As the housing market continues to take a hit from rising mortgage rates, many homeowners are taking down their "for sale" signs and rethinking how they can beef up their home values.
In other words, it's a good time to try interior design.
For those new to the craft, interior design may feel somewhat intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. Studio 11 Design founder Kellie Sirna is here to alleviate all of those first-time designer woes so you can decorate with confidence this year.
For many, the first step to interior design is cursory research on the internet — a spectrum of ever-changing design trends and decorating tips. Don't get bogged down by all the trends.
"The internet can definitely appear like a very wide and deep rabbit hole when it comes to the litany of design trends out there today," Sirna told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "One of the key ways to avoid falling into this seemingly never-ending well is to focus on what you like and what appeals to you naturally.
"When you acknowledge what your true preferences are, you've already started to funnel out things that can distract or shift that vision."
Finding your interior design style will likely take some experimenting. To make the most out of your experiments and build your design confidence, first focus on a few select living spaces.
"I recommend starting small and with something personal. Rather than taking on too much or redoing the entire house, perhaps start with your personal office, or even the laundry or mudroom. The latter may sound insignificant, but these are spaces you routinely use, yet they lack the grandness and expectation of a kitchen or a living room," said Sirna.
Experimenting in interior design doesn't have to break the bank. There are a number of ways you can take design risks without risking your savings.
"A truly inexpensive way to take a risk without endangering the bank account is to experiment with changing up room layouts, swapping furniture and accessories between rooms and redefining a room's purpose, swapping it with another," Sirna said. "Each of these depends upon a home's existing layout, furnishings and accessories, but none of them require a huge investment in terms of new pieces. Instead, you're simply working with what you have, reorganizing it to create a new experience."
If you are willing to open your wallet, contacting a professional can go a long way to helping you find your style.
"I recommend tapping a design professional if you have the budget," she said. "Not because you're looking for someone to tell you what to do, but because he or she is immersed in this world and likely aware of different brands, artists and creators that you may not necessarily be. This will drastically open the door design-wise. Additionally, a professional can help ensure a cohesive design scheme. It can be easy to lose perspective when designing a home or room, so having an expert to provide a point of balance is key."
