Yes you read that correctly, I need your help! Right now I am in the planning phases for a new blog design. I have my layout picked, but with this change comes more options. Options to make this little site a bit more user friendly. When I first moved my blog over from blogger to wordpress picking a theme was so daunting. Without paying for a custom design, I really had to think about what I wanted my blog to look like. I was so desperate to get to a clean slate, and felt completely overwhelmed with all the choices out there. I’m not unhappy with my decision, but now after having this theme for over a year I’ve realized there are things I wish I could do with it that I’m just not able to.
Which results in feeling like I can’t bring forth the best of my content, and make things easier to find. Thankfully I have someone who knows what they are doing holding my hand through this process, and explaining what would work best for my needs. With this new layout comes user-friendliness!! I don’t even know if that’s a legit word, but I’m making it one. Because I was feeling so overwhelmed when I moved my blog, I kept telling myself I would get to organizing things, and pretty much just never did. So I’ve left things in an unorganized mess for too long. Here is where you come in! My new word I dubbed “user-friendliness” is all geared towards, well – YOU!
My loyal readers, whom I seriously feel blessed beyond words to have! You have made this hobby turn into something way bigger than I ever imagined or thought possible, and I just can’t say thank you enough! I want to make things easier to find. Like favorite projects, and paint colors, and holiday decor, and “What was that stain color on that dresser again” easier. So I’d love your feedback on this to help me narrow down some of these categories. Is there something you have tried to find before and you couldn’t? Something you wish was easier to find on my blog, and it’s not? Something you wish was all in the same spot, but feels like an endless search that results in not finding you were looking for.
I realize a current list of sources is always helpful, for items you see in and around our house. I had high hopes for a super detailed and easy to locate home tour page, which I’m still working on, and will be incorporating into the new design. Don’t worry I’m not planning on changing too many things. Our logo will still be the same, as well as the simple background, but adding more of my style and flair will come through in utilizing photos and other elements to really make you feel like you are getting the full experience. So I would love to hear your thoughts or input on how I can make this new design easier and more inviting for you. I can’t wait to reveal it, but for now there is a lot of behind the scenes work that needs to take place, so that this can become a great hanging out spot for first time visitors and long time friends! I can’t wait to hear from you!
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Have a design question? Visit Doucette Design Co. for all your design needs!
Bre, this is such a tough process to go through but I know you’ll make all the right decisions. 🙂 Can’t wait to see the new look when it’s done!
This may already exist so I’ll feel silly if so, but I love having the ability to search in a search bar. Key words and cross referenced is great. It’s tough when you go to a blog and there’s no search bar and its only broken down by year/month because you have to spend hours going through dates vs “kitchen table”
Whatever you end up doing, I’m sure it will be great 🙂
Thank you Janet! I completely agree 🙂 My search bar is located right about my profile photo, something I def. plan to incorporate in the new design.
I’d really like to see buttons for following your blog on different types of ‘readers’ – I use Yahoo Reader and that way I can have all the blogs that I follow in one place to easily read each day. This is easier for a blog follower than having our email in boxes clogged up. I’m sure you have an RSS feed address, but I cannot find it anywhere on your Home page. Thanks for the opportunity to leave input. Your blog is terrific and your style is a feast for the eyes!
Thank you so much for your input!! That def. helps, and I will be sure to make sure that is included 🙂
Hi Bre, when I stumble on a new blog the first thing I look for is a home tour. Then a personal intro,including location and why you started a blog.
I subscribe to several blogs via email, and I prefer the ones who send the full text of each post instead of just the first paragraph. While this isn’t a layout issue, I do appreciate you considering this with the new design. Keep up the great work!
I love your site, but I admit the first think I look for is a project gallery. It doesn’t even have to be broken down into categories (mine is and there are a lot of repeats from cross over categories). Just on place where all your stuff can be found so I can go through and pick what I want to look at! I love shop your house and home tours too! (don’t have either presently, but someday when I start making some money and redo the site).
by the way, I really enjoy your sense of humor and scopes and fb videos from our blog group!
Younghouselove.com has done a really good job at organizing all their content. I would start with them. A few things that I like about their site is that there is a home tour page AND a Shop our home page. The shop our home page has the pics of different rooms with the paint colors and links of where to buy certain things (or similar ones).
I love the shop my house feature on blogs! When I’m inspired by something I see in their home, I love being able to simply go to the blog, click on the specific room and click on a link that leads straight to that item or one similar. Honestly, I can tell that blogs are so much work and I really appreciate you and other bloggers, and I’ve heard that if I buy from links in their blogs that they receive part of the money. It may not be true for all of them. But I think if you’ve gone through all the effort to help us find what we like, you should be compensated! Good luck! Thanks for all the inspiration! I love following you on Instagram!