Before You Buy Decor: 5 Interior Design Questions to Ask First

Ava
May 9
3 min read

We’ve all done it — seen something beautiful while scrolling or shopping, thought “this will fix the room,” and brought it home… only to realise it doesn’t quite work. Again. It’s not your fault.

The home industry sells us on the idea that beauty comes from buying more. But truly transformative spaces aren’t about adding things. They’re about asking better questions before you begin.

At Mogra Interiors, I guide clients to pause, reflect, and design with purpose.

These five powerful interior design questions will help you understand your space before you commit to anything new — whether you’re rethinking a single room or your entire home.

1. What feeling am I trying to create in this space?

This is the most important question — and the one most people skip.

We’ve been conditioned to design around how a space looks: a Pinterest board, a sofa colour, a style trend. But lasting design doesn’t begin with how a space looks. It begins with how you want it to feel.

Do you want to walk into your living room and exhale? Should your bedroom feel cocooned and restful, or bright and uplifting? What kind of energy do you want to wake up to — or come home to?

When you design with emotion first, your space becomes more than aesthetic — it becomes supportive.

TIP: Choose three feeling words to guide every decision. “Calm, timeless, elevated” will lead you to a very different space than “bold, artistic, energising.”

2. Is the layout serving my daily life — or just the room’s dimensions?

A well-designed space isn’t just beautiful — it’s functional. And sometimes, the issue isn’t the style at all. It’s the flow.

Ask yourself:

Is there enough room to move comfortably?
Are key functions (e.g. reading, working, relaxing) supported?
Do certain corners always feel unused or awkward?

Before you shop for a new item, look at how the space is used. Often, real transformation comes from rethinking the layout, not just layering in decor.

TIP: Use painter’s tape or furniture templates to test new layouts before you buy anything new.

3. What already feels off — and why?

If you find yourself endlessly rearranging things, or constantly tempted to buy more — that’s usually a sign something deeper is out of alignment.

Maybe your rug is too small, the lighting is too cold, or your art doesn’t suit the scale of the wall. Identifying what’s not working is the fastest way to avoid expensive mistakes.

TIP: Take a photo of the space and step away from it for a few hours. You’ll often see issues more clearly in a photo than in person.

4. Does this room reflect me — or just trends?

Trends are tempting. But they’re also fleeting. And nothing feels more disjointed than a space that’s been styled around someone else’s identity.

Ask yourself:

Do I feel connected to this colour palette, or am I copying what I’ve seen?
Is this furniture my style, or just what was available?
Do I own anything here that holds personal meaning or brings joy?

A space that’s rooted in you — your culture, lifestyle, rituals and rhythms — will always feel timeless.

TIP: Build from one item you love — a chair, a painting, a textile — and let the rest of the room unfold from there.

5. Am I trying to fill a gap — or create harmony?

Buying a new cushion often feels like a quick fix for a space that doesn’t feel “done.” But adding more isn’t always the answer.

Sometimes what your room needs is:

Fewer, better-chosen pieces
A shift in colour balance
A thoughtful edit — not another layer

Design isn’t about cramming in objects. It’s about creating harmony between scale, texture, light, and negative space.

TIP: Try removing 3 items from the room, then reassess. Sometimes subtraction is the most elegant solution.

Ready to design with clarity instead of clutter? At Mogra, I work with families who are done with guesswork. They want a home that feels aligned — not just styled. Through thoughtful consultation and bespoke design, we create spaces that support how you live and elevate how you feel.

If you’re ready to explore what your home could truly become:👉 Get in touch to book in your Discovery Call here

Let’s make your space feel as intentional and beautiful as the life you’re building inside it.

We’ve all done it — seen something beautiful while scrolling or shopping, thought “this will fix the room,” and brought it home… only to realise it doesn’t quite work. Again. It’s not your fault.

The home industry sells us on the idea that beauty comes from buying more. But truly transformative spaces aren’t about adding things. They’re about asking better questions before you begin.

At Mogra Interiors, I guide clients to pause, reflect, and design with purpose.

These five powerful interior design questions will help you understand your space before you commit to anything new — whether you’re rethinking a single room or your entire home.

1. What feeling am I trying to create in this space?

This is the most important question — and the one most people skip.

We’ve been conditioned to design around how a space looks: a Pinterest board, a sofa colour, a style trend. But lasting design doesn’t begin with how a space looks. It begins with how you want it to feel.

Do you want to walk into your living room and exhale? Should your bedroom feel cocooned and restful, or bright and uplifting? What kind of energy do you want to wake up to — or come home to?

When you design with emotion first, your space becomes more than aesthetic — it becomes supportive.

TIP: Choose three feeling words to guide every decision. “Calm, timeless, elevated” will lead you to a very different space than “bold, artistic, energising.”

2. Is the layout serving my daily life — or just the room’s dimensions?

A well-designed space isn’t just beautiful — it’s functional. And sometimes, the issue isn’t the style at all. It’s the flow.

Ask yourself:

Is there enough room to move comfortably?

Are key functions (e.g. reading, working, relaxing) supported?

Do certain corners always feel unused or awkward?

Before you shop for a new item, look at how the space is used. Often, real transformation comes from rethinking the layout, not just layering in decor.

TIP: Use painter’s tape or furniture templates to test new layouts before you buy anything new.

3. What already feels off — and why?

If you find yourself endlessly rearranging things, or constantly tempted to buy more — that’s usually a sign something deeper is out of alignment.

Maybe your rug is too small, the lighting is too cold, or your art doesn’t suit the scale of the wall. Identifying what’s not working is the fastest way to avoid expensive mistakes.

TIP: Take a photo of the space and step away from it for a few hours. You’ll often see issues more clearly in a photo than in person.

4. Does this room reflect me — or just trends?

Trends are tempting. But they’re also fleeting. And nothing feels more disjointed than a space that’s been styled around someone else’s identity.

Ask yourself:

Do I feel connected to this colour palette, or am I copying what I’ve seen?

Is this furniture my style, or just what was available?

Do I own anything here that holds personal meaning or brings joy?

A space that’s rooted in you — your culture, lifestyle, rituals and rhythms — will always feel timeless.

TIP: Build from one item you love — a chair, a painting, a textile — and let the rest of the room unfold from there.

5. Am I trying to fill a gap — or create harmony?

Buying a new cushion often feels like a quick fix for a space that doesn’t feel “done.” But adding more isn’t always the answer.

Sometimes what your room needs is:

Fewer, better-chosen pieces

A shift in colour balance

A thoughtful edit — not another layer

Design isn’t about cramming in objects. It’s about creating harmony between scale, texture, light, and negative space.

TIP: Try removing 3 items from the room, then reassess. Sometimes subtraction is the most elegant solution.

Ready to design with clarity instead of clutter? At Mogra, I work with families who are done with guesswork. They want a home that feels aligned — not just styled. Through thoughtful consultation and bespoke design, we create spaces that support how you live and elevate how you feel.

If you’re ready to explore what your home could truly become:👉 Get in touch to book in your Discovery Call here

Let’s make your space feel as intentional and beautiful as the life you’re building inside it.

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