A Guide to Beautiful Rooms
Do you wonder how interior designers capture that stylish look? Here are some useful tips to help you design and create beautiful rooms within your house…
THE SITTING ROOM
A successful sitting room needs a balanced design, mixing formality with relaxation. The sitting room is most often utilised in two ways; formal entertaining and family time.
- When using a neutral palette, you will need to incorporate an array of textures in order to keep the scheme from seeming too bland.
- Along with the main overhead light, it is important to include a selection of lamps. Layering your lighting like this will crate a softer and more romantic feel.
- Adding a large mirror over the mantle piece will create aesthetic impact and make the fireplace more of a focal point. It will also bounce light around the room.
- Combine sofas with occasional chairs to provide a good range of seating. Here you can play with different fabrics and patterns, to add depth and warmth to the room.
- Make sure you give the room some life by adding personal touches such as photo frames, paintings and flowers.
- Complement new items of furniture with carefully selected antique pieces. This will add character to the room without becoming old-fashioned.
THE DINING ROOM
Nowadays, the dining room tends to be reserved for special occasions and entertaining. By incorporating it into the natural flow of the house, it can be used and enjoyed much more often.
- Consider using the room for dual purposes by adapting it into a library as well. Adding a beautiful bookcase will inject grandeur and interest. If you feel an open bookcase will look too cluttered then choose one with mirrored doors. This will hide the books from view and the mirrors will bounce light around adding glamour.
- If the fabric you love comes with a hefty price tag, find a cheaper option that coordinates well. Buy a small amount of your favourite fabric and use it as an accent on cushions or chairs.
- If you already own a large piece of dining furniture and want to keep it, try repositioning it in the room for a fresher look.
- Storage, as always, is key. Only your chosen, accent pieces should be on display and the rest hidden away. However, when selecting your storage, make sure its position is relatively accessible for ease of use.
- When setting your table be creative. An eclectic mix of glass and china can be a lot more eye-catching than a formal dinner service. Don’t shy away from using coloured glass and china to add zest!
- A beautiful, centrally aligned vase of flowers can breathe life into the room and adorn the dining table perfectly. Position some candles around the vase and the mood is set.
- If you have a large window or French doors in the room, don’t be afraid to use drapes. Opulent fabrics such as damasks will suit a room of greater proportions and add warmth. If your room is of a more modest size, just be aware of the effects of large patterns and bold colours.
THE KITCHEN
Often considered the hub of the home, the kitchen needs careful planning to ensure the space is efficiently utilised. A large emphasis is also placed on aesthetic appeal.
- When designing a new kitchen, the vast choice of styles can make decision making a daunting task. Before you start be meticulous in your planning. Figure out exactly what you need and want from the space and the feel you would like to achieve. This will make the process of choosing a kitchen a lot simpler.
Varying colours and materials will prevent the kitchen from looking stark and utilitarian.
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