Have you recently purchased a new home, apartment or condo? Do you plan on building a home or renovating the one you already have? If you answered yes to one of these questions, then you’ve probably got a bigger question on your mind: where should I start with the design of my new home? You probably want to highlight your style and incorporate new trends, yet make sure the décor lasts and fits within your budget. This article explores four areas that provide a basis for design that will help you get started.
Colors
Blending, matching and contrasting colors in your home isa crucial jumping off point. Start with the formal areas first and work from there. Designer Mark McCauley advises homeowners to use the 60-30-10 rule. Use 60 percent on a dominant color like walls or floors, 30 percent on a secondary color like furniture or cabinets and 10 percent on accent colors through your accessories. Another rule is to use a darker color for the floor, medium for walls and light for ceilings. You can limit yourself to three colors that complement each other on the color wheel for larger areas and use smaller areas to be bolder in your design. In a lighter home, a contrast of darker colors in certain rooms may give the place some personality. A blend between neutral bright colors and exotic colors may make some rooms, particularly the bathroom, stand out.
Materials
Materials tends to mostly apply to kitchens and bathrooms, but that doesn’t mean those are the only places. The most common materials are granite, marble, and quartz. As with bathrooms and kitchens, these choices apply to countertops. Material selection involves matching with the rest of the rooms and fitting your practicality needs, for example, liquid absorption and ease of cleaning.
Floors
What catches the eye of most visitors to your home? The floors. Making sure you have floors that tie the whole home together is the icing on the cake for the complete design. The right floors can make your home pop. Wood, tile, vinyl, and carpet — any of the choices can look spectacular, depending on the space.
Placement
After colors, materials, and floors are decided, you’ll want to figure out where to place all the furniture and how that will play into the design. You don’t want your tables, couches, beds, and nightstands to look haphazardly placedin each room of the house.Measure your space, draw a floor plan and research ideas. Start with a focal point like a sofa and build from there. Use the same color principles as you choose accessories. Experts also say to create conversation areas, try a bigger coffee table, keep furniture away from the walls when possible, vary the lighting, and use the right-size artwork. The proper placement of belongings offers a great aesthetic.
Don’t have much experience with home decorating? That’s okay, most people don’t either. Luckily, the specialists at US Design Source can answer your questions. For over 50 years, the experts at US Design Source have delivered quality work for home design throughout Orlando and the surrounding area. You will have access to their 10,000 square foot Design Center, giving you an opportunity to see multitudes of samples so you can make confident choices. Using their industry knowledge, they can offer expert advice on creating the best home for you within your budget. Reach out to them today to get started with a free one-hour design consultation.
