Let your personality shine through: part 3 of design series.

When it comes to style we often think about clothing, but true style goes well beyond what we wear. True style extends throughout our home, it is a chance for us to show our true personality, to be creative and to have fun!

I hear quite often people saying when it comes to their clothes, hair style or styling their homes that they have no clue. They say they are hopeless at it, or that they don’t know where to start. But I believe everyone can be great at styling their home! Yes I know many of you reading this are thinking you really are bad at design, but I truly believe with some guidance and confidence anyone can style. Just call me an optimist.

I think many of us get lost when it comes to styling our home because we worry too much about impressing other people. It is lovely when other people like our home, but at the end of the day it is ‘our home’ and we are the ones living in it. We are the ones who have to like it, not everyone else. If we stop worrying about impressing any one else, we will relax and enjoy creating a space that reflects us and a space that we feel ‘at home’ in!

If you take one thing away from this post let it be this. This is your home so style it to suit you, not your mother, your best friend, your neighbour or the oh so posh friend who always looks fab. This is your space, so shake off the fears and insecurities and have fun! 

For the past 2 Wednesday’s I have shared some tips on how to get a start on designing your living room.

In my first post we covered.

• getting together ideas. Pin ideas or look through magazines.
• choosing a great couch or lounge suite. Buy a comfortable piece that also reflects your taste and style. Don’t buy cheap leather.
• making colour choices. Choose a base colour and add colour with cushions or art.

In week 2 we covered.

• what reflects your lifestyle. What will you use the room for? Does it need to double as an office or playroom? Will it be used for TV watching or reading?
• window shop. Look before you buy, can you get a similar product for cheaper? Budget! Always work within a budget.
• key pieces. If you can afford it, choose a couple of key pieces that reflect your personality and style the room around these.

So hopefully now you have some clear ideas on what styles you like, and what you will mostly use your living room space for. If you are still stuck with these ideas head back and read my first two posts. Take note of what colours pop out, what images get you excited! Remember this space is yours, don’t be afraid to do what you like.

Today I am going to share some more tips and expand on previous ones. So let’s get started. 

How to make a colour choice. Ok so we have talked about sticking with a basic shade of white or cream as your base for walls, but if you want to be a little bit more bold go for it. The reason I suggest starting with a shade of white (remember to talk to the colour expert at the paint shop, show them pics of your room to get expert advice), is because it saves you a lot of money and work down the track. If money is no object then it is easier to keep re-decorating, but not all of us can afford this. So going with white or cream allows you to change up colours with cushions, art, throw rugs, and accessories. If you are unsure what colours you want to go for a good place to start is your wardrobe. What colours do you like to wear? When you buy tops do they tend to be basic blacks or whites, do you go for browns, or bright yellows. Do you wear a lot of pinks, blues or reds? Chances are you have more clothes in particular colour because it is a colour you love! 

Another way to help you decide on the right colour is by considering the amount of natural light you have in your living room (and this goes for all rooms). 

Lots of natural light. If you have loads of natural light through large windows, sliding or french doors, or skylights then you can be a little more bold. Colours that add depth like reds or blues work well in a light airy space. But colours like yellows or aquas can sometimes make a bright room a little too bright! Colours for bright rooms that work well, are dusty pinks, peacock or dusty blues, deep warm reds, greens, browns or deep purples. A light filled room can handle rich colours.

Limited natural light. You can go one of two ways here. You can keep the room cosy by using warm colours like reds, gold tones, creams and oranges will make the space feel warm, cosy and small. If you are looking at giving your living room a super cosy feel for lots of reading books, or cuddling up in front of an open fireplace then these colours work well. Your second choice is to make the room brighter and feel bigger by using cooler tones and blues work really well for this feel. If your room will double as an office, or play room then a brighter feel is ideal. Don’t forget to add light by adding a beautiful floor lamp, or if it is an option by adding a skylight. If you budget permits you can lighten room by changing out small windows of larger ones or turing a window into french doors that open out to your garden.

Don’t be afraid to ask for advice when choosing colours. Once you have decided on a favourite colour it is a great idea to ask experts in furnishing shops what colour will work well with your main colour. Look at working with two hues and then adding blacks, whites or greys in other furnishings.

The great thing about colour is you can choose to use as little or as much as you like. This is your creative space. If you love bold colours then go for it, if you love subtle hues then go for those. If you love white then use different tones of white on white. All these looks work well, so don’t be afraid to chose the one that appeals the most to you.

Have fun with colour: Sofa by Great Dane.

Sofa by Click on Furniture.

Whites create a beautiful feel. It’s luxury meets relaxation. (maybe not ideal for those of us with little children or a partner who can’t find the shower, but if you are brave enough to risk it, then white on white may be the look for you). Image from Ikea. When using whites create depth and luxury by choosing accents in slightly different shades.

Old versus new.

Often people make the mistake of thinking you have to choose between the two, but they are actually beautiful when combined. Just because you are building a new home does not mean you have to choose an ultra modern look for your living room. And if you have an old or heritage home it does not mean you have to stick to old fashioned furnishings. Styling a traditional home with modern accents or vice versa is a match made in heaven. Don’t be afraid to use a traditional rug with a modern couch. If you have a family piece handed down to you that means a lot then bring it into the room, personal touches add warmth and personality and can be paired beautifully with new pieces.

Add a dash of personality.

Reflect who you are. I can’t say this enough. If you are quirky then add quirk! If you are a minimalist then go that way, and if you love the country look then go country.

Think country: Provincial Home Living

Think French Provincial

Think minimal.

Think quirky. Wall stickers are a great way to add personality that can be removed when you want a change. This image is from Bouf.com

Think cosy and warm.

So hopefully by now you are finding there is a theme and a colour scheme that is standing out to you. Hopefully you have worked out your budget and have had a look around at what you can afford.

Sometimes we need to prioritise.

We can’t always afford to buy all we wish we could. Sometimes a choice has to be made when re-decorating, or styling a home you have just moved into. If you can comfortably afford to do everything you want to in the room then great! But if you can’t then you need to figure out what bothers you most about the room. Is it the old couch/sofa? Is it the curtains? Is it the flooring? Perhaps all those things are fine but it is just lacking style, perhaps by adding new cushions or a great art work it will make a huge impact? Really think about what bothers you and what you can afford to change or add. Here is my list that I would prioritise.

• A new paint job. Fresh paint in the right colour makes the world of difference. Talk to a colour expert in your local paint or hardware store. Take in photographs of your room.
• A good sofa is a must! It is a great investment as it will be used a lot and if you can afford a good quality one it will last a long time! Sometimes you can secure a second hand one for a great price, but make sure you try before you buy! Re-cover it in a fabric you love. If you can sew this can be a great option as you can make your own covers.
• Flooring. If you are lucky enough to have hard wood floors that just need a little care then make the most of these. Sand them back and choose a stain you love. Dark wood can look stunning in a light home, or you can whitewash them for a country classic feel. Classic wood colours are the most sensible choice if you have pets or children as they show up less dust, hair and finger prints. If you can not afford a great carpet or wood floors then use rugs to bring warmth and comfort to your living zone. Wool rugs are best, they feel luxurious and are natural. If you can not afford a large rug then layer smaller rugs or sew together smaller rugs. Look for rugs on sale. Rugs make a really great impact, but never buy a really cheap unattractive rug. No rug is better than an ugly rug. But investing in a pretty rug (even if not wool) is worth it if you need to cover up a stain or just old patches of carpet. Sisal and hemp are good choices too. With rugs as a rule you should have a rug large enough that the legs of your sofa can fit on the rug and it should cover a large area. Rugs below available at Pottery Barn.
• Art work. Adding large art work is for me a must! It transforms a room and adds a talking point. Seeing an image you love everyday is well worth the cost. The larger the better. Make sure you love it though and think of it as an investment piece.
• Soften your space. Add cushions you love (don’t go overboard though you still want to be able to sit on the sofa). One expensive cushion in the corner of the couch and a throw rug in the other is perfect! Throw rugs are another purchase that I would put high on my list of priorities as they really soften the room (especially on a leather sofa). They add comfort and make you feel like curling up with a cuppa or wine. I have this throw in blue and I love it. Available at Provincial Home Living. 
• Window dressing. Window dressing is a must if your home faces nosy neighbours or a busy street. But if your living room is private from prying eyes I believe window dressings can wait. You will make more impact with the above items. In saying that though if you have really ugly windows then cover them up.  Firstly decide what you need. Do you need full privacy? Do you just need to cover an ugly window? Do you need a lot of block out? Your cheapest option is ready made curtains from stores like Spotlight. If you can afford custom made then that will look best. Otherwise even consider asking a friend who can sew to make them at a cheaper cost, or even buying second hand. Measure full length curtains from the rod to the floor, they need to be at least this long. Curtains should just touch the floor. If you don’t need a lot of privacy or block out then go for sheer curtains as these allow for natural light to still enter and look really soft and pretty. If you have the budget and want a more formal room go for roman blinds or thick drapes. But remember if you want to lighten the room go for a light shade, not dark colour curtains.
• A mirror. If you room is small or lacks light then add a mirror. They bounce light around the room and make the space feel lighter and larger. Positioned right they will also bring the outside in or reflect other art work in the room. The mirror below is from Click on Furniture.
• 
• Lighting. To make the room feel welcoming add great lighting. If you room doubles as an office then you will need really great lighting. If you want a cosy feel then I suggest adding lamps to corners and side tables. One downlight in the centre of the room can make corners feel dark, so add a lamp and it will add a lovely ambience to your living space.

 I really hope the tips I have shared over the past few weeks have inspired you to create a living space you love, a living space that speak to you and a living space that you can relax in. Next Wednesday I will cover some more styling tips. I will be looking at how to style small spaces and how to make rooms quieter if you live in a noisy area, amongst other styling tips. As always if you have any tips to add please leave me a comment that I can share with my readers.

Thanks for joining me, love Mac xx

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I am thrilled to say I was picked as one of the #bitofeverything featured posts last week with my post on sharing a little more about myself than you probably needed to know! Thanks so much ladies.

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