My girlfriend RS just purchased a new home - YAY - and she reached out for redecorating ideas for her new space (and of course, her wish is my command). She wants a beach house feel (blue/white, open/airy) so I threw together three ideas that hopefully will give her a good place to start (we all know this can be really overwhelming) so stay strong RS and have fun!
Step one - COLOR: You found your new space (YAY) but you hate the interior paint (BOOOO). Luckily, repainting is one of the best ways to make a place your own (and for a low cost). Pick a color scheme you like and decide how you are going to apply it throughout the house (will all the bed rooms be the same color, do you want accent walls, will the boys get something playful like chalkboard paint - which now comes in almost every color). Pick your colors, and do the painting before you move it (it's nice to have something checked off the list before you even get your stuff into your new space).
Step two - THE PURGE: Before you move, determine what you already have and what new things you will need. Since your old stuff might not fit into your new space, get rid of (donate) what you know you don't want (to make room for what you will need). If there are things you know you can reuse (like a couch that is the right shape but the wrong color) bring it with you, and get it reupholstered/or buy a slip cover (when time permits). Lots of things can be reused, so think creatively and remember - almost anything with fabric or wood can be updated/reupholstered/repainted/re-sanded (blah blah) but sometimes it actually costs more, so figure out the costs before you move in either direction.
Step three - FIND INSPIRATION: It's never too earlier to look for inspiration, so below are some images that hopefully help you get a sense of what you want, for your overall look, for specific rooms, outdoor space etc...Ideally, something here will get you excited, and set you on your way. And even if these are all wrong, it's as useful to know what you don't want as it is to know what you love (so you don't spend time second guessing yourself, or returning things after they are already purchased). A clear sense of aesthetic will help you stay focused and move you along (which is important when you have two young boys wanting to get settled quickly - I would imagine ;).
*If you click on any of the images, they open up to the original source (which could be useful if you need to know more about products in the pic). Let me know where you are after this stage, and I can do more posts for your specific needs (remember, this is just a place to start). Love you and GOOD LUCK!
**Polyvole is a good resource for ideas on specif items. It's a user generated site where people create collages full of stuff, and if you like anything, you can click on any item to purchase. It's worth checking out.
