Nearly everything we do requires strategic planning. If you take a car trip, you fill your gas tank, check your tires and make sure you have the necessary paperwork. You use this natural planning method without realizing it, but let’s surface the principles behind it, so that you can apply these ideas to your interior design project and open the lines of communication with your interior designer.
Look at the Why for your Interior Design Project
First, figure out why you want to redecorate your home. “To make it look nicer” might be your immediate response, but dig a little deeper. Do you want to increase your entertaining space? Do your kids need a playroom? Does your wallpaper scream 1980s? The “why” of your interior design project can help you determine if you will benefit from redecorating, and if you should be doing it at all. As bestselling productivity author David Allen explains, articulating your “why” for a project can sharpen your decision making criteria for it. Along those lines, identify the values you want to govern the interior design project. To do that, ask yourself the following question: I would give my interior designer completely free reign to tackle this project as long as he or she did what…?
For instance:
- …Stayed within the budget my husband and I established.
- …Finished within 6 months, so we have plenty of time to put the house on the market.
- …Checked with me before adding any major items or making big changes to the plan.
Envision the Outcome
Although it might seem like a hippy-dippy concept, it’s a proven fact that you’re far more likely to succeed with your interior design project if you go through the scenario in your mind. In other words, if you’re not willing to see yourself in a brand-new living space, why do it at all? What’s the point?
As author Stephen Covey sagely put it: “All things are created twice; first mentally; then physically. The key to creativity is to begin with the end in mind, with a vision and a blue print of the desired result.”
Brainstorm the Details
Most of us brainstorm without thinking, but if this is a new project that you’ve never attempted before, consider this exercise. Create a mind map by writing your interior design project in the center, and then draw bubbles radiating out as they relate to your project. For instance, you could write “new living room” in the center, and create bubbles for “new wallpaper,” “carpet” and “furniture.” At the end, you’ll have a complete picture of what needs to be done.
Put it all Together
If you don’t organize your work, it’s worthless. Refer to your planning documents often, and use them to communicate your ideas to your interior designer. Show him or her your vision and discuss the steps (bubbles) you need to “pop” to get you there. If you’re stuck, do some more brainstorming and see whether you and your designer can come up with more ideas to get you to the finished project.
Ready to work with an interior designer or have questions about a project? Contact our professional team at Ron Nathan Interiors to discuss your project in detail.
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