How to Design a Room in 7 Steps
Take your ideas and transform them into a space you'll love.
Want to transform a room in your home but don't know where to start? From initial inspiration to final touches, Wayfair has everything you need to create a look you'll love. In seven steps, we'll walk you through how to design a room.
In this guide:
How to Design a Room in 7 Steps
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Design a Room in 7 Steps
1. Determine the Room's Purpose
This might seem obvious if you're designing a kitchen, bathroom, or home office. But even then, you'll want to approach the room from the perspective of how the room should function. Do you want it to feel open and airy with minimal furniture and decor? Do you want it to feel cozy and comfortable with ample seating? Once you determine how the room will be used, you can approach the rest of your design process from an informed point of view.
Do you want the room to look sleek and minimalist like this bathroom? Cozy yet chic? Attractive yet useful? Knowing your style preference will make it easier when you're deciding on furniture, accessories and other decor. Whether you want the room to be a continuation of your home's overall design theme or prefer it to be unique and perhaps a little – or a lot! – bolder, it's your space, your rules.
Many interior designers suggest finding what they call an anchor for a room. This could be a piece of brightly colored furniture, striking wall art, or even a richly patterned area rug that serves as a jumping-off point for how the rest of the room is designed.
The piece to stand out on its own and have everything else take a smaller role. Once you find what your jumping-off piece is, you'll be able to arrange the room in the way that is best for your needs.
Depending on the size of the room, you may have many choices for where to put your furniture or you might be limited. But even if you have a small room, you might have more options than you think, thanks to smaller-scale furniture that's built for more compact spaces.
For example, you might have assumed your living room needs a large sectional couch, but what about a loveseat and a recliner instead? Or perhaps you thought you needed a coffee table, but might nesting end tables do the trick in less space?
It will help to sketch out the room on paper and try several configurations first before moving things into place it may take some trial and error but you'll eventually find a home for everything in that room.
Choosing colors for your room can really come at any part of the process. You might see a paint color you love or even a comforter or duvet that you just have to have that inspires you to continue the color palette throughout the room.
Need some inspiration? A color wheel can help you figure out which colors complement and contrast with each other. Or you may want to choose a monochromatic palette, where you go with cooler and warmer tones of the same color.
Maybe you'll paint a bold accent wall with complementary pops of color throughout the room. Or maybe you'll opt for neutral walls and introduce your brighter color palette through bedding, window treatments, or even throw pillows.
Perhaps you'll go with a dramatic accent wall or you may choose to go with a neutral tone for the walls and bring in the color with all of your furniture and decor.
Lighting not only brightens a room, but it can also make it seem bigger. Perhaps you have hardwired lights like track lighting or a chandelier. If not, you'll want to illuminate the space in other ways, such as by adding table lamps or floor lamps, or installing LED lighting.
The purpose of the room will determine the level of illumination you need. For example, if you're creating a craft room, you'll want bright lights so you can work on detailed projects easily, but if you're creating an at-home theater, you'll want to install a dimmer switch
We've left what is likely the most fun part of designing a room for last! Now's the time to put the finishing touches on the room you've worked so hard to design. Adding decor is like adding accessories to an outfit you already love on its own. You might decide to add bold pops of color with wall decor or an accent chair. Or you might add some texture with a fuzzy throw blanket or a shag area rug. Maybe you'll add some glam with silver- or gold-accented table lamps.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I determine a room's purpose?
Consider how the room should function, such as feeling open or cozy, to guide your design.
What is a room's anchor?
An anchor is a standout piece like art or furniture that guides the room's design.
How can I experiment with color in a room?
Use a color wheel, choose a monochromatic palette, or add accent colors through decor.
Written by Barbara Bellesi Zito
