Sometimes we know exactly what needs improvement in our homes, what items can complete a room or the part we need to fix a broken household item. Other times we just sense that something is missing or needs change but we can’t quite pinpoint anything in particular.

If you find yourself in this position here’s what you can do for inspiration:

The media
Watch television programmes, read magazines and browse websites on home improvement. They’ll give you good insight on home makeovers. You’ll find tips, industry advice and a wide range of suggestions, often illustrated. Do-it-yourself types who go solo for home projects will find demonstrations very helpful.

Observe your surroundings
Pay attention to what other people are doing with their spaces. Take a real good look at the environment you’re in. See the colours used, the theme they might be going for and the items displayed. The media often show what the experts are doing,  and sometimes how regular people are decorating and ‘fixing-up’ their space. You’ll get ideas you can use for your project and even recognise ideas to avoid.

Examine your home
Take some time to critique your own home. Think of what new colours you want. What items you need and how to reshuffle the furniture. Maybe the coffee table blocks the path? Or, some items make it hard to clean thoroughly? Most importantly, think of the theme you want your home to convey. Do you want it to be homey, arty, stylish, modern or nature inspired?

Browse the household aisle
Browse the household sections in different stores. You’ll see what’s on the market. Some stores even have displays of different areas in the home, arranged and decorated for you to look at and admire. This can give you great ideas for your own home.

Use a catalogue
If you don’t have the time to browse, catalogues can come in quite handy. They’re good visual stimulus. As you look through the catalogue you begin to envision each aspect of your home as it pertains to the particular items you see. For example, going through the section on kitchen items may remind you that your toaster of many years needs to be replaced since only two of the four compartments are functional. The catalogues also show exactly what you’re missing out on; it gives you a preview of the latest home items on the market that will give your home a modern makeover.

It may take a while to gather all your thoughts and ideas before you can decide exactly what changes you need to make; using a scrapbook can help. Sounds like you’re training to be a professional decorator? Well, put it this way, if you intend to redo your entire house all by yourself you’ll need more than a scrapbook. And that’s why you have all those resources above; they can help pinpoint what to do and how to do it. The prep time is definitely worth it and always pays off in the end.