Avoid Makeover Disasters With These Essential Planning Tips
Measure and map your way to a living room you love with tried-and-true designer strategies
Judith Taylor
12 January 2015
I hate seeing costly mistakes in design. But what frustrates me the most is when the homeowner could have planned accordingly to easily prevent the mistake. Sure, mishaps are going to happen. But with proper planning, you’ll likely find that your mistakes will occur only on paper, and not after you’ve already maxed out your credit cards.
Here are nine planning guidelines to live by before you start making purchases.
Here are nine planning guidelines to live by before you start making purchases.
1. Plan your room on paper
The biggest problems often have to do with scale. Pieces are just too big, won’t fit through the door or up the stairs, or just stand out like an elephant in the room. The right piece in the wrong dimensions will never look right.
When I design custom furniture for my clients, it has to be the right scale and fit through all the doorways, up the stairs and occasionally in elevators.
Space planning is easy to skip, but this is where problems can be caught early on. We use specialised software, but you can easily draw your room on graph paper. Then make cutouts of the furniture pieces you already have and arrange them on your floor plan before you purchase a new piece. Arming yourself with this information will simplify your search and narrow down the choices.
Read more: 8 Living Room Layouts That Work
The biggest problems often have to do with scale. Pieces are just too big, won’t fit through the door or up the stairs, or just stand out like an elephant in the room. The right piece in the wrong dimensions will never look right.
When I design custom furniture for my clients, it has to be the right scale and fit through all the doorways, up the stairs and occasionally in elevators.
Space planning is easy to skip, but this is where problems can be caught early on. We use specialised software, but you can easily draw your room on graph paper. Then make cutouts of the furniture pieces you already have and arrange them on your floor plan before you purchase a new piece. Arming yourself with this information will simplify your search and narrow down the choices.
Read more: 8 Living Room Layouts That Work
2. Measure everything
The old saying, ‘Measure twice, cut once’ is never more important than in space planning. Measure your existing pieces but also the doorways (both width and height), ceiling height, hallways and staircases.
When considering purchasing a piece of furniture, take its measurements and mark the shape and size on your floor with masking tape or pile up boxes to get an idea of how the three-dimensional piece will fit in terms of scale. But don’t forget to get out your tape measure and ‘walk’ the piece through all the doorways to ensure it clears the building’s entrances.
The old saying, ‘Measure twice, cut once’ is never more important than in space planning. Measure your existing pieces but also the doorways (both width and height), ceiling height, hallways and staircases.
When considering purchasing a piece of furniture, take its measurements and mark the shape and size on your floor with masking tape or pile up boxes to get an idea of how the three-dimensional piece will fit in terms of scale. But don’t forget to get out your tape measure and ‘walk’ the piece through all the doorways to ensure it clears the building’s entrances.
3. Consider function
How will the room be used? Will it be primarily for family-time television watching and occasionally for entertaining? Seating requirements will differ. Deep, comfy seating may be just right for curling up to watch TV but not best suited for a dressy occasion. For entertaining needs, a set of nesting tables might expand to provide a surface for cocktails next to each chair.
Be clear on the primary function of your room. Then consider how you can address secondary uses such as entertaining.
How will the room be used? Will it be primarily for family-time television watching and occasionally for entertaining? Seating requirements will differ. Deep, comfy seating may be just right for curling up to watch TV but not best suited for a dressy occasion. For entertaining needs, a set of nesting tables might expand to provide a surface for cocktails next to each chair.
Be clear on the primary function of your room. Then consider how you can address secondary uses such as entertaining.
4. Keep a file
Create an ideabook to collect images that show looks and ideas you love. Make specific notes about why you were drawn to the photo. This will help narrow your choices, especially if you are making decisions with a spouse or partner.
Take photos of the artwork and furnishings you already have (you can upload these to an ideabook, too). Filing fabric samples is smart as well. If you’re considering an upholstered piece such as a sofa, request a sample of the textile for your file. I also keep paint chips and material samples such as timber tone, flooring, etc. These provide useful colour references for additional pieces. And you can save a lot of time when shopping.
Read more: Game Changers: How to Use Ottomans to Your Advantage
Create an ideabook to collect images that show looks and ideas you love. Make specific notes about why you were drawn to the photo. This will help narrow your choices, especially if you are making decisions with a spouse or partner.
Take photos of the artwork and furnishings you already have (you can upload these to an ideabook, too). Filing fabric samples is smart as well. If you’re considering an upholstered piece such as a sofa, request a sample of the textile for your file. I also keep paint chips and material samples such as timber tone, flooring, etc. These provide useful colour references for additional pieces. And you can save a lot of time when shopping.
Read more: Game Changers: How to Use Ottomans to Your Advantage
5. Prepare a budget
Skipping this planning step can leave you open to impulse buys and a mishmash result rather than the look you want. A planned approach will keep you on track and deliver a well thought-out result.
While we’re on the topic of budget, don’t buy quantity over quality. Buy fewer pieces but make them special. Buy the things you just can’t walk away without.
Skipping this planning step can leave you open to impulse buys and a mishmash result rather than the look you want. A planned approach will keep you on track and deliver a well thought-out result.
While we’re on the topic of budget, don’t buy quantity over quality. Buy fewer pieces but make them special. Buy the things you just can’t walk away without.
6. Prepare to depart from your budget
You read that right. I’m not advocating irresponsible spending, but there will be times when reallocating funds from one item to another while still keeping the overall budget in balance just makes sense. For example, if you find a special piece that makes your heart skip a beat, go for it and trim your budget elsewhere. One outstanding piece can make the entire room look better.
You read that right. I’m not advocating irresponsible spending, but there will be times when reallocating funds from one item to another while still keeping the overall budget in balance just makes sense. For example, if you find a special piece that makes your heart skip a beat, go for it and trim your budget elsewhere. One outstanding piece can make the entire room look better.
7. Ask for help
Some people are reluctant to hire a designer because they fear they need to have the budget for a castle. Or they fear designers will overspend or impose their taste.
Many designers love to help homeowners get started on the right track. Even if you are comfortable with your own preferences and colour scheme, getting another opinion can help you avoid costly mistakes, narrow down sourcing options and provide flattering, complementary paint colours. So it may be time for a design consultation.
Some people are reluctant to hire a designer because they fear they need to have the budget for a castle. Or they fear designers will overspend or impose their taste.
Many designers love to help homeowners get started on the right track. Even if you are comfortable with your own preferences and colour scheme, getting another opinion can help you avoid costly mistakes, narrow down sourcing options and provide flattering, complementary paint colours. So it may be time for a design consultation.
8. Plan the transition
Find a home for your previously loved pieces. If you have a great, comfy chair that doesn’t fit your new vision, a slipcover can give it a new life. Or it may find a new home with a relative, a second-hand store or with an eBay buyer.
YOUR SAY
Do you have more tips to avoid disaster during a makeover? Share them in the Comments.
MORE
Think Like a Designer: 5 Steps to Get the Most Out of Your Living Room
How to Present Your Design Ideas to an Interior Designer
From the Pros: 8 Design Habits of a Successful Architect
Find a home for your previously loved pieces. If you have a great, comfy chair that doesn’t fit your new vision, a slipcover can give it a new life. Or it may find a new home with a relative, a second-hand store or with an eBay buyer.
YOUR SAY
Do you have more tips to avoid disaster during a makeover? Share them in the Comments.
MORE
Think Like a Designer: 5 Steps to Get the Most Out of Your Living Room
How to Present Your Design Ideas to an Interior Designer
From the Pros: 8 Design Habits of a Successful Architect
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You sound like just the person for me.
I am embarrased at times when I get asked by someone in the know: "what is your style"??
I would love to get the help of a designer but always thought that one needs to be quite rich to be able to afford these services, as well as you pointed out that I did believe they will try to push their personal ideas and it's nice to know that not all designers work this way.
What is my style???? I don't know what it's called but I know what I like, which is a livable comfy, homely space that is also quite minimalist and I don't like bright bold colours for my home but soft neutral late type colours.
I drew up my house plan to scale and we are building it entirely ourselves and we're almost ready for the roof.
I also measured everything that I already own or plan to buy to make sure the items actually fit into the individual rooms.
I have intentionally installed double front doors for access to the kitchen and lounge for the fridge, couch etc... as well as an outside door in the master bedroom to get the furniture into this room given we have a king size bed that would otherwise have to travel down the passageway, which by the way is 1.2m wide to allow for furniture to the other rooms.
I'm glad I have mostly followed your listed points except for asking for advice.
I promise myself now, that I will in fact seek the help of a designer, as you have given me reason to believe that I would benefit greatly and I probably can afford to do so.
I am so overwhelmed with colours and styles at times, that I could almost sit in a corner and cry with despair but seriously, I do keep trying to work out what I like, get colour swatches any keep looking.
Thankyou for your post, as it has reinvigorated me to keep trying.
Cheers,
Barbara