In 2014, the tool company BLACK+DECKER conducted a survey. It was small, but it found that more than half of homeowners surveyed had unfinished home projects. These projects ranged from simple fixes (updating light fixtures, finally putting up curtains) to larger projects like plastering walls. My point is, if you have a home improvement or renovation project waiting patiently to be finished, you are not alone! And I’m here to encourage you to just finish that room! I don’t want it to be too complicated, so to help you out, I’m offering my five most helpful ways to finish your home design project.
Just Finish That Room
Interestingly, our stats from our YDP onboarding surveys show that clients seek an interior designer to not just help, but take on the whole project. This is telling me that clients aren’t big on DIY, which translates to possible halfway-finished projects throughout the house. Additionally, our clients look for extended timelines that allow the project to evolve as options are presented.
Even more revealing were the responses to our question: “What are you most excited about?”. We got responses like “Finally getting the pictures hung”, “Getting our home to reflect our personalities”, “Most excited to have a new home”, and “Getting it done and having people over”.
All of this paints a picture of homeowners stressed about the projects they envision or have started but just haven’t finished. Unfinished home projects make you feel uncomfortable in your own home, which is something YDP can’t stand for. So let’s dive into my five ways to just finish that room!
5 Ways to Finish the Home Design Project
Though there are numerous reasons a home project is unfinished, the solution usually involves one of these easy steps. Your Design Partner offers assistance with every finish-that-room solution.
E-Design
E-design, or virtual design, is an inexpensive way to bring a vision together and have a designer help source all the items so you can simply execute the plan. My e-design services for your interior design project are geared more towards a DIY mindset, but still offer all the expertise, product sourcing, and expert recommendations – we can even ship fabric, wallpaper, and carpet samples to your home! You might have to do some of the work, but you’re certainly not alone.
To finish that room, an e-design service will provide you with a layout and all the tools you need to envision the finished project and make it happen on your own timeline.
Focus on the Seasonings
If a room feels unfinished even after you’ve purchased furniture you like, and arranged it the way that works best, you might just need the seasonings. This is what I like to call pillows, throws, area rugs, bedding, lighting, decorative accents, and art. These bits and pieces turn the concept into a finished piece.
It’s not always easy to pick out these smaller details, and that’s where YDP would come in. We will help you sort through the endless pages of options, narrow your personality, likes and dislikes, and the emotions you want to evoke. From there, we’ll find items that suit the room and aesthetic perfectly.
Shop a Mood Board
A good mood board can inspire as well as provide the best options for the items you need to finish that room. Perhaps you want to go with an eclectic modern feel, then you can simply find a mood board and shop the various pieces you like. For example:
Even if the mood board is just objects, a collection of items next to each other can help you find out what you like compared to other items. It can also give you a sense of how certain items, that might seem like they don’t go together at all, really do complement each other.
Did you know that you can send us a picture of your room and we will respond with recommendations and links you can shop at your leisure? Try it!
Get New Pillow Shams
It seems like a such a small thing, but new pillow shams can completely transform a room. Whether it’s the bedroom or living room, upgrading your pillow shams can be that finishing touch you’re looking for.
There are a few different vendors out there, but I love love love all the options Hofdecor offers. They also have throw blankets and linens so you can carry the theme throughout the house and create a cohesive feeling in every room.
Hire a Full-Service Designer
Maybe I’m a little biased….okay, a lot biased. But this is exactly what interior designers were made for. We come into unfinished home projects where the client might feel lost, overwhelmed, or just done with making every tiny decision. And then we finish that room!
From floor to ceiling we take the homeowner’s wishes and vision, help them refine it, curate furniture and decor options, and then bring it all to life. We handle the vendors, hire the contractors, oversee the process of installing new electric, plastering the walls, painting the baseboards, and so much more. No more overwhelm or decision paralysis!
Here’s the truth, most projects don’t get finished because we hit a speed bump or get bogged down in the decision-making process. An interior designer offers that bird-eye view that brings new solutions to the problem.
The ultimate solution to finishing that project is to consult a professional and seek some guidance. Whether it’s a mood board, e-design, or full-service design you need, a designer can help.
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