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Room Design Tips- How to Start Designing a Room (Without Losing Your Mind)


A good friend of mine recently asked me to help her make some design decisions for her upcoming home renovation. She told me that her ADHD brain can never settle on a decision or create a plan to move forward, and honestly—I get it. There are so many options and so many factors that need to be considered before diving into a full room reno!

However, think I might be the opposite diagnosis. I make decisions so fast. I’ll dream something up while drinking my morning coffee, and by lunchtime, a load bearing wall is ripped out. Just kidding, about it being load bearing- not kidding about spontaneous demolition projects while Kody is at work.

A happy medium between the ADHD brain and the right here, right now mindset would be perfect.


But her question got me thinking. If you’re someone who freezes when it comes to design choices—or if you’re just overwhelmed by all of the choices—where do you even begin?  Let's start with some room design tips!


Here’s the trick I use: I go back to the basics we all learned in school. The 5 W’s—Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Except instead of writing a book report, we’re designing a room.


The 5 W’s of Room Design


1. WHO is this room for? Design always starts with the people who will use the space.

  • Example: For my daughter’s room, the answer is easy—Romee.

  • Ask yourself: Is this room for kids, guests, you, or everyone? Do they have specific needs or preferences?


2. WHAT do they like (and need)? This is where you get into style and personality.

  • Example: When I asked Romee what she liked, she said, “Umm… I like rainbows, pink, and fancy stuff.” 

  • Ask yourself: Do they love neutrals, bold colors, modern lines, cozy textures? What hobbies or activities will this room need to support? (For me, anything and everything from playing barbies or Stanley Cup Playoff mini stick tournaments, to bed slat smashing cannonballs needs to be considered.)


3. WHEN will the room be used? This helps with lighting, furniture placement, and vibe

  • Example: A family living room might be used all day, while a bedroom is mostly mornings and evenings.

  • Ask yourself: Is this a daytime hangout, a night-time cozy spot, or both?


4. WHERE is this room located? Location influences design more than we realize.

  • Example: A basement family room with less natural light might lean toward warm tones and cozy finishes.

  • Ask yourself: Is this room sunny or dark? Does it connect to another space that needs to “flow”?


5. WHY are we designing this space? What’s the main goal?

  • Example: Romee’s room needed to feel fun and fancy, but also functional for sleep and play.

  • Ask yourself: Is this a refresh to love your home more, a full remodel for better function, or for resale value? I was going with a refresh paired with resale.



Pro Tips for Room Design


1. Start with paint—but keep it chill.

Yes, I said it: start with paint. I know designers advise you to NOT start with paint, the paint is my anchor. For me, the walls set the stage, but here’s the trick—don’t go overboard. Trust me, I am the queen of overboard. I’ve done everything from wild stripes to polka dots to full-on PURPLE… and not even in a kid’s room. What I’ve learned is this: when I keep the paint subtle, clean, and bright, the whole room feels elevated. Then I can add the fun (and the sass) with rugs, curtains, bedding, or art. It looks way more high-end, and it’s so much easier to swap out when your child wakes up one morning obsessed with dinosaurs, sharks, or neon slime.


2. Choose a vibe, not a theme.

Instead of locking yourself into “pirates” or “princesses,” think in vibes: cozy, bright, playful, modern. A vibe can flex and grow, while a theme will have you redecorating in six months.


3. Function first.

Ask what needs to happen here—sleeping, homework, Lego towers, movie nights. If the function doesn’t work, the pretty won’t matter.


4. Leave room to grow.

Kids change their minds faster than you can hang the rainbow wall decals. Keep the big-ticket stuff neutral (paint, flooring, main furniture) and let their personality shine in the accessories.


5. Balance the budget.

Splurge on pieces that will last (like a good dresser or a rug that can survive spills), and save on trendier items you’ll swap out later.


A Parent’s Role in Kids’ Room Design


I love designing kids’ spaces because they’re full of imagination. But here’s the truth: kids will happily ask for a slide, a disco ball, and twelve stuffed-animal hammocks all in one room. Our job as parents is to take their “big ideas” and turn them into something functional, cohesive, and fun!

Think of it like this: your child is the creative director and you’re the project manager. They bring the rainbow-and-glitter vision board, and you filter it into something that’s durable, budget-friendly, and not going to make your eye twitch every time you walk past.

And honestly—that’s not just design, that’s life. Kids need direction, guidance, and boundaries in order to grow into confident, secure, successful humans. When they get to “do it all” without any guidance, they end up feeling lost. It’s our God-given role as parents to notice what lights them up, then help guide them through it—filtering out what doesn’t serve their long-term joy and success.

But okay… rainbows first, the meaning of life later. (Seriously, whose ADHD brain is this—hers or mine?)


Where I’m Starting: Romee’s Room

So now it’s my turn! My youngest daughter, Romee wants a room that’s “rainbows, pink, and fancy.” That’s my starting point, and I’ll walk you through how I take her vision and filter it down into a cohesive, practical design.

Because really, designing isn’t about chasing a perfect Pinterest board. It’s about curating what stays, what goes, and what makes the people who live there happiest.

Stay tuned—it’s about to get rainbow-y, pink, and fancy over here… and thankfully, we’ll be selling this house before she decides she’s into sharks, soccer, or neon slime. Then it’s back to the drawing board!



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