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Make Your New Home Experience Easy – Work With An Interior Designer

So you bought a new home, congratulations! Now when you start to unpack and look around, your thoughts are where do I start? Call a designer. Let’s start by discarding the myth that you have to be “rich” to hire a designer. There are many ways to work with a designer / decorator on your decorating projects. Before calling in a professional interior designer, make a list of questions and concerns you may have. Next, make a “wish list” of everything you would like in your new home.

Decide on your budget and make a real budget, then call several designers to see their work, talk to them, see if a friend can recommend a designer, and choose the one that you feel most comfortable with, as you will be working together for a while. weather.

Ask in advance about the rates and services provided. If your budget can’t accommodate a full-time designer, ask about hourly rates. Hourly rates work well if you think you have a “good eye” and just need guidance. If not, you can work from room to room. A good tip is to start in the most used room in your home, the family room, complete it, and move on. This not only finishes a room entirely, but also allows you to review the work of your designers. Another note, don’t be afraid to question your choice of designer / decorator. It is still your home and you still have the last word, but also listen to your professional interior designer or interior decorator, you hired them, listen to them.

If you decide to hire an interior designer, have a game plan. First, eliminate clutter. Start with a proposal of any construction changes, electrical changes or additions, plumbing changes, wall covering removal, any surround sound and speaker additions, hard floor installations, and any trim that needs to be added. Now, after all the mess has been cleaned up, it’s time for some real fun.

Have your designer start with a furniture placement scale floor plan, also known as space planning. This will only show the location of the furniture. With a scale, the interior designer can precisely give you the sizes and walking areas that will be needed and available. A materials board should then be presented to show all fabrics, wall finishes, furniture finishes, actual photographs of the furniture you intend to use, curtains and window treatments, and a detailed proposal. Now, after all this place, there should be no surprises.

The entrance or hall is the calling card for you and your home, so pay special attention when planning this space. The feeling when entering a home will tell a lot about what to expect in the rest of the home. If you are more relaxed, have an elegant but casual atmosphere in the lobby, if you are looking for the dramatic, go for the “WOW” factor. Either way, let the lobby be warm and comfortable.

Moving into the living room and the dining room. If you are not formally entertaining, think of another use for these areas. Many people think that because these areas are dedicated to “living and dining areas” that they should use them accordingly, they are not. It seems like a waste of time, let alone the expense, of furnishing these rooms to look pretty, and just stopping by and looking. Use these areas by thinking outside the box. Would you use a pool table instead of a dining table, a home theater instead of a formal living room? They do it. Guests may be surprised at first by the way you’ve used their space, but rest assured that they will be rethinking the space when they leave.

Usually the last room to be completed is the master bedroom, and I don’t know why. I like to think of this room as the most important “hideaway”. The master bedroom is the most intimate room in the home. It should reflect your true self! Nothing is more relaxing and welcoming than a master bedroom that has all the comforts and necessities one could ask for. Take your time planning this area as the master bedrooms are not changed very often and again I don’t know why. Take pictures of other rooms, items and furniture that you would like to have and give them to your designer. It is your job to present you with your own “dream bedroom”. Pay special attention to light control in this area, especially if you need “blackout” conditions to rest, and don’t forget about a rest area if your room allows it.

Moving on to the secondary bedrooms of your house. Think, think, think! How many rooms do you want or need? Can any of these dedicated bedrooms be used for exercise equipment or a home office? Again, think outside the box in terms of using your space. It’s your space, you paid for it, you use it. If you need extra space to sleep occasionally, consider using a sofa bed or Murphy beds. With the comfort level of today’s sofa beds or the added storage and function of a fold out bed, this could be your answer. If you decide to use a room as an exclusive room for guests, consider using 2 single beds with a nightstand in the center. This will not only accommodate individual guests, but you can also put them together for a couple. The cost factor is lower and the function is doubled.

Finally, the Kitchen and Family rooms. This, as everyone knows, is the heart and soul of the home. No matter how many rooms you have or how big your house is, have you ever tried to push your guest away from your kitchen? We both know the answer is YES! To rectify this situation, in addition to trying a velvet rope divider, add as many bar stools around the perimeter of your kitchen as possible. This will give your family members and guests the cozy kitchen, feel good, but keep them out of your way. You may have to signal them to take a seat, but they will eventually get the hint, MOVE! In your family room, rearrange as many seats as possible. If you need to add extra seating by the TV, but for conversation the chairs need to be facing a different direction, consider swivel chairs. Chairs are available in a variety of styles, both in fabrics and leathers, and they usually work.

In closing, these are basic guidelines to follow, whether you hire a designer or not. There will always be exceptions to all the rules, but don’t be afraid to try something new. A basic start could be with paint. If you hate the way it looks, just paint it. Keep it simple, easy, and enjoy it. The International Design House philosophy, “Beautify the world, one room at a time.”

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