6 ways to learn to trust your design instincts (and make your home great again)

Kayla Gulec Kayla Gulec
homify Living room
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As someone who's interested in designing or redesigning their home, you need to come up with a plan. You are creating a home for tomorrow, a space that doesn't exist yet, and for that, your greatest resource for getting the job done right is your instincts. Your instincts can allow you to take advantage of new opportunities and make you confident to take risks others don't see. All you have to do is trust them.

Learning to trust your instincts isn't easy. We often feel like it's not the right call because of certain rules imposed upon us. Well we're here to tell you to ignore all that and trust your gut. Keep reading, and by the end you might just trust yourself enough to make that radical design change you've been thinking about…

1. Follow your interests

When you can't stop thinking about something, your gut is telling you it has merit. Instinct is like a passion disguised as an idea. And when you act on ideas that you really care for, you are more likely to get a good result. If you couldn't get that cool geometric carpet out of your head, it's because your instinct knew it was something that would bring your room together. 

2. Commit

Every good gut feeling has to be supported by a lot of dedicated work. Having faith in what you're doing, faith in your instincts, will help you commit to your plan. And this commitment will give rise to greater inspiration as you give it your all. Before you know it, you'll have that comforting, welcoming, and innovatively modern home you've always dreamed of.

3. Immerse yourself in the world around your idea

Instincts come from a deep knowledge of the industry. Surrounding yourself with different designs will broaden this knowledge. If you can immerse yourself in the style you desire, do it. Go to a store that exclusively sells your style and let yourself take in the feeling. If you feel like you could get used to these surroundings, then your instincts were right.

4. Ignore the rules

Part of what keeps you from listening to your instincts is this idea that there are rules to follow. While it is true that there are design principles that help you maximise style or function in a room, if you don't want it or think something else might look better, then ignore what the professionals say. In effect, all these rules were made by someone else who had an instinct 10 or 20 years before you. When redesigning your home, trust your instincts will be the one to set the new rules.

5. Ask friends

If you're still really on the fence about a styling choice, ask one of your close friends for advice. Someone who knows you well will be able to tell if what you chose will benefit you in the long run.

6. Let your ideas change

When acting on instinct, you want to be flexible about implementation. What you start out doing may eventually completely change. The fundamental instinct stays the same, but the idea changes and evolves. 

If you liked this article, you might want to check out these 15 massive home renovation mistakes you can avoid!

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