Introduction
Designing an entire home with a cohesive aesthetic is challenging. Each room needs its own function, but all rooms should feel connected. Flik helps you create whole-home designs where every room belongs to the same visual family.
Whole-Home Design Approach
The key to cohesive home design:
- Choose one style aesthetic: Modern, traditional, coastal, industrial
- Consistent color palette: Same base colors throughout
- Unified materials: Wood tones, metal finishes coordinate
- Coordinated lighting: Similar lighting quality across rooms
- Room-specific adaptation: Style adapts to each room's function
Step 1: Choose Your Home Style
Popular whole-home styles:
- Modern/Contemporary: Clean lines, neutral colors, minimalist
- Coastal: Light and airy, blues and whites, natural textures
- Scandinavian: Light woods, whites, functional and cozy
- Farmhouse: Rustic, warm, shiplap and wood elements
- Mid-Century Modern: Retro, organic shapes, warm tones
- Transitional: Blend of traditional warmth with modern clean lines
Step 2: Design the Anchor Room First
Start with your most important room (usually living room):
"Design my living room in modern Scandinavian style. Light oak floors, gray sofa, white walls, natural lighting. Make this the style guide for my whole home."
This establishes the aesthetic that other rooms will follow.
Step 3: Design Remaining Rooms
Once your anchor room is designed, extend the style to other rooms:
"Design my kitchen, master bedroom, and bathroom in the same Scandinavian style as the living room. Keep the same color palette and materials but adapt to each room's function."
Maintaining Cohesion
Elements that should be consistent across rooms:
- Flooring: Same or coordinating throughout
- Trim and molding: Consistent color (usually white)
- Wall colors: From the same palette
- Wood tones: Same warmth/coolness of woods
- Metal finishes: Brass, nickel, or black throughout
- Style aesthetic: Same overall vibe
Room-by-Room Considerations
Living Room
- Establishes the home's primary aesthetic
- Largest furniture pieces set the tone
- Most visible to guests
Kitchen
- Cabinet style coordinates with overall design
- Countertops in colors that complement palette
- Backsplash adds subtle pattern or color
Bedrooms
- Softer, more restful interpretation of home style
- Coordinates with overall palette but can be more personal
- Lighting and fabrics adapted for comfort
Bathrooms
- Tile and fixtures match home's metal finishes
- Clean and spa-like within your style aesthetic
- Vanity style coordinates with kitchen cabinets
Tips for Whole-Home Design
- Start with one style: Don't mix too many aesthetics
- Reference your anchor room: Use it as a guide for others
- Allow room-specific variations: Adapt style to function
- Think flow: How rooms transition from one to another
- Be patient: Design one room at a time, refine, then continue
Next Steps
- Interior Design Visualization — Single room design
- Renovation Planning — Specific renovation previews
- Virtual Staging — Real estate staging