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Shaking up certain elements occasionally offers a breath of fresh air to your humble abode. If you find it daunting, put a stop to the terror of decoration right now. A winter home needs some warming, just like our fashion cupboards during the chilly season; we layer, cosy up and brush on extra make up for a dash of cheerfulness and the same goes for your space.
A home is simply a combination of floors, walls, windows, lighting, furniture and accessories. When you change up something along any of these categories you’ll be mastering artful home making, and you will be able to tackle a room’s look step by step or as your budget will allow. Planning to make pretty, seems like a fun win all around.
These ideas are easy and inspiring, perfect to get the creative juices flowing - while winter whirls outside, unleash your creative homebody and put some wow into your winter abode.
1. More for your floor
An exciting time has come for hard flooring, the trend in flooring design and combinations are evolving from the ground up making hard flooring a really fun medium to work with. Borders are being joined with interesting mixes of tiles and wood or cement and tiles or all three (or more) for that matter. This is exciting for older spaces being renovated where beautiful woodwork or special tiles can be salvaged and newer or additional flooring areas can be met in a quirky borderly manner. When your floor is cool, your home will be so hot right now.
2. Soft underfoot
Rugs Rugs Rugs. This cannot be emphasized enough. A rug underfoot instantly warms a space because of the sheer delight of the added texture to the floor. The addition of colour, pattern, a delicate weave or a striking design, it all counts in your decor favour and it offers so much to warm the foundation of a space. Thus, it is the perfect decor match for winter. If nothing else, you simply have to add a delightful rug to your decor.
3. The more the merrier
Mix and match area rugs, (did we mention we can’t emphasize this enough?) two or more can be layered to enlarge the floor space appearance, especially in a open plan arrangement. It adds instant interest and is the ideal way to create your own delightful design touch in a room. Natural fibers blend in beautifully with a classic pattern, or layer a modern kelim with a furry flokati to really create a textural bonanza on your floor.
4. Flight of fancy
Why not walk up with wonder? Colour and pattern on the vertical sides of the stairs...why haven’t we done this yet? If you’re not a painter, use interesting wallpaper to create a pretty vista step by step.
5. Go wild with walls
Walls can wow, with the copious amounts of paint and wallpaper options on the market they should definitely be a fanciful focus in your home. Vertical space offers a wonderful means of decoration even in the tiniest of areas. This little hallway would have been dreary in the kindest way without the pattern pow-wow.
6. Windows that wow
As with rugs, layering window dressing is a perfect way to add some savvy to a chic space. It is a bonus when decor is pretty and functional so be wise about your energy consumption and layer blinds and curtains to keep heat locked inside and the cold outside. Blinds, especially roller blinds aren’t the most exciting looking decor attribute, but you can customize them with a trimming or two that will create a unique, personalised appearance. Otherwise opt mixing natural wooden blinds with beautifully textured linen curtains.
7. To the light
Lighting design is becoming highly personal and unique. The choices are vast and modern colours married with vintage designs offers a timeless elegance as design addition to your home. One amazing light fitting can change the whole appearance of a room. Changing the lighting in a decor arrangement adds mood and drama and a gorgeous fitting is the perfect decor focal point.
8. New look furniture
Bring some va-va-voom to a sulky furniture item by giving it a new jacket. A beautiful piece of fabric is a joyous thing, and with the variety of gorgeous patterns available the choices are endless for your upholstery expedition. Find a good upholsterer and you’ll have friend for life that will resurrect tired pieces with new flair to your living room’s (and home’s) enjoyment.
9. Homemade maybe
With DIY being one of the hottest trends in homemaking a handmade (or looking like it’s been handmade) item is a must. Something that adds personality, a unique appearance and satisfaction if you actually can label yourself as the creator is the perfect way to put your personal fingerprint on your home’s style.
10. Accessorize
Ah, the jewelry of a home and the fun additions that really highlights your nest’s personality. Play with scatter cushions, throws, art, a colourful bouquet of flowers and indoor plants; these are the small things that have a huge impact on the look and feel of your decor. It is the easiest elements to change up seasonally and will add wow without blowing the budget.
