5 Great Resources for Interior Design Inspiration

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011, posted in Inspirations, Resources with No Comments

Some of the best design inspiration comes from getting out and seeing the world around us, whether traveling to foreign countries with unique cultures or simply getting outdoors and experiencing nature. However, this can be challenging and time consuming when much of your day is stuck at the office or behind a computer. So when it comes time for some interior design work, using other sources to spark inspiration may be just what you need to balance your time while keeping your looks fresh and current. Here are some great resources that not only stay up to date with the newest design trends, but can also help inspire your own ideas: HGTV Designers’ Portfolio – HGTV’s compilation of designs offers thousands of rooms that have been put together by professional designers. You can simply browse through them one at a time, or filter results based on a room, design style, designer, or simply just a color. It’s a useful feature if you already have something in mind and just need a little help visualizing it. Overall, this is a great resource for figuring out what style fits the personality of the room or home you’re working on. BHG’s Decorating Page – While this site generally targets homemakers, often containing tips for simple, DIY improvements, keep in mind that this resource can provide a lot of value. Since it’s a magazine, they offer ideas based on the seasons to stay current. This is particularly useful if you’re trying to add an extra touch when staging a home or apartment around popular holidays. Plus many of the tips are affordable and are shown with tutorials that can easily be expanded on by adding your own twist. Interior Design’s Website – While this is another magazine, it’s far less commercial than the two previous as it is geared toward design professionals. The modern products they feature, especially in terms of lighting and seating, are truly unique and can be the foundation for an entire room to be built around. Plus, since it is geared for professionals, it stays current and it is filled with a plethora of pictures and articles for reference and inspiration. PadStyle.com – This blog claims to focus specifically on furnishings, but its articles are far more useful than that, often diving into concepts for entire rooms. The majority of ideas also center around very modern and contemporary design that keeps your home innovative and lavish, so if that’s something you’re currently working on, it’s a terrific resource. Design Sponge Blog– Last but certainly far from least, this blog is a perfect for anyone hungry for design inspiration. Delivering multiple posts a day, Design Sponge stays up to date, keeping their ideas as fresh as possible. They offer sneak peeks into beautifully designed homes, and their Before & After section is wonderful for visualizing changes you’d like to make. Beyond simple interior design, they offer articles on crafts, meals, and even party planning, so it’s definitely one of the top resources out there. This is only a quick look at the resources above, I encourage you to visit them and find out for yourself. Also, if you have other inspiring destinations online, please share them below.