WHERE I FIND DESIGN INSPIRATION

Today I am sharing where I find design inspiration for a new project or when I’m in need of a creative boost.

I love interior design. Like LOVE in loud, shouty caps. But sometimes, like with most things, I hit a creative dry spell and need to find some design inspiration for a creative boost.

Below are my go-to sources for helping to keep the creative juices flowing.

Where I find design inspiration when in need of a creative boost

Interior design books and magazines are great sources of inspiration.

I’ve always had a love for design magazines and books. Often times on the weekends you can find me at Barnes and Noble happily flipping through a stack of them.

I am a lover of many different styles and aesthetics. Even though it may not be MY particular style, I enjoy seeing how they all play out in other people’s spaces.

No doubt I will find an unexpected use for an item or a creative and different way to use a space that will stretch my thinking as well.

The photography and the stories told through the styling of the spaces are so fascinating to me.

One thing I pay attention to is the way in which accessories are used within a room. The details really make a space unique and come to life.

For instance, there are so many ways to style a bookcase or a tabletop. All of these examples help to get my creative juices flowing.

Pinterest is another one of my go-to resources for finding design inspiration.

I mean who doesn’t use Pinterest these days for all things home inspiration.

Like magazines and books, there are SO MANY different images and styles to explore. UNLIKE magazines and books though I can search for whatever it is I am looking for at that moment.

For this reason, Pinterest has become my number one go-to source when I need a creative boost.

If there is something specific I am trying to find, I can easily search for it within Pinterest. Setting up different boards allows me to keep any pins I find organized and readily available for future reference.

I am a visual person so when I get an idea I like to search in the app to see if there is an example I can use as a reference for my design.

It can sometimes be hard to visualize an idea within a space. Having images to reference helps to bring the idea to life, clarify, and iron out the details of the look.

There is great design in TV shows and movies.

This may not be a resource that comes to everyone’s mind but another place where I find design inspiration is TV shows and movies.

I am most drawn to interiors that are traditional and classic in feel. Ones that have depth and character to them through the use of antiques and accessories.

Some of my favorite interiors are in The Crown, The Poldark series, Victoria, Grantchester, and John Adams to name a few.

I love to see the set designs and how these shows layer patterns and textures and use color throughout a space.

I’ve been known to pause or record a show or movie to snap a screenshot for future reference.

I personally like to reference period pieces. (Can you tell by the list above?) Depending on your style though, you may be drawn to different TV genres.

For seasonal inspiration, I look to vignettes and Lifestyle displays in shops and boutiques.

The change in seasons and the holidays are probably the best times for getting a boost in creativity.

The displays make it easy to spot what’s new with regards to colors and styles and provides on-trend decor inspiration.

It’s a great way to see what is in season. I’m also inspired by their products and the ways in which I can translate it to my own home.

Some of my favorites to visit include Anthropologie, Crate and Barrel, Arhaus, Pottery Barn, and West Elm.

I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE to visit Magnolia Market one day. It’s on my bucket list for sure! No one does an installation like Joanna Gaines and I look forward to seeing what she does each season!

When in Nashville I was able to visit Reese Witherspoon’s store called Draper James. I fell in LOVE with all the blues and pattern mixing in the shop. Such a cozy, welcoming, southern vibe!

art and accessories can be a great jumping-off point for a new design.

Finding that one piece you love can help kick-off and drive the entire rest of your look.

Rugs and art are especially good items for this.

Find one or a collection of prints that speak to you and pull your entire color pallet for the space.

Same with rugs.

Oriental rugs, for example, have so many beautiful colors running through them. They provide lots of options for the direction of a space.

Even neutral rugs can provide inspiration. They are great foundational pieces for building a design off of or providing texture or subtle pattern to the space.

Although less frequent for me, the right accessory can help guide the direction of my design.

Rather than starting with small accessories though, I use them to layer in texture, color, and style.

For example, bringing in pieces that are more modern to help elevate a traditional space. Making the design feel fresh and new for today.

interior design and lifestyle blogs are gold mines for DIY tips, resources, and inspiration.

I have to admit, when blogs first came on the scene, I couldn’t get into them. Magazines were more my thing.

I loved having a physical item in my hands that I could flip through and tear out for future reference.

I’m not sure how I found my way back to them but I know it involved the site Bloglovin‘.

I downloaded the app and created an account. Next, I selected the categories I was interested in and BOOM. A whole world opened up to me.

Suddenly I was HOOKED.

I have been reading blogs ever since 2014 and I can’t get enough. In fact, I now gravitate towards blogs more than magazines and books when looking to be inspired.

Some of my favorites, and the first ones I started to read, are The Makerista, Hunted Interior, Waiting on Martha, Pencil and Paper Co. and Emily A Clark just to name a few.

Not only do I love each of these women’s styles but these ladies are incredible designers.

When I want to see what’s on-trend or be pushed out of my comfort zone or inspired to think outside the box, this is where I start.

Blogs invite you into the designer’s home for a front-row seat.

I love seeing other people’s design perspectives in their own homes. It’s also a more intimate way to do that vs scrolling through a magazine or book.

With some, you get to see and hear the thought process behind their decisions. The struggles they face and how they work to resolve them.

The before and the afters are great. It’s the middle though that brings inspiration and new ways of thinking about a design problem.

Another thing I love about blogs is the blog hops, virtual design tours, and round-ups.

Blog hops and virtual design tours are when a group of bloggers comes together to participate in an event together.

An example of this is a seasonal event like fall or Christmas decor home tours.

There is usually one blog that kicks off or hosts the event. The other blogs link up making it easy to “hop” from one to the next.

It’s a great way to find inspiration on one central topic or theme. It’s also a good way to discover other blogs that may be similar to ones I like.

Getting out of my surroundings and traveling brings new and fresh perspectives.

Looking for inspiration? Travel, travel and then travel some more.

Getting away from my everyday surroundings and experiencing life outside Ohio does wonders for my creativity.

Mike and I LOVE Charleston, SC and the architecture and charm of this old city.

I love to walk through the streets and view all the details on the different houses. The columns, porches, and moldings of the Georgian, Federal and Italianate style homes are some of my favorite.

The restaurants, boutiques, and hotels are fantastic as well. Some of our favorites are in old houses or banks and the interiors are stunning.

The use and mix of different tiles, textiles, and other finishes in these spaces make my classic/traditional loving heart so happy.

In my junior year of college, I got the opportunity to study abroad for a semester in Florence, Italy.

This experience was responsible for shaping my love of classical architecture, art, and antiques and I will forever be grateful.

We traveled every chance we got and were lucky enough to not only see cities throughout Italy but Paris, Greece, Austria, Prague, and Ireland as well.

Inspiration is all around us.

These are just a few of the ways in which I find design inspiration. If you’re looking for even more ideas, check out my post here!

I hope you were able to discover a new method or be inspired to revisit one you tried before.

Where do you go to find inspiration when in need of a creativity boost?