Where to start when it comes to interior design for your new home
- Kelly Eades
- Consultant
In short
Start with three decisions: whether you are keeping or buying furniture, the style you want (build a mood board), and then your colour palette, leaving paint until last. Shop around with your measurements in hand, plan your timeline and the order jobs need to happen, and lead with function and one focal point per room. Set a budget, break it down per room, stage the work, and keep a contingency.
Building a new house from scratch, or renovating one you have just bought? Here is where to start with interior design and decor, with tips on timelines, shopping, budget and the details that matter, so your new home comes together with less stress.
Table of contents
Three things to decide first
Will your interior be built around things you already own, or all new? This decides what fits your dream style and whether you already have a focal point or need to invest in one.
What style do you want? Compile a mood board from magazines or Pinterest to pin down the look you love.
Then choose your colour palette, but hold off finalising paint or wallpaper until you have chosen most of your furniture and accessories. It is much easier to match paint to your pieces than the other way round.
Shop around
Shop around for quotes and prices, but also to see what is actually available, as that perfect piece you saw online may not be sold here. Take your room measurements or a floor plan so you know what will fit, photograph the things you like, and jot down which store each came from so you do not forget where you saw them.
Planning your timeline
Decide which jobs you can do yourself and which need a professional. Factor in time for the work, for product delivery and for installation, and think carefully about the order jobs need to happen in so one does not hold up another.
Getting into the detail
Lead with function. Practical rooms like the kitchen and bathroom come before aesthetics, and in the living room the TV position dictates furniture placement.
Plan your storage and whether it will be built in, and give yourself room to move; it is easier to add pieces later than to overcrowd from the start.
Create one focal point per room, ideally across from the entrance, and work outwards from there.
Avoid strict themes, which quickly date a room; pick a couple of favourite elements and build a looser style around them.
Edit your accessories (the Coco Chanel rule: take one thing off), and above all, be bold and be you, since you are the one living there.
How to budget for it
Put your ideas on paper, list what needs buying, then prioritise and fund the important items first, with whatever is left going to smaller details. It does not all have to happen at once; staging the project eases budget pressure, and breaking the overall budget into per-room chunks (plus a contingency) makes it far easier to stay on track. Using existing furniture keeps costs down, and an interior designer can actually save money through better deals and knowing where to find things. Our guides on budgeting for home interior decor and using your new-build budget wisely go further.
When it comes to curtains and blinds, talking to a maker early in a build can reveal options that are not possible once construction is finished. Request a free in-home consultation and one of our consultants will help you plan the window furnishings for your new home.
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Frequently asked questions
Where do you start with interior design for a new home?
Decide three things first: whether you are keeping existing furniture or buying new, the overall style you want (build a mood board), and then your colour palette. Hold off finalising paint or wallpaper until you have chosen most of your furniture and accessories, as it is easier to match paint to your pieces than the other way round.
Should you choose paint colour first or last?
Last. With thousands of paint colours, tints and shades available, it is far easier to match your paint or wallpaper to the furniture and accessories you have chosen than to find pieces that match a colour you have already committed to.
How should I budget for interior decor?
Put your ideas on paper, list what needs buying, then prioritise and fund the important items first. Break the overall budget into per-room chunks, stage the project over time rather than doing it all at once, and keep a contingency fund. Using existing furniture helps keep costs down.
Can an interior designer save money?
Often, yes. Once you have agreed a budget, it is their job to deliver what you want within it, and they usually have access to better deals and know exactly where to find things, which can offset their fee.
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