Finding Home Inspiration in Unexpected Places

As summer arrives, we are all looking for a change, for a purging maybe. In that light, I present some ideas of how to find your inspiration and shape it into a design that will be a true representation of yourself. The first and most important thought to finding inspiration for a new design for your home is realizing that inspiration can come from anywhere!  Pay close attention in your everyday routine, because you never know when a color or texture will catch your eye.

I have often found that by observing the environment on my way to class at High Point University in North Carolina, where I am an Interior Design student,  I come across interesting combinations of color that inspire me to change things up a bit.

As you may know, being a college student on a budget makes for an interesting challenge when decorating.  A great way to find inspiration on a tight budget is to visit antique malls and thrift stores. I have several favorite pieces of furniture in my apartment  that have come from a thrift store. With a simple face lift, these pieces became uniquely my own. It is also in those aged pieces that I find inspiration from the past. Look at the items in your home for inspiration, take a look at old paintings or prints and take a trip down memory lane.  You may be surprised at the ideas the nostalgia creates.

One of my favorite pastimes is looking through magazines for inspiration. Cooking magazines are a great way to find inspiration from nature. The colors are so vibrant and the juxtapositions come directly from the world around us. It is also in nature where I find the most fascinating mixture of shapes and forms. Cut open any piece of fruit and find a gorgeous image created through a series of semi-circles and intersecting lines paired with luscious textures. Or maybe your inspiration will begin with the discovery of a seashell while walking on the beach and the colors of almond and cream blended with curvaceous lines intrigue your senses, giving you the perfect feeling of enthusiasm you need to begin a design centered on a token from the sea.

I hope these thoughts help you appreciate your everyday surroundings in a new light. What do you think? Can you share about a source of inspiration for you that has been a springboard for a furnishings or decorating idea?