Hunting and Gathering Part 1

One of the best ways to redesign a room on a budget is to plan ahead. This will allow you to avoid costly impulse buys, and instead take a more creative approach to completing your wishlist. I am by no means an expert, but here are some early-stage planning tips that seem to work well:

Step 1. Set a reasonable budget and make it your goal not to overspend.

Step 2. Give your room a theme. Jot down a few words to describe the atmosphere you're trying to create. This may seem cheesy, but believe me...it will help keep you focused!

Step 3. Choose a color palette, sticking with one main color and 2-3 accent colors. This will help make your room feel more cohesive as a whole.

Step 4. Decide what kind of fabrics you'll use. Mixing and matching fabrics is a good way to create texture and depth.

Step 5.  Make a list of all the major items you want to purchase. Choose 1-2 dramatic pieces that will become your main focal point. Start assigning price limits to these items. Perhaps you might splurge on a new sofa or area rug. Things like these can be harder to find second-hand. Other items such as tables, bureaus and chairs are easy to find cheap, and you can refurbish them to achieve your desired look. Accents like mirrors, vases, picture frames and lamps are also easy to find cheap at flea market and consignment stores. 

Here's a few of my favorite online planning tools to help you get started:

Pinterest is great for gathering inspiration. Create a pin board exclusively for your project and start building a library of colors, fabrics, furniture, and artwork that you like.

At Houzz, you can flip through endless interior design photos and search for specific rooms/colors, etc. Save your favorite photos to your personal "lookbook." You can also save comments for easy reference later on.

Mydeco is another great site that has two hands-on planning tools: a free 3D Home Planner and a Moodboard creator (which is similar to a virtual pin board). Unlike other 3D design tools, this one uses actual products which makes the final design more realistic. It's a great way to visualize your space before you start hunting and gathering.

The picture at the beginning of this post is an example of my 3D living room design using mydeco.  I was going for a cozy, refined, rustic/lodge feel (yep, that's my cheesy description). Stay tuned to see some of the progress I've made, including a reclaimed wooden coffee table, a DIY crate bookshelf, and more money-saving tips!

-Sarah