How to furnish any room in 11 simple steps

Wondering how to furnish a room in your home, but don't know how to go about it? It's perfectly normal:designing a room from scratch can be intimidating at first. Keep in mind that interior design is more art than science, and there are no hard and fast rules on how to decorate a room. But if you're looking for a guide, the one we've provided in this article will help you visualize all the steps needed to furnish any room like a pro.

1 Set the mood

Instead of asking yourself what you want your room to look like, ask yourself what mood you want it to set, and let the colors, textures, furniture and decor guide you. A light, airy Zen room, for example, might suggest minimal furnishings and natural materials. A casual family space might include bold colors and patterns. By focusing on the mood of the room rather than a particular style or trend, you can create a space that works for you.

2 Get inspired

Check out your favorite social networks, blogs and interior design magazines for inspiration. Think about the places you like to escape to, and analyze why. If you're into moodboards, go ahead and make one. If you live with other people, this is your chance to collaborate on creating a shared space that will appeal to everyone in the household.

3. Be realistic

Rather than aspiring to an over-ambitious vision of your interior, design your space according to your current lifestyle. For example, if you have children or pets, choose upholstery fabrics and surfaces that can withstand wear and tear while remaining beautiful. If you live alone and rarely entertain, there's no need to monopolize space with a dining table for six. If you work from home, move the makeshift desk in the corner of the living room into the spare room that's only used during the vacations. And before you buy anything, draw up a realistic budget to help you prioritize expenses.

4. Declutter

If you're redecorating, start by getting rid of anything you don't use, need or love. If you're furnishing an empty room from scratch, think before you add anything. There's room in every space for personal items and things that matter, but successful interior design starts with thinking about the essentials.

5. Make a plan

There are plenty of free online room design tools and interior design software if you want to create a plan to better project yourself, but don't make planning your working space too technical. You can also simply draw your layout ideas on paper or mark furniture locations with tape to get an idea of the scale and flow of movement between your future furniture. Before you buy a single piece of furniture, measure your space too. Otherwise, you may end up with furniture that's too big or too small.

6. Choose a color palette

Whether you want to stay neutral or go for a bolder color palette, making up your mind early on will help you create a cohesive look. Neutral rooms can be decorated with accessories. Always choose three main colors that complement each other to keep your room decor consistent. Or, if you like the look of an all-white room, deciding early on will help you create a coherent look. By sticking to shades of white, you can easily mix and match furniture styles and eras.

7. Choose anchor pieces

When furnishing a room, you need to choose an anchor piece to build on. For a living room, for example, focus on your centerpiece, which is usually a sofa, before worrying about armchairs, TV stands, rugs, cushions, etc. By starting with your biggest, most expensive purchases, you ensure that you don't skimp on the quality of your most-used items, keep a realistic idea of your budget, and visualize how much space you have for additional furniture once the centerpieces are installed.

8. Select secondary furniture

Once you've chosen the centerpiece, which in our example for the living room is the sofa, start looking at coffee tables and other secondary furniture such as TV stands, armchairs and ottomans, and shelves to determine the right sizes and styles. The aim is to maintain a certain stylistic consistency between your furniture.

9. Choose rugs, curtains and textiles

Now that you have an idea of how your room fits together, you can choose rugs, curtains and textiles such as decorative cushions and plaids that will complement your decor by adding color, pattern and texture to your room.

10. illuminate the room

One of the keys to successful room design is attention to lighting. Maximize natural light during the day and add lighting fixtures to your rooms for added ambience, whether it's functional lighting, a table lamp or wall sconce with a warm ambience, or a chandelier as a decorative feature. Be sure to light the four corners of each room to avoid creating shadows and promote a sense of well-being in your home at night.

11. Accessorize

Now that all the essentials are in place, step back and ask yourself what's missing. Choose and hang works of art, photographs or decorative mirrors. Decorate shelves and tables with decorative books, candles, decorative objects, plants or travel souvenirs. It's the perfect opportunity to add personality and originality to your rooms.