How to see potential in an empty house, according to experts
When you are looking for a new place to live, it can be quite difficult to look at a completely empty space and imagine how you will settle in. Planning furniture placement and interior design ideas can be really difficult as most of us are not interior design experts. That’s why it’s best to see what the people whose job it actually is have to say about it. Here’s some advice on how to spot potential in an empty house.
Imagine your daily flow
Imagine your daily flow
Danielle and Kyle from Danielle Kyle Design emphasize the importance of finding functional space. According to Kyle, “What really matters is thinking about living within the space. We ask ourselves questions like where we would like to sit with our morning cup of coffee and where friends would meet for a great chat.” Space is only truly useful when it helps us live the life we want in it. Danielle says: “We look at each space from different angles until we are able to see the aesthetic and structural strengths of the space. Picture windows, unique fixtures and existing arches are all an immediate plus, but they should harmonize with what the home already has to offer.”
Look for architectural features
Stephanie Watkins of Casa Watkins Living says she looks for architectural features that she can highlight to create a beautiful feature in the home with what the home already has to offer. Natural light and surprising little spots always help. Stephanie says, “While I believe any space can be transformed into a beautiful creation, I’m a big fan of large windows/french doors for great plant life, plus some sort of architectural feature that includes a bulge, archway, or a Corner. These types of details offer great potential for an interesting feature in a space.”
Look for architectural features
Check out the furniture
Haute House Love’s Kera Jeffers says empty spaces are actually great for visualizing a home’s true potential. She says that letting your imagination run wild is very helpful as you can really get creative. She says: “For my crazy design brain, I always see the greatest potential in an empty space because there is no furniture to cloud judgement. For me, seeing the potential has less to do with specific elements and more to do with being able to train the part of the brain that can dream big.”
Check out the furniture
Walls & windows as blank canvases
Megan Duncan of The Minted Vintage says you can add some character to your home by treating the walls and windows like a blank canvas. A plain room is just a molding, crown molding or other added treatment away from the room of your dreams. As Duncan says, “When I’m looking for potential in an empty space, I look to see where a built-in closet or shelving can be added for storage and framing, or a wall treatment such as boards and battens can be installed. Next, I imagine how to beautify windows with custom moldings. Even small windows look bigger with a little more detail. I love adding wood elements to a room, so features like paneled openings and ceiling height are next on my list. Cladding an opening with ornamental work and adding art beams to the ceiling can really make a room extra cozy.”
Walls & windows as blank canvases
Emphasize the quirks
According to designer Sarah Glenn, embrace your home’s quirks instead of trying to hide them. She says: “I like to look for something whimsical to highlight in a space, especially in a way that connects the space with the sense of space around it. My son’s nursery has 7.5 foot ceilings and a dormer window overlooking a treetop in our backyard. The space has a natural cosiness and reminds me of a tree house. I embraced that sentiment by painting the space a dark hunter green, layering textiles and art in shades of blue, and pairing natural materials with a vintage wool rug, leather rocking chair, and antique pine dresser.”
Emphasize the quirks
Look for the unique
Erin Spain emphasizes that recognizing unique features in your home can inspire renovation. She says, “Sometimes it’s the size of the space or architectural details like shapes; sometimes it’s the layout or the amount of natural light it gets. Each room is unique, so I try to imagine what it could become based on the assets it might already own.”
Look for the unique
