--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before you begin designing or buying…" description: "\"Before you begin designing or buying anything, you need to get real and ask yourself: What do you really want to use this room for? What do you want to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/nate-berkus-8324_anything_before-you-begin-designing-or-buying-any_2817999.png" --- # Before you begin designing or buying anything, you need to… ![“Before you begin designing or buying anything, you need to get real and ask yourself: What do you really want to use this room for? What do you want to do in this room but can't now?” quote by Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/nate-berkus-8324_anything_before-you-begin-designing-or-buying-any_2817999.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/nate-berkus-8324_anything_before-you-begin-designing-or-buying-any_2817999.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/nate-berkus-8324_anything_before-you-begin-designing-or-buying-any_2817999.png) > “Before you begin designing or buying anything, you need to get real and ask yourself: What do you really want to use this room for? What do you want to do in this room but can't now?” [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective design starts with clear purpose; ask practical questions about desired functions and current limitations before planning. **In simple terms:** Know what you truly need before designing. Key Takeaway Define purpose and constraints early. Themes design planning purpose Mood practical analytical Type instructional motivational When to use this quote - home renovation - office layout - event planning Key Concepts functionality needs analysis space utilization Questions to Reflect On - What is the primary function of this space? - How will the design improve daily life? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis on aesthetics can ignore functional needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Furniture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/furniture/) ## Related quotes > [“He scooped me up and started carrying me out of the room. “I want you to stay with me. Once won’t be enough— not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raine-miller/he-scooped-me-up-and-started-carrying-me-out-of-the-room-i-want-you/) [Raine Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raine-miller/) > [If you're in the room, I want to be next to you. If you're gone, I think about you. You're who I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/if-you-re-in-the-room-i-want-to-be-next-to-you-if-you-re-gone-i-think/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [When you come to a hotel room, you want it to be grand, functional and beautiful. But you don't want things that are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/when-you-come-to-a-hotel-room-you-want-it-to-be-grand-functional-and/) [Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/) > [We're all in the same room, so I want people to be involved with one another, but again you can't decide exactly to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/we-re-all-in-the-same-room-so-i-want-people-to-be-involved-with-one/) [Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/) > [“Have you a room that you could let?" "Yes, I have a room that I could let, but I do not want to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/have-you-a-room-that-you-could-let-yes-i-have-a-room-that-i-could-let/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [“Now that we know that Spring Roll is a girl, we should probably think about setting up her room. Gabriel kept his eyes on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/now-that-we-know-that-spring-roll-is-a-girl-we-should-probably-think/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“You must clear out what you don't want, to make room for what you do want to arrive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/you-must-clear-out-what-you-don-t-want-to-make-room-for-what-you-do/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Approach any room with the goal of making it the most attractive and comfortable, the room you want to live in the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/approach-any-room-with-the-goal-of-making-it-the-most-attractive-and/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [Television is where you watch people in your living room that you would not want near your house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/television-is-where-you-watch-people-in-your-living-room-that-you/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [You can sit and write in your room all you want, but until other people see it, until you see it produced for television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-brubaker/you-can-sit-and-write-in-your-room-all-you-want-but-until-other/) [Ed Brubaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-brubaker/) > [It can be frightening. I think, 'I don't want to go.' But I give myself room to grieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-harper/it-can-be-frightening-i-think-i-don-t-want-to-go-but-i-give-myself/) [Valerie Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-harper/) > [I always want there to be room for people to connect. That is so important, especially in an office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremiah-brent/i-always-want-there-to-be-room-for-people-to-connect-that-is-so/) [Jeremiah Brent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremiah-brent/) > [I wouldn't want to be in one room, 20 hours a day, 52 weeks a year, with four white walls and a stove. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/i-wouldn-t-want-to-be-in-one-room-20-hours-a-day-52-weeks-a-year-with/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [I want the room to have whatever kind of hair I want. I'll always change it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabby-windey/i-want-the-room-to-have-whatever-kind-of-hair-i-want-i-ll-always/) [Gabby Windey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabby-windey/) > [“I want room service!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mnemonic/i-want-room-service/) Johnny Mnemonic ## More by Nate Berkus > [I really can't live without my In-N-Out burgers. Honestly, I can't. Even when I'm doing the whole no-carb thing occasionally, I make an exception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-really-can-t-live-without-my-in-n-out-burgers-honestly-i-can-t-even/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [As a designer, everything is always about aesthetics mixed in with functionality and having that visual appeal. But you learn fast as a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/as-a-designer-everything-is-always-about-aesthetics-mixed-in-with/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [I have a large watch collection, and classic watches are especially important to me. I had a silver Rolex, and I actually gave it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-have-a-large-watch-collection-and-classic-watches-are-especially/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [You don't need to spend a lot of money on stuff when you have amazing architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/you-don-t-need-to-spend-a-lot-of-money-on-stuff-when-you-have-amazing/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [I knew that I was a gay boy fairly early; what was interesting to me was that my mother didn't know. She made me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-knew-that-i-was-a-gay-boy-fairly-early-what-was-interesting-to-me/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [Layering in different patterns will keep things from appearing too studied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/layering-in-different-patterns-will-keep-things-from-appearing-too/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [I hate sets. I've always hated sets. I think that if you have a dining room set, break it up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-hate-sets-i-ve-always-hated-sets-i-think-that-if-you-have-a-dining/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [Everywhere in my house are these little things that have meanings and make me think of great memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/everywhere-in-my-house-are-these-little-things-that-have-meanings-and/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [Thread count is actually a lie. Just because a thread count is 1,500 on a set of sheets doesn't mean that they're well-made sheets.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/thread-count-is-actually-a-lie-just-because-a-thread-count-is-1-500/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > ['Priced to sell' - just the phrase makes me smile. When a dealer says all the items in his booth are priced to sell,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/priced-to-sell-just-the-phrase-makes-me-smile-when-a-dealer-says-all/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [I didn't grow up thinking I'd be a decorator. Design is my greatest passion, and it naturally just pulled me down the path. Same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-didn-t-grow-up-thinking-i-d-be-a-decorator-design-is-my-greatest/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [You can find a lot of reasonable buys at Wal-Mart. But one key to making it on a budget is by donating your time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/you-can-find-a-lot-of-reasonable-buys-at-wal-mart-but-one-key-to/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [In design-speak, 'a library' means a room lined with books, floor-to ceiling, but it all depends on the space you have. You may have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/in-design-speak-a-library-means-a-room-lined-with-books-floor-to/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [A lot of guys go in immediately for status, as opposed to comfort and allowing their home to tell a story about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/a-lot-of-guys-go-in-immediately-for-status-as-opposed-to-comfort-and/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [Design, to me, is part psychology, part sociology, and part magic. A good decorator should know what's going on in someone's marriage and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/design-to-me-is-part-psychology-part-sociology-and-part-magic-a-good/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) [Explore all 82 Nate Berkus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) ## More Anything quotes > [I guess I've never really wanted to be anything else. I've never even thought about having another job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/i-guess-i-ve-never-really-wanted-to-be-anything-else-i-ve-never-even/) [Owen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-farrell/) > [I would give anything to be able to kick a ball with my son or read the kids a bedtime story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-burrow/i-would-give-anything-to-be-able-to-kick-a-ball-with-my-son-or-read/) [Rob Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-burrow/) > [Comfort food is really anything you want at that time. That said, I really love Naple-style pizza.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-zakarian/comfort-food-is-really-anything-you-want-at-that-time-that-said-i/) [Geoffrey Zakarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-zakarian/) > [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/) [Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/) > [When it really comes down to it, the job you do is more important and is more representative of who you are than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/when-it-really-comes-down-to-it-the-job-you-do-is-more-important-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [I never did drama at school. I did it for one term, when it was compulsory, and I hated it. Tennis was the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mitchell/i-never-did-drama-at-school-i-did-it-for-one-term-when-it-was/) [Luke Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-mitchell/) > [We live in such a special time when literally anything we can think of is possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/we-live-in-such-a-special-time-when-literally-anything-we-can-think/) [Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/) > [You know, I'm from Baltimore; nobody has anything. When somebody had talent, I was hiring my uncle, my cousin, you know? Getting people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sisqo/you-know-i-m-from-baltimore-nobody-has-anything-when-somebody-had/) [Sisqo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sisqo/) > [I said to my agent, 'I want short, sharp, well-paid jobs because I haven't got time for anything else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-whitelaw/i-said-to-my-agent-i-want-short-sharp-well-paid-jobs-because-i-haven/) [Billie Whitelaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-whitelaw/) > [I think anything that anyone writes thats any good is going to have a lot of autobiography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-adly-guirgis/i-think-anything-that-anyone-writes-thats-any-good-is-going-to-have-a/) [Stephen Adly Guirgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-adly-guirgis/) > [If the Bible is correct, and the Earth is only 6,000 years old, that means there were no dinosaurs, and museum curators have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/if-the-bible-is-correct-and-the-earth-is-only-6-000-years-old-that/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [Don't do anything drastic like getting your eyebrows tattooed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-lee/don-t-do-anything-drastic-like-getting-your-eyebrows-tattooed/) [Greta Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-lee/) > [Whenever you define family as anything other than a man and a woman married together, you have just introduced an ethical nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/whenever-you-define-family-as-anything-other-than-a-man-and-a-woman/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/) Browse all 9,437 Anything quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Before you begin designing or buying anything, you need to get real and ask yourself: What do you really want to use this room for? 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