I just don't know where to start!

This is likely the most expressed frustration I hear from homeowners. Do I paint first? When do I get new window coverings? Do I change the flooring, then paint? I know I want new lighting, but that can wait, right? 

There is typically a good order when it comes to executing an interior project, but the basic dilemma here is "how do I pull it all together"? Pulling a look together means you've poured over all the options for everything involved in your interior project. Yes, that means a whole lot of decisions have to be made. Once you've made a decision on each design element, you (or your favorite interior designer) have to look at all the decisions and make sure they all play nicely together.

But I had my color consultation and this is my color scheme! Okay, you have. You like the colors. Now you really, really, really want that sofa at the big box store that they tell you is the best of the best. You even selected the fabric you love. Did you bring your paint samples to the big box store? Were you able to bring that fabric sample home to view in the lighting of your own abode? Does these two things (fabric and paint) work well together? What about your flooring and other furnishings? Is this sounding like a roller coater you never wanted to get on?

Roller Coaster Fast GIFfrom Roller Coaster GIFs

I can tell you this - it doesn't matter where you start in the process of designing your home. It matters where you finish in ensuring that EVERYTHING works together to make the impression you want for yourself, your family, and your friends.  Did I say for yourself?!  Yes, you must love it! You will be living there. Your friends and family can ooh and aah, but that only lasts for a visit or two.

Where do you start? I suggest you start by gathering all the pictures of rooms, furnishings, fixtures, and colors that you like. Collect these pictures in a way that you can spread them out and analyze them together. I've said this in the past...when you have a collection of something that makes you feel the way you want your space to feel, take a picture of it. Use that picture as a reference guide as you move forward.

Once you've gathered your inspiration, you should make a list of EVERYTHING you have and EVERYTHING you want. Spread sheets are great for this, but if you are not tech savvy, go for the old pen and ink. You may even want to put each item on an index card to give yourself the ability of moving items from one room to another without the heavy lifting!

The next part is the one most everyone wants to leave out - how much are you willing to spend on each item? I help my clients with this using a good/better/best list. This helps them determine the items they are willing to splurge on and which items they will need and want to save on.

So, where are we? We have inspirational photos, lists of items you want and have, and a general idea of what you would like to spend on those items.

Add this to your list of items you want: Add every project you think you need to tackle and note the priority given safety, looks, and cost.  If it's easy and cheap, this is low hanging fruit. Doing these projects can lift your spirits and give you energy and focus for the next phase, whatever that is.

If it is hard to do and cheap, take a hard look at this project and ask yourself, why do I want this? Do I have the time to do it? How will I feel when it is done? Can I make my life easier and more enjoyable if I hire someone to do it making it a bit less cheap? These might be tough decisions. If you can't decide, it may be a clue that this project can wait.

So now you have a list of projects and items to buy. If you buy the items, but don't tackle the projects, are you putting pretty lipstick on a pig? It might be cute, but might not be a good long term approach. If you have a lipstick that stays for more than a few hours and a meal, let me know!

Try to prioritize those projects. Are we back to 'where do I start'? It's okay, we can do this! Remember 'safety', 'looks', and 'cost'. Of course you should tackle those safety issues first. Don't live with black mold or any mold, for that matter. Remove trip hazards, especially if you have aging folks (or clumsy ones, like me) living with you. Roof leaks, cracked windows, leaky plumbing, etc. It's not the pretty stuff, but it has to get taken care of.

Next is looks and cost. This is where DIY might work for you if you can't afford hiring out for home decor and finishes. What items in your home are really bugging you every time you look at them. What's stopping you from changing it? 

Well, my primary recommendation with all these lists is to plan for your changes. Make sure you cover all the steps in my tried and true process before you buy -  brainstorm, space plan, color and style assessments, design, trade work research. Make decisions about each room and the items that go in it, but step back before you hit the Wayfair button and make sure that all the decisions have been made and you have samples that you can pull together to make sure the end result will be something you love and can call 'done'. That paint color you picked may turn an oddly minty green that you didn't expect or like when you put the couch in front of it. Did you buy a couch? Does it fit? Do you have room for the coffee table you love?

Plan, Plan, Plan. Not everyone has the patience for shopping and re-shopping until every item looks like a loving family instead of a disjointed pile of collections that are individually loved, but don't make sense together. That's why you hire an interior designer or a therapist! The interior designer can take all the tedious work off your shoulders. The therapist will be there to help you learn why you don't love the hodge-podge of purchases you made. I'm joking, but this can be reality for some. Don't take it too hard. There are a ton of design elements that we interior designers are trained to look at across the board. If you still want to DIY and you hit it on the head the first time out, kudos to you! If you still aren't happy, go back to your lists and revise them. Try again. Remember that old adage - if at first you don't succeed, try, try again? We all do it. You're in good company.  And having said that, enlist a friend, join a group, purchase a designer brainstorming session. Doing these things can help get you further along and help you learn from your mistakes.
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2024 has been a year I've dedicated to design dilemmas. I have one more post to do in November. I'd love to get your ideas on what you want to see me address in the last blog post of the year. Send an email, call, or write a comment. Enjoy the fall weather while it is still somewhat warm (here in the Midwest)!