If I had a dollar for every time a client said to me, “I don’t know where to start!” I’d be rich. Whether it’s an organizing or design project, getting started is half the battle. I’ve written about how to start decluttering your home. However, knowing where to begin when choosing finishes for your renovation can be challenging. You want to ensure that the finishes you select are practical, durable, within your budget, and match your style. It’s a tall order! Here are a few ideas to help you with your next project.
Choose Colors from a Special Piece of Artwork
Do you have a piece of artwork in your space that you absolutely love? If so, you can pull your colours and finishes from that. For example, the artwork below inspired the finishes for a bathroom I am currently designing with a client. They love this colour palette. In fact, there are pops of these colours throughout their home, so choosing finishes from this piece gives us an excellent jumping-off point.
Start with a Major Element in the Room
If you don’t have artwork to pull from, start with one finish choice. I suggest something that will be a showpiece in the space, such as a countertop in a kitchen. For example, we started designing a recent kitchen project with this gorgeous granite countertop.
We used this element to choose the flooring, backsplash tile, and paint colours for the cabinets and walls.
We chose a very neutral, calming palette for the entire space. The granite countertop will be the focal point, as will the client’s extensive art collection. And she has a few pops of colour with her furniture, area rugs and lighting. The nice thing about choosing neutral finishes is that it is super easy to change out the rugs and furniture without having to make any other changes.
Find Something You Love and Go from There
Here’s an example where the wallpaper (the client and I absolutely fell in love with it) inspired the bathroom design. You can see how the rest of the finishes coordinate perfectly, from the dark blue vanity to the grey flooring to the neutral countertop.
Take Your Time Choosing Your Design Inspiration
When choosing finishes for your renovation, each design decision is important – especially when investing a substantial amount of your hard-earned money. The key is to relax and take your time. Don’t force the creative process. Of course, writing this piece has the designer in me fired up about my next project and curious about where the inspiration will come from. However, I know not everyone feels this way. Some people feel overwhelmed with all the options. If this describes how you’re feeling, please get in touch. I’d love to guide you in transforming your space.