As a designer at The Home Depot, I know that making sure everything matches is critical to my customer’s success. They want a home that they love to live in, and part of that loving is having an environment that reflects their design taste and personal style. Whether painting an accent wall or renovating an entire kitchen, they want the room to look “just right.” Some customers want to have a space for entertaining with rooms full of guests while others want to update their lifestyle. Contractors and homeowners who are selling their home need a quick touch-up to get the house ready for sale. Getting what is needed is as important as how great the finished project will look.
I like to discuss the number of decisions that my customers will need to make while working on their home improvement project. Whether picking out the “right white” wall color, deciding on which grey carpet will look best in the sunroom, or choosing the right countertop surface, my customers often work from a small swatch found on a sample board, a photo seen in a catalog, or an online description. A simple project can present literally hundreds of choices and it is easy to become quickly overwhelmed!
Additionally, it can be hard to envision the new product in the home. Some choices may look differently on days with strong daytime sunlight beaming through a window when compared to task lighting used in the evening. Sometimes the very small sample is not enough to envision what the entire room will look like. It can be difficult and even frustrating to determine what effect the choice will have in the overall project. Once the design decisions are made, the customer often has some anxious moments until the products arrive and the color, style, texture, or finish can be seen in the home. Making positive changes in the home can be a stressful experience!
How can you make the best design decisions for your project?
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Know what you want to do
First, know what you want to achieve. Setting the goal for the project can be the hardest decision to make but will make the rest of the process “easier.” Who will make the decisions for the project? Will you be replacing the dated flooring in your new kitchen? Will you and your spouse be updating the master bedroom suite? Will your child be picking out a more “grown-up” wall color for their bedroom? Will the family be creating a family space in the unfinished basement? Do you need to replace a leaking roof? Are you creating an outdoor living space?
Know your resources
Once the goal is determined, set a budget. Of course, changes cost money but they also cost time and energy. I know from experience: things almost never happen according to plan or budget! Give yourself extra finances and time to complete this project. Who will do the work? Will you tackle the demolition on the old then have a contractor install the new? Will you have a professional take care of everything? Some projects may require some major adjustments to daily living. Kitchen renovations may necessitate eating outside the home for several weeks. You may need to temporarily live outside the home if you are overhauling THE bathroom in a single bath condo!
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Select your products
You have a goal, you have a budget, now you get to decide what new products will be installed in your home! Decide on the function required and try to only look at those products which will fit your needs. I recently had a customer who needed window treatments that created “total blackout.” Since he had to be to work at 3:00 am, he needed to go to sleep while it was still daylight outside. The only way he could get his “beauty rest” was to have a “completely dark bedroom.” Unfortunately, his friend convinced him that the sheer shades were beautiful and matched his décor. Yes, they did match, but he would never achieve the level of darkness that he needed for sleep. I was able to show him other fabrics and styles that were attractive yet gave him the blackout features he needed for his lifestyle. There was some initial disappointment because he was convinced that the first choice was his best choice. Once we found the products that worked for him, he was easily able to select the color that matched his décor. The installation was successful and he has been able to sleep well ever since.
Not every decision will be that dramatic! You may have an objet d’art that will serve as the focal point in a room and need the accent wall, trim, and ceilings to coordinate to that particular shade. You may be changing the hardware in a bathroom suite and need to match the metallic finish on the lamps, ceiling fan, drawer hardware, faucet handles, toilet handle, and light fixtures between different manufacturers. You may need to replace the carpet in the living room but it needs to harmonize with the fabric-covered furniture.
Getting samples and swatches made easy
So how do you get samples and swatches to know how things will match or at least coordinate with each other? I have created a series of articles to help you locate these little tidbits that will make your project come together. You will have a clearer idea of how things will look to help you envision the final product.
The links below will help you locate or view samples and swatches from products at The Home Depot. Please know that not every manufacturer has individual samples or swatches available, so contact the associates at your local Home Depot store for further assistance.
Best wishes on your projects and happy designing!
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