As a busy parent, you’ll already understand how hard it can be to find the time for interior design, let alone anything other than organising the family household, and ensuring that everyone (including yourself) is happy, comfortable, and cared for. However, if you’re naturally creative, especially when it comes to the environment around you; you’ll ensure that your surroundings are considered, and always look great (most of the time, or maybe just after the kids have tidied-up and gone to bed). If you love your family home and love nothing more than trawling through Pinterest and picking up interior and property inspiration from people such as Helen Coulston; why not put it to great use, and begin putting your ideas into action. Having fun with interior design and property renovation can be as simple as a small project in your own home, or you could take it to a new level, and invest your time and skills into an investment property, to sell on or rent out. A little (or large) side project could be just what you need this year, and you can turn your attention and focus towards something other than the never-ending list of things to do regarding your family’s wellbeing.
A New Project
If you’re ready for an interior and creative project all of your own; you’ll need to start by deciding just how big you want this project to be. Perhaps there’s a room or area of your home that you feel needs improving, and you can’t wait to get the paint and fabric swatches out and fill the space with the latest home interior trends. Or, maybe you’ve reached a point with your family home where you’re happy with the hard work and effort that’s gone into it, and you’re ready to take on a challenge elsewhere. Although investing in another property is a big commitment; there are a variety of options that will suit an array of budgets and lifestyles, so it’s not something you should rule out. And, after all, you’re already here looking for some ideas and inspiration, so it could be just the place to give you that boost you need to get started. The following is some information and advice for creative minds who want to get their teeth stuck into property this year, for an exciting, and potentially lucrative future ahead.
A Fresh Project
As previously mentioned, there are an array of ways to get your creative teeth stuck into a home or a property elsewhere. It could be worth heading to a new launch property and gaining some valuable inspiration and an insight into what the market has to offer both buyers and renters alike. As long as you keep in mind that you’ll need to appeal to as many people on the market as possible; investing in another property could be the project for you. As someone who understands how a family utilises their living space, you’ll already have a head start when you’re heading into your challenge. You’ll be able to change and improve the layout of a building, or individual rooms so that they are most appealing to that area of the market. Your interior design skills will stretch further than colour palettes and textures (although, these are also very important); you’ll be able to understand how a space flows, and where the furniture and storage will work best in a room.
If you’re planning to buy a home to renovate and then sell for a profit; you’ll be able to use your knowledge and skills to make the most of the interior environment. The challenge will lie in how much you can save in regards to the cost of materials and services, like builders, decorators, electricians and plumbers. You’ll also need to get plenty of design inspiration online and in real life so that you can make sure that you’re not just creating somewhere that you’d like to live, but an abode that will appeal to the masses. Period properties will always provide you with more style scope, because you can be sympathetic to the era, and sourcing particular fixtures and fittings will be an enjoyable part of the process. You’ll be able to hone your skills when you do get to choose the colours and hues of the interior of the property; they must complement each other, and allow buyers to picture their own furniture and items within= the space with ease. When it comes to selling your property; it’s important to dress each room so that potential investors can understand and picture what each space is best used for, and they can mentally start moving in before they’ve even thought about making an offer.
If you choose to invest in a buy to let property; you’ll have to option to provide a fully, or partially furnished home to those who are looking to rent, and don’t have much to move in with, like young individuals, couples, and families. This will allow you to get that creative hat on again, and figure out what sort of style of furniture you’re going to provide the tenants with, and the pieces that will be needed in each room. You can think about clever storage solutions and items that will function and look great in smaller spaces, depending on the size of the property you’ve taken on. Every detail will need to be considered and planned in detail; it’s worth investing in items that will withstand the test of time so that you can reuse them elsewhere, and won’t have the added cost of replacing items regularly. The problem-solving and logistical side of things will prove to be a creative part of your property process and could end up being your favourite aspect of your investment.
Closer To Home
If investing in property seems a bit much, and you’d rather spend your time and money focusing on your family home; you can still find something creatively exciting to get stuck into. You’ll always come up with the best interior ideas in your household because you use and utilise the space every single day. Therefore, it could be time to focus on those neglected areas of your home or the ones that are frequently used but need vast improvement. Working on your own house will also allow you to be far more creative with your personal ideas and tastes in design, as you’ll only have to appeal to yourself (and maybe your other half, and your kids). Therefore, it’s your chance for some serious time on the internet to look through the plethora of design inspiration that’s available. You can also pick up or subscribe to interior magazines, and pull out what you like the look of. If you know a space is about to be renovated or decorated; don’t be afraid to put paint swatches up on the wall and keep playing around with layout and design features.
Be brave and bold with your choices, especially when it comes to wallpaper, paint, and fabric options; these are surface decor which can easily be changed when you change your mind. If you’re investing in more expensive items like fixtures, fittings, and furniture; you might want to take more time thinking about how they’ll last into the future and work with an array of potential colours, styles, and even layouts. Again, it’s your project, and more importantly, your home, so choose the things you love and will enjoy; there’s no harm in getting the family’s opinion on everything, and get those creative ideas flowing for your perfect family interior space.
Please note, this is a contributed post. Thanks for reading.
