Category Archives: decorating

Biggest interior design trends for 2017

Posted on December 9, 2016 | Leave a comment

Natural tones

“In 2017 we will be seeing more natural tones, which create a rustic yet controlled vibe,” says multi-award-winning Melbourne interior designer David Hicks. “Olive, terracotta, cinnamon and indigo are a few big ones to look out for. Accents of copper and silver will also continue to be big.”

“Colours to look out for are mustard, shades of purple and mauve and variations of green and blue,” says Jessica Bellef, head of styling at Temple & Webster, the online retailer of furniture and homewares. “Indigo is a continued darling of the colour trend world, but we will see the evolution of it in washed finishes and lightweight chambray fabrics, lending a more casual feel to the look.”

Mid-century design

“We will see a move away from contemporary design, with the focus coming back to form and function rather than design for design’s sake,” says Hicks. “Mid-century will return to favour as a core design influence. This trend will play up the beauty in everyday materials and will be almost brutalist in its aesthetic.”

9 decorating mistakes

Posted on November 21, 2016 | Leave a comment

Switching up your decor can make a surprisingly huge difference in the way you feel at home, but beware of common decorating traps. Before you tackle these bold design updates, be mindful not to do these nine things:

1. Don’t Forget About Lighting

Even the most beautiful of rooms can be thwarted by bad lighting. The most welcoming spaces are filled with soft layers of flattering lighting at various heights (a chandelier, floor lamp, desktop lamp, etc.), not just one harsh light source. If the space has little natural light, use mirrors to brighten it up by reflecting what natural light there is around the room.

2. Don’t Hang Pictures At The Wrong Height

You’ve found the perfect picture, paired it with the perfect frame, and now it’s time to hang it at the perfect height. The centre of the image should be at eye height, about 144cm — lower than most people expect. If you’re putting up a gallery wall, you not only need to be thoughtful with the height of the image but also the layout. Take care to mock up where each picture will go before you start putting nails in the wall.

3. Don’t Have Lots Of Throw Pillows

They’re affordable, easy to swap out, and a great way to transform the look of a room; however, it’s easy to get carried away with them, picking up one or two every time you’re shopping until you have no space on your sofa left to actually sit. If throw pillows are deflated and flat, or more tired than trendy, it’s time to toss them. As a rule of thumb, only buy a new pillow if you’re willing to part with an old.

How to keep your home from looking dated

Posted on November 7, 2016 | Leave a comment

Despite your best efforts, that brightly coloured accent wall you painted in the ’90s just isn’t looking so fresh any more, is it? This doesn’t mean you have bad taste or that your house is old; it’s just that this part of your home is starting to look a little dated. So how do you passe-proof your home? Ahead, we list a few tips to keep your dwelling up-to-date.

Figure out your personal style first

You know which clothing styles work on your body, but do you know what decor suits your abode? Knowing your personal interior style is crucial if you want to create a home you’ll love beyond the current season. No one can afford to take that risk. So ask yourself the following: What defines my personal taste? What colours do I love? And why? The key is to determine your personal style fundamentals first; then build on them.

Have a flexible colour theme as the base

Pick a base colour palette that allows for some flexibility as the trends change each season. While many will expect this to be a mostly neutral theme, leading Australian interior designer Shaynna Blaze says it’s all about warm and cool, and “whether you love white and grey or cream and stone as a base to build your colours on.” Once you settle on a preference, sticking to that constant colour theme throughout your home should prevent it from looking dated too quickly and ensure it survives the seasonal trends. It’s the perfect backdrop to feature period pieces, so you can still have fun with timely styles.

Category Archives: decorating

Biggest interior design trends for 2017

9 decorating mistakes

How to keep your home from looking dated

Follow Blog