Discover how to look for inspiration in unexpected places and update your home like a pro
North Olmsted, Ohio...
Inspiration is all around us. From a field of vivid yellow sunflowers to unique geometric patterns in the tile at the train station, the littlest things can spark the innovation behind some of the world’s most iconic products. Knowing why the products we use every day came to be is important to many of us – over half of Americans (51 percent) say the inspiration for creating a product is important to them when purchasing an item for their home, according to a recent survey from Moen conducted online by Harris Poll among over 2,000 U.S. adults*.
Discover what inspires professional designers to create products and how to find your own inspiration when updating home décor.
Go Inside the Minds of the Pros
So, where do designers find inspiration? Just about everywhere. Pebbles in a stream sparkling in the sunlight have inspired smartphone interfaces, while talking computers in Sci-fi favorite Star Trek have contributed to the creation of voice-controlled speakers.
At Moen, the number one faucet brand in North America, designers are inspired by consumer insights. From top desires, to how homeowners interact with products, these learnings drive the development of new innovations. In the kitchen, Moen’s design team was inspired by the way hands move around the kitchen sink when determining the sensor placement for new MotionSense Wave™ touchless faucets. The fixtures feature a single-sensor hands-free activation on the base’s left side, allowing users to turn the faucet on and off with the wave of a hand. “We also draw creativity from furniture, tools, architecture, music and museums,” said Steven Ward, director of global design, Moen.
Seek Your Source of Ideas
Next time you’re updating your bath, or restyling your kitchen, act like a professional and begin by venturing outside the box for inspiration, whether it’s a favorite song or piece of art that gets your creative juices flowing. For example, 16 percent of Americans who have done a home design project look to the outdoors for inspiration when planning home design projects, while 15 percent look to architecture. For your renovation, maybe you’re inspired by the striking colors of the sunset in the photos from your family’s summer beach vacation, or an amazing brick pattern in the street as you wander through a historic neighborhood. Consider what colors and patterns grab you and evoke the feeling you want to have within your space – once you find them, snap a photo and reference it as you’re designing.
Curate Inspiration
Been a while since you took a vacation, or don’t live in an architecturally awe-inspiring locale? Social media may be a great proxy. In fact, of Americans who have done a home design project, 33 percent look to social media for inspiration. Just like the pros, create a design plan for your space, but make it easy by using a site like Pinterest. Create boards for color combinations, materials and textures that attract your eye so you can define your ideal look. Nowadays, many Pins are shoppable, making it simple to purchase your perfect home décor products with just a click.
While making design decisions, don’t worry about being “on trend.” If you stay focused on what styles speak to you personally – as well as the functionality your room needs to support – you’ll create a space that feels uniquely yours.
*Survey Methodology:
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Moen from August 29-31, 2017 among 2,163 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, among whom 1,619 have done a home design project. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact fallscommunications.com.