Tips for starting your project

with Kayleigh Trott of Studio Jute

With such a vast array of styles, looks, and finishes to choose from, how do you decide what is right for your project?

When it comes to interior design, there is no right or wrong. It’s simply a matter of personal preference and taste, but there are principles that guide the process and can help when investing in your home.

1. How do you want to feel?

Before we rush into choosing paint colours or fabrics and wonder why it’s proving tricky to decide, the question that can be easily overlooked is: how do you want the space to work for you? Are you creating a relaxing bedroom? Or an inspiring office with great natural light? Thinking about how you want the space to make you feel will give you a good place to start from.

2. How will you use the space?

This step is significant to ensure the final outcome meets your needs. How do you picture using this space once it’s finished? Are you designing an entrance that will need plenty of storage, a place to put your keys, and maybe somewhere to sit? Is the area high traffic? if so, you will need to consider finishes that stand up to daily use.

3. Be your own inspiration

It’s easy to be lured into recreating a look that is currently on trend. We’ve all done it — seen a paint colour or wallpaper and tried to bring it into our own homes, only to find that it’s not quite right, or we’ve gone off it shortly after. The advice I give to clients is to look at your own interests, likes, and lifestyle, and take inspiration from there. Notice which shapes and colours are in your wardrobe. Are you most happy outside in nature and want to bring some of that into your home? Consider all areas to spark creativity.

4. Create a mood board

A mood board is a quick and simple way to communicate your ideas and goals for a project. In the early stages, your mood board can be more abstract, communicating feelings or textures, rather than specific finishes. Simply collecting images and analysing what you like and dislike about them is a great way to spark inspiration and test out ideas.

5. Be confident

All too often we end up with a diluted version of what we set out to achieve because we lost our nerve! It’s important to have conviction in your choices; if you’ve done your research and the end result is bolder than you’d imagined — go for it! You’re creating something you love that will hopefully result in a long-lasting design.