5 ways to get interior design ideas

There are a lucky few born with the ability to turn a drab, colorless space into a fun, vibrant room that demands praise. For those of us who struggle to ignite the spark of creativity, there are a number of ways to get interior design ideas, all without hiring a consultant or even leaving your home.

1. Explore Better Homes and Gardens, HGTV: For a timeless look, consult the experts who have been established as knowledgeable sources on interior design for decades. Libraries or online databases may have back issues of Better Homes and Gardens, and HGTV constantly airs a home improvement or interior design-related TV show. Also try perusing their websites for quick access to classic interior design ideas.

2. Search Google Images: Perhaps the easiest and easiest option to find thousands of results is to perform a simple search for “interior design ideas” on Google Images. A wide variety of results are quickly displayed, from the fancy and whimsical to the fun and basic.

3. Limit the scope of your Google search: Now that you’re faced with endless options ranging from the generic to the over-the-top, how many of these results actually match your vision or budget? Narrowing down your search will save you having to sift through dozens of irrelevant ideas. You can narrow your search by addressing the following details:

• Budget: How much do you plan to spend? If you’re a young adult with limited expendable income, consider searching “bedroom decorating ideas” for fresh, inexpensive ideas (ever consider the art of a pipe cleaner or Polaroid clothesline?).

• Issue: Do you have a specific topic in mind? Even if it’s something simple like a shape-related topic, adding the world “rectangle” or “circle” to your design search will help you in your search for relevant results.

• color scheme: Are you fascinated by blue tones or intense reds? Add it to your search. Remember, you don’t have to stick to any particular color scheme – if you think a pretty living room set in shades of blue would look better in a golden brown, go for it. It’s your living space, and it’s your call.

• Room: This is pretty obvious, but modifying your search to include the type of room you’re decorating will help weed out bedroom images when trying to get kitchen interior design ideas.

4. Pay attention to movies or TV: Keeping an eye on the hero character’s bedroom can spark an interior design idea (as long as the movie is relevant and not related to Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings trilogy). All film crews have a production designer and art director working on each set, and it is their responsibility to design and decorate every scene captured on film, and they are paid well for their expertise. Next time you watch a movie, take special note of how the room looks in the background and consider it a free interior decorator with the best in the business.

5.flickr: Another less conventional approach to finding modern interior design ideas is to log on to Flickr, a popular photo-sharing website. Here, you can browse photos that Google Images may have missed, and you can search photos by the tags assigned to them, and you’ll be amazed at how many proud people are taking photos of your smart new living room. Try typing “Interior Decorating,” “Feng Shui,” or “Interior Design” for a myriad of unique ideas you won’t find on traditional home design websites.