As an Interior Decorator and Designer, I’m often asked how to put together a look that stands the test of time. It’s a bit like asking how long is that proverbial piece of string because each person and every home is entirely different. This month takes a look beyond the maze of countless design trends to simply cover some millennium appropriate basics. I’ve compiled a list of ten principles to consider when you are creating your own home no matter what your decorating style and regardless of where you are starting from.
If you begin to feel a bit like a square peg in a round hole by the time you have finished reading, don’t despair because each month I’ll be examining a range of different topics designed to inform, entertain and bring focus to various aspects of design in WA. I’ll be featuring interiors, design, artisans, readers own room problems and more. If you have suggestions on topics of interest, design related questions or simply want to learn more about what I do, contact me through the “Out in Perth Design Guy†link on my website at matttuckerinteriors.com.au
TEN HELPFULL DESIGN TIPS FOR YOUR HOME
Colour Your World
A great paint scheme is one of the most dramatic and least expensive ways to achieve a fantastic new look and just about anything goes. Colour adds personality, vibrancy and enhances mood – highlight a wall, room or whole zone. Balance bold colours with sophisticated neutrals like charcoal and concrete greys, rich taupes, deep beiges, earth browns and stones.
Eclectic Personalised Spaces
The key to a dateless look is not to match everything…. mix furniture with contrasting finishes, textures, forms and from different eras in order to create inviting spaces. The idea is to borrow from another place or another time, not to recreate it. This approach lets you inject personality into your home and creates an interior that defies trends and grows along with you.
Home meets Hotel
Our traditional concept of home has evolved greatly over the past few years. As a result our everyday homes now begin to embody the feel and of a luxury hotel suite or a cool lounge bar. Ultimately it’s about creating a uniquely personal space in which to live your life the way that you want and to be able to relax, rejuvenate and feel revived.
Cleaner and Greener Choices
Going green was once seen as the domain of hippies and alternative culture. As inhabitants of a planet with finite resources, our only realistic alternative is to make choices that respectfully use what’s available. From energy efficient lighting and appliances, greener home design, water wise garden plantings, eco friendly home furnishings right through to recycling objects and materials. Green has become the new standard for a responsible design industry.
Focus on Quality and Longevity
The new millennium brought about a mass production revolution. Whilst there is nothing wrong with this as a concept, in many cases the compromise in quality and resultant short life span of products is the price that we have paid. As a direct result, there is major move towards quality, well constructed pieces designed with the cost conscious consumer in mind.
New Twists on Old Favorites
Furniture design is moving more towards the simple, understated and graceful – accessories becoming the seasonal dressing. There is a great deal of reinterpreting the past – twists on tradition such as bold playful colour, unexpected materials or exciting modern detail are added to classic designs.
Architectural Elements
Think about combinations of stone, concrete, glass, wood, metal, space, textures, dark, light – it’s all about innovative use and experimentation with different elements working together. What was once hidden now becomes the feature. The end result we look for is something that plays on the integrity of the materials – it contradicts, yet compliments and adds life to the end result.
Indoors/Outdoors Integration
A usable outdoor space that flows as an extension from our internal living zones is now seen as an affordable luxury. Our homes are becoming a place to seek sanctuary from a hectic world. New ranges of hard wearing, u.v. resistant indoor/outdoor fabrics, innovative furniture options and one of the best climates in the world make easy to extend our day to day living spaces into the outdoors.
Flexibility and FreedomIt’s no surprise that with the future in mind there has been a return to multi format modular furniture which gives design flexibility to change the layout of your space as needed. Within your home itself, consider replacing less used dedicated spaces with multi purpose zones that include well planned storage for what’s not in use. Prioritise your valuable space according to your requirements.
Embrace Technology
Once new technologies have proven themselves within the market consider buying in. There is no point designing around obsolete technology if you can otherwise afford it. Consider the likes of electronic media storage, flat screen televisions, home automation, wireless networking, lower energy appliances etc. Why not reap the benefits? Video killed the radio star but ultimately it gave us YouTube and streaming media …and that’s only the beginning…
So until next month, get out there and get creative – a little extra style in your world just might change your life.
Matt Tucker
