Finding Inspiration
One of the biggest challenges in designing a space, at least for me, is getting started. I find that whenever I tackle a new space, one of two things happens. Either I have so many ideas that I struggle to narrow them down, or I draw a blank. In either case, I have found that finding one source of inspiration is the best way to generate ideas and create a cohesive look. Having that inspiration piece provides you with a source to both draw from and to use for editing.
Here are some of my favorite go-to sources for inspiration.
1. Fabric – Fabric comes in such a huge array of colors and patterns today. You can literally design an entire space based on a single swatch. Check out this P Kaufmann fabric from Fabric.com.
The colors in this fabric are an obvious source of inspiration, but so is the overall feel – feminine and soft. Additionally, the faded look of the fabric could inspire you to lean toward chippy, vintage pieces of furniture.
2. Artwork – I use this as inspiration a lot. The colors, the subject matter, the feeling a piece of artwork invokes – all of that can contribute to the overall look of your space. For example,
Brooklyn Bridge by Warhol, image courtesy of amazon.com
This Warhol print would inspire me to create a bold, colorful space with an urban industrial feel.
3. Photo of object - Sometimes it isn’t an art piece as much as a random image that inspires me. It could be a picturesque photo from my last vacation or an image of flowers in a vase. Whatever the image, the photo helps clarify in my mind’s eye the exact elements I am looking for – color, shapes, subject, feel, repetition, details, etc.
4. Piece of Clothing - This may be a little surprising, but a wealth of inspiration can be gleaned from clothing. Take this Maggy London dress from Nordstrom’s as an example.
When I look at this dress, I see three things – bold, classic color; tailored lines; hints of femininity – those elements can easily inspire an entire home, let alone a room.
5. Room from a magazine or catalog - I am not suggesting for one minute that anyone copy a room verbatim from a magazine or catalog. How boring! Rather, I think that pictures of rooms that make you swoon can provide clues as to how saturated your color scheme should be, a sense of feeling you are looking for in a space, and a hint of elements you want to replicate in your own space.
I hope these ideas have inspired you. Where do you draw inspiration from to get your creative juices flowing?
~ Anne
I have to say that I love the Warhol and the dress.
One thing that I learned in grad school was to keep a file of “inspiration pieces.” If you get an interesting postcard in the mail, add it to the file. It’s a great resource when you have a creativity block, even if it only gives you ideas about size, colors, or (since I’m usually dealing with print items) folds.
I wish I had an ounce of inspiration like you do. I just am not creative but its nice to read yours and get some ideas!