For many people, the first thing that comes to mind when starting an interior design project is the visual improvements in their home they’ll be able to get. However, great interior design isn’t just about how everything looks. It’s also about incorporating more function into a living space that adds real value to a property.
When you make smart choices during a design project, it gives you a lot of flexibility in how you use your home. As an additional bonus, you’ll create much more value for potential buyers in the event you’re looking to sell the home in the future.
Below, we’ll cover some basic strategies you can put in place to ensure you’re maximizing the value of your spaces when starting a new design project.
Think About What Your Main Goals Are
Before you even get started shopping for paint colors or taking measurements for furniture, it’s important to have a clear vision in mind of what you want to try to achieve.
Consider if you’re designing for comfort and custom style choices or if you’re primarily interested in making the property look more appealing before putting it on the market. Depending on what your purpose is, the decisions you make early on in your design project might change.
If you’re focused primarily on your designs and want something you’ll be happy to live in for quite some time, then you’ll want to note down essential features that bring you the most satisfaction. This might include creating a custom area in the home for your home office or changing the layout of your living room to accommodate a larger family.
If your main goal is to prepare the home for sale, then you’ll likely want to do a bit more research into the features that most buyers are looking for in properties in your area. Either way, once you have your goals in place, the rest of the planning phase will be much easier to manage.
Make Purposeful Design Choices
It’s easy to get wrapped up in trying to make a space more exciting to be in. However, it’s important to remember that not every living space is designed to be a showroom. Many times, a great design is simply about practicality and ensuring you’re able to get the best use of all the features of the space.
For example, it’s a good practice to try to get a feel for the different walking spaces throughout a property. Do they feel tight in certain areas? Is there a clear path that people can take, or does the space not really have any organization in place? Asking these questions will help you identify where you may want to focus to start your home renovation efforts.
It’s important that every room in your house has a clear purpose. This is especially the case if you have a smaller amount of square footage to work with. Think about the best ways to make use of spare bedrooms, dens, or smaller nooks throughout the property and try to create a targeted focus of improvements for each.
When you take this approach, it helps you to design based on the users of those rooms and make intelligent, purposeful decisions that add real long-term value.
Spend More Time on High-Value Areas
It’s important to remember, especially when you have a limited budget to work with, that not every room in a home offers the same return on your investments. By really focusing on the spaces that matter most for daily living and resale value, you can make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck.
Below are some common areas that are often a good idea to prioritize home renovation projects around:
- Kitchens and Bathrooms: These are the most used rooms of any home and the first places potential buyers look when evaluating a home’s practicality. Because they are used so heavily, updates here can make a significant impact. For example, you can modernize things like countertops, bathroom fixtures, and cabinet hardware, or take on some large redesign projects and shift the overall layouts so that they’re more spacious and usable.
- Entryways and Hallways: You only get one chance to make a first impression. Entrances and hallways set the tone for each room of the home. A cluttered or dark entryway can be an immediate turn-off. You should instead focus on creating a welcoming vibe with good lighting, clever storage solutions to keep things tidy, and a clean, simple aesthetic.
- Main Living Areas: Living areas are another common area of a home that sees a lot of foot traffic. A comfortable and versatile living room doesn’t just improve usefulness to a potential buyer, but it can also help them connect more emotionally to a space. In an open-concept space, use furniture and rugs to create separated zones. This is good practice when combining kitchen and dining areas. If you do this correctly, it helps to show potential buyers how the room can be used without sacrificing its open and welcoming feel.
Pick the Right Materials for Your Design
The finishes and various materials you end up choosing for your home are another important consideration. This process is all about balance and trying to find a good mix of nice aesthetics and practicality. Using materials like quartz countertops, high-end vinyl plank flooring, and porcelain tile are excellent examples of finishes that look sophisticated while being tough enough to handle the realities of daily life.
Investing in sustainable options is another smart move that benefits you now and adds value later. Eco-friendly materials and energy-saving fixtures help lower your utility bills while also attracting more potential buyers. Things like bamboo flooring, paints with low VOCs for better air quality, and energy-efficient lighting not only help to reduce your environmental footprint but are also great features to advertise on any future listings.
Gain Meaningful Returns From Your Designs
Making wise interior design choices not only helps you get more out of your living space, but it can also help you add significantly more value to potential buyers down the road. By following these simple strategies, you’ll ensure your next design project brings you favorable returns while maximizing your budget.
Author Information
Rebecca Denis, Head of Design at Revive Real Estate, is an accomplished and highly creative interior designer with over ten years of experience in the industry. With a passion for transforming spaces and a keen eye for detail, she has successfully completed numerous projects ranging from commercial spaces to custom show homes.
