Designing a Space

Designing a space in your home doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. In fact, it should be fun! However, home decor isn’t in everyone’s nature. Some people may not be able to afford a decorator. Maybe you just don’t want to pay someone to do something that you may very well be able to do yourself. I get all of those things! If you’re any of the three I mentioned, I’m glad you’re here because I am going to give you five easy steps to designing a space in your home that you will love!

Design and decor is something that I truly enjoy and love to do. When we bought our house, I couldn’t wait to start. The problem was that decorating an entire house takes a lot of time and money! We’ve been in our home for five and a half years and the vision I had when we moved in is just now beginning to come together. I just take each space one day at a time. 

I’ve made several changes, added, and refreshed spaces at least a couple of times because my vision and love for design keeps evolving and when I get that itch… I gotta scratch it! So, needless to say, I’ve developed my own method of getting things done. These steps help me to stay organized and focused on my end goal. I (usually) stay on budget, (I have a shopping problem) and I’m always happy with the end product! 

So here are my five easy steps to designing a space:

Pinterest

This is not part of my five steps because I can almost guarantee that if you’re looking for inspiration on designing a space in your home, you’ve probably already created a board or have pins on your account that you like. And that is perfect because it eliminated the question of, where to begin. However, if you have not done this, I strongly recommend that you begin here. Once this is done, the next steps will make it super quick and easy to design and decorate your space. 

I’m going to walk you through the steps using my back patio as an example because It’s the last space in my home that I completed. Also, Spring will be here before we know it and what better time to become inspired to put together an outdoor sanctuary than Springtime?! 

Step 1: Measure the area 

This is super important! You need to make sure that whatever space you are working on, you have the measurements in order to find furniture or pieces that are going to be cohesive with that space. Otherwise, you may end up with pieces that are too big, too small, or that don’t work well. 

Because I’m a design nerd, I usually draw the space out on a piece of white copy paper so I can get a bird’s eye view of the space. You can also use apps such as Room Planner, but I personally prefer pen and paper. I’m still a teacher at heart… what can I say?! 

Step 2: Plan out the Big Items  

The first items I always begin pricing out are the big ticket ones. In this case, it was the rug, sectional, and console table. 

I started with the outdoor rug because it would be the piece that sets the tone, size and structure for the rest of the space. I wanted a modern, boho look that added plenty of texture. Because I love neutral colors, it had to be black and white. And most importantly… easy to clean! So I went with this Beverly Rug Outdoor Reversible Plastic Rug from Amazon. I made sure to find a size that would fit well using the measurements of the space. 

I wanted a modern, boho look that added plenty of texture.

Then, I began looking for outdoor sectionals. You can see in the photos that we have a dog door under the window, which means that Izzy would need plenty of space to get in and out. I wanted a sectional that could be centered to the space, but needed to leave at least two feet between the dog door and couch. Again, I wanted something neutral in color so that I could add accent pillows and other decorative pieces and found this Alcove Outdoor Acacia Wood set on Overstock. 

The final big ticket item was the console table. Because we planned on having a TV on the wall across from the sectional, I wanted a console table behind it that would also work for people to sit at. I knew I wanted it to be tall enough for short bar stools, but not taller than the sectional so that we could easily place drinks on it when sitting on the couch. It also needed to be outdoor friendly, and go with the look I wanted, so when I found this Daphne Rectangular Console Table on Wayfair I was super excited! To be honest, I wasn’t sure how easy it would be to find something that checked off all the boxes. But I did! Thanks Wayfair! 

Step 3: Placement Design 

Once I found the big items, I noted the measurements of each piece and the ones of the space. I used painter’s tape to outline the furniture in the space to make sure it would fit and be cohesive to the design I had in my head. Because I used the measurements I had, it made it super easy to see that everything I would be ordering would work. 

I highly recommend that you DO NOT skip this step! It will make everything go so much smoother once you have all your pieces. 

Step 4: Make a List 

The next part of this process is making a list of the decorative items that I want in the space. I was going for a cozy, outdoor living room feel so I wanted a couple plants or trees, candles, lanterns, pillows, and blankets. Also, I wanted an accent table, pouf chair and floor pillow for more seating and added coziness. 

I added these items to the drawing I had of the space to get an idea of where I would put things, and how many of each item I actually wanted. This helps to keep me focused on exactly what I’m looking for and also helps to keep me within my budget. If it isn’t on the list, I typically don’t even bother looking at it… or I take a friend with me and she helps to keep me on track… but whatever! 

Step 5: Shop & Decorate 

Finally, I’ve made it to my favorite step…. The actual shopping of the decor and putting it all together.

I’ve mentioned a budget. MAKE ONE! This will help to keep you on track and aware of what you want to be spendy on and what you’re going to be frugal with.  I always have a budget set aside for decor and  I shop everywhere! 

Sometimes, I know exactly what pieces I want and where I’m going to get them. Other times I’m flying by the seat of my pants and going to all the stores to see what they have. If you’re a shopper like me, you’ll love this! If you are not a fan of going in and out of multiple stores looking for things then I suggest stores such as Hobby Lobby and At Home because they are bound to have the things you like and you can probably do it in one trip! 

Otherwise, I browse Home Goods, Ross, TJ Max, Target, Kohls, Walmart, and Kirklands for deals and for the “perfect” pieces. 

Once I purchase everything on my list, I complete the placement and finish the project!

This is the final product of my back patio. I LOVE IT! It’s super cozy and functional. 

Final Thoughts

I never take the tags off of the items I’ve purchased unless I’m 100% sure the space is complete. More than likely, I am going to come across something that I love and want it for the space, which means that I will return what I have. It just makes it easier if the tags are still on. Plus, I find that it’s a good idea to give myself a couple of days to feel out the space before I decide it’s complete. 

So there you have it! My five easy steps to designing a space! Let me know if these are helpful! Or… let me know what your process is. I would love to learn from you too!