Are you ready for an upgrade, refresh or total makeover in your home but don’t know where or how to start the process? Do you have a vague notion about what kind of “look” or “vibe” you’re aiming for, but can’t quite articulate it? These are common stumbling blocks, but don’t let them become the reasons to keep postponing that much needed (and comfortably budgeted) change.

Here are some ways to start the design process:

Anchor your kitchen or bath project

Nearly every kitchen and bath has countertops, tile, cabinets, sinks, fixtures, flooring and hardware. A good tactic is to start on your favorite websites and browse. See what one or two elements capture your heart and fit your budget and use them as the springboard for your design. Often, the rest of your choices will fall into place more easily. We’ve centered entire kitchen designs around one gorgeous backsplash tile and preferred cabinet style. That’s not to suggest you need to be 100% certain about your choices, but those initial connections to materials or styles can give you momentum.

Start with the objects of your affection

Another “step one” is to think about your space and consider which, if any, of your current wall art, books, sculpture, vases, trinkets, antiques, furniture pieces, and/or rugs you absolutely, positively want to keep, use and/or display. This will help you define your options for the surrounding elements from the perspective of style and flow. For example, if your heirloom Chippendale writing desk and brass lamp will feature prominently in the den, you may decide to lean in hard to the traditional décor or want to balance the antiquity with a very simple, clean-lined love seat, a neutral rug, modern window treatments and less ornate accessories.

Turn the pages

Visit your favorite websites and peruse the magazines. From home décor-specific site like houzz.com and Cottages and Gardens to publications that feature celebrity or designer homes, you can see lots of interiors without ever leaving your home. Find your inspiration and consider how you can replicate it in your own spaces. Go the high/low route and find the mass market version of the deluxe piece at an affordable price. Splurge on the accessory fabric or material and you can live like the stars! Just make sure the scale is right for your spaces and your style flows from room to room.

Invest in an expert

Whether you need a few hours of organization, shopping and guidance or a project manager for your entire redesign, you will never regret engaging an experienced interior designer to get your project up and running. We help you focus on the strategies above, innovate and optimize your space for the way you live your life, and save you from headaches and potentially costly errors. Count on us to help you prioritize, focus and take the first step toward achieving your home design goals!