important to making your home look amazing.
It’s likely that you’ve seen lots of imagery online or you’ve been inspired by something on TV, but you haven’t formed an interior design concept to start building your theme around. In order to get started, you have to ask yourself what you are trying to achieve. Are you looking to open up a cramped and stuffy space? Are you trying to adapt the space to your family’s growing needs? Or do you just want to hit the refresh button and make your home up-to-date and modern?
Once you know your purpose, you can start to look for inspiration and build your concept. The five leading principles of any interior design concept are:
I. Colour
Colours set the mood in a room, and there’s a lot to be said about colour psychology and how certain hues affect how we feel. Think about the function of the room – is it a place for work, socialising or quiet relaxation? Then try to consider how colours might play a role in this.
II. Scale
Next, think about the size of each room you are decorating. Consider the different objects and features you need to fill the space, and make sure they are well-related in terms of scale. You may want to buy oversized lamps for large living rooms, but stick with smaller items for cramped spaces.
III. Style
Decide what style you want your home to be. Whether it’s classic or contemporary, minimal or elaborate, laid-back or ornate, be explicitly clear with your vision.
IV. Space planning
Layout and flow are very important, so have a plan for how different functional spaces can be used. Working with a professional interior designer can often be the best way to make the most of your home ergonomically. This can be especially important if feng shui is your goal.
V. Functionality
Throughout the concept stage, make sure you keep reviewing functionality. This has to precede style. The trick though, is to achieve a design that gives you both.
2. Have a strategy in place (and a checklist)
One of the biggest stressors of home decorating is working to a strict deadline. Decorating often requires time off work, time away from the family, or the need to graft late into the night and at weekends.
You may even be working towards a specific date because you have visitors coming. All of the pressures of getting your makeover finished can take a toll, especially when you’re juggling a career and family life.
According to The Spruce, some top tips for strategizing include:
●Journaling to keep a place for your ideas
●Making checklists and priority lists
●Having a budget before you begin
●Building a moodboard to bring ideas to life
●Creating a financial estimate for products and supplies
3. Use removable wallpaper if you are insure or renting
If indecision is your biggest enemy, using removable wallpaper can make decision-making so much easier. Not only can it be hard choosing between different wallpaper colours and patterns, but there’s also the finish to consider (textured, embossed, smooth, glossy or matte). Then there’s the question of wallpapering just one wall or multiple walls.
Classic paste-the-paper and paste-the-wall applications can be laborious and fiddly. It’s a lot of hard work if you’re not 100% committed. So the pressure to make the right decision can lead to a lot of second-guessing. Removable wallpaper can be easily peeled off without any damage to your paint or wall structure, so it doesn’t matter if you change your mind. They are also perfect for renters who want to personalise their homes.
See our full range of removable wallpaper online.
4. Splurge on the right products
While there are some interior features you can save on, there are others that you won’t want to cut corners with. Too many homeowners end up being disappointed after trying to emulate an interior style they’ve seen in magazines or social media. Only to wonder why their result doesn’t look as good as the original source of inspiration.
The key to achieving an elevated interior look, one that doesn’t look like it’s been done on a shoestring budget is allocating your budget wisely. This means throwing proportion out of the window. Splurge on wall art if it brings refinement, elegance and charm to your narrative. Spend more on one single designer chair if it takes your interiors to new heights. And allow enough in your budget for good quality rugs, as they complete a room and bring a concept together.
A luxurious rug is a great investment, and the difference between a high-end rug and a cheap rug is unmistakeable. Thought-proving pieces or beautifully-designed ‘focal point’ products are worth the money. And it’s always better to purchase a small selection of quality items, rather than filling your home with lots of poorly designed objects.
5. Be guided by personal style (not just trends)
Finally, don’t get carried away chasing interior design trends. Yes, trends matter and they provide a helpful guide for homeowners looking to refresh their homes. But some styles will come and go, and this can leave you feeling outdated when things change. This is key when shopping for furniture, because this is a big investment and you will want your furniture to last well over a decade.
Some styles have a lot more staying power, and some concepts can be easily adapted from year to year. If you do go for something very current, make sure it’s something you’ll appreciate even when it’s not the latest craze anymore.
Our top tip is to follow your heart and to strike a balance between timeless and trend-led design.
