The ‘web’ as your design hub

A lot of decisions need to be made when you are setting up your own place. There are factors to consider, foremost of which is the cost, your preference, and space limitations.

You will then have to turn to your family and friends for consultation on your choice of palette for the wall, the kind of tiles you will use, the furniture you will have to buy, and even the lighting and other fixtures that you need to install.

And the and the list goes on and on.

But aside from the sage advice of the ones nearest to your heart, why not turn to the people who have been there and done that. The internet, for one, is brimming with people who are more than generous with their words and time on matters such as designing your place.

Here are some of those kind souls you may want to keep tabs on.

1. Brightbazaar

Can’t really make up your mind on what color to paint the walls with? Let British design junkie Will Taylor help you. His cheerful blog is a gateway to the season’s hottest palette. He also offers useful decorating tips. His design blog cum travel diary is rich with ideas on how to style apartments or even an entire house. Will Taylor is described as a “young chap who is unashamedly hooked on hue.”

2. Roomenvy.co.uk

This website will take you to a room by gorgeous room experience. It has vintage goodness with every photo of a coveted kitchen, living room, boudoirs that will make you want to remain in the room for just a little while longer. It lets you look at the small details such as cuckoo clocks, paint by number pictures, and matryoshka dolls which can set the mood in a room.

3. Witandwhistle.com/blog

Meet Amanda Wright, a self-proclaimed design nerd and stationary illustrator. Her blog has tutorials on how to turn ordinary terracotta pots into works of art. And you don’t need to be an expert. All you need is a healthy dose of creativity and then you’re off. One of her bright ideas to turn a very white room into something quirky: she hung a huge world map on the walls. And the room is changed for good.

4. Desigismine.blogspot.com

The blog of this unidentified thirtysomething American mother, baker and crafter opens with “daily images that kick ass.” This blog is a compilation of the things that catches her eye. Her weekly “interior inspiration” showcases the best of other design blogs that she thinks is noteworthy.

5. Hotfurniturelooks.blogspot.com

You can’t go wrong with this blog as it opens with the ever so beautiful Coco Chanel and her words: “An interior is the natural projection of the soul.” It is a photo gallery of the world’s classiest contemporary design projects. Scroll through its collection of enormous apartments, funky beach villas, and classy uptown lobbies and office snapshots that will make you lose track of time as you marvel at these architectural designs and piece de resistance.

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