There’s no “I” in team, but there is an “I” in interior design. And renovating your home is something that you should do yourself, in many respects, because you know better than anyone what it’ll take to make your house look the way you want. Yes, professionals might have lots of fancy and glorious ideas about contemporary trends that you could use to makeover your house, but what’s the point in any of that when it’d be a design that you didn’t like?

The point is that a household should feel personalized. It should feel like your home and not the home of some professional designer. This isn’t to say that there isn’t good professional advice out there which can help you on your journey to IDY, but you should certainly be calling the shots when it comes to giving your home a makeover. Here’s how to renovate your humble abode all by yourself.

The initial designing stage.

In the initial designing stage, you need to plan your renovation project. It can help to declutter the home first. Get rid of all the excess possessions and furniture that you no longer need; throw them away if they’re past their better days or sell them on if there’s some life left in them yet (any money you make can go towards your home renovation). Once you’ve cleared out your home, the place will feel a little more spacious and you’ll have a better idea as to what actually needs to be fixed. You might find that a lot of problems stemmed from messiness and outdated furnishings ruining the aesthetic of your room.

Focal points (in moderation).

Remember that a focal point is meant to be a singular luxury aspect of a room and not a collection of luxury things all crammed into one space. You want to maintain that minimalistic vibe you created in the initial design; too many bold and vibrant pieces in one small space is going to create an atmosphere in which everything is competing for your attention. You don’t want to be overwhelmed by too many aesthetic pieces in one space, essentially. Choose your bold centerpieces carefully. You need to think about your existing design and choose focal points which are intriguing but don’t clash with the feel of your home.

You could put up floor-to-ceiling curtains in the bedroom to give the “high-ceiling” illusion and a chandelier in the living room to add some character. You could do a little research into home furniture sellers and find some new oak furnishings or sliding wardrobes to creak a sleek feel in your room. Minimalism needs a dose of luxury to avoid things becoming too bland and lifeless. The point is that a small dose of luxury in a room can really create an enticing focal point; too much luxury and you can end up making the place looking like a confused blend between a modern middle-class home and a vintage antique store.

Personal touches.

Finally, you need to add some personal character to your home. That’s the main reason as to why interior design is something you should personally control if you want to truly love your home’s aesthetic. You can give a professional an idea of your interests and general ideas with regards to a theme but you’ll be able to ensure those ideas become the reality you want if you take control of the design process. Maybe you’re creative and you want to craft some nifty homely items; you could fill an old picture frame with a chalkboard to create a handy ‘noticeboard’ for the kitchen. You could create some personalized signs for the bedroom doors of each family member so that everybody has their own stamp on their room. The possibilities are endless.