One of the major problems that you might face once you design your home are your choices.
In the previous article, we asked you to not limit yourself when you’re gathering design ideas. Here, you will sort them all out. We’re going to help you navigate through all them with clarity. You will learn to see the ones you can do and the ones you can cross out.
You started this when you decided to build a new home or to renovate an existing one. You made a choice. And as you progress down the path of your new home, you are expected to make more decisions. These might overwhelm, confuse, frustrate, and stress you out.
In worse cases, you get into an argument with your partner, husband, children, or colleague and it keeps the project from rolling.
To avoid all these shitstorms, consider spending some time together to visualise the finished product. Think about the big picture or your goals for building a home. Fantasize about living in it as you want it to be. Also, try to be on the same page. It’s important that you both see eye to eye.
READ: How to Design for Couples with Contrasting Interior Design Styles
We’ve asked all our clients to do this and trust us, this sets the course with much greater clarity and confidence. There’s less confusion as we plan their future home too.
Why is that? It’s because setting your goals and vision (with your partner) is a fundamental step in this journey. And, the first mistake that most homeowners do is skipping this step.
When you establish your goals and vision, you gift yourself with focus. You get and maintain clarity while going through all your choices. Your path becomes simpler because you already know where you want to go and what you need to do. This is the foundation of your future decisions. You align everything until you form an actionable plan for your home design.
Ready to find your vision?
To grasp your vision, you need to ask yourself the right questions. You can start with simple ones like:
- How do you want to feel in your home?
- How do you want your home to feel in general?
- How will your home help you achieve your overall goals?
- How does this home fit into your goals for you and your family?
- What are you seeking to achieve by building or renovating this home?
- How long do you think you’ll be living here for?
- What stage of life will your family be in during their time in this home?
- How do you enjoy spending your time?
It’s okay if you haven’t got all the answers. And, there are no wrong answers either.
If you like, you can use this template of a good and well-detailed design brief. A design brief lets you communicate your goal, vision, and all the aspects of your new home. We wrote simple questions which require specific answers. That way, you can better describe the things that you need and want in your new home.
In our design brief format, there are questions that ask about your style preferences. Here, you can talk about certain fads you that you would like to have in your home.
But, keep in mind that the trends and your tastes change. Given how long homes last, it’s wise to keep the permanent elements of your home timeless. Then, inject a home design craze through your decoration and furniture pieces. This way, you can replace or remove them once you get tired of them.
This kind of mindset towards home design can help more than you know it. When you don’t focus much on the frills and fancy things, you can build a home that’s functional, unfailing, and unique. Prioritise the core ideas that will make your home uniquely yours.
It’s time for a quick daydream
Let’s put all the things we’ve mentioned above to work.
Close your eyes. Try to visualise yourself looking at your finished home. Walk around from one spot to another while perfectly describing what you see. Ask one friend to write everything down for you. You can record your voice as you imagine yourself in your dream space. Consider drawing your dream rooms. You can write a home design brief too.
Now, you have your vision.
Next, discuss your this with the person you’re co-deciding with. Talk about your goals for building or renovating your home. What do want to achieve? How are you going to do that?
Look back at your pool of design ideas. Which of these ideas can help you make your dreams a reality? Simplify your choices but do not settle on a decision yet. You have the opportunity to polish the design later on.
Quick recap:
Develop a vision
Tell us how do you want to feel in your home and how do you want your home to feel.
Get on the same page with anyone you will need to be co-deciding with and
Focus on big picture goals and ideas first.
Bring personal tastes and preferences in after you’ve developed these.
See if these will work
As much as you want to recreate the vision you see 100% as it is, you can’t.
In the next step, you’ll discover that not everything you think of having right now can materialize.
Once you assess your current situation (your location, lifestyle, budget etc.), you’ll find out the things that will suit you and the ones that won’t.
Hold onto your seats because we’re about to teach you how to test your vision to see if they will truly work.
READ THE COMPLETE HOW TO DESIGN YOUR HOME GUIDES
How to Overcome the Stress, Fear, and Anxiety When Building
How to Find Clarity From Multiple Design Choices
How to Assess Which Home Design Works for You (and What Doesn’t)
How to Design Your Home to Suit the Location
How to Finalise Your Home Layout
How to Bring Volume and Life in Your Home Design
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