What is the 'master room' and why is it so important during a renovation

Building a new home is very exciting. There are so many possibilities – from colour choice to finishes to possible layouts. It can also be quite stressful because, well, there are so many colours, styles, finishes and layouts to choose from.

When you first begin this journey, you might not realise just how many decisions are required for a new build. Take the kitchen for example, there’s the cabinetry layout, choosing the style, type, purpose and size of doors and/or drawers, type and colour of benchtops and splashbacks, choosing appliances, incorporating space for appliances, where and what lighting to use. The list goes on.

Throughout the entire house you’ll need to choose things like floor finishes, whether to go with timber or carpet, skirting board design, cornices, wall finishes, interior windows and trim finishes, door handles, door styles, full bathroom design, including walls, floors, vanities, mirrors, bath and shower, feature walls and lighting.

This list is not exhaustive, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Everything needs to be carefully considered in order to create a cohesive plan.

So here’s a bit of advice to help you make a few decisions, reduce your stress levels and create a home you’re proud of.

Begin by gathering your ideas together; the internet will be your best friend during this stage. Pinterest is great place to start gathering inspiration from some of your favourite interior design blogs and websites.

While searching for ideas can be a lot of fun, it’s easy to go a little crazy by trying and incorporate every idea you like. Resist this urge. It will only result in a patchy and inconsistent look. Instead, note the images/photos that really pop out at you, then designate one room as the area on which you’ll centre these ideas around. This will be the “master room”.

Carry design elements from this room through to the other rooms to create flow and consistency.

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If you consider the kitchen the hub of the house, choose this as your “master room”. You don’t have to match paint, fixtures and fittings exactly, just choose a few elements that will link throughout the house.

You might have a certain style of lighting that can be used throughout or perhaps you can use colour to create flow. The wall colour in one room can be carried through to curtains, blinds or furnishings in another room.

The idea is to tie all design elements together to make one cohesive whole. It’s a big job with lots to consider. You can fly by the seat of your pants and hope for the best, or you could engage a designer and get some expert help. Many of my clients pay less than $5000 for a whole home design concept.

You can’t put a price on peace of mind and a design pro on your side.

Jane Eyles-Bennett is one of Australia’s leading home renovation and interior design experts. She is an award-winning interior designer with more than 25 years’ experience designing the interiors and exteriors of homes; specialising in kitchens, bathrooms and living spaces.

Contact Jane at jane@hotspaceconsultants.com or via her website.