Home Decorating 101: Evaluation

The first thing to do when embarking on a home decorating project is to evaluate the situation.

Function What will the room be used for most often? If the room is empty all day and comes alive in the evenings for parties and meetings of charitable organizations, it needs different decor than a room which has small children playing in it all day, with family TV and take away vindaloo in the evenings.

Givens What is already present and can't be changed? This includes the size and shape of the room, the placement of the windows, and typically also things like fireplaces or structural columns. It might also include major pieces of furniture which can't be replaced or beloved works of art.

Budget The size of your budget should be part of the evaluation. If money is no object, you can think about adding a bay window and buying new appliances. If you're being frugal, fresh paint and rearranging the furniture should be the first things that come to mind.

Measure and draw the room, take photos or add samples of any materials or objects that can't be changed, and make a list of the activities that take place in the room. Then you'll be ready to think about the next steps.