28/09/2023
Before + after…plus a few looks in between.
Seven years of reimagining and redecorating (often at midnight!)
Here’s my top 5 things that made the biggest impact in creating warmth, mood and personality.
1. Wall colour.
After five years of white we went charcoal and you can see it looks heaps cosier. The 1990s ‘one feature wall’ is a thing of the past…if you’re not brave enough to paint the whole room, do at least two adjoining walls. If this space had more natural light I would have done the ceiling too.
And don’t forget to paint the cornice if you have low ceilings like this, it will trick the eye and appear higher.
2. Old stuff
Great to mix in with your modern homewares and art so it feels more homely and less like a Freedom showroom. If you shudder at op shops or vintage markets look closer to home. Trawl through your folks or grandparents’ house for old objects like:
- black and white photos/artwork/frames
- teapots/vases/jugs or anything that can be used as a vessel for flowers
- a shapely chair that could become a bedside table or shelf
- old trays and books are gold for styling.
I love the old tattered Ocean Grove map framed on the wall, and my gran’s chest of drawers.
3. Jute rug.
The catch-all of floor coverings, goes with any style…country, coastal, contemporary, you name it. The bigger, the better. If the feet of your couch or chairs are not sitting on the rug, it’s too small.
This one is from .home but started out with Bunnings and Spotlight. I currently have the IKEA ones throughout my own house.
4. Window furnishings.
We have blockout roller blinds doing the heavy lifting, but added sheer curtains just for looks to soften the frame. Also amps up the cosiness factor at night.
These are AINA linen from , and we also use curtains which are really easy DIY with ties.
5. Round things.
Crucial to break up all the straight lines in typical rooms. Jam in circles and curves anywhere you can - coffee table, lamp, pendant, ottoman, mirror, even a cushion.
Little round stools or side tables are a great choice.
I’m feeling a seven year itch for another change-up!
Steph x
