10 Steps to Planning Your Decorating Project

[Sadie Monroe]

Re-decorating can be fun and exciting because it gives you the
opportunity to change your home and create the environment you always
wanted. It allows you to be creative and decorate in a way that lets
your personality and style show through. However, it can be a lot of
work as well but there are some things that you can do to make it
easier and more productive. Before you start decorating, you should
plan out your project.
Here are 10 steps to planning your decorating project that can help
you get started and stay focused:
Step One: Decide What You Are Decorating. You must decide what area of
your home you plan on decorating. For example, are you changing just
one room or your entire home? This step is very important because it
will affect the next three steps.
Step Two: Set Your Goals. Once you decide how much of your home you
want to decorate you need to decide how you want it changed. Do you
want it to be roomier, more stylish or personal and so on?
Step Three: Choose Your Style or Theme. It's time to choose the style
you want to use for decorating. It could be contemporary, traditional,
country, causal, French and so forth. Choosing your style will help
you know what type of decorating items you will need.
Step Four: Set Your Budget. You need a budget so you will not be
surprised later when you realize the project is costing a lot more
than you ever imagined. Without a budget you tend to spend more
because you see something you like and buy it without thinking. A
budget will help to keep things realistic and in prospective.
Step Five: Create a Budget List A budget list will include everything
that you will need for the project. This includes any remodeling
materials, furniture, hired help and accessories. Basically, anything
that you will be spending money on for the project should be put in
the list. You also need to compare your spending to the list often to
stay on track.
Step Six: Have a Floor Plan. The floor plan is simply an idea of how
you want things arranged in each room. This will help you decide what
furnishings you need to achieve the result you want to create.
Step Seven: Choose The Focal Point. Every room has or needs a focal
point that catches your attention each time you enter. This is the
time to choose what that focal point will be and how you want to
present it.
Step Eight: Choose Your Lighting. Don't underestimate the power of
light. Each room needs adequate amounts of lights located in the right
areas to bring out the full effects of your d'cor.
Step Nine: Eliminate What You Don't Need. Many times when you get
involved in a decorating project it is temping to hang on to the items
you already have but this is not recommended. After all, you are
redecorating for a reason. Let go of the old furnishings and make room
for the new. If it does not go with your new style or if it makes the
room crowded then it needs to go.
Step Ten: Be Creative. Creativity can give your home that personal
touch that you long for while still creating the environment you want.
It also makes a decorating project more fun and exciting.
Following these ten steps will help you stay focus and complete your
project without a lot of problems and interruptions. Of course, there
may always be times when something unexpected comes up but for the
most part you will be able to stay on track and start enjoying your
newly decorated home according to plan.