Your Online Resource Centre
The Big Picture Developing A Whole House Plan
By: Amy Moeller
Before you start your next decorating project, don't forget about the big picture - your whole house plan. Developing a whole house plan may sound overwhelming but it really can be quite simple and provide a strong foundation for creating a beautiful home. Whether you are decorating one room at a time or your entire home at once; developing a whole house plan is extremely important. The end result will be a house that "feels" good, looks great and truly is a home.
Does this mean that your home has to be the same from top to bottom? Absolutely not, after all, ultimately you want to create a space that reflects both your personality and style. What it does mean though, is that by establishing a plan, your home will have continuity and flow from one room to another; creating a space that is both comfortable and inviting.
Rooms within your home can be connected in various ways, and you probably have the beginnings of a whole house plan without really knowing it. Naturally, the architectural and structural details are a given, but there are other elements as well, that should be considered in your overall plan.
The real goal in developing your whole house plan is to establish some common elements that flow from room to room. There are several ways to do this. You may have a style of furniture that you love and will use throughout each room. Or if mixing and matching is your preference, you might decide to combine many styles that have a common finish such as light oak or dark mahogany. On this same note, by painting or staining items such as built in cabinets, decorative molding, baseboards and doors the same throughout your home, you can establish a common thread. Choosing a common finish (polished brass, nickel, etc.) on hardware such as door knobs, drawer pulls, faucets and light fixtures throughout each space is another great way to create a flow from room to room.
Probably, one of the biggest mistakes we make is to decorate our homes one room at a time without thinking of the big picture. This doesn't mean though that you have to decorate entire home at one time, in fact, I encourage you to do one room or area at a time for many reasons. It's much less overwhelming to work on one room vs. an entire house, certainly it's less stressful, you get quicker results and of course it's easier on your budget
Every house that is constructed requires a concrete foundation and every beautiful home starts with a whole house plan. The personality of your home begins with many of the above details and by keeping some decorative elements consistent throughout, you'll have a great foundation for a beautiful home.
