Are you wondering how to furnish an empty room? Maybe you’ve moved to a new home and have a room (or two or three) that are blank slates, and you just don’t know where to start. Fear not! Let me share with you a few pointers on where to start and how to create a room that is authentic to your style, delightfully beautiful, and functional. You can then employ this process yourself, or grab a Custom Room Design.
How will you be using the room? Some functions are obvious: in a bedroom you’ll be sleeping, of course. But, what else? Does it need to double as work-from-home space occasionally? Would you like to have a cozy reading corner to retreat to? Do you need space to lay out your yoga mat? Maybe you like to work from your laptop in bed (be sure to choose a bedside table with room to stash the laptop easily). Make a list of the needs you have and what pieces are necessary to include in your plan.
The photos I’m sharing in this post are from a client’s beautiful home. I did a Custom Room Design for their “keeping room”. Many homes have these spaces off of the living/dining/kitchen area. These keeping rooms are commonly used for play rooms or home offices, but this family wanted to use it for music practice, homework, reading, and hanging out. They needed the piano, space for the guitar, a desk, storage for the printer and school supplies, and comfy chairs.
I laid out the floor plan and started playing around with different furniture arrangements. You can do this on graph paper or by using an app or website. Floorplanner.com is easy to use and free if you’re only using it for one home. If you have specific measurements for existing pieces, use those. But, if you’re just starting to play around with ideas, feel free to estimate the size of things until you start sourcing specific items.
If other rooms in the home have already been decorated, use a similar style and color palette. Especially if the home is open concept. The adjacent space in this home had grays and navys and a nice balance of modern lines with some vintage traditional pieces mixed in. I used that as guidance when sourcing the furniture. The chairs and desk are definitely more modern, but the piano and bookshelves are more traditional.
If you’re starting in an empty home, and have no limitations or guidance for style, use an inspiration image as a starting point. Or, pick one item first (a fabulous rug or painting, for instance), and use it as a palette for the rest of the room. The key here is to be totally and utterly in love with that inspiration piece (don’t just pick something because it’s on sale, or it’s trendy, or your friend has it). This will ensure you love the room for years to come.
Start collecting photos of pieces or ideas that you love. You can save them to Pinterest or in folders on your phone, tablet or computer. Keep a separate file or board for each room. These folders or boards will serve as loose “mood boards” and help you see the vision as it’s coming together. Delete and edit when you realize a piece won’t work.
This is my number one tip when decorating (see my other top tips here). When filling a room, it’s so tempting to jump onto your favorite site or pop into your go-t0 store, and buy up everything you need…especially if they’re running a promotion or if you’re earning points for your purchases. But, I urge you to stretch yourself outside of that comfort zone. Hit up consignment shops, thrift stores, your parent’s attic, or Home Goods (places you’ll find a variety of sources or vendors), and see what unexpected items you can layer in. This is where the authenticity comes in…the uniqueness that is seen in no one else’s home.
Bring you floor plan, your collection of inspiration and ideas, and use them to find specific pieces. Check the measurements of the pieces against the floor plan measurements to be sure things will fit comfortably.
Starting with these points will put you on the path to a room that will serve and inspire you for years to come. Still feel stuck? I would absolutely love to help you fill your empty room! My Custom Room Designs are an excellent way to get a designer room at a fraction of the cost. You give me your budget, needs, and any inspiration pics, and I put together a full plan that you can implement. The cost of the plan is fixed, so there are no unexpected charges or commissions. You use the plan to purchase the items yourself, so you can implement it at your own pace, as your budget allows. I offer three options, depending on your needs: Refresh, Refurnish, and Redecorate.
The package I did for this client was the Refurnish option, which includes wall color, window treatments, and furniture. She added in the accessories herself. Don’t you love that painting over the piano?! It’s from local artist Anna Vaughn, and is perfection!
If the Custom Room Designs are a bit out of your reach, be on the lookout for my Instant Room Designs. These complete plans will give you everything you need to furnish and decorate an empty room. Enter your name and email below to be the first to know when these plans are available!
Thanks! I'll keep you posted!