One of the joys of having your own home is that you can completely personalise it by adding individual touches to it. Is your home due for a decor update? Or have you just got yourself a brand new home and have a blank canvas in front of you? Whichever it is, making your home exceptional need not cost the earth.
Steal these five pocket-friendly ideas from our experts to make your home stand out.
Mix up different styles
We know. Mixing up styles seems sacrilegious. It probably goes against every rule of home decor that you have read. Yet, there is nothing more refreshing than doing up your home with a carefully considered blend of styles. Maybe you love everything vintage, but your roommate or spouse likes to keep it modern? Worry not. Opposites can be pleasantly brought together to make a room look unique.
Start by identifying a unifying pattern and streamline your colour palette accordingly. Pick a motif that you can replicate through different elements in all the rooms.
Create a delicate, tasteful balance by juxtaposing designs and textures. For instance, you can go vintage on kitchen utensils and shelving but keep the lighting contemporary. Or you can match up colonial and mid-century modern, for instance, by picking the same type of wood stain along with solid colours. Mixing styles doesn’t seem so bad now, does it?
Add depth with different textures
Textures tell a story. Blending textures by using various materials and fabric can enhance depth in the room, making it more vibrant. Start small. Try pairing plush, velvety pillow cushions with smooth satin bedspreads, perhaps. Or place an oriental area rug as the focal point while your sofas and armchairs sport thick, knitted throws.
If you feel confident to do upgrades on a larger scale, then work on your furniture. Mix wooden furniture with metals to lend a homely yet edgy look. Wooden tables look stunning with copper pendant lighting, while marble worktops pair brilliantly with metal pipes or shelving with metal borders in the kitchen. For a truly singular home, mesh the warm undertones of wood or fabric with the new-age vibes of brass or chrome.
Open up to colours
The right colours are essential for inducing an uplifting or calming effect. Along with the appropriate furnishing, a well-assembled palette can go a long way in setting the preferred tone for your home. Blues, greens, and neutrals are some of the widely recommended colours for homeowners upgrading their interiors.
However, if quirky and bold are what you are looking for, then go for classy blacks, browns, or reds. True, the general advice is to steer clear of these unusual colours and not venture into the dark side. But when done right, they can really make your home stand out. Pairing black walls with white and cream furnishings and metal lighting fixtures easily come together to create a very elegant and stylish room. Just make sure that rooms with dark colours also have plenty of natural light for balance.
If you want to go bolder, try neon. Yes, a splash of neon can wake up a tired-looking room provided they are appropriately softened by gentler hues. Try neon pink with cool greys or whites for a study. Or you could even try highlighting a portion of the room by adding neon lamps for a trendy effect.
Vibrant crockery is part of the game
When it comes to home decor, the focus is mostly on wall paints, furniture, and lighting. But have you thought of your tableware? Picking different types of crockery or table linen can liven up your kitchen and dining room like nothing else.
Think bold prints, unusual shapes, and funky colours paired with apt shelving and lighting to add zing to the room. Discard your old ceramics, and pick some vibrant pieces in cheerful hues to flaunt them on not just your table but also on your walls. And don’t limit yourself to dinnerware. Get a distinctive-looking teapot, an eye-catching fruit bowl, or coasters in striking shapes or sizes to set up a one-of-a-kind room.
Elements for play and relaxation
Enhance your current decor by adding some interesting furniture. How does the idea of a hammock bed sound? When installed in a corner, it makes a perfect spot for lazing with a book or a movie on your laptop.
Keep things dynamic with a swing chair for your work table or in the living room. Hammocks and swings add an element of play to the room, elevating an otherwise ordinary decor.
Tired feet at the end of a long day? Make your own sandpit with a simple wooden frame and sink your feet in to feel that delightful softness. If you have the space for it, you can set up a bigger box or even allot an entire section of a room and fill it with pebbles, sand, smooth gravel or any other feel-good materials to make your own reflexology corner at home.
So many great ideas and infomation here on how to decorate your home like a pro, especially love the wall decor tips. I really loved your fabulous home decor ideas.