Top Interior Design Questions
I’ve been working in home design for several years now and tend to receive similar decor questions again again. Which I love – keep them coming! Many of the inquiries fall into the same design categories and topics so gathered them here with more specific details. From oak wood flooring to kitchen shelves and woven window shades, I’m covering everything here to answer the top 6 interior design questions.
UPDATE: This post was so popular I added Top Home Decor Questions Part 2 where I cover kitchen backsplash details, tile grout, vintage furniture, and more.
How did you make wood shelves?
Hands down, how to make wood shelves is the most requested topic of my homes! This makes me incredibly happy because they are also my most special and favorite DIY project. Over the years, I’ve added wood shelves to a few different spaces – they always add so much warmth and design. In the past, I made my kitchen shelves from white oak and I used black shelf brackets from my brother’s business, Cascade Iron Co.
While we made the shelves from a salvaged oak tree, it’s easy to find lumber from the hardware store or even a few places on line. My shelves are 11.25″ deep, about 1.25″ thick, and 36″ long. I love natural wood and kept these raw, protecting with natural wax. Click below for the full step by step pdf guide or check out my post how to make wood shelves.
What do white oak wood floors look like?
Another design question I often receive is about the wood flooring in my previous home. Many people wonder, what do white oak wood floors look like? White oak wood floors are a more neutral and natural wood flooring choice. Putting in hardwood flooring was one of the best upgrades we made to that home.
Of course, the follow up question is, ‘how did you finish them so they aren’t yellow?’ Great question! Oak flooring can get a bad rap for being too yellow or orange. That can come down to the type of wood and also the type of stain that is used. In the 80’s wood floors were often stained with a darker, warmer, orange tinted stain. However, there are many other options out there now!
For these white oak floors, we used Bona water based finish and matte top coat. I did a lot of research and worked closely with the installer to make sure we got the desired look. Using a water based finish is more expensive but this keeps them more natural. The matte finish also made them more modern and avoided the outdated shiny look.
These floors were the highlight of our remodel and completely changed the entire vibe and look. Although I totally love these floors, I did share 5 Things I Wish I Knew About Solid Hardwood Floors because there is a fair amount to understand when choosing this flooring.
Where to purchase woven wood window shades?
Another decor question I receive often is where to purchase the woven wood shades seen a lot of spaces in my homes. It has been several years and I keep using the same ones again and again. After ordering a few samples and doing a lot of research, I eventually chose the Woven Wood Shades in Kula Sandy Beach from Blinds.com.
In general it’s a really simple process and totally customizable. For most windows, I complete the entire process, from measuring to installation all by myself. It’s super simple to measure windows and they make them to exact measurements with option for custom options like cordless or adding blackout liners. I’ve ordered these exact woven shades for several rooms in including our Bedroom Refresh and Home Office and they add so much warmth and texture – it makes a big difference especially for boxy, boring spaces.
For more information, I created an entire post with a step by step guide on ordering Woven Wood Shades to make that easier. I also created a Blinds.com review which is my non-sponsored honest review and comparison to other options.
What interior paint brand should I use?
Another inquiry I receive really often is what interior paint brand do I recommend. Over the last several years, I’ve used a variety of paint brands and am pretty loyal to my favorites. From painting two home exteriors to full interior remodels and dozens of accent walls, I’ve done more than my fair share of real life paint research.
When it comes to interior paint brands, I typically use either Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams. Both of these have some of tried and true color options and the quality has proven itself time and again. I’ve used both less expensive and more expensive options and I keep coming back to these two. In fact, I have a whole post comparing them in Sherwin Williams vs Benjamin Moore.
When it comes to updating a home, paint is one of my favorite ways to make a big, immediate impact. I often use Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace or Sherwin Williams Pure White for a neutral clean slate. From there, I add more colors and have rounded up my The Best Neutral Paints with other colors I use again and again.
Where to find a modern ceiling fan with light?
Finally, one of the last interior design questions I receive is about my modern ceiling fan light fixture. And I get it! I searched long and hard for a ceiling fan that did not remind me of grandma’s house (no offense grandma!). For some reason, it was harder than I thought to find a fan that checked all the boxes.
I ended up going with the Cranbrook from Hunter Fan Co. It has a simple design, (relatively) low profile, included light, neutral wood blades, and is fairly affordable. Overall, I was really happy with it and shared more honest opinions on my Cranbrook Ceiling Fan Review which includes more details and comparisons. If you’re looking for other ceiling fan options check out my round up of 7 Modern Ceiling Fans.
Final Thoughts on Interior Design Questions
I hope this helps answer some of the most common interior design questions to help you create a home you love. If you’re curious to know more, I have another post about my Design Topics About My Home where I cover more about backsplash tile, grout, wood doors, and more. Feel to reach out if there are more home design topics I can cover!
