Renovating is exciting, but it’s also a complex process that requires careful planning and management if you want to create your dream space. Each element needs to work with those around it to create the style you’re searching for, and you’ll need to ensure that you’re designing for function as well as aesthetics if you want to enjoy your new space as much as possible. That’s why we asked Liv, founder of Flawless Interiors, for some of her top interior design tips.
Liv’s Top Tip For Keeping Your Renovation On Track:
Creating a new space in your home is about more than just finding elements you like and combining them to bring your vision to life. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes, and it can be very easy to end up having to make compromises on things you’d really rather not because certain parts of your renovation didn’t go how you thought they would. That’s why it’s vital that you plan everything out before getting started, and follow Liv’s top tip for keeping your project on track: “Have a budget, plan, and stick to it.”
While people go over budget all the time when renovating, Liv offers some advice to help avoid this issue, stating that there are “so many options, so many alternatives … [for example] if you want to put beautiful marble, it costs thousands, but with porcelain, it is just as amazing and beautiful, and that’s half the cost. So definitely look at different alternatives.”
By the same token, while Timber floors can break the bank, alternatives like Luxury Vinyl Plank, Laminate and Hybrid can look and feel just as nice.
This advice can save you a significant amount of money, while also greatly reducing the stress that you experience throughout the process, but it’s important to put it in place at the planning stage so you can ensure that everything comes out how you want it. Although it can be tempting to go all in on a style, your budget really does need to be the first thing you lock in, and everything else needs to work into it, otherwise you’re going to run into issues.
How To Ensure Functionality In A Space
Once you’ve locked in your budget, it’s time to think about the next most important part of any renovation – the functionality of your new space. After all, if things don’t flow properly or work well, it doesn’t matter how beautiful they are.
“It all comes down to layout” Liv said when asked about how to ensure that a space functions as it should. “A lot of clients will come in here with their floorplan, and it’s really important that we’re able to almost walk through the floorplan and make sure it suits them. And it’s really individual to their lifestyle. It needs to be functional, it needs to have storage, you’ve got to think about things like natural light and windows.”
Maximising the benefit you get from these factors becomes particularly important when you consider the fact that “unfortunately a lot of houses are poorly designed, and they’re not designed around natural light, so that really changes a space.”
The good news is that if you’re building an addition or performing major structural works on an existing space, natural light is quite simple to add, and a sliding door or a few extra windows will pay dividends for the rest of your time in the home.
Which Functional Design Elements Are The Most Important?
While creating your mood board, it is important to consider the key elements that are going to have the most impact on your space. In terms of this, Liv believes that the two elements every home needs (outlined below) should be central to your design decisions:
Her top element? “Good lighting … definitely some pendant lighting”. This probably comes as no surprise given that Liv’s main things to consider in terms of functionality are layout and access to natural light, but her design process focuses heavily on creating a space that is well lit. “Have your wall lights, your lamps, and definitely some beautiful pendant lighting, it really adds that extra layer to a home.”
“A house full of downlights isn’t going to cut it anymore guys.”
“My second [key element to consider] is flooring. Bit biased but I love my Imagine Floors, and flooring is really, really important.” We’re obviously inclined to agree with Liv, but her reasoning behind this choice further supports her point: “Flooring really comes down to lifestyle. At the end of the day, you live on your floor, so it’s really important that you have something that’s beautiful, but as well is quite hardy and durable.” Liv said, adding “that’s why I love your Laminate floors, because they’re just so hardy and durable, we get really good feedback from our clients.”
How To Decide On The Right Type Of Flooring:
When selecting flooring for your home, Liv feels that the two most important things to consider are your lifestyle and the durability of the floor. Pointing out one of the mood boards she created with our floors, Liv highlights the durability of our Naturale Plank 3.0 Luxury Vinyl Plank, stating that “[In] a beautiful family home a Laminate or a Hybrid is [also] a really good go to option … if you’re after a bit of pattern, the Masterpieces Chevron is really elegant and timeless, and that’s in a beautiful Laminate, so that’s going to be really really good for a family home.”
In addition to considering your lifestyle and how durable a floor is, Liv feels that pets and kids are two other main factors that need to be considered, pointing out that when it comes to our Laminate, Vinyl and Hybrids, “something like this is made to be lived on and I think that’s really important.”
If you’re still unsure on which floors are best for you, we’ve created a Flooring Selector Quiz to help you figure out the finer details so be sure to check it out.
And What About Visual Design Elements?
Although functionality should always be the most important factor, the aesthetics of your space shouldn’t be neglected. In terms of visual elements, Liv feels that colour is particularly important in design, stating that it is a factor that should be chosen first in order to set the scene.
“Ultimately the foundation of a good design, is having a good colour palette.”
Your main colour can be pulled from the element you fall in love with at the start of your mood board creation process (more on that below) or can be selected from a range of complimentary shades. The important thing to remember is that this tone will impact how all other elements appear, so you’ll want to ensure that you’re happy with your choice.
Looking For Inspiration? Here Are The Colours That Are Popular In Design At The Moment:
When asked about trending tones, Liv said “I’ve really seen a lot of deep greens last year, so I think that’ll continue this year. At Flawless Interiors we do love our blues, you know, we do love those coastal designs, so we’ve always got the navies and different shades of blue … [plus] I’ve definitely seen burgundy come in and even rust so I’m really excited to use those this year.”
Having said that, however, she warns against following trends (like the colour of the year) if they aren’t true to your personal style.
In other words, if these shades don’t appeal to you, feel free to throw the rule book out the window and design a space centred around whatever colour sparks the most joy for you.
How To Create The Perfect Mood Board
When it comes to creating the perfect space, Liv is a major fan of starting with a mood board. This allows you to see how elements will come together and is far easier to tweak than a design that is already being built. In order to create the perfect mood board, Liv has one key piece of advice:
“Always find something you love first.”
She suggests that you take textures and colours from this element and use them to influence how you create the rest of your mood board and design. This element doesn’t necessarily have to be the statement piece of your room, but it will be a core component, and by creating the rest of your design around it, you’ll be far more likely to be happy with the end result.
Expanding on her above advice, Liv stated “find one thing that you really love, and if it takes a while to figure out what you love, sometimes I start with a collage. I cut out magazines and piece little bits of paper together”. This tip will be particularly helpful to those who have never designed a space before, but is a great starting point for anyone if you’re feeling a little stuck or uninspired.
What Makes A Great Design?
Although this question is a matter of personal opinion and the answer will be different for everyone, Liv’s answer highlights another key point to consider when designing your space.
“I would say textures. It’s a bit biased, being in floorcoverings, but I love the texture of wool loop carpets and beautiful timber floors.”
Texture is a great way to add depth and character to a space, and can really transform the way it feels, so this element should always be considered as a key part of your design process. It’s why, for example, we have a woodgrain embossing on all of our floors, so they provide a true to life feel. It’s also why we love layering elements so much when we create spaces, as this allows us to bring a whole suite of different textures in and really design a customised feel.
And Finally, Some Words To Live By:
To round things out, we wanted to know what the best piece of advice Liv has ever received was, and these words of wisdom can be applied to all aspects of your life:
“The best advice I’ve ever received is to do whatever you want.”
“In life we say that, do what makes you happy, but I think when it comes to your house, do what makes you happy. So many people come in here and they say I love this tile, but you know, I was showing my friend and she doesn’t like it. Well, it’s your home, if your friend doesn’t like it, it doesn’t matter, because you’re the one who has to live with it, you have to love it. So do what makes you happy.”
Ready to start your renovations? Check out our 2024 Renovation Guide for more tips and tricks.
