Tips on how to redesign your living room space

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, people around the world are mostly staying home. To say that we are all coping well is polarising given the level of comfort one feels at home.

For us fortunate enough to have space, staring at the same four walls may start to feel dreary. But before you reach for the paintbrush, here are some styling ideas for your living room that may help beat the isolation blues.

Follow these easy steps when designing your living room:

1. Organise, Organise, Organise!

With all the time we have in isolation, we may find ourselves sharing small spaces with things that we haven’t used let alone looked at since 1999. Embrace one of interior design’s sacred rules – ‘love it or lose it’ – and get clearing.

Georgia’s tip: Use stylish wicker baskets or canvas boxes to store small items we still need and use (kids toys, tv remotes, pet toys) which end up on the living room floor or taking up space on the coffee table.

2.Repurpose

Some items that you find while you are organising/decluttering your home can be repurposed in a different space. This is especially helpful at the current time when popping out to the shops during lockdown is restricted.

( a ) Table or Floor Lamps

Give your existing floor lamp or table lamp a fresh new look with new shades. Ambient lighting and task light is not only practical but can change and lift the mood of your living room.

( b) Photos

Framed photos are a great way to change things up.

Georgia’s Tip: Pull out old photos that establish a theme (travel photos, wedding photos/ family tree) and frame each in the same black or white frames. These can be hung at varying heights to create a cool gallery effect, or if you prefer symmetry they can be hung evenly either horizontally or vertically.

(c) Books and Ornaments

Whether it’s dressing your coffee table or bookshelves in your living room, a collection of books both new and old makes a home feel more cultivated and well-read.

Create a few small stacks of hardback coffee table books on your coffee table and place scented candles on top of the books for a layering effect. You can also add a small grouping of your favourite and sentimental ornaments to the surface of your coffee table or bookshelves.

3. Zoning The Room

Do you have nook or corner in your living room that does not serve a purpose? Create a functional and useful space that will bring you enjoyment and purpose. Consider either a comfy reading nook with a cosy chair and floor lamp, or a small desk to create a useful study nook.

Creating an ideal work environment with a respectable background is especially recommended right now with the increase of virtual meetings. Should you have access to wall paints right now, consider colour blocking one wall or place a piece of art on the wall to give you a great background for your virtual calls in your living room.

4. Bring the Outside In

Plants are also a great zoning tool if you have a large open plan living room. Indoor plants are an easy and affordable way to make a stylish statement to your living room. Plants are also proven to have calming properties and can do wonders to our well-being. Consider varying heights of plants to create interest and place them in similar pots of different sizes.

Cutting fresh flowers or foliage from your garden bring the natural element into your home, elevating your senses, and creating a beautiful and stylish display.

5. Add Luxury & Ambience

The living room is usually the centre-piece of a home that showcases your design aesthetic. A well-designed living room is both functional and stylish.

(a) Cushions & Throws

Give new life to your living room sofa by replacing old worn cushions with luxuriously textured and woven designs.

As we head into winter, adding a soft throw or faux fur evokes the feeling of instant warmth and cosiness.  It also creates a sense of opulence and triggers a feeling of relaxation.

(b) Floor Rug

A rug can transform the look and feel to a room and add comfort and warmth under your feet.

Georgia’s tip: As a rule, the rug should be large enough to slide under the front legs of a sofa and chairs in a seating arrangement, unifying the area.

( c ) Curtains

You can also frame your living room windows with elegant sheer curtains that drape to the floor.  This creates ambience and an element of luxury and comfort to any room.

Georgia’s tip:  Hang curtains as high and wide as possible to make windows appear larger.

The post Designing Your Living Room appeared first on Designs to Inspire.

3 things to focus on in the bedroom this Autumn

Colour

Okay don’t freak out. We’re not telling you to paint your walls bright red (Unless you love that idea, in which case, GO FOR IT)
But colour is the best way to make your bedroom feel more… ‘You’

We’ve found two best ways to use colour – especially when staging a home for sale.

1.Use subtleties.

Your walls make up your room, so let’s include them in this section! We recommend keeping your walls neutral as this enables you to swap and change the colour in your bedroom as your style and taste changes. We recommend the Dulux ‘Hampton’ colours (greys, warm whites and taupes) – Greenery also adds an organic element that we’ve found changes EVERYTHING.

2. Deep & Bold.

We are currently LOVING jewel tones. Deep navy, emeralds, burgundy & mustards are continuing to be a favourite in Autumn 2019. These rich colours evoke warmth and cosiness. We especially love these colours in velvet textures in both throws and cushions.
Whether you paint your whole room or use soft furnishings to bring in these delicious colours, they are sure to make a statement this Autumn.

Furnishings

A trend we’re still LOVING this year is minimalism (Marie Kondo we see you girl)

One thing to note about a bedroom is its main purpose… SLEEP (and late nights scrolling through Instagram and catching up on Netflix original series)

So when styling your haven of rest, try and limit clutter. Even trinkets and ornaments can appear messy at times.
Clutter doesn’t promote good sleep, and so by keeping the mess at bay, you promote healthy sleep and create that totally Zen feeling you pay so much $$$ on at day spas.

Hot Tip: Minimalistic styling doesn’t mean you have nothing. Try styling your bedsides with a reading lamp, a book and a small plant. Trust us, this is all you need sometimes!

Linen

Make comfort a priority.
The season is changing again, and as we come into cooler mornings and nights, there’s nothing better than sleeping in under plush linen. Or even going to bed amongst fresh sheets and new scrunchy pillows.
We’ve been LOVING on organic linen for a while now however this new season is demanding slightly warmer bedding.

We’d recommend refreshing all your bedding, instead of using linen sheets, perhaps opt for heavier, more luxe bedding with similar neutral colours & minimal pattern.
It will give the same refined effect, with DOUBLE the comfort (you’re welcome!)
We also layer our beds with throws to add a new element of texture to our place of rest. We even layer with doona covers as these often have beautiful patterns with colours we don’t always find in throw blankets.

Keeping our bed covers neutral allow us to layer with luxe textures, patterns & colour (this way we can change our minds frequently about what colour we’re obsessing over at the moment)

If you use any of our tips, tag your photos with #designstoinspire

We’d love to see your work!

The Designs to Inspire Team

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The post Sleeping Beauty – 3 Ways To Make Your Bedroom A Haven appeared first on Designs to Inspire.

Key ingredients for your designer bedroom

1. Frame the bed

The most expensive element to your bedroom is the bed, and its style dictates the look and feel of the entire room. Yet you can make your own affordable upholstered bed head for under $100, depending on the choice of fabric.

If you don’t wish to have a bedhead, then a selection of European pillows with lovely covers can frame the bed just as beautifully. A rule of thumb is to use 3 European pillows for a King Size bed and 2 for a Queen, propped up against the wall or bedhead.

Pillow play for King and Queen beds – Images by Designs to Inspire

Alternatively, for a relaxed modern feel, omit the Euros and use either one or two sets of standard pillows, either laid flat or stacked on top of each other.

Easy luxury – Images by Designs to Inspire

Don’t be afraid to mix patterns and textures with scatter cushions. Play around with the sizes and compositions to create interest, yet stick to a colour scheme to ensure harmony.

2.  Right linen

Buying bed linen can be expensive, so it’s important to get it right the first time.

Opt for a quilt a size larger than your bed for a more opulent look. That means, use a King size quilt for a Queen mattress and a Super King quilt for a King bed.

Keep it neutral with a white quilt in either a linen or a waffle weave for versatility. The look can then easily updated with scatter cushions and a coordinated throw.

3. Choose a colour scheme

Choose colors to create your designer bedroom with your preferred style and the mood you’d like to create.

For a classic and bold look, a black and white scheme with metallic accents of gold or silver is timeless. For a modern edge, pair grey with tan, orange or yellow. For a girl’s bedroom, pink and teal are bright and playful, and for a guest room, blues are always smart, soothing and restful.

 
Colour schemes – Images by Designs to Inspire

4. Let there be light

Table lamps provide both ambient and task lighting.

Choose oversized, bold and statement lamps for a formal look. Bases with ornate and intricate details are elegant, and simple and clean lines, suits a modern aesthetic.

Lighting – Images by Designs to Inspire

5. Bedside style

Accessorise your bedside with books, flowers or frames. Keep the clutter to a minimum for a calm environment and better night sleep.

6. Feature chair or seating

In a larger bedroom, you can afford to lounge about like Cleopatra.

Use ottomans at the foot of the bed or add a comfy chair to lounge back in or use as a quiet reading space. Pair it with a floor lamp and a side table or a drum for a more contemporary look.

Reading corner – Images by Designs to Inspire

What’s Next?

Follow these 6 key steps to create the designer bedroom of your dreams. For more inspiration, make sure you you follow us on Instagram to see the latest styles and on trend looks.

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