As the housing market continues to take a hit from rising mortgage rates, many homeowners are taking down their "for sale" signs and rethinking how they can beef up their home values.
In other words, it's a good time to try interior design.
For those new to the craft, interior design may feel somewhat intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. Studio 11 Design founder Kellie Sirna is here to alleviate all of those first-time designer woes so you can decorate with confidence this year.
For many, the first step to interior design is cursory research on the internet — a spectrum of ever-changing design trends and decorating tips. Don't get bogged down by all the trends.
"The internet can definitely appear like a very wide and deep rabbit hole when it comes to the litany of design trends out there today," Sirna told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "One of the key ways to avoid falling into this seemingly never-ending well is to focus on what you like and what appeals to you naturally.
"When you acknowledge what your true preferences are, you've already started to funnel out things that can distract or shift that vision."
Finding your interior design style will likely take some experimenting. To make the most out of your experiments and build your design confidence, first focus on a few select living spaces.
"I recommend starting small and with something personal. Rather than taking on too much or redoing the entire house, perhaps start with your personal office, or even the laundry or mudroom. The latter may sound insignificant, but these are spaces you routinely use, yet they lack the grandness and expectation of a kitchen or a living room," said Sirna.
