How To Get What You Want From Your InteriorDecor Girl

Whenever the calendar clicks over to a new year, fresh home and interior ideas flood into our heads. January acts like an incubator month. We draw, sketch, curl up with design books or sites and let those creative juices work their magic. You have so many thoughts and design ideas swirling around about what you are “gonna do this year,” next thing you know the year goes by and all those ideas get pushed aside. Opps, another year gone, still no new _________ (fill in the blank). Time to stop the cycle of no progress, here is how to get exactly what you want from your interior (this year) and how to complete interior design projects.

MAKE A LIST – Two lists if you share a home

Lists are the common characteristic of success in any project. But this is more than a list, it is going to turn into a relationship saving tool. If you share a home, both of you make a list of interior or home projects you would like to accomplish this year. Combine into one BIG which list. Order is not relevant at this point. Just make the list of both our your wants.

PRIORITIZE

This is where your list starts to get the gas to get your home projects in motion.

Make two copies of the above list
Each of you separately assign a rating to each item
Use ratings to create a master list of the top ten projects – let the ratings rule, flip a coin if needed*
Assign a budget amount to each item 1-10 if there are large projects are on your list
Use a calendar to assist your prioritization **
Pair the list down to five projects after considering budget.

*Number three is the relationship saving component. We use this often with clients, my husband and I have done it, using numbered ratings removes the arguments and judgements from the process. Call it the fair road to happiness, nobody’s feelings get hurt.

**A calendar can change everything. Certain projects may be more suited to summer or winter months or your vacation plan.

GATHER and RESEARCH

The 1-5 project list gives you laser-like focus to allow you to gather product ideas, colors, materials, and interview necessary contractors, everything you need to make your dreams a reality. The more information you have the better your project will turn out. Use findings to make your selections for large and small projects:

Large – whole room projects

colors
materials (flooring, walls, etc.)
products/appliances
furnishings
lighting
window treatments
contractor(s)

Small – room or space needs one or two items to complete (such as a new coffee table, lamps, or artwork, these are smaller decision items)

the right size
the right color
the right aesthetic

ACTION PLAN

All the work you’ve done above arms you to build an action plan. You’ve already made the hard decisions, get a timeline from your contractor and create a plan so everyone knows what has to be done and accomplished by when.

More often than not I’ve had client’s tell me “having a plan” makes them feel like they are moving in the right direction towards their interior project goals. A plan helps you realize each project has specific action steps. One can’t just say get a new coffee table and it appears. All of these steps set you up to realize the actual scope of work needed to turn your dreams into reality and make them into doable projects.

Maybe you’ll only achieve two projects this year or maybe seven. Interior design projects work like losing weight, one can’t just wish it to happen, one has to do the work to achieve the results.