Lennar Resource Center

You’ve moved into your first home. Congratulations! But how do you make the space your own? This blog is your guide to understanding the design benefits of having your own home instead of renting from somebody else. From choosing the color scheme in your home to beautifying your backyard, there are a number of facets of interior and exterior design to take advantage of when you’re a homeowner.

Interior Spaces

Deciding on a color scheme for a room means a whole lot more than just painting the walls the right shade of blue. The interaction between the colors of the walls, furniture, and accents is a delicate balance. But fret not! This art can be learned. Hundreds of books on every different interior design movement have been written, from minimalism to mid-century modern.

A good rule of thumb to keep in mind when deciding the colors of a space can be simplified by a formula known as the 60-30-10 rule. That’s 60% main color, 30% secondary color, and 10% accent color. These proportions give balance to the space the colors occupy, the concept is simple to use, and even simpler to break when you’re ready to express your own ideas about color.

Consider bringing elements beyond fabric and paint in to change the color scheme of a room. Wooden or metal accents like end tables or ceiling fans can have a dual purpose, adding earth tones to a room while also giving a more rustic feel to a space. Bring natural elements like a hanging kitchen herb garden or sprawling ivy to make a space feel brighter and more vibrant.

While the inside of your home is completely fair game, it’s important to remember that your homeowner’s association may have certain requirements about the colors outside of your home can be. You’ll more than likely get away with the red front door you’ve always dreamed of in any neighborhood, but a neon greenhouse with pink trim may not fly with your neighbors.

Exterior Spaces

To make the most of all of your space, it’s important to use every bit of what’s yours. One of the biggest differences between an apartment and a home is the yard to do with what you wish. Find a shady spot in your backyard to enjoy a garden and set up a decorative table and a few chairs to encourage relaxation and thoughtful conversations, and surround the space with a few fragrant herbs to make people want to stay out there longer.

If you’re afraid of forgetting to take care of a garden, encourage your green thumb by planting herbs and vegetables in your yard that you enjoy, giving a stronger reason to make sure you’re checking in on how things are growing.

To make your backyard into a Zen space, pick up some large stones and arrange them as a border to a flowerbed or in a zone of their own. In some instances, stones will grow moss that will give a vibrant green hue to counter the splash of muted grays and blues that many rocks will bring to a brightly colored backyard. Whether it’s inside or out, it’s easy to add your personality into your space. With tons of books and articles written on different interior design styles, it’s easy to spend an afternoon online or in the library deciding which ones speak to you as an individual. Take advantage of a private backyard and arrange a garden to take a momentary escape and recharge your mental batteries. But most of all, remember to have fun with it! To find more ways to make your space your own be sure to Like Lennar on Facebook.