So why are these choices so hard, and are there any tips and tricks I’ve learned to make the process any easier along the way?
As it happens, this is something I deal with on a daily basis and yes, this month I’m here to share my learnings with you. Styling your home is a skill.
One that comes naturally to some, while others find it much more difficult. For those of us that find selecting a style a bit overwhelming, I’m here for you. After all, there are so many sources of inspo available to us these days, from Instagram to Pinterest, from Vogue to YouTube, there’s always someone willing to show us what they think looks good.
But if you are anything like me, a well styled image can easily distract me from “my vision” for “my home”.
In fact I’m like a magpie distracted by all the pretty shiny things… and that’s when the overwhelm sets in. One of my favourite tips is to find inspiration from how you like to style yourself. This may sound odd, but the principle is clear. Are you an eclectic dresser, someone who arrives at an event and your friends will be excitedly anticipating which flamboyant creation you will have thrown together, or are you a capsule wardrobe minimalist?
Either way, harness the principles of your personal style and allow it to direct your decisions when it comes to refining your home’s interior style. I recently had a lady in store who was finding it hard to decide between two delicious throw rugs. One was eucalyptus green and the other toffee brown. Now I had a personal favourite and I know which would have suited my home, but this wasn’t about me and what I liked.
This stunning lady was from the Mountains, impeccably dressed in beige chinos, a crisp white shirt, tan boots and a divine caramel coloured coat, finished off with a natural coloured felt hat and pearl earrings I could only dream of.
Now, I see why she was struggling, because truth be told, both coloured throws would have worked in her space, but after chatting with her about her personal style, she was confident to make a decision.
Which throw do you think she left with? In interior design, there’s a “rule” whereby you follow the 60/30/10 principle. Now of course these design rules aren’t required to be followed regimentally, but they do serve a purpose, and understanding the principles behind the rules allows you to incorporate the concept into your own space.
When looking at your room, determine “your 60” or the predominant colour you see (in our home it is exposed brick walls in various tones of brown and charcoal, and a slate coloured floor).
For us, we needed to add some warmth, so our “30” needed to reflect this. Here we decided to choose a rich tan leather lounge and a natural timber dining table (an heirloom piece inherited from my Grandmother).
Our accent colour “the 10” was selected to reflect the natural surroundings of our home, which is enveloped by stately eucalypts (now you know which throw rug I would have chosen, and why…)
There’s always room to play in interior design though, and making your house a home and a reflection of your personal journey, including those who you share your home with is half the fun. Shared travel experiences, a love of the ocean or the rich moody tones of the bush can all provide inspiration for how you style your home.
So next time you find yourself paralysed choosing between this cushion or that one, have a think about some of these suggestions, and if that still doesn’t help, take some photos of your space, bring them in and we can help you.
After all, sometimes all it takes is a fresh pair of eyes to see exactly what we ourselves have been missing all this time…
And you guessed it, my Mountains Lady left with the toffee throw, and in my opinion she took exactly the right one for her space…
Design Lesson: When all else fails, trust your instincts.
For more styling inspo and tips and tricks, follow us on Instagram or head over to our homewares collection!
