Where do you get your inspiration from re decorating/interior design

[Loueytb3]

Trying to get ideas for my lounge/dining room and I've bought a few magazines but not seen much I like and they cost a fortune. I've got the John Lewis, Next and M&S home magazines, but I wondered where everyone else gets ideas for decorating. Is there one particular magazine which is worth getting (might get subscription)?

I normally like painted walls or plain wallpaper so I can put my pictures up. I want to rip out two fireplaces and replace them with less hideous surrounds and we need new sofas as DH has just broken the frame on ours because he is a fat lump

I buy far too many magazines! I've started to look on rightmove lately, go for areas with similar style houses and have a nosey that way.

Depends what style of decoration you like but my fave is Living Etc. There is a website too, HousetoHome or something like that.

Rightmove is great, although I'm often staggered how houses that are a £1m+ can be so badly presented and shockingly decorated. Money can't buy you taste, but surely it can buy you a cleaner?

I like pinterest.com too - there's a category for Home Decor and you can then trace the images back to the blogs from which they originated, so you can then follow a blogger whose style you like.

Magazines are great for property porn but useless for real homes and real budgets, and the magazines that cater for the "affordable" end of the market (House Beautiful and Ideal Home) seem to be composed entirely of press releases and catalogue images.

Just been to John Lewis today for first design service consultation...very impressed and would recommend...
www.houzz.com houzz also good for ideas

here!

Magazines. We also employed an interior designer who got us to really think about our style - the main way she did this was to get me to cut out pages of things I really liked, and those I didn't, and write on them exactly why. It helped to clarify a lot, and focussed us in on the things we really wanted - rather than just flicking through mags going "that's nice", I had to whittle it down to a few images.

I really disagree with the idea that high-end magazines are useless unless you've got a massive budget or architect-designed home. You just need a bit of imagination. We have an ex-council house but I have learned loads from high-end mags, e.g., about colour combinations, where to save and where to splurge.

I love pinterest for ideas

Thanks - this is great! Will check out the websites - I've just got onto pinterest so will have a mooch on there. Rightmove is inspired as I can get a property porn fix at the same time

Am very interested in the John Lewis service bounty - is this the one where you get a designer to come and look at your house (for a cost) and suggest ideas for redecorating? I mentioned it to DH but he turned his nose up at the cost, although it is taken off anything you order,

Living etc ( and housetohome website)
Elle decoration

I'm currently being inspired by This

What a question- everwhere as I am obsessed!

Online:
pinterest.com under home decor
www.1st-option.net/ particularly "annabel's house" and "bazeley house"
blogs - homeshoppingspy decor8 design sponge my own blog tries to link to things I love www.colporter.tumblr.com
twitter- by following lots of interior designers

Mags

house and garden
homes and garden
living etc

Oh and nosing into other people's houses in posh areas!!

I had a 2 hour free appointment in the nearest John Lewis, took plans of house (we are near the end of new build) along with pictures on my phone of furniture that's coming with us, as well as ideas in magazines that I like and things in JL catalogue that I like....she was reall helpful showing me colours that would match for curtains, light fitting ideas, window dressing solutions etc. She found me the ready made curtains I was going to be buying, but as the packet had been opened they were £50 cheaper...I found the whole experience excellent and was so stressed about decorating and making choices beforehand, but now feel I have the ideas and confidence...

1970s interior magazines.

DP is an interior designer (not 70s style- that's all me ), if anyone wants a consultation

Tethers, where is your DP based? We're moving shortly to a new build so will need to decorate every room, and need loads of new furniture, so I am a bit overwhelmed.

Pinterest

Decor8

Chez Larrson

Apartment Therapy

There is so much inspiration online you need never buy an over-priced magazine again!

If you are not on Pinterest and need an invite, PM me.

London, WhatMakes- PM me if you like

Ah, we are a bit far away, tethers, we're Staffordshire. And there's a distinct lack of interior designers around here as far as I can tell :(

I like to view show homes too for ideas. Armed with my camera phone I wonder round them borrowing any colour combos I like or designs. The staff can be quite helpful too and have told me the details of the interior designers so I can contact them for the brands or where they purchased things.

It's a bit cheeky but as I love looking at houses it passes the odd rainy Sunday.

Wander not wonder. Sorry