Tools For Design

The Grand Rapids Press out of Michigan recently ran an article that featured several websites that you can use to help you visualize various facets of design projects. Among them are:

www.benjaminmoore.com where you can try various shades and hues of pain on for size;

www.bhg.com that has several tools where you can enter dimensions of your room and then place design features, including furniture, areas rugs, etc. in various configurations, also where you can see various colors applied to your room or your home.

www.designmyroom.com where you can choose a room layout, add color, furniture, artwork, and other options however when I tried to use this tool it froze my computer so I'm not sure how well is works in the end.

www.purecontemporary.com on which you can lay out furniture plans but the room configurations are not quite as free form as the bhg ones.

www.baliblinds.com where you can test drive certain window coverings.

www.daltileproducts.com to check out various floor covering options.

I think my favorites are the www.bhg.com site and the www.purecontemporary.com site because they offer complete room design capabilities and seem to be pretty reliable. The others are good too if you are trying to concentrate on just one item, like window coverings or flooring, or are just looking for some good ideas. But, by now, you know I can never concentrate on one area at a time, each thing leads to the next and pretty soon I have moved from my living room mantel into my office closet. How exactly does that happen?

Where do you start? Redecorate!

I love the elements of design but sometimes I am so overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of the task ahead. So, I try to break down my projects into many parts, once one is accomplished I can move on to the next. I have checked out so many websites for information and many of them are forthcoming about how to approach your project in their book or materials that you must purchase, but not a lot of "how to" information out there for free. Here's where I can help, of course you will also have to wade through my trials and tribulations in my own design and decor projects. I am a big believer in doing is learning. If you try and it does not work out, you can always try again. That is why I like the idea of starting with redecorating instead of all out decorating from scratch.



Redecorating uses the items you already have in your home to mock up your space. If you place items where they fit and look good, then you can get a much better idea of how your space will look. That does not mean that the couch you borrowed from your family room will not ever go back to where it was, but you may ultimately decide you like it better somewhere else in your home and you will buy a new one for the family room or do without because it was never really right in the family room anyway.



To redecorate you must remove everything from the room or space that you are working on (yes, that means whatever is on the walls, too). Once you have the space cleared you can start moving pieces back into the room, starting with the largest (usually a couch) and working your way down by size until it looks good and is comfortable to you. After all, you have to live there so it must be comfortable for you!



Then after you have placed all the furniture that the space needs you can place accessories and hang pictures and other wall art. Here's a hint: The best placement for furniture in normally not against the walls (notice I said normally and in some cases that is the only place for some furniture). Do not be afraid to borrow furniture and accessories from other places in your home, you can put it back where it came from you are trying to get a good feeling for what you ultimately want your space to look and feel like.



After you are done you can assess wall color, whether you need some new furniture or accessories, lamps or a rug. It will all come together.