Design Lessons from Show Houses and Model Homes

When we lived in Seattle I made it a point to attend the Street of Dreams Show House tour every year. Yes I went to see what it would be like to live in a multi-million dollar home but I also went to get design ideas. I also made it a point to tour builders model homes on the weekends to seek out even more design ideas. Show houses and models homes can be a great source of design inspiration and product sourcing (and buying) if you know how to look beyond the beauty of a space and learn to analyze how a space was put together. Want to know what you can learn about design from show houses and model homes? Well follow along and I’ll tell you.

First let me say that most show house designs push the envelope with style and are decorated to the hilt. The designers that do these homes are challenged to make the rooms stand out and have drama and impact. You’ll often see bolder colors, more elaborate mill work, exotic finishes and over accessorized spaces in a show house.

When it comes to model homes, builders have a completely different agenda when it come to decorating. Builders want to make the home feel as large as possible and decorate it so that it will appeal to a range of people. The decor of model homes can sometimes seem sparse and the design details can come off as elementary but there are still a few things you can learn from these model homes.

WHAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM DESIGNER SHOW HOUSES

Designer show houses are filled with all kinds of amazing design ideas, from the latest furniture and accessory trends, unique wall-covering and paint options to custom details that you may not have seen before. These show houses can also give you an expert lesson in accessorizing and styling a room.

Want to learn the art of coffee table décor, then check out the table arrangements in a show house. You’ll see how different accessories are grouped together for impact and to achieve a balanced arrangement.

There will be lots of vignettes in a show house so analyze how they are styled and layered for new ideas.

You’ll see unique wall décor arrangements that may not seem to work at first but if you study them you’ll see the common threads that tie it all together (repeating colors, balanced arrangement and consistent theme–people).

Keep your eyes open to how different tabletop groupings are created in different areas of the house. You may not have thought about putting decanters in the bathroom or envisioned how great a simple bowl of matchbooks can look.

Pay attention to the types of items that are combined, how finishes are repeated and how pops of color are introduced.

And notice that many show house vignettes feature unexpected decorative pieces that give the area personality.

Tip: In most designer show houses all the furniture and accessories are available for sale. This can be a great source for finding one-of-a-kind pieces for your home.

One of the other things you’ll notice in most show houses is the use of plants, flowers or some type of natural element. These elements help a room come alive and feel comfortable. This is a decorative element you can easily add into your own home for little or no cost.

I always study the wall décor arrangements in a show house, to get ideas on art styles, frame styles and how images are grouped. One of the ideas you’ll walk away with is how to fill large wall spaces

or how to create eclectic gallery walls.

You’ll see lots of examples of pattern mixing. I love how different black and white patterns were used on this daybed and how the mix of pillows work together. An animal print will work with almost any pattern out there and with just about any decorating style.

And finally, look for unique accent pieces, tile and surface materials and hardware and custom details that you can put into your own home. You might even spot a DIY project idea too.

How about mounting a star burst mirror on a tall candlestick? Looks like a fairly easy DIY project.

This black glass tile can give you the inspiration to do something out of the ordinary in your kitchen.

One of the hottest trends in hardware now is acrylic. Here’s a great source if you love this look as much as I do.

And show houses are filled with brilliant but achievable design features like this enclosed oven in the kitchen.

WHAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM MODEL HOME DESIGN

When walking through a model home, check out the paint treatments in a room. Model homes tend to showcase color on the walls and often times use multiple colors in a space. It’s a great way to get a feel for how you might like painted ceilings, accent walls or two-tone rooms.

Keep your eye on how furniture is arranged in a model home and how the layout makes the most of the space.

This space below feels very lived in and showcases how several furniture pieces can be grouped together while still allowing ample room to move about.

Models homes can also give you inspiration on how to mix different furniture styles. This living space features different style chairs, different lighting styles, a mix of materials and different finishes. Look at the space and try to understand why the elements work together (color, scale and shape).

Do you have design elements in your home that have challenged you–areas like niches next to the fireplace or a big expanse of windows? Models home are a great source of design ideas for these types of architectural features.

The next time you have an opportunity to tour a show house or visit a model home, do it. You’ll see the spaces in a whole new light and will walk away with lots of design inspiration!