I often have people tell me that they’d love to update or improve their space, but they just don’t know where to start. They may not have the budget to hire a designer right now, and they’d love to make a few updates on their own. How do they know what needs to change in their room to achieve a well-designed look? How do you objectively evaluate your space when you’re so used to living there every day?
How can I evaluate my space if I’m not sure what to look for?
That can be a difficult question to answer, and is certainly one that is open to a lot of different opinions. But, when a designer walks into your room for the very first time, they are trained to look for and notice certain things, and you can, too! After all, how can you expect to come up with design solutions if you don’t identify what needs to change first?
The first step in understanding what needs to change in your room is to use a technique I like to call ‘Fresh Eyes’. We can get so used to walking into our living room or bedroom that we no longer see the details of the room. We ignore the paint color, the decor, the furniture and the artwork because we’re just so used to what we have, and it no longer stands out to us, or grabs our attention. So, today I want to invite you to walk into your room as if you are entering it for the very first time. I want you to see your room with Fresh Eyes!
How does the technique work?
Grab some paper and a pen/pencil, and be ready to take some notes on your space, as you see it for the “very first time” with your fresh eyes. Here are a few questions to ask yourself as you enter your room and evaluate your space:
- What’s the first thing in the room that I notice? Is that the first thing I want other people to notice? What is the second thing I notice?
- Does the room look light and bright, or feel dark and dreary? Does it feel cozy and warm, or cold and uninviting?
- Do my eyes move around the room in a nice even way, or do they get stuck in one or more locations? What drew my attention to that spot?
- Does the room seem heavier on one side or the other? In other words, does all of the furniture seem to be clustered on one side of the room, or is it spread out or grouped fairly evenly? Are there tall items on one side of the room and short items on the other, or do I have a good mix throughout?
- Do the walls look bare, or too cluttered? Or, do I have a combination of both (a cluttered wall on one side, and a bare wall next to it)?
- Are there enough different colors in the room, or does everything seem to be in the same color family?
- Do I have some pattern in the room, or is everything just solid colors?
- Is there too much clutter in my room? Could I fix it with some new storage solutions, or do I just need to clean house?
- Do I have any green plants in the room (faux or real)? Hint: you should.
Can I use this for every room in my home?
Yes! Once you’ve tried this technique, you may find yourself walking into every room in your house with fresh eyes. And, you may discover a lot of things that you’d like to change. You might even find yourself asking, “how did I not notice that before?!?!” But, that’s OK! You’ve taken the first steps to identify the changes that need to be made. Now that you have a list of things you’d like to improve, you can start coming up with solutions, and soon you’ll have a space that looks and feels so much better to you!
If you have any questions about this tip, I’d love to hear from you! Also, if you’d like to learn more secrets about home decorating, and ways to improve every room in your home, check out my online courses and eBooks in the Shop.
