5 TIPS I'VE LEARNED FROM DESIGNING OUR HOME FROM SCRATCH
WHERE TO START…
Congrats! If you’re reading this post that means you have a LOT of exciting design moves ahead of you. You could be moving in with your bestie, getting rid of that college IKEA furniture, or taking the leap in buying a house. Whatever phase of life you’re in, there comes a time where you have the overwhelming feeling of designing your space from scratch. I get it, it’s stressful. If you are anything like me at this phase, you are impatient, eager to get it done and “perfect”, but also have no idea where to start.
This was exactly where I found myself two and a half years ago when I moved in with Matt. It was such an exciting time, but also super stressful. We were really learning what it meant to merge our lives. From learning how to share a closet (ok, like 3/4 share on my part), to discussing what sort of things we like in our home, it was a huge learning experience. (More on tips I’ve learned with living with a boy later…). One thing I had to force myself to realize is that whatever direction we decided for our home, it would take time to get there. Trust me, not something I accepted easily. However, two and a half years later, I finally feel that our home is “full” and I am really really happy we let it unfold on its own!
I also want to say that by no means do I think our home is complete (to all my design friends - design is never done, am i right?). I still have ideas for how to change it (like a new sofa, new tv console, etc.) However, I feel really happy with how we’ve been able to merge our styles using what we already had with the addition of some key elements.
Needless to say I learned a lot during this process, but these 5 tips are by biggest takeaways:
Don’t get overwhelmed
Trust me, I know this is easier said than done. However, if you change your mindset from “frustrated it’s not done” to “excited about all the opportunities to express your style in your home’, the whole process will be so much more enjoyable. If you live with someone and are trying to merge your styles, this is a really healthy approach to have when trying to find your shared “style”.
THE EVOLUTION OF OUR LIVING ROOM…
See how I transformed this space - How to Hang the Perfect Gallery Wall
Try not to rush it
The beautiful thing about starting from scratch is that your home and the pieces in it can evolve with you. Did you find this awesome antique mirror when you were 20? Oh look, this new sofa you found 5 years later works perfectly with it! When you slowly buy the things you love and fill your home with them you home starts to tell a story.
Every single piece of furniture in our living room has a story….I found the bar cart one weekend I spent looking through antique markets with my sister in law, the sketch portraits above our tv console I flew back from LA when I went to compete in a design competition right before I accepted my job. The grey sofa was the first purchase we made as a couple, and I got the report player for Matt at his 24th birthday. Slowly but surely, our home began to feel curated by our life story. I guess that’s where the tagline curated luxury comes from. I associate every piece in our home with a certain luxury I had in the memories of the pieces. This makes our home so special, and so unique to us!
CHECK OUT THE EVOLUTION OF OUR TV WALL…
See how I transformed this space - How to Style around your TV Using a Gallery Wall
Don’t feel you have to box yourself into a “style”.
This is probably the most exciting feeling when starting to design your home. It is a chance to really express your personal style! However exciting this may be, it can feel overwhelming. This is probably my biggest piece of advice to anyone starting to design their home - don’t feel like you have to copy any particular style to make your home beautiful. Of course, you can be inspired by pieces you see online, but since you are designing your home slowly you don’t want any of your pieces to feel to “trendy”.
PROBABLY THE BIGGEST GLOW UP IN OUR HOUSE IS OUR LOVELY BAR CART. I CAN’T EVEN LOOK AT HOW SPARSE AND LONELY IT USED TO LOOK!
See how I transformed this space - Bar Cart Set Up 101
Start with the big ticket items
This may seem like common sense, however some people want to immediately dive into getting the decor pieces first. I challenge you to be really selective and picky when you start designing your home. Live with what you have at first, save up for the bigger ticket items, and save up for the ones you actually LOVE. Don’t waste your money (or time) just getting something that will “work”. Again, take your time and enjoy the process of searching for the best sofa, bed frame, or dresser around - you won’t regret it!
THIS IS MY FAVORITE TRANSFORMATION: OUR BEDROOM! MAINLY BECAUSE I WAS SO GLAD TO GET RID OF THIS FLOATING SHELF BUSINESS.
See How I transformed this Space - 3 Easy Ways to Style Around your Bed, How to Recreate my Abstract Artwork, & Why Table Lamps and Mirrors are a Classic Combo
Be Spontaneous
My last tip I debated even adding because I know most of you are like me (and super type A). So, spontaneity might not come easy to you. However, I challenge you to approach designing your home with a level of curiosity and spontaneity to indulge and surround yourself with the things that really bring you joy. Sometimes finding these items takes some digging. For example, we bought our dresser when we were searching for something completely different in Pottery Barn. We came across this amazing textured wood dresser during their end of season furniture sale, and bought it sight on scene. Yes, this was a big investment for us. However, we both love this dresser and have yet to see anything else like it! Plus, don’t they always say the best things will come to you when you stop looking…?
CHECK OUT THE EVOLUTION OF THE TV WALL IN OUR BEDROOM…
See How I transformed this Space - Plug In Wall Sconces | Why I Will Always Love Them
