Websites for Design Inspiration

A new-to-you home is a blank slate that awaits your personal touch. Whether you’re here for a spell or here for the long haul, the key to making a house a home is first to fill it with the ones you love and then make it uniquely yours. You bring the people, and we’ve got the places to go for design inspiration.

There are literally thousands of websites dedicated to home decorating and interior design. Below you’ll find some great places to get started. They share in common that they feature beautiful photography and an eclectic range of styles and options to suit every taste.

For starters, check

out these resources that feature

**home

design by/for military families**:

**Eleven

Magnolia Lane – **Christy, of Christy and Amy at 11 Magnolia Lane, is an active-duty

military spouse (and Amy has had her share of new addresses too). Their

aesthetic is stunning, and you can virtually tour their homes for season

changes, celebrations, and more. You’ll also find content focused on military

life, like “Tips & Tricks for Decorating a Rental (or Military Housing) and

Making It Feel Like Home” and “Moving Tips & Tricks (and How to Stay Sane).”

**White

Walls –** We’re making an exception here. This suggestion isn’t a website, but

rather a closed Facebook Group for active duty, guard, reserve, AGR service

members, military vets, retirees, DoD civilians, and their card-carrying

dependent spouses. 97,000 and counting people can’t be wrong and, if you’re

eligible, we think you’d be wise to follow this group that focuses on turning a

military house into a home after a PCS.

**Based in

Design –** This interior design studio promises that

“wherever the military may lead you, we can help you feel at home and make

temporary feel like permanent.” In addition to offering design services, they

feature custom-curated furniture and accessories, beautiful photography, and a

keen understanding and appreciation of the nomadic nature of military life.

While not military specific, the following are great “go-to” resources for design inspiration online:

HGTV.com – (where

Home and Garden Television lives on the internet) This site not only can help

you create a gorgeous kitchen, but also can assist you in figuring out what to

make for your first dinner in your new home. Whatever your aesthetic, you’re

likely to find inspiration here. And if you’re a DIY fan, this website is a

great place not only to see things you love, but also to learn how to make them

yourself!

Houzz – Here you can browse ideas by room; connect with

local professionals who can pull off your grand plans (or learn to do those

projects yourself); shop for furniture, accessories, and home decor; or even

upload your own photos and ideas. Afraid you won’t see something that’s to your

taste? Styles include Contemporary, Eclectic, Modern, Traditional, Asian,

Beach, Craftsman, Farmhouse, Industrial, Mediterranean, Modern, Midcentury, and

Rustic. You’re probably covered, right?

**apartment

therapy –**

Design*Sponge –

The woman behind this site, Grace Bonney, is known as a “Martha Stewart for

Millennials” by The New York Times.

Design Sponge is about more than homes and furnishings—it celebrates the people

behind them too.

Speaking of

Martha Stewart, you may

associate her with food and entertaining, but she remains influential in the

home and lifestyle space too. Spoiler alert: Apparently, bold wallpaper is back

(and removable wallpaper is an option if you’re living on a military

installation and can’t use the real stuff).

– People are quick to label Pinterest as social

media rather than a website. But this site is the epitome of a look book or

inspiration board and one of the best places to go for ideas. Fancy a Victorian

look? “Victorian home design” takes you there. Prefer country chic? You’re one

search word away from the mason jar light fixtures of your dreams.

And that ease of searching means you can focus on military-inspired or military-friendly design ideas too. A quick search of “military home decorating” yields hundreds and hundreds of pins with everything from “Personalize Your On-Base Housing or Rental with These Easy Ideas to Vintage Military Decor,” to “A Military Base Home Infused with Cheerful Color.” You’ll find pins from some of the websites we’ve referenced above along with excellent ideas from fellow military spouses who are skillful at making a beautiful home of any place they land. And you’ll find great ideas and information on how to shop for home design items made by military-connected folks too!

Finally, don’t limit your search for inspiration to only design websites. Keep your eyes open to what draws your attention and interest. Perhaps you love the pattern of dishes on your favorite recipe website. Or the fashion sense of an online influencer you follow. You can bring inspiration from any sphere into how you put your own stamp on your new home. You’re limited only by your imagination!