Room Planning 101

Design with Purpose: #1 Thing to do Before Designing a Room

Aiva Katty 3/18/2024

I wish I had some super top-secret hack to share, but in all honestly, the key to designing a functional and beautiful room is to PLAN AHEAD!  Most importantly, the layout of the room needs to be functional and balanced. The finishes, fabrics, and pretty things come in to play later.

Below is the process I go through when designing a room for myself or my clients.

Determine the Function of the Room:

Start by making a list of all the activities this room needs to accommodate. Some examples: watching movies, eating, studying, playing games, or entertaining.

Do you need storage? If so, what do you plan on storing in the room and how much space do you need? Are there alternate places to keep some of the overflow items?

Some, if not, most rooms will need to be multi-functional, especially if you have children. Many feel that having a beautiful room with kids can be difficult to achieve. I must admit, it can be challenging, but its not impossible (hi, mom of 4 over here 👋🏼). When designing a room with kids in mind comfort, durability, and storage tend to be on the forefront of my decision making. Selecting high quality furniture with performance fabrics is a must if you hope to withstand the wear and tear involved with a busy family.

Measure, Measure Again… then Measure Again:

Purchasing furniture that isn’t to scale is one of the easiest mistakes to avoid. I tend to use graph paper or a room planning app to determine the best way to organize each space. We also LOVE blue tape in our home. Many times outlining each piece can provide more clarity that what you can see on paper. This exercise will also help determine the furniture layout, measurements for each peice, and optimal rug sizes.

This template you just created for yourself will provide the best road map when you are out shopping or scouring the internet for the perfect items. Don’t skip this step, it will minimize mistakes and ensure everything in the space is proportionate.

Choosing a Color Palette:

Decide how you want the room to feel when your friends walk through the door. Is this a more formal space? Is this a calm, relaxing space? Or is this a moody and exciting room? The more contrasting colors and patterns in a room, the more energy it has. The more neutral the color scheme, the more tranquil the room will feel.

Make it stand out

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. ???????????

I tend to gravitate towards more neutral pieces to anchor the room and add color with accent chairs, art, florals and accessories. These items are easier to replace and tend to be more cost effective if you decide to change things up in the future.

Gather your Design Inspiration:

There is so much beauty all around us and inspiration can come from anywhere. The easiest way to gather all of your design ideas is on a Pinterest Board or IG Folder. This also helps translate your ideas in a way that your designer, contractor, or tradesman can understand. A photo is worth a thousand words and can help relay your vision in an accurate way.

Make it stand out

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Also, be able to verbalize what it is you like about each photo. Many times, the final design for the room is gathered from many different examples and the goal is to to put all of your ideas together in a cohesive, functional, and beautiful way.

Another thing I always tell my clients, sometimes you may love something, but it may not belong with the style of your home. Discernment is necessary at times in order to keep the home feeling cohesive throughout.

Determine a Budget:

I think the hardest question to answer is, “What is your budget?”  When I ask this question, many will either not want to disclose or they really have no idea what its going to cost to create their dream space.

Spend some time looking at various sofas, tables, and other furniture pieces that you love and try to come up with a range. Leave a little bit of your budget for the accessories as these can breathe life and personality into your home.

Planning and executing a beautiful room takes time, patience, lots of energy and can be expensive. Although, coming home and spending time in a room you love can be priceless. Don’t rush the process and be intentional with your purchases. Its most definitely worth the investment.

Happy Planning!

xo, Aiva