Toads back.....
I hope you are enjoying this blog. Toad is very new to all of this and hes not sure where its going or who is reading it but he's enjoying 'BLOGGING'
last time he was helping you to get started with help from well known interior designers. Next he wants to inspire you...
Do your rooms lack luster or imagination? look no further TOADS about to help...
How To Make Your Home
Look Like You Used An Interior Designer
With that being said, not everyone can afford to hire an interior designer to come into their home, guiding all their design decisions. Some of us actually want to be the one who makes our own design decisions, using our own individual style and preferences.
How can we get the inspiration to take our interiors from boring to beautiful— without the expense of a professional designer?
Let’s look at some tips to help you begin organising and designing your rooms into a space that, until now, you thought only an interior designer could create. Whether you want your interiors to look like a luxury hotel or just jazz up your interiors, these tips will help. Shhhh… it’s our little secret that you did it all by yourself.
Magazines And Design Websites Are Full Of Design Inspiration
There is a reason for all the avid ‘Pinners’ on Pinterest — people crave an amazing home interior. As most of us have already discovered, decor websites can spark a flame of creativity that we never knew we had.
If you have not already begun to create inspiration boards for your homes decor, then begin now — this is the first step to creating the home you desire.
Go onto Pinterest to search for home styles that appeal to you, or simply grab some design magazines and cut out pictures that spark
you.
After hunting and gathering for creative images that inspire you, step back and look at all that you have collected — this should tell the story of your design style. You may be surprised at the style you crave to create.
Add Texture To Your Home
Equally as important to colour, is texture — especially if you crave a single colour scheme such as all-white or all-grey. A room at first glance can seem like a single colour scheme, but if you look closely you will notice shades within the same colour and plenty of texture via fabrics/textiles.
An all-white room can have linen drapes, a plush velvet chair, shiny silk cushions, rattan chairs and woven baskets, and a cotton sofa with a faux fur blanket tossed on the side. All of these elements add texture and please the eye, creating a warm, rich environment. Design can describe the personality of the owner, so by using textures, patterns and varying colours can bring a dull room into sophisticated with ease.
Consider the textiles that suit your lifestyle. If you have children and dogs, then you may not want a light cotton sofa, rather a darker leather or mohair sofa may suit your needs. If you crave luxury then consider high-end silk draperies and pillows.
Whatever your style, try to add plenty of texture by adding numerous textiles into your home.
Colour Schemes: Use Three Colours Or Shades
Now that you have a good idea of a style that you hope to call yours, you need to choose a colour scheme. This is the tough part. Colour is so personal and creates moods within us that inspire. No matter what, choose the colours that call to you. Look at your inspiration boards — what colours are prominent in the rooms you saved?
TOAD wont tell you what colours to choose, but he we will tell you to try for a mix of three colours or shades. One main colour for walls, another colour for larger accents such as sofas and chairs, and then a third colour that pops in smaller accessories such as flowers, cushions and knick knacks. Remember colour is influenced by how much light you bring into your home.
This is a common mistake most homeowners make —too many small, spindly pieces in one room. A room with leggy chairs, leggy tables and lots of small knick knacks only serve to clutter the room and confuse the eye.
Instead try for a room that is well mixed. Have a large sofa, some skirted club chairs (so you can’t see the legs) and then one or two slender arm chairs with attractive carved legs (depending on space).
This is just one example, but it gives you the idea of mixing furniture styles and sizes so that the room looks balanced —not too bulky and not too spindly. Even if you are decorating a small flat there are plenty of decorating ideas to try.
Most designers will recommend that even the smallest of rooms have one large statement piece, such as a large armoire or cabinet. A mixture of big and little is key to a successful design. This rule goes with accessories, too.
The really fun bit !!!! Accessorise
Use Trays, Decorative Bowls And Baskets
Designers love to use trays, decorative bowls and sometimes baskets, to arrange collections or loose items that need a home.
For a hint of glamour, try adding a glitzy gold tray to your coffee table, ottoman or side table. On top of the tray, place a candle, a couple of books and a small bowl of coloured stones.
If you a want a rustic approach, then try woven baskets in your home. Baskets are fabulous decorative tools that can hide a lot of clutter. Try to create these little niches throughout your home.
You will love how a tray can collect bathroom soaps and perfumes, arranging these everyday items into a piece of displayed art.
Add Flowers To Every Room
Go back and look over all your inspiration boards — what do you see? Do you see flowers or plants in almost every room? We bet you do.
It seems like a simple tip, but adding floral arrangements, live plants and natural items such as vases of shells or rocks, can really add that final touch to your interior design.
There are numerous easy-care plants that you can purchase for your home that will last years if properly fed and watered. Fake floral arrangements on trend, long gone are the plastic and silk flowers we remember. If flowers or plants are not your thing, then try other natural elements such as twigs or feathers placed in a large urn.
Arrangements add the final touch to a room — the final touch that says, ‘ An interior designer has been here’.
If your not confident arranging I am happy to to do it for you from our wonderful ranges.
I hope you are inspired by Toads Blog. Next blog is a 'Biggy'
WINDOW TREATEMENTS
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