interior designing budget 2 - Kristina Wolf's House of Design

Just because you’re stuck inside, it doesn’t mean that you can’t spruce up your home. While the coronavirus keeps us all indoors, you can use the time to do some stay at home interior design.

Whether you live in a mansion or a small apartment, here are a few ideas that can help to brighten your home. Best of all, you won’t need to buy anything new.

Rearrange Your Space

Moving your furniture around can give you a whole new space. Many people never rearrange the layout of a room unless they purchase a new couch or dining table. Stay at home interior design can get you comfortable with discovering different—and better—ways to lay out your furniture.

That bookshelf that’s been in the corner since you moved in might look better on the opposite wall. When you’ve moved that, you might find that it covers up a rug that you could lay out as a focal point for the room.

Try to let yourself have fun experimenting. Look at your living room and see what furniture you can move and where. Just make sure you have help moving heavier pieces.

Transforming Your Rooms

Many people who did not previously have the opportunity are now working from home. Rearranging your home can improve productivity by giving you a designated workspace. You may be tempted to lie in bed with your laptop, but you should take this as an opportunity to do some stay at home interior design that maximizes the use of your space.

Look at the available space in each room and consider where you can get the most work done. Try setting up your desk or workspace in different rooms to find out where you feel most inspired and productive.

Plants release oxygen through photosynthesis. Putting any houseplants you have near your workspace can give your brain a boost with that extra oxygen and improve your concentration.

Don’t Forget Spring Cleaning

Summer might be just around the corner. What better way to prepare that with some spring cleaning? Some people cringe at the idea of decluttering, but working in a clean space can help your productivity and make you more comfortable.

Nothing distracts you more than a desk full of knick-knacks. How many times have you caught yourself tapping the bobblehead in front of your computer, or sorting through the cup full of pens beside you?

Studies show that your brain tries to focus on everything around it. The less it has to focus on outside of your current task, the more you will get done.

Start by throwing away anything you don’t need. Removing items you don’t use is not only a great way to declutter your house and help you focus, but it also increases your general sense of well-being.

Stay at home interior design doesn’t have to break the bank. By moving around things you already own, having a bit of a tidy, and repurposing some rooms, your home will feel like new.

If you’re planning a new project, it’s easy to get caught up in mood boards and Pinterest ideas and forget one crucial detail—the cost. Creating an interior design budget might not be the most exciting step in making your house a home, but it is one of the most important.

Even a few extra dollars here and there can add up to an unexpectedly costly project. How do you set an interior design budget, then?

Step One: Establish Your Interior Design Budget

Determine what your actual budget is and be specific. Avoid rough ranges like “a few hundred dollars,” and opt for a hard figure to set as the maximum budget for your project instead. You can spend less than this amount but not more.

Your interior design budget also needs to be realistic—be brutally honest with yourself and set a figure you can afford comfortably. Keep in mind that you don’t have to design your home’s entire interior in one go. You can take it room by room to make the best of your budget. Start with the areas you use the most or that bother you the most.

Step Two: Budget Your Goals

Once you know exactly how much you have for your project, make a list of your goals. Ideally, you should have two lists: “needs” and “wants.”

The need list should include things the space has to have. For example, if you are remodeling your kitchen and your sink needs replaced, that’s a need. Come up with estimates for your list of must-haves to create mini-budgets, and don’t forget labor costs! It can help to price-check actual items at this stage to avoid sticker shock. Many people underestimate how much simple household items cost.

After your needs list is complete, take your estimate for those improvements, add another 10 to 15% as a cushion, and subtract those costs from your total budget. Whatever is left is for your “want” list.

Step 3: Make a Plan and Stick to It

Armed with a firm budget and a list of what you want to achieve, the next step is to plan your project. Set a timeline for each improvement on your list and what you’ll need at each stage.

It’s also helpful to draft your design at this point. That way, you can visualize what needs to be done and when throughout the process. For instance, you don’t want to bring in new furniture before you paint.

If you’re undertaking a major overhaul and haven’t done much interior design in the past, it can pay to work with a design professional. An interior designer can offer insight and ideas that are incredibly helpful when it comes to taking your ideas from dream to reality. Plus, they often have insider knowledge to reduce your budget without impacting the quality of your results—you might even be able to score more items off your wants list!

interior designing budget

Stay at Home Interior Design During the Pandemic