“You have free rein to do whatever you want.” These are the worst words that I could possibly hear as an interior designer. As a creative, the idea of a project with absolutely no restraints sounds terrifyingly miserable. It’s counterintuitive. Creatives want to push the limits, but we need limits to push in the first place. Luckily, every project has boundaries, whether external or self-imposed. 

 

Creative boundaries make for better projects. And it’s because boundaries force you to be creative.

 

Our intern at my Austin interior design studio is an artist. She recently shared with me a lesson given to her by one of her teachers. “If you are having trouble starting a project, set boundaries.” Maybe you restrict yourself to a color palette of warm tones or a specific period of design history that ties into the architectural style of the house. Or perhaps you limit yourself to starting with just one space, like the entry hall or dining room. Better yet, maybe you are working within the very real boundaries of budget or building restrictions. Boundaries can be real or made up — they just have to be present if you want a successful end result. 

Working Within Project Boundaries

Limitations applied to my design process are a helpmeet. 

 

Taste is a boundary. 

Time is a boundary. 

Budget is a boundary. 

Material capability is a boundary. 

The four walls of an existing structure are quite literally a boundary! 

 

All of these boundaries push creativity forward. 

Before starting any interior design project, I seek out what boundaries are present. I do this by learning about my clients. To start, taste preferences immediately create restrictions. For example, maybe the client isn’t a fan of yellow, or dislikes glass table tops, or prefers cool tones over warm. All of these preferences start to put boundaries on what will make the project successful. 

 

Next, we get into what is perhaps the biggest boundary of all: the budget. I tell my clients I am neither impressed nor depressed by their budget. I simply need to know in order to make decisions around it. And, “I have no budget” is not an answer. No one has all the money in the world to spend. Even billionaires have budgets. And a budget is a very useful tool in decision-making.  

 

An Example of Boundaries Shaping Design Decisions 

Decisions are limitations, too. That first decision sets you on a path, informing the next and the next and the next. Once an artist decides on the medium of pastels, they can’t go back and change their mind to clay. They have agreed to a new boundary. When a door closes, a window opens. You might close the door on plastering a wall due to costs, leading you to the decision to use milk paint for texture and effect. Then the matt walls might lead you to select silk bedding over linen to add a bit of sheen to the space. Each creative decision helps us make the next decision.  

 

Recently, I had the chance to decide to add color and whimsy to a client’s room: 

1. First, we decided where to put the color. We agreed on the ceiling because it was the most unadorned surface in the space, and it felt too plain.
2. Next, we had to decide how much to spend — on the design process, materials, and labor — to balance the budget. 
3. Then, we determined how much texture we wanted the space to have. 
4. From there, we came up with three possible finishes for the ceiling. We evaluated each option based on the client’s personality and taste, as well as the overall feel of the home.
5. Finally, we made a decision and stuck with it. (In this case, it was a vibrant wallpaper pattern.) 

We followed the procedure to get that idea out into the world in a concrete way. That decision was a boundary. Once made, it negated any other creative ways we could have gone. More than half of the design process involves implementing design decisions. Making a choice is one thing. Making a choice that can come alive in the world is another.  

 

Setting Your Own Creative Boundaries

Many of the creative boundaries we face come from the outside world. Things like client taste, budget, and structural walls are largely outside of our control as interior designers. However, we have the power to set our own creative boundaries, too.  

 

When it comes down to it, our time is a limited resource. We cannot accept every design project, so it is important that we have a firm grasp on our personal and professional boundaries to move forward with projects that align with our goals. 

 

Filmmaker Sean Malone created a seven-step framework to consider before deciding on a creative project, which I quite like. Here’s my interpretation of his criteria: 

 

1. Idea: Is the project a good idea? 
2. Vision/Values: Does it align with your values and push your business vision forward?   
3. Tone/Taste: Understanding the client doesn’t need to share your taste, does the project fit the overall tone of your brand and work? 
4. Unique: Is the project exciting and interesting to you?  
5. Trending for Success: Do the expectations and boundaries indicate a successful outcome? 
6. Possible: Are the expectations realistic and aligned with the budget and timeline?
7. Relevant: Does the project matter? More importantly, does it matter to you?

 

The answers to these questions are your creative boundaries. If a project does not align with them, it is best to pass on the opportunity. Otherwise, you face grueling months of stress, burnout, and anxiety. When the project does align on all fronts, you can confidently move forward in a state of flow. 

 

Saying no to an opportunity can feel hard for some, especially in the beginning. Remember, these “noes” are really “yeses” to future creative endeavors. 

 

Respecting My Creative Boundaries

Every project has boundaries. As a designer, you must face the external boundaries imposed by taste preferences, budget, and the home itself. You must acknowledge that every decision made sets a boundary that you can’t go back on. And finally, (and maybe most importantly) you must respect your own creative boundaries. At times, boundaries can feel like blocks. But remember, they’re the building blocks of the creative process. 

 

Use them to build.