DESIGN YOUR DREAM HOME: A PRACTICAL GUIDE
While we hold off celebrating the new year until the spring equinox, we do believe this is a wonderful time for rest, relaxation and reviewing your goals, including ways to rethink and refresh our living spaces. Whether you’re looking to transform a single room or overhaul your entire home, setting clear design goals will help you stay focused and intentional in your approach.
To help you on your journey, we want to peel back the curtain on our design process by sharing our tips & tricks with you! Here’s how we set design goals that are not only achievable but also help you to align with your personal style, values, and long-term vision.
REFLECTION
Before diving into any design decisions, it’s important to take some time to reflect on how you currently use your space, what you love about it and what you don’t. Think about:
What’s not working: Sometimes it’s easiest to recognize the areas that feel off. You know your space best. Where are the places you avoid or feel discomfort when you see or spend time there? Identify those areas of your home that feel cluttered, outdated, or uncomfortable. These spaces can often be the best place to start with design goals. If you find more than one or two areas, we suggest starting a list so that you can prioritize goals and tasks later. This will be the foundation for your design projects.
Your lifestyle: So now that you’ve identified what isn’t working, it’s time to shift focus to what you would like the space to be. Are there any new habits, hobbies, rituals or routines you want to incorporate into your space? Do you need more functional spaces, like a home office or gym or a cozy reading nook? How do you want your space to feel? What is the desired mood? This is the most important part of the journey, and also the most difficult. We implore you to take your time and ask yourself the hard questions and not to get stuck on aesthetic choices. Those will come later. First, you’ll need to review the functionality of your space to determine what’s working and what needs to be improved.
Your preferences: Lastly, which colors, materials, textures, furniture & decor bring you joy? Perhaps you’re drawn to a specific design style, such as European Farmhouse or Organic Prairie, which can serve as a foundation for your goals. Take some time to browse your favorite home decor boutiques, antique and thrift stores as well as create Pinterest boards and begin saving inspiration images. If you feel stuck, look for similiar details or design parellels in your saved images. These can become the theme you use throughout the next phase.
PLANNING
Functionality should always be at the heart of your design goals. A beautiful space is only truly beautiful if it works well for your daily life. This is where your reflections on your lifestyle will become your foundation. What is your space currently lacking? What does it need to become to a space that will support your habits & routines? In addition to your reflections, you’ll also need to consider:
Traffic flow & proportions: Think about how people move through your space. You want to ensure people can move from one point to the next comfortably without having to go out of their way to avoid bumping into a table or side-stepping an ottoman. Are there areas that feel too cramped or too open? Adjusting furniture placement or choosing smaller or larger scale pieces will make all the difference. Embrace a “less is more” mindset. Which, we know. It can be tricky to narrow down furniture selections to a few select pieces, especially in smaller spaces. Yet it’s essential to making your space function properly as too many pieces can make your space feel heavy. Mixing shapes like selecting a round coffee table with a boxy sectional can help to create balance as well.
“Our general rule of thumb: maintain a minimum of two-three feet of walking space between pieces of furniture; but don’t sweat if it you’re off by a few inches.”
A focal point: Imagine the spaces that you’ve been wowed by. We bet they all had a focal point that attracted your attention. While good design will draw your eye across the space, with elements that blend cohesively, spaces also need a juxtaposing feature. But the great aspect of a focal point is it can be truly anything: A funky light fixture, a large-scale art, wallpaper, a fireplace, a rug, an antique armoire. The sky’s the limit on the piece that makes your heart sing.
Storage: Personally for us, nothing kills a vibe more than clutter! If clutter is also a problem for you, include design goals around effective storage solutions, such as custom cabinetry, baskets, or multi-purpose furniture. We love pieces with drawers or doors that can hide those not-so-cute-but-necessary-items (looking at you, WiFi router…). But keep in mind: only buy what you need. We highly encourage you to declutter and keep only the pieces you love. Your design goals and shopping lists shouldn’t include pieces to store & organize the clutter you never use or haven’t touched in months or years. Your goal here should be to create a home for everything you need to support your lifestyle and display only those items that make you happy and remind you of your personal story.
STYLE
Designing your home is a deeply personal process, and we believe your space should reflect who you are. So it’s essential that you take the time to hone in on your unique style and make sure your design goals align with that. Do you prefer a minimalist aesthetic or are you drawn to more layered designs? How do you feel about color? Additionally, you’ll want to observe the architecture of your home and honor its structure and bones. Traditional molding will always be timeless and beautiful, however, if your home is a contemporary build with sharp angles and cathedral ceilings, crown molding is going to look out of place. Yet there are always ways to blend your personal style with your space. And a good rule here is when rooms maintain cohesive flow, your home will be connected aesthetically. To help you define your style:
Create a mood board: If you haven’t started one already, now is a great time to create a visual mood board. We’re obsessed with mood boards as they’re a great tool to help us visualize the larger picture of the space. Boards allow us to take a step back and ask ourselves if everything feels cohesive and looks as though it all belongs. You can use Canva, Pinterest (it’s a favorite of ours!) or flip through old home design magazines and create a physical board, old-school, to gather inspiration and visualize how you want your space to feel.
“Creating mood boards will help you clarify your personal style and guide you in selecting furniture, colors, patterns, texture and decor.”
Mix old and new: Don’t be afraid to combine vintage or heirloom pieces with newer items to create a balanced, meaningful space. Not only does this bring both history and innovation into your home, it also allows you to showcase your personal story through decor. This is a fantastic way to add immediate charm & uniqueness to your space. Because, we ask, how many other people are going to have that exact vintage piece in their home? One-of-a-kind pieces are worth their weight in gold, sometimes literally. The pieces with the good bones will last your lifetime as they’ve likely already lasted several others. So when you find those pieces and you have the means, don’t let the right one get away.
Make it your own: Look, we don’t want to drone on and on with a list of “shoulds” here. The best thing about interior design is it isn’t a one-size-fits all style. It’s your space, make it your own! We promise you: if you love it, it will work. Refer to your reflection lists as you probably have all the answers you need from those questions, including ideas for a color palette, your preferred materials, patterns & textures. We’d suggest also prioritizing comfort in both social and private areas of your home like your living room, bedroom, or any other space where you spend a lot of time or share with guests. Comfortable, soft fabrics, supportive furniture, and ambient lighting will help create a cozy, welcoming atmosphere that you want to spend time in and will feel recharged.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability is a key factor in our design decisions at Breezy Acres Design. So we encourage you to set goals that align with a commitment to eco-friendly choices that not only benefit the environment but also create timeless, durable spaces. Consider:
Investing in quality: We know it’s easy (well, maybe not those flatpack Ikea kits) and accessible, but instead of buying cheap, mass-produced items, consider investing in well-crafted furniture or materials that will stand the test of time. There are a ton of great second-hand options available. Hit up those consignment & thrift shops, browse your local Craigslist, and visit estate & garage sales. If you have the means & time, don’t be afraid of a project piece. Just think of the bragging rights and sense of accomplishment you’ll feel each time you see it and get to show it off.
Repurposing and up-cycling: Try shopping your own home first. What pieces do you currently own that could be used in another space? Are there any pieces that could be repurposed or upcycle to give them new life? This not only reduces waste but also creates a unique, personalized space.
Choosing natural materials: Materials like wood, stone, leather, linen, and wool are timeless, durable, and sustainable choices that align with the slow living and intentional design principles that Breezy Acres Design holds dear. When given the option and if budget allows, we encourage you to select the items that best reflect the natural world, are made to last, and like George Clooney, only get better with time.
GOALS
Once you’ve reflected on your current space, it’s time to set SMART goals. A vague goal like: “I want to refresh my living room” is a good start but it needs more definition. Instead, make it:
Specific: Clearly define what your design goal will be.
"I want to redesign my living room to include more natural light and create a space for relaxation and conversation."
Measurable: Include metrics to track your progress and determine when your goal has been achieved.
“In order to create this space, I will need to: repaint, update window treatments, add ambient lighting, update sofa, add side tables, and include personal artwork and decor.”
Achievable: Your goal should be achievable for you. If it’s outside the scope of your comfort, you’ll either need to revisit your goal and/or incorporate additional costs into your budget & adjust your timeline accordingly.
“I will clean the windows, inside & outside, and update the window treatments to include Venetian blinds I can adjust throughout the day for more natural light, while saving money with an updated goal to replace the windows in two years.”
Relevant: Ensure your goal is in alignment with your lifestyle (refer to your reflections).
“I’d like to host social gatherings, but my living room feels so dark and dated. I want to redesign my living room to include more natural light and create a welcoming and inviting space for relaxation and conversation.”
Time-bound: Create a timeline to help you stay on track. We like to create an overarching timeline and then breakdown the measurable tasks into smaller, more manageable goals. This also helps prevent you from becoming overwhelmed by your list of tasks.
“I will accomplish my goal to redesign my living room by the end of the year. I will accomplish my goal of repainting the room by the end of the month. I will accomplish my goal of adding table lamps by the end of summer.”
“Being SMART about your goals will help keep you track and prevent you from feeling overwhelmed.”
BUDGET
Setting a realistic budget is one of the most crucial steps when planning your design goals. Interior design can quickly become an expensive endeavor, especially when you haven’t fully fleshed out your preferences, lifestyle habits, and design goals. Not to mention, unexpectedly going over your budget can also discourage and overwhelm your original goals. This is why it’s important to have your budget decided before you begin. Luckily, there are always ways to achieve your goals within your budget:
Prioritize: Identify which projects will have the biggest impact and prioritize them. A fresh coat of paint or reupholstering a chair might be more affordable than full-scale renovations, and often, these options may be the simple refresh you needed.
Do it in phases: Break those larger design projects into smaller, more affordable phases. You don’t have to do everything at once. Breathe. What’s one small step you can take toward your design goal today? Maybe it’s decluttering a bookcase. Maybe it’s updating your bedroom sheet set. Do that. Cross it off your list. You did a thing! We’re proud of you! Celebrate your achievement!
DIY projects: Consider tackling a DIY project to save money. Simple updates like refinishing or repurposing old furniture can add character without breaking the bank.
TIMELINE
So you have your goals in place and your budget determined, now you’ll need to create a timeline that’s both achievable and flexible (because shit happens). You might want to tackle smaller goals in the first quarter of the year and save larger projects for later months. This gives you time to budget, source materials, and enjoy the process of transforming your space without feeling rushed.
PROGRESS
As you work toward your design goals, track your progress to stay motivated. Document your achievements—whether it's finishing a DIY project or finding the perfect piece of furniture. You’ll be able to look back on what you’ve accomplished and adjust your plans accordingly.
Setting design goals for your home in is about creating spaces that reflect your values, support your lifestyle, and bring you joy. Whether it’s a full renovation or simple tweaks to make your space feel more comfortable and aligned with your aesthetic, being intentional and clear about your goals will make all the difference. Embrace the journey of designing a home that’s a true reflection of you—your style, your needs, and your future.
“As you are working on your design goals, remember: Good things take time. Home wasn’t built in a day. ”
Download our FREE guide, designed to help you stay organized, focused and accountable as you bring your home vision to life. With clear, actionable worksheets and tips, you'll be able to set realistic goals, manage your budget, and track your progress every step of the way. Whether you're revamping a single room or transforming your entire home, this guide will ensure you stay on track and make intentional decisions that align with your personal style and long-term vision.
If you're looking for personalized guidance, I invite you to book a virtual design consultation. Together, we can explore your style preferences and develop a tailored approach to your space.
