Article by Naomi Webb

So, you want to redecorate your home but can’t afford to bring in an interior design expert, on top of the cost of all the materials you will need? We’ll let you in on a secret… you don’t really need one.

Obviously you want your home to look great first time, so you don’t have to redo it a couple of years down the line, but it is possible to be your own interior designer and make this happen! How? Read on to find out…

Research, research, research

Research, research and then research some more – before you do anything else!

The information you need to do your own interior design is right at your fingertips.

All you need to do is take out your phone, Google what project you want to take on and you can find everything you need to know to get started. Simply type the title of this post into Google and you will start to find helpful hints and tips – many of which are written by the professionals.

Take inspiration from other homes

Once you have done your research it’s time to seek some inspiration! The best way to do this is by signing up to some interior design titles via magazine subscriptions.

Take Ideal Home for example, Acting Editor Vanessa Richmond, says “We’re not the Style Police making judgements about style, taste or budgets – we simply showcase the very best ideas, best new products, best homes, so anyone can put together their own unique mix.

We think creating a home should be fun and exciting, and that’s how we want our readers to feel when they flick through our beautiful, contemporary pages.” Perfect for inspiration, but with room to put your own unique take and twist on the examples you find within its pages.

So why a subscription? Well what is ‘in’ and what is ‘out’ changes faster than you can paint a room, so by subscribing to a magazine you can enjoy monthly inspiration and ideas, delivered direct to your doormat.

Learn from the experts

If you are still feeling a bit overwhelmed by the choice of colours, styles and so on, then it might be time for a bit of hands on learning with the experts. There are several courses out there but you might want to take a look at this one on notonthehighstreet.com.

This ‘Flying Start Interior Design Experience For One’ takes place in London and is £360 – so you might want to consider you budget carefully before booking. But, if you do choose to book a place you will receive ‘professional interior design advice and beautiful, inspiring, plans you can put into action.’

Practice makes perfect

You’re almost ready to get started but before you put the theory into practice it is time to, well, practice. Make a detailed plan of your home and how you want it to look – make lists, draw up diagrams and maybe hang fabrics or wallpaper samples to ensure you are 100% happy. Perhaps take the smallest room or the one you use least and start there – so you can experience designing and decorating a whole room before you start on the rest.

Now, it is time to put your new found interior design skills into action! Good luck!

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