There is magic in creating a beautiful home to live in and it’s not all about the look, or how much money you spend. It’s a feeling you get when you walk through the door; a welcoming home, peace, comfort, inspiration. Creating a beautiful home can herald a whole new way of living.

Our homes support our lives every day and have a huge impact on the way we feel, but creating your dream can be a daunting prospect. With so much information out there, it can stop you in your tracks with no idea where to start, or what direction to go in.

These are my top tips for getting started on creating a joyful home.

Start slow

Decide on a room, or part of a room to start and ignore everything else. You can transform one area much more easily than trying to tackle the whole house in one go.

Ask yourself these simple questions:

• How do you spend your time in that room currently?
• How do you want to spend your time?
• Why did you choose this room to start in?
• How does it feel now?
• How do you want it to feel?
• What events or moments would you love to enjoy in that space?
• What places have you visited that have really inspired you? What was it that you loved?

Find your inspiration

Inspiration can come from literally anywhere. Start collecting images that inspire you. You can use Pinterest, Instagram, magazine cut outs, an album on your phone. Go to places that inspire you; shops, galleries, exhibitions, museums, hotels, historic houses. Absorb the atmosphere and think about how you can create some of that in your new room.

Work out your budget

Allocating a set amount of money you’re happy to spend at the start of your project will guide your buying decisions and choices. You can apply the budget across the whole design and don’t have to justify every buying decision based on cost alone.

Laying the foundation and exploring and discovering how you want to live and use the space and then gathering inspiration will help you to create a really cohesive scheme that reflects you and your life. Your vision will guide you when looking at the layout and flow of the room, furniture, colour schemes, lighting and styling.

Approaching the design of your home from this angle will create a space that energises and inspires you and feels uniquely yours. Your sanctuary and a foundation for your life.