Undertaking a design job – whether it’s remodeling an existing space, expanding to incorporate more room, or starting from the ground up, it can be a daunting task. You want your new space to function well for your needs, accommodate your lifestyle, and reflect your personal design style. But how do you make the beautiful space you’ve been dreaming of become a reality? Here are some tips from our designers to get you started.
Design Tip 1: Make A Plan
Decide how your room will be used. For the kitchen: How many people are in your family? Will there be multiple cooks? What activities will take place other than cooking? Do you need an area for family scheduling, bill paying, homework, or gaming? Do you work at home? (Who doesn’t, these days!) Do you need a home office with a dedicated work space or will you integrate work and storage options into your living space? Does your bathroom need to be an efficient, organized place where you start your day? Or a relaxing retreat where you de-stress after work? Or both?
Understanding how your room needs to function to support your lifestyle will help guide your choices for product features, storage options, material selection, and plan layout.
Design Tip 2: Shop For Style Ideas
Contemporary? Classic? Casual? How about Romantic Cottage? Rustic Elegance? Metro Chic? There are lots of ways to define style, but how do you find the one that describes your look? Take a tip from designers: create a scrapbook or binder full of magazine clippings; fabric, paint and material samples; and photos of design that catches your eye. As you identify the colors, materials, and design elements that appeal to you most, a style will begin to emerge that will be the foundation for your plan.
On-line Design Sites, Product Showrooms, Model Homes, TV Home Improvement Shows, Lifestyle and Shelter Magazines and Manufacturer’s Brochures are all great sources of inspiration for beautiful professionally designed spaces. The KraftMaid Idea Book is filled with beautiful photographs to inspire you.
Design Tip 3: Create a Focal Point
Every room needs a focal point that commands attention as soon as you walk into the room. It can be an interesting architectural element such as a window, brick wall or fireplace; a functional area such as a kitchen cooking hearth or island; or a single beautiful piece of furniture. Other features in the room should support and complement the focal point, not compete with it.
Cabinetry in Cherry Burnished Autumn Blush highlights and draws attention to a lovely bathroom window; the unique ceiling shape and tall windows set the tone for a modern kitchen in Maple Willow and Cherry Cinnamon; and the features of a fireplace are elegantly framed out in Cherry Burnished Ginger.
The cooking hearth area with its distinctive decorative hood and lighted glass front cabinets in Cherry Kaffe is the undeniable focal point of this kitchen – much like the fireplace was many years ago; cabinetry and components in Cherry Vintage Willow can be used to create a table, credenza or kitchen island; a beautiful collection is showcased in the centerpiece of this room, a hutch in Cherry Vintage Onyx.
Design Tip 4: Add Some Personality
What’s the difference between a beautifully designed room, and one that really shines? Designers know the secret: infusing it with the personality of the owner makes a room lively, interesting, inviting and warm. So take your well designed room to the next level by bringing in the things you love.
Art objects collected during travels can be displayed on shelves or behind glass. Use large, oversize objects for bigger visual impact; create groupings with smaller items that have a common shape, color or theme. Remember: collections have more impact when they are displayed together as opposed to being dispersed around a room.
Add personality to your backsplash by incorporating several beautiful glass, metal, or unusual handmade tiles in a field of less expensive ones. Specialists in the showroom can help you create a design that showcases these tiles for more impact. Look for beautiful tiles on when you’re on vacation.
The art on your walls should be meaningful and personal. Instead of shopping for bland home store canvases, look at things you love, or already own to see how they can be adapted to personalize your walls. A favorite photograph can be blown up and divided in quarters to hang as a grouping; display a beautiful textile on a canvas stretcher; reframe a piece of art from another room with a wider mat and molding, and hang it in your new space for a fresh perspective.
Feeling inspired? Find out how you can incorporate some of today’s hottest Design Trends in your room.
