Design Boards...Why are they Important?

It is so easy to get lost for hours on Pintrest, Instagram, or Houzz; but whatever you use to search for ideas it is important to narrow those ideas down once you have a good idea of your overall desired style and budget.  Let's face it we can all drool over some of the wonderful pictures and ideas out there but it is not always a reality so we keep those thoughts in mind as we figure out how to get a similar look on a budget!
We have developed and will share with you our easy and successful process that we developed over the years of fixing up homes.  It will help you take control of your project and be successful with the overall desired style and decor whether it is farmhouse, country or anything else the process is the same.

Step 1: Major Ideas First
​(your Inspiration)

This is especially where Pintrest, Instagram and Houzz are very useful!  Create a board specifically for each room or project so it is specific to that project.  It is also helpful to name it what you are doing for example KitchenRemodal, or MasterBdrmUpdate whatever works for you that identify what you are doing and where you are doing it.  Then do specific searches for both the room and style you desire for example farmhouse style master bedroom or farmhouse kitchen or country kitchen whatever key word you want your style to look like.  If you aren't sure search a few different ones until you begin to find pictures you love.  This is not the time to worry about budget or can't have pin what you love no matter the cost, we will narrow it down and get more specific later! Now that you have your dream ideas the work and sometimes hard choices begin!
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 Step 2: Decide on Color scheme

Start of a Design Board with the Color Scheme and Style for a Bathroom

Look over all the pictures you pinned to your boards which ones do you gravitate towards.  You will know some of them you will just keep going back to or maybe you picked it by accident to pin more than once those are the ones you need to look at again now.  Out of those which ones work with the house you have?  Do you have brown carpet but like the grey rooms will it work together if not can you do a modified color scheme that will still work and get you closer to what you would really like.  It is ok to spend some time on this part as it will drive the overall look and feel of the entire room so go ahead ask others print picture and hold them in the room whatever you need to do to ensure you are choosing the one you love!
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Step 3: Start your Design Board

Save one or two of the pictures that are your major design style and color scheme.  The picture above is the color scheme and start of the design board for a bathroom.  This part is important to be sure you have narrowed down your style and color.  You can start it off with one specific piece or color.  For example on the bathroom we were not sure what color we wanted but we fell in love with this tile so we based the color and style around this.  The style was somewhat set with the style of the house but even within one style there are so many variations and options your choices are endless and that is why we have to narrow it down.  
​This is where many people fall off course and end up with a mix-match room because they were not decisive enough on the front end.  This part will help you in the long run to save costs so that you aren't buying something you don't need or that won't match or from going with a color to find out it doesn't match anything you currently own so be sure you are set on your style choice and color scheme at this point. 
Now save the photos to a file on your computer or print them out.  We usually save them to the computer then print them out later as we begin to start the buying process but you use whatever method works for you there is no right or wrong here.
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Step 4: Create your Design or Mood board

After you have several of the pictures saved there are many ways to create your actual board.  You can create a physical board with pictures put together on one board.  With a physical board you can also later add other items like paint chips and swatches of fabric.  A virtual board is often good to have as well so you can carry it with you or share it with others that you might be collaborating with on the project.  If you do a virtual board there are many free software programs out there that are easy to use and will be a tremendous help in creating your board.  Picasa was a free tool from Google that is easy to use; however, in March of 2016 they stopped supporting the software so even though you might see recommendations from others to use it I would stay away from unsupported software if you have a problem you are on your own.  So look at Google Photos, Windows Live Photo Gallery, Phototheca, ACDSee, or Zoner Photo Studio, however the Zoner is not a free one but has some great features that you might want to consider if you will be doing a lot of boards or photo editing.  

Once you have decided on what software to use start adding the pictures.  Be sure that you don't crowd the photos too much you need additional room for words and labels so you and anyone else who looks at your board will quickly know what everything is going to be used for.    So once you have added all your photos go back in and add your labels and now you are on your way to a successful DIY project!
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Step 5: USe your Board to complete your project

Now is the fun part.  Begin using your board to start shopping and looking for the items needed to complete your project.  Once I have purchased something especially for larger projects I add that to the board as well to keep it updated and a living document for the life of the project!  Have fun and be creative remember there isn't a wrong or right way to do a board so do what works best for.  But be sure to keep in mind when purchasing items so you know they will work.  When you look at something to buy ask yourself: Does it match, the color and style of my board, is it in budget?  If you get in the habit of asking these questions you will have less buyers remorse and more success in your projects!  Have fun and get creating those boards!  Be sure and check back often and we will show you progress of the bathroom that are design boarding right now!
​Please let us know what use and how you create your boards would love to hear from you!!