From Planning to Purchasing - Our Top Tips For Making Design Selections For a New Build Or Renovation
In this post, we share some tips for when it comes to making design selections for your new home or renovation.
Step 1. Define your style & gather inspiration:
If you’re building with a partner it’s worth doing this together. Sit down and figure out what you’re both drawn to. Aligning your tastes will ensure you achieve a cohesive look throughout your home that reflects both of your personalities. Flip through design magazines, scroll through Pinterest and collect images and ideas that inspire you. This visual inspiration will guide your decisions and help communicate your vision when you go to make your selections. We created a document with our inspiration images that we took with us shopping and continued to refer to throughout the build.
Step 2. Take measurements:
Grab your tape measure and get the dimensions of the spaces where your new items will go. Create a document so that you can easily access the information on the go.
Step 3. Create a wish list:
Work your way through each room in the house and make a note of your must-haves and nice-to-haves. Make sure you include fixtures, lighting, power points, light switches, window furnishings & furniture items.
Step 4. Consider functionality:
Think about how each room will be used and select items that will help make your spaces easier to live in. Functional and organised spaces make for a much happier home.
Step 5. Budget Realistically:
Set a budget that you're comfortable with, and don't forget to include a buffer for unexpected expenses. Prioritise your spending based on your needs, then your add items in from your wishlist in the rooms where you'll spend the most time.
Now that you have your inspiration ready, it’s ready to hit the shops, here are a few tips we picked up along the way.
Step 1. Find The Right Showrooms:
Before you go shopping, find showrooms that actually align with your style and needs. Check if they require you to make an appointment, lots of specialised showrooms often suggest a booking in with a consultant who can guide you through their options. We personally loved going into showrooms so that we had the option to touch, feel and test products.
Step 2. Bring Swatches and Samples:
If possible, bring swatches of your paint colors, fabric samples for curtains, or even a piece of your countertop. This helps ensure your new fixtures match with your existing colour palette.
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Step 3. Ask Questions:
One of the best parts of this build was learning so much from the experts we meet along the way. They are a wealth of knowledge and will steer you in the right direction. Listen & learn.
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Step 4. Make a Spec Sheet:
Once you’ve finalised your selections create a spec sheet, this is a spreadsheet that outlines all of your selections. It includes an image, dimensions, colour & product links. I referred to this document almost daily and it was such a handy resource to have on hand for us and for our trades.
Step 5. Trust Your Gut:
We are so spoilt for choice when it comes to design & products that are available on the market, which is great but it can be overwhelming. From my experience, I found that most of the time I ended up picking the item I liked in the first place… it taught me to trust my instincts. So my last piece of advice would be trust your gut feelings about what feels right for your home. It's your space, and it should bring you joy and comfort. Some of my favourite decisions in the house are where we went bold instead of safe… oh and enjoy the process!
Have fun & enjoy the process!
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G’day, we’re Al + Imo
We’re a husband and wife duo, building our dream life one DIY project at a time.
We firmly believe what you learn should be shared which is why we created our Journal. A place where you can learn new skills and be inspired by other creatives.
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The Good Day House is a modern, all-electric, 7.5-star, energy-efficient family home situated in the beautiful seaside town of Torquay, about 5 minutes from Iconic Bells Beach.
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