Whether you don't have the funds to commission an interior designer or simply prefer the idea of doing it yourself, creating a space from the ground up might be scary for those who have never done it before.

Remember that interior design is more of an art than a science, and there are no hard and fast rules for decorating a room in your home. However, if you need a blueprint, this is a simple start-to-finish approach that will help you envision all of the stages necessary to design your space like an expert. From the best nude wall art to the softest rugs - we've got you covered.

Mood Board

The first stage in the design process is developing a mood board and then stepping back to identify the common threads before spending any of your hard-earned money.

It's usually a good idea to plan ahead of time before diving in. A mood board and accompanying plan of attack might help you avoid a chaotic appearance and costly errors.

Ask yourself…

What is the purpose of the room you are working on? Is it practical? What mood and atmosphere are you trying to create? If it helps, come up with a few descriptive words. What are your favourite styles, themes, and colours?

Websites like Pinterest are great for getting interior design inspiration and help with mood board creation.

Budget

If you want to keep your redesign under control, you'll need a budget. You need to determine how much money you have to spend on your project upfront and keep a potential buffer - just in case you go over slightly!

Sort your purchases into three categories: "must-haves," "good to have," and "not a priority." Then, figure out roughly how much each item will cost and how much you're willing to spend on it.

You should begin by generating a spreadsheet to divide up your expenses by-products. Any fixed costs, as well as cost estimations, are included.

If you're going to source any of the materials yourself, you'll need to figure out how much each square foot will cost.

Floor Plan/Furniture Layout

Before purchase, gather measurements and sketch a simple drawing of your area and arrange your desired furniture and other room features.

You probably have your eye on a few furniture pieces you're passionate about to get to the point where you're inspired to build a plan. To determine if they fit realistically, set them down on paper (virtual or not) and watch what happens.

If you choose, you may draw out your scaled layout on graph paper using a pencil and eraser, using 1 square = 1 foot and interior design furniture placement cut-outs. Or, if pen and paper isn’t your thing, there are also many apps and websites that can help you create an ideal floor plan and enable you to visualise your finished room.

Conclusion

The design and planning process for designing or redesigning a room revolves around making the most of a space, whether you're doing a brand new bedroom or remodelling your living room.

No matter what your project is, the fundamentals of room design are the same: take your time, make a strategy and a budget, then make judgments based on the room's purpose. Start with a focal point and work your way out with entertaining details.

Designing a place is a lot of effort, but it's also a lot of fun, and the final outcome is well worth it. Coming home to a place you love is the best feeling in the world.