Design your home to make you happy
Internet a great source of inspiration
“Before you do anything else, it is really important to think about how you are going to live and move through the spaces,” says designer Erica Cook, who has worked with HGTV’s Sarah Richardson both in private design practice and on the design show Design Inc.
Her No. 1 piece of advice? “Be true to yourself. Design with you and your family in mind, with the colour and style you love and the things that make you happy.”
Here are some tips to get you started on the path to inner beauty:
1. Consider budget. Once it’s defined, then work backwards. It will give you an idea of where to start and where you can go with the design process.
2. Use the Internet. Sites like Pinterest and Houzz offer a multitude of ideas and will give you a ballpark idea on costs.
3. Shop for the best value and think practical and functional when it comes to furnishings, especially if you have pets and children. When it comes to shelving and side tables, drawers and doors work miracles to keep clutter at bay.
4. Paint a calm and peaceful ambience with a restrained, neutral palette and minimalist esthetic. Invest in high-end finishes. Natural finishes like hardwood, marble and stone will hold value and improve resale.
5. Layer in colour with the details — a bright dish towel, a punchy salt and pepper mill or vibrant throw cushions will embolden a space and won’t break the bank if six months down the road you tire of the colour and want to swap it out.
6. Add a touch of sass with texture and pattern. Get creative. Line the backs of bookshelves with wallpaper. “It creates a focal point, but it is not too bossy,” says Cook, whose design mantra is all about simplicity.
7. Create an oasis in the master suite. Cook says this room is often neglected with most of the budget going to the public spaces — the living spaces and kitchen. “You should honour yourself first. Invest in a great set of bedding and a comfortable bed,” says Cook. And forget matchy-matchy. “Mix it up,” says Cook.
8. Elevate the overall look with original art. It’s a great investment and it adds individuality and interest to spaces.
9. Infuse the home with personal touches — framed photos of your favourite moments, a collage of family photos or perhaps an artfully designed display of treasures from an amazing trip.
10. Extend living spaces to the outdoors. Add furnishings and beautiful plants to create an inviting, relaxing environment.