Blank Slate

Starting from scratch with a blank slate is a luxury many of us don’t have unless we’ve recently moved or are building a new house. Some people might have an extra room that isn’t being used, but most likely an extra space is spoken for in our homes. But imagine if you did have an empty room in your home—a blank slate. What would you do?

Imagine having an empty room with just wood floors and neutral walls. Would you turn this space into a playroom for the kids? A home office? Home theater? Gym? In-law suite?  It can be fun to imagine starting from scratch and designing a space from the floor up. Or, it can be daunting.

If you do have a blank slate in your home, first decide how you will use the space. Then build from there. You might want to replace the carpet with hardwood or add carpet. You might want to add built-ins for storage or extra ceiling lighting for tasks. Wall color and window treatments can be inspired by the activities that will go on in the room or an area rug or object. Start slow, but keep moving forward. Once you know how you’ll use the room, design decisions should start falling into place.