YOUR HOME YOUR STYLE.
You may have secured your first home and said goodbye to a renter status or you have moved on and have found or built your next dream house. Either way, it’s a new space you will want to make your own.
Our lives are busy and after finishing a long day you would want a place that gives you a sense of belonging and where you feel good and ‘at home’.
Below are a few tips how you make it your own.
- WHAT WORKS AND WHAT NOT?
I strongly believe that it’s not just about items you love, decorating with your favourite accessories and art or painting that feature wall in your favourite colour. It needs to start at the ‘bones’. Look at your existing furniture, accessories and artwork and ask yourself what do you want to keep and use in your new home? Does it work in the new space? Are the proportions right – i.e. small sofas or coffee table won’t work in a big space etc.
Does it still reflect your style or is it something that you bought and it worked in your old house or while renting?
- PLANNING IS KEY
Spatial design is very important and getting it right will result in a balanced, harmonious and functional space. Both are equally important when creating your dream home. It needs to work aesthetically as well as it needs be functional and work for your family and its dynamic, the way you live and how you use the space. This will be different for a couple without kids compared to a busy family household. It will determine what each space will be used for (bedroom vs. home office or study, playroom vs. spare bedroom etc.) and the type of furniture you will need. Here is an example – think coffee table vs. ottoman. In a busy household with kids an ottoman that can be used as a coffee table and easily moved around will be more practical than a heavy coffee table. You will also want to avoid sharp corners if you have small kids, so think shapes etc.
Now is the time to shop for furniture that meets the spatial requirements of your new home, and will help create that harmonious ‘at home’ feel. The key pieces to invest in are those that receive frequent use throughout the home and consequently these are the bigger items on the list. (a new sofa, occasional tables, and a new dining suite, because these are the statement pieces that need to be chosen based on your current dimensions).
So, yes, planning is key and getting the right furniture for your space and lifestyle will create a good foundation for your home. As a designer, I ask a lot of questions during the initial consultation (including all of the above). It’s important to get to know the client and how they live to be able to present options and solutions that will suit their family dynamic to make it feel like it is their home.
- WHAT IS YOUR STYLE
What are the atmosphere and the look you want to achieve? What is your personal style? If you don’t really know the answer to this, Pinterest is a great start to exploring what you love and what you don’t. Once you have created a board with images, have a closer look and find the elements that are repetitive or stand out in most of the images. These are the things you love! See how you can incorporate them in to your home design. This should also give you some clarity about what your personal style is. It will help when you are searching for ideas, talking to retailers or going on a design journey with your interior designer. You are ready now to layer your home with own style, injecting your personality and items that will tell your very own story.
- ADD A BIT OF YOU
Each of our homes reflects who we are and what we love.
Half of the journey of making your house a home has been done by now, if you have followed the above steps. Now the fun part! You get to bring in all your favourite objects and art to personalize spaces with your style of decorating and your treasures. Give yourself a calming, neutral canvas to work with, then inject small but noticeable snippets of your personality like some artwork, a family heirloom or an upcycled piece of furniture.
This is important to be able to feel relaxed, happy and comfortable in your own home. However while decorating your home is a very personal art, there are certain principals of design that should be followed to help you decorate with success.
Mix textures and materials in your home to create depth and contrast. Play with textures and shapes.
I love a good conversation starter. Wallpaper is perfect for bringing in new textures and finishes as well as colour and pattern to create interest and give a glimpse into your personality.
Collect books that tell your story. I love my design books displayed – these books, sprinkled throughout, serve as a constant reminder of my interests and passions.
What is your favourite colour? This should come through naturally without any special effort as you are drawn to accessories, fabrics, art that in some way incorporates your favourite colour(s). You can play with adding color through window treatments, cushions, vases and accessories, cushions.
Probably the easiest way to inject colour and personality into your home is through textiles and upholstery. I like to change up my sofa and bedroom cushions often. Not only does it keep my decor feeling fresh and current, but it brings new life to a space you might have been getting a little bored with.
If you are thinking your walls are looking a bit bare and perhaps almost clinical, invest in some fantastic artwork to spice the room up. There are options for every budget. And what a difference a piece of art can make! But if you’re looking for a more permanent option, paint your walls, in a bold new colour. It will breathe new life into your home.
Whatever your style of injecting your personality in your home, make sure it looks cohesive throughout and all of the rooms feel like they are part of the same home.
One great advice that I can give you is – take your time, it is not a race. There is no need to rush your decisions when it comes to your home. Let things evolve, build on what you’ve got and change things around to keep it fresh and interesting.
Choosing the best designs for your interior space can be a tricky decision. From furniture and colour schemes, to wallpaper and accessories, there are so many aspects to think about. If this is all too overwhelming for you, then do not hesitate to engage an expert. An interior designer will save you time and money making sure that you get it right the first time.
