The end of a season creates a desire to change up our interior furnishings to bring a different feeling to our home. As summer ends and the temperatures drop, adding some warmth and homeliness to our interiors will make spending more time indoors and snuggling up all the more inviting.

There are many quick and easy ways to add warmth to your interior without an entire overhaul. This allows you to interchange furnishings depending on the season or your mood. For those with more time and who are looking for permanent ways to create that hygge-like feel in your space, we’ve also got you covered.

1. Choose earthy, neutral tones

Neutral tones are trending regardless of your interior style and time of year. However, when adding warmth, neutral colours are an effective way to embrace the seasonal change Autumn brings. Opt for rich, earthy tones that emphasise the feeling of hibernation. For a quick solution, think cushions and throws in rusts, mustards, plums and burgundy like those you’d find on the sofas of Bed Bath N’ Table. For something more permanent, consider shifting your attention to the walls by replacing the stark white to a warm paint colour or installing a neutral, textural wallpaper.

2. Vary your textures

Layering textures is a decorating approach that can elevate your interior and easily inject more warmth into your rooms. Timbers, terracotta, woven products, wool, leather, cork and exposed brick are all textures of choice as we enter the cooler months. These can be incorporated in the form of furniture like a well-crafted oak dining table or a leather occasional chair for your living room. Small accessories such as ornamental bowls, a wool throw or terracotta interior pots can all be used to bring texture into a bland interior space.

3. Pay close attention to your lighting

One of the most effective ways to make an interior feel warm is through beautiful lighting. Lighting gives you the ability to set the mood, it makes people feel good and it improves the appearance of your interior. When adding warmth to your home, think about incorporating multiple sources of light rather than just relying on your ceiling fixtures. Floor or table lamps are a great way to add ambient light and highlight areas of your room. Consider also the globe type as this will greatly affect the feel of your room. Swapping out a cool light for a warm bulb may be all you need to embrace the seasonal change. This is where speaking with lighting experts, like the team at Furn House, becomes invaluable.

4. Play with wall art

Dressing your walls with artwork is a great way to add visual warmth to your space and make it more interesting. And the good thing is you don’t need to spend a fortune at your local gallery to create impact. In fact, wall art that is personally curated and tells a story is often the best way to make the home welcoming and homely. Play with a combination of purchased pieces and your children’s artwork. Get creative with the layout and combinations of frames to create an intentional, yet unique, look.

5. Go on a scavenger hunt

An interior furnished with new pieces can provide you with a fresh and luxurious feel. And who doesn’t love sitting on a brand new sofa? However, in order to add warmth to your rooms, consider finishing your space with some old pieces you’ve picked up at a flea market or antiques that have been passed down in the family. If you’re not fond of going on a scavenger hunt, look for classic furniture pieces that reflect an earlier era or accessories that tell a story like those you may find on the shelves of Adairs. These are also great conversational pieces for when you’re entertaining guests.

6. Consider what’s underfoot

There’s nothing quite like walking barefoot on a thick, textural rug even in the cooler months. Layering textural rugs is an effective way to add a sense of warmth and cosiness to any space. It’s also a great solution for renters or those who like to redecorate their homes seasonally. If your home is naturally cold and you’re planning a more substantial renovation, opting for rich, deep timber floorboards will instantly enhance the feeling of warmth and make your space more inviting.

7. Dress your windows

Hanging curtains or installing blinds can be a quick decorating fix to overcoming drafts and achieving that snug Autumn feel. There are many options you can consider from blinds and shutters to curtains depending on your decorating style and the architecture of your home. Thick velvet drapes can inject a little drama into your space and help with insulating. Soft, flowy linen curtains won’t help much with blocking out any cool draft but they will add an element of luxury and homeliness to your interior. This may be just what’s needed to invite you to spend more time indoors this Autumn.

Planning an interior design project or just dreaming about redecorating your home? A mood board is an ideal tool to collate your ideas and visualise how your space will look and feel. This can help ensure everything works in harmony and help you avoid costly mistakes when it comes time to implement your vision.

When it comes to making an interior design mood board, you have several options whether you choose to create it as a digital or physical product. Here, we explain the options so you can decide what best works for you and share some tips to help your mood board come to life.

Interior design mood board options

There are two main options you can choose from when you create your own interior design mood board. Depending on your project, you might like to choose one or a combination of these to design your dream interior.

1. Digital

Digital mood boards are one of the easiest and more effective ways to plan your renovation or decorating project. There are many ways you can do this depending on your skillset and individual preference. We have a free and very easy to use Digital Mood Board Tool right here that allows you to drag, drop and organise your desired products. Alternatively, you could use other platforms like Pinterest and Houzz Interior Design Ideas. These tools help you create a digital scrapbook with a collection of ideas and products you’ve found online. There are also other digital tools that can help you design and decorate your interior spaces such as Dulux MyColour App or Style Source Book.

For those a little more complete literate, you may like to have a play on Adobe Illustrator or even the free platform Canva to pull your ideas together and make a visual mood board.

2. Physical

If you are an avid collector of interior design and decorating magazines and have a stack in your living room, a physical mood board might be your best option. Simply cut out images of interiors or products you love and pin away! A physical mood board is also ideal if you have material, paint or finish samples that you want to layer into your vision. Just like with the digital option, you can create a physical mood board in many ways including:

• A pinboard
• A foam board
• In a draw or tray
• In a scrapbook

Find yourself getting lost online collecting interior design inspiration but also have samples? Create a digital pinboard, print it out and then use it as a backdrop for layering your samples and magazine cuttings on top.

Tips when creating your own interior design mood board

Creating a mood board might seem a simple thing to do but when you have hundreds of images you like and a growing collection of samples, the task can quickly become overwhelming. To nail your mood board so that you can create your dream-worthy space, take a look at these tips.

1. Gather your inspiration There are so many places to source inspiration for your interior design projects including Instagram, Pinterest, blogs and interior design websites. You can also browse through magazines, scroll on real estate websites or look at the catalogues of homewares and furniture stores or our very own Trend Report.

But don’t forget to get a dose of inspiration from outside influences such as browsing shops, visiting your local gardens or walking your neighbourhood streets. You can simply take photos to add to your digital board or to print out to pin up on your corkboard.

When collecting inspiring images, look for common links in the images. These could be colours, textures, layouts or the feeling of the space. This will help you develop a look for your interior.

2. Collect samples Once you have your images, start collecting samples of materials and finishes you’re keen to use in your space. This might be a fabric sample of a Urban Rhythm sofa you love or a tile you love to use as your kitchen splashback. You may have a wood stain sample for your living room flooring or a sample of a fabric you’ll use for curtains.

Samples are not only helpful when pulling together your design, it also helps add life and dimension to your mood board.

3. Organise your images and samples If you’re decorating more than one space, organise your images and samples in groups for each room. This gives you the ability to ensure your whole interior speaks one language or play on the personality of one or two particular spaces.

You may choose to make a different mood boards for each room or simply organise the layout so that they’re divided upon an oversized pinboard.

4. Start curating your look As a golden rule, when you’re decorating you remove one or two pieces before your space is officially done’. This is also the case when creating a mood board for your interior. You need to think about balance and refinement.

Is there enough variation in colours and textures or is it all blurring into one? Is the design cohesive or too busy? Is the furniture too matchy like a showroom display? Step away from your mood board and come back to it in a day or two with fresh eyes so you can edit.

5. Don’t neglect your floor plan When designing multiple rooms, it’s important not to neglect your floor plan as you start compiling your mood boards. The last thing you want is to find out your favourite Provincial Home Living chair that you’ve been visualising all these months doesn’t fit in your living room design. Put together your mood board in relation to your floor plan; it’s dimensions and layout. Try to collate inspirational interior images that are reflective of your space and keep the samples and up-close shots to the details such as the kitchen cabinetry. You don’t want to buy into a look you can’t realise.

As we find ourselves making the permanent shift to working from home the need for a home office has never been greater. Some of you may have set up a make-shift workspace that needs some TLC, or you may have the luxury of a designated workspace.

Regardless, of size or location, a home office can often become a neglected space with all the functionality but lacks aesthetic. If you’re suffering from cabin fever and your home office is looking a little drab, it’s time to give it a lift.

We share our top tips for styling your home office so you can find working from home more inspiring and productive.

10 tips for styling a home office

1. Assess the position of your desk

Positioning your desk against a wall is often the go-to, but does it best suit your space and working style? You may find the space feels larger and flows better with the desk positioned in the middle of your room. Relocating your desk so that it faces a window can create a more appealing workspace. Simply playing with the position of your desk can reinvigorate your home office.

2. Look behind you

When arranging or rearranging your home office layout, it’s worth looking at what’s behind you. In this current climate, online meetings are the way of the norm. Consider what your colleagues and clients are looking at during a video call. You can style it professionally with artwork from stores like Adairs or curated shelving – much more interesting than a blank wall!

3. Declutter

Decluttering your home office gives you a clean slate to style. It also creates a sense of order and calm, allowing the creative thoughts to flow. Tidy up those piles of papers, organise any cables and wires and clean out your bookcases.

4. Optimise your lighting

If your home office is looking a little drab, consider how you illuminate the space. Instead of relying solely on your overhead lighting, introduce a task or table lamp to add warmth to your study and light up your work area. Koala & Tree has plenty of options for your office space.

5. Incorporate colour and texture

Is your home office looking a little bland and utilitarian? If the minimalist approach isn’t your jam, don’t be afraid to go bold and style with colour, texture and pattern. Experiment with the on-trend stripes or spring colours such as earthy tones, warm oranges and bright pops of yellow. Add richness to the space through textured furniture such as a rattan occasional chair or a timber bookcase. Our tip is to find these at home furniture stores rather than your typical office supplier.

6. Layer with greenery

Being stuck in front of a computer all day is much more pleasurable when there are living plants in the space. Indoor plants also have added health benefits of purifying the air to reduce stress. If you can’t be out there enjoying nature, you might as well bring it indoors.

7. Embrace ergonomics

It may not be a glamourous tip, but styling your home office with ergonomics in mind is important. Considering working from home is here to stay for a while, choosing a chair that is supportive and a desk that allows you to sit in the right position is imperative.

8. Step up your storage game

Storage not only allows you to organise your work and stationary but also enhances your styling ability. A well-styled shelf with books and a pot plant can lift the look and feel of your workspace. Smaller office storage can leave your desk feeling organised and clean while keeping you focused on the task at hand.

9. Decorate with your favourites

Showcase decor pieces that reflect your personality or have deep meaning to you. Think family photos, travel mementoes or favourite artworks. A beautiful rug can enhance the overall appeal of your workspace. Take a look at the extensive range at DecoRug.

10. Keep Inspired

If you’re running your own business or keen to tick off some goals, styling your home office with a vision board can be a game-changer. We’re fans of an oversized pinboard with magazine cutouts, inspirational quotes and photos to help keep you aligned with your priorities.

Getting a good night’s sleep has an incredible impact on your overall health and wellbeing. And a mattress is a huge determining factor in your ability to achieve a quality night’s sleep or wake up feeling unrefreshed and lousy.

Generally, a good quality mattress should last you about 8 years, so taking the time to research the right mattress is important to ensure years of great sleep!

1. Determine your sleep position

Did you know your sleep position will give you an insight into what type of mattress may be most suitable?

• Back sleepers – look for a medium-firm to firm mattress that features moderate contouring to support your lower back.
• Tummy sleepers – a firm or memory foam mattress may be the best option to reduce pressure on your lumbar spine
• Side sleepers – you’ll be more comfortable on a soft-medium firm mattress.
• Toss and turner – a medium-firm mattress will suit those who change positions throughout the night.

2. Consider the mattress design and material

There are a variety of mattress types and materials that can indicate the quality and suitability of the product for you. Some of the most popular include innerspring, memory foam, latex, hybrid or adjustable mattresses.

Exploring all the options available at Nunawading Homemaker HQ in stores such as Adairs, Focus On Furniture and Regal Sleep Solutions will help you find the right mattress for you and your budget.

3. Decide on the firmness

The right firmness for you will depend on how you sleep, whether you suffer from pain, if you need more support and your body type.

Firmness is subjective and can vary from brand and product, even if they are using the same firmness scale. We recommend you choose the firmest mattress that still enables you to get quality sleep. And remember, it can take a few weeks for your body to adjust to a new mattress.

4. Identify your body type

Time to get up close and personal and check in with your body weight and shape. This profile will help you decide which mattress provides you with the best spinal support and comfort.

Those individuals with a lighter frame are best suited to soft-medium. Heavier people are recommended to look for firmer mattress types. If you’re purchasing for a child, it is recommended you consider a larger mattress to accommodate their growth.

5. Determine your budget

Lastly, your budget is going to influence the range you have to choose from, the quality, durability and the level of support they offer. Buying a mattress from an online brand may seem the most cost-effective option, but checking the suitability for your individual body type and the quality of construction is imperative to ensure you get a good night’s sleep. Likewise, the priciest mattress in the showroom may not be the best option for you.

The living room is often the hub of the home. It’s where you relax, spend time with family or entertain guests. It should be a space that functions well and reflects your personal style.

But planning an inviting living room isn’t just about choosing a sofa or where to hang your TV. There are lots of moving parts and things to consider that will impact how functional and aesthetically pleasing your living room space is.

To help you create a living room you want to spend time in, try these 6 living room planning tips.

1. Identify your needs

When designing any room in your home, it’s important to identify your needs within the space. This is especially relevant when planning a living room as it often needs to be multi-functional and is one of the hardest spaces to get right.

Think about the purpose of your living room. Is it purely for sitting back and watching TV? Are you big entertainers? Do you have a young family and need to accommodate play as well as relaxing? Would you like to house overnight guests or integrate a workspace?

Once you identify all the functions of your living room, you can start planning the details like whether you want to embrace open-plan living or need to zone the space. Do you need to have additional power points or some room dividers? How many people do you need to seat?

Working through these details will also help to inform your living room furniture layout and shopping list.

2. Find a focal point

A well-designed living room will have a focal point. For many, this is the TV or a fireplace. You may be blessed with a beautiful view that you want to highlight or an eye-catching piece of art.

The focal point can inform your living room layout and design. Decide what you want yours to be and then continue your living room planning from this point.

3. Start with large furniture pieces

The most dominating piece of furniture in a living room tends to be the sofa. Using the sofa as a starting point can help you ensure you have the living room layout right in order to accommodate your needs and suit the dimensions of your space.

You may choose a modular lounge for ultimate comfort like those found at Adairs or a sofa bed from Urban Rhythm for greater flexibility. If your space is limited, something more petite, yet still inviting, such as those in the 2-seater range from Provincial Home Living may be more suitable.

Once you’ve found your perfect sofa, work through the other large pieces you need to house in your living room for comfort, aesthetics and functionality.

4. Consider the scale

What is the scale of your living room? Have you got the luxury of tall ceilings and a large amount of floor space? Or is your living room a little tighter with low ceilings and not much room to circulate?

If space is not an issue, selecting living room furniture and accessories varying in heights can help emphasise the amount of space. Think tall bookshelves, large artwork and floor standing lamps. Whereas, choosing low-line furniture pieces, such as your sofa or television cabinet, can help to give the illusion of more living space and room to breathe.

5. Embrace negative space

Talking space, it’s important to decorate your living room with intention and restraint, particularly for smaller homes. Embracing the negative space surrounding your furniture pieces and objects is just as important as the pieces themselves.

Rather than fill the interior with bulky items and over accessorise, consider how much space there is to circulate around the pieces. For example, choosing a sofa that sits off the floor will create the illusion of more space. Leaving visible gaps within a bookcase rather than filling it entirely with your library collection will lighten the interior.

Likewise, using a restrained colour palette, whether it’s of neutral tones or splashes of bright colours, will also help create the feeling of balance rather than over or underwhelm.

6. Spend on big-ticket items

Budget plays a big role in living room planning as it can affect the look and useability of your home. When planning your living room, it’s important to invest your money wisely especially if you’re working with a tight budget.

Think about the items that you use often or have the greatest impact on your living space – both visually and functionally. Flooring, rugs and sofas often endure the most wear and tear so you don’t want to skimp on quality here.

Buying a sofa for a living room is complicated. Sofas are one of the biggest investment pieces and take up a large amount of floor space so getting it right is essential.

Not only do you need to consider the size, when shopping for a sofa shape, format, versatility, upholstery, style all come into play. And when you start to consider all these aspects picking the right sofa for your space and lifestyle just got a whole lot more difficult than choosing the most comfortable option.

To help you find your dream sofa, we’ve outlined the most important things you need to consider and what you need to ask yourself before you make your investment.

1. Size

It might seem obvious, but one of the key mistakes people make when choosing a sofa for their living space is buying one that’s disproportionate to the room. Our desire for comfort and the ability to stretch out to enjoy Netflix can come at a cost with a sofa squished awkwardly into a living room.

When determining the right sized sofa for your space, measure your living room. Allow enough space to walk past or around the sofa. If you’re working with a blank space, it pays to lay out some newspaper to help visualise a sofa. Also take into consideration other furniture, such as a coffee table, and your window heights.

If you’re short on space, consider a sofa that is raised off the floor with narrow arms to create the illusion that your living room is larger than it actually is.

Bonus tip: Don’t forget to measure the doorway! The last thing you want is to have to return your dream sofa because it can’t fit through the door.

2. Shape

Do you want a sofa you can stretch out on? Does it need to accommodate several people? Is it for a formal or family living room?

The shape of your sofa will likely be dictated by the size of your living room, but you also need to ensure it meets your style and lifestyle needs. Think about the overall concept of your interior as you explore the different shapes. If you simply walk into furniture stores like Fair Price Furniture, Provincial Home Living and Urban Rhythm to see the array of different shaped sofas available, doing some homework will make the purchasing process a whole lot easier and successful.

One of the more popular shapes is a modular sofa as it offers both comfort and flexibility. But it’s also worth considering two smaller sofas that can easily be adapted to any living space.

3. Upholstery

It’s easy to fall in love with a crisp white sofa you’ve found in the showroom, but the reality may not look so pretty once your 8-year-old jumps all over it! When considering the upholstery of your sofa, you have two main options: leather or fabric.

Leather sofas may have a higher price tag but are easy to clean and durable. It does require maintenance and will show signs of age from some staining to scratches and creases, however in a more appealing way than the wear and tear of the fabric.

Fabric can give a cosier feel and you have a much wider range of colours, patterns and textures. Fabric is also cooler in summer and warmer in winter than leather. Fabric sofas can be more difficult to clean and are less forgiving of food and dirt stains.

If choosing a fabric sofa, consider a textured fabric that will hide the dirt, especially if you’re shopping for a family home. Consider whether the sofa has removable covers that you can wash or get it Scotchguarded before it’s delivered for added protection.

Bonus tip: purchase the highest quality fabric you can afford. Look at the rub-test to get an indication of how well it’s going to stand the test of time.

4. Price

Sofas can range from $200 to $20,000 with some designer or bespoke pieces topping this. In the case of buying the right sofa for your living room and budget, the saying ‘you get what you pay for’ is very fitting.

Sofas are one of the most used items of furniture in the home. They often have to survive against jumping, long periods of sitting, spills and moving from house to house. If you’re looking to purchase a ‘forever’ sofa, you’ll want to buy the best you can afford.

Think about the quality of the fabric, the craftsmanship, the internal cushioning, springs, webbing and stitching.

To help with your budget, look for sofas that are on sale or discounted showroom display stock.

A dining table plays host to numerous activities in the home from entertaining friends and family to providing a family workspace. As a valuable piece of furniture, taking your time to choose a dining table that suits your space and lifestyle is a must.

We share our 7 top tips when choosing a dining table for your home so you can ensure it meets your needs and withstands the test of time.

1. Determine your size

Determining your desired size of dining table is your first point of call before you go shopping. Taking a guess will always backfire in the long run.

An insider’s tip is to measure your entire space, including features such as doors, windows, cupboards and power points. Measure existing chairs also, allowing 20-30cm from the chair seat to the tabletop.

Once you have your room size, tape out different dining table sizes, ensuring you accommodate your dining chairs. We recommend you allow about 60cm behind each chair. This will help you visualise different dining table options within your space.

Take your plan and ideal table size options with you to Nunawading Homemaker HQ so you can find the perfect dining table.

2. Identify your needs

How you use your dining table may inform the size and shape you need. Does your dining table need to provide space for homework, crafting or playing board games, as well as dining? Do you entertain large crowds or just a few people?

3. Consider shape options

It’s easy to default to a rectangle table, and generally speaking, there are more dining tables of this shape on the market to choose from.

However, don’t discount other shapes. A round, oval or square dining table may suit your room size and style as well as your needs. Small spaces, for example, can benefit from a round dining table. Ovals can also be a great option if you need to squeeze a lot of people around the table.

4. Judge the materiality

When choosing a dining table, be judgmental of the materials as not all materials are equal. Consider how durable the material is and how easily it is to clean. Your budget will influence the options you have, but you want to aim for the best quality your money can buy.

Hardwood dining tables such as those made of teak or oak will withstand the test of time. Engineered or composite timber dining tables are more economical and durable but are not as strong as hardwood.

Glass is another durable option for a dining tabletop and a great choice for small or dark spaces.

5. Take note of its transportability

When shopping for a dining table, it’s easy to get lost in choosing one that looks great and forgetting exactly how you are going to get it in and out of your home.

If you’re renting or plan to move within the next five years, considering a table that is easily transportable would make life easier.

A heavy hardwood or metal table may prove a challenge when moving. An engineered table or one that can be dismantled would be a much better option for apartment living or those who want to be able to easily transport it.

6. Think about your chairs

If you’re using chairs you already own, measure them using the tips above and take photos to help you visualise them alongside the new table.

If you’re struggling to choose between table designs, we recommend you take one of your chairs with you on your shopping trip. This is particularly important if you’re looking to match your timbers.

7. Check the quality

Finally, when buying a dining table assess the quality of the workmanship and componentry by taking a look underneath the table. Give the table a good wobble to test the stability and check any moving parts.

This is particularly important if you’re choosing a dining table second hand. There is nothing more annoying than realising the tread has gone in a screw fitting or the metal parts are jammed on an extendable table

If this is your first time buying a dining table or you’re making a substantial investment, take your time and seek further advice. We can help you find your ideal dining table that will suit your design tastes, lifestyle needs and interior.

Open-plan living with it’s free-flowing layout has become highly desirable due to its benefits for modern-day lifestyles. While there is much to love, open-plan homes can be surprisingly challenging to decorate and result in many design mistakes.

Here, we share some of the most common mistakes along with 6 open-plan living design tips:

1. Create zones

One of the most common mistakes people make when decorating their open-plan home is a lack of zones. Interiors tend to be filled with furniture and accessories without a conscious thought of how to anchor the settings and create a feeling of rooms without walls. As a result, the large space resembles more of a hall without connection or cohesion.

To avoid this open-plan decorating pitfall, you need to define zones within the home that have a distinct style or mood. If you’re building from scratch or renovating, consider how you can use materials and surfaces to define each space such as reserving hard surfaces for kitchen, utilitarian and high traffic areas, and softer materials for spaces designed for relaxing.

Furniture and decorating items such as rugs and artwork are your tools to visually and physically form individual areas. Think about positioning your sofa across the room to create a divide between your living and dining areas or lay a rug under your dining setting to define the space.

Don’t forget about using your vertical element to create a divide in a similar way to a wall. A well-styled open shelving unit, for example, is a great way to define an area and create a cozy feeling. Other vertical elements such as pendants help to add further interest.

2. Be cohesive

Walking into an open-plan home can create a feeling of awe as the scale and openness of the interior is revealed. At the same time, it can totally overwhelm the senses, particularly if there are a number of different styles featured in the one space. A coastal living area opposite a modern dining room will feel at odds with each other rather than a complimentary space.

This is not to say you can’t mix more than one style into your open-plan home, it’s just best to do so in a cohesive manner. Ideally, choose one overall theme or design aesthetic as your base. This is what will be used to help connect one area of your home with another and create cohesion.

For example, coastal with its crisp whites and natural materials might be the underlying design theme of which you layer on top decorating accessories and art works that complement the aesthetic but add further interest and personality.

3. Light like a pro

Have you ever walked into a newly finished open-plan home where the lighting resembles an airport runway rather than a warm, inviting home? This is due to the common mistake of continuing the same lighting design all the way through the open-plan interior.

This mistake is often made in new builds but can also be made when renovating and opening up walls in an older style home. It’s often easier to use the same light fittings throughout the home or to avoid installing dimmers and putting them on different systems.

It pays to invest in a lighting plan right from the beginning so that you can use light to help define and enhance your interior. Think carefully about how you are going to furnish and use the open plan space. This will help to inform the type of lighting you will need.

Don’t discount the effectiveness of dimmer switches and the ability to turn off or on some of the lighting to create mood. One or two switches for the lights in your entire living, dining and kitchen area is restrictive and will create a feeling of a shopping centre rather than a home.

And finally, make sure you consider where you are placing your outlets to allow for standalone lamps. Installing power points in the floor is a great way to avoid cords running from the middle of your living area to the nearest wall.

4. Encourage flow

One of the benefits of open-plan living is the feeling of more space. You no longer have wasted areas such as hallways and pokey rooms. But this doesn’t necessarily translate into more square footage. There is a tendency for people to purchase larger furniture when the walls come down to fill the interior.

This can, however, result in an overcrowded interior with a lack of circulation space. The home becomes difficult to move through and the space between zones feels tight.

Ideally, you want to allow about 1.5 – 2m between your open-plan living, dining and kitchen areas. This may mean looking at a smaller modular sofa or a different shaped dining table, particularly if you’re furnishing an apartment.

You may also want to consider the layout of your furniture. For example, two occasional chairs adjacent to the dining table may be less dominating than a large sofa. Likewise, if you’re planning your kitchen, rotating your island bench may allow for more circulating room around the kitchen and between your dining area.

5. Highlight sightlines

Open-plan living means views from all angles with everything on show for the eye to see. This is especially dramatic when you have an incredible view, whether that’s the cityscape, expansive body of water or rural outlook. It also means you don’t have walls to hide behind.

A common oversight when decorating an open-plan home is forgetting that furniture and objects can be seen from all angles and the sightlines aren’t considered. Think about how the back of your sofa looks. Consider upholstering it in a different fabric or placing a narrow credenza behind it to make it more appealing.

If you’re using open shelving as a room divider, style it from both sides to add interest from all angles. Take note of how decorate objects such as floor lamps, sculpture or art look from every side as you walk around them.

It’s also worthwhile considering how you can highlight a particular view. It may be tempting to install floor to ceiling glass around most of the perimeter of your living space but that can be restrictive and you can lose impact. Instead, consider how you can frame a view, just like you would an artwork to draw the eye to it.

6. Maximise storage

Open-plan living means views from all angles with everything on show for the eye to see. This is especially dramatic when you have an incredible view, whether that’s the cityscape, expansive body of water or rural outlook. It also means you don’t have walls to hide behind.

A common oversight when decorating an open-plan home is forgetting that furniture and objects can be seen from all angles and the sightlines aren’t considered. Think about how the back of your sofa looks. Consider upholstering it in a different fabric or placing a narrow credenza behind it to make it more appealing.

If you’re using open shelving as a room divider, style it from both sides to add interest from all angles. Take note of how decorate objects such as floor lamps, sculpture or art look from every side as you walk around them.

It’s also worthwhile considering how you can highlight a particular view. It may be tempting to install floor to ceiling glass around most of the perimeter of your living space but that can be restrictive and you can lose impact. Instead, consider how you can frame a view, just like you would an artwork to draw the eye to it.

Hello and Happy New Year from everyone here at Nunawading Homemaker HQ. We are so excited for the year ahead and helping you along on the journey of creating a beautiful home you enjoy spending time and entertaining in! To kick off the year and reinvigorate a desire to decorate in your home, we are sharing with you what we believe are the top interiors trends for 2022. We like to opt for trends that will withstand the test of time and encourage you to build upon and elevate your current interior. We would love to know what your favourite trend is for the year ahead in the comments. Or head over to our Instagram to share your thoughts!

Don’t Be Afraid Of Colour

Neutrals have been reigning supreme throughout the 2010’s, but as we enter the roaring 20’s, we are finding people embracing colour a whole lot more! For a long time, we have been encouraged to use colour only in decorative accessories and avoid choosing a bright tone in anything that is a hard fixture or large furniture item. 2022 is going to be very different! We are seeing a lot of interior designers and home renovators embracing colour in permanent fixtures such as tiles and kitchen cabinetry to make a bold statement. We are also seeing the rise of large furniture pieces such as sofas, occasional chairs, and bed frames in colours such as forest green or navy blue in beautiful fabrics like velvet or linen. If you are a fan of colour, we encourage you to take a risk and follow your heart in 2022!

Embrace Statement Lighting

One very underrated way to inject personality when decorating a space is through lighting. Often an afterthought, lighting can get forgotten when redesigning or redecorating your home as we usually focus more on the paint colours, furniture, and decorative accessories. In 2022 we will be seeing more of a spotlight on feature lighting and using it to completely elevate and transform a space. Try adding a beautiful pendant light above your dining table or a long pendant above your kitchen bench. Don’t forget about rooms such as the bathroom or your front entrance where you can incorporate some beautiful wall scones. We also love using a statement light in an enclosed outdoor entertaining space to bring the wow factor!

Elevated Home Offices

Over the past couple of years, we have seen home offices become a staple when designing, building, or renovating a home. Once a mulled-over option, home offices have now become a non-negotiable as workplaces have had to adapt and become more flexible with working from home solutions. We are seeing people take their home offices very seriously in 2022 and ensuring they have not only a well design and aesthetically pleasing space but that it is kitted out with the right tools and technology to enhance the workday. Home offices are set to be a statement room in the house that includes beautiful and functional furniture, accessories that inject personality and organisational systems to keep things under control. We recommend heading into The Good Guys or JB Hi-Fi to check out their amazing range of home office technology supplies that will ensure you have the best setup possible. You can also take your home office to the next level by incorporating a Sonos sound system from The Sony Centre. We think you might find it hard to leave at the end of each day!

The Transitional Style

Transitional style is a term that has been created in recent years for a beautiful interior design style that will stand the test of time. Transitional style can be described as the blend of traditional and contemporary styles to create an interior that is both modern but incorporates classic elements to ensure longevity. The look can be achieved by keeping a colour palette of mainly neutrals, with accents colours of black and dark timbers. Furniture should lend itself to a more traditional style, with large comfortable sofas and curved edges. The modern elements can be seen in pieces such as a metal floor lamp, a patterned cushion, or sleek, sophisticated curtains. This design style is perfect for someone who loves a classic look but wants to avoid a ‘stuffy’ or ‘over-the-top’ vibe. Provincial Home Living and Focus On Furniture have some great furniture pieces that would work perfectly with this design style. Whilst Adairs have an array of cushions, throw rugs and accessories that pair perfectly with this look.

Richer Timbers

Light toned timber has been popular for many years now due to the Scandinavian and Minimalist trends being at the design forefront. In 2022 we will be seeing a lean towards darker and richer timbers that create more of a contrasting and bold interior design style. Rich walnut tones will be the most popular when it comes to timber choices in 2022 and we will see them used in items such as dining tables, bar stools, coffee tables and more! Nick Scali and Focus On Furniture have a great range of rich timber pieces that we recommend checking out next time you are visiting. Try incorporating darker timbers into smaller accents of your home to begin with such as floating shelves, console tables and decorative accents to dip your toes in. We love the revival of darker timbers as it works perfectly with design styles such as Hamptons, Provincial, Modern Farmhouse and Transitional style as mentioned above.

The past couple of years we have spent more time in our homes than ever. If you are feeling uninspired by your home or feel that it needs an update, then we are here to help! Today we are sharing with you our favourite simple and easy ways you can restyle your home. These are creative ways you can see your spaces with fresh eyes and that don’t take up valuable time or cost the earth. We would love to know if you try any of these tips, so feel free to share them with us on our socials!

Add Some Statement Decorative Pieces

When was the last time you treated yourself to a new home décor accessory? For a few of you out there, this may be a common occurrence, but for many of us it is quite rare. Many of our beautiful retailers offer a variety of on-trend and contemporary home décor accessories to suit any design style and budget. Decorative accessories are a great way to bring personality into your home and create a design style that is reflective of you, your family, and your taste. Use items such as vases, books, plants, artwork, and interesting objects to create a statement in your home. Check out retailers such as Koala Living, Bed Bath N’ Table and Provincial Home Living for a great range of pieces. We love an oversized vase filled with real or fake stems to create wow factor on your dining room table. Or try creating a beautiful vignette with some large coffee table books, a gorgeous tray, candles, and coasters on your coffee table for a styled look. Invest in a few quality pieces spread throughout your main living spaces and your home will feel stylish and luxurious in no time.

Update Your Soft Furnishings

Updating your soft furnishings is a simple and often affordable way to transform the look and feel of your home easily. Soft furnishings include cushions, throw rugs, floor rugs and window coverings and can be swapped out with the differing seasons easily. Restyle your bedroom and living room by choosing a fresh, new colour palette for your cushions and soft furnishings such as mustard yellow or eucalyptus green. Adding new window coverings to rooms such as the dining room, living room or bedroom can completely transform the space. Think beautiful, soft flowy sheers or lovely textural linen curtains for a relaxed and calming atmosphere. Another great way to create a whole new look and feel in a space is to update the floor rug. We recommend opting for a neutral colour that will pair well with various schemes and ensure the rug is large enough to sit under most of your furniture pieces with ease. We love the range of textures, sizes, and colours some of our beautiful retailers have such as Adairs, Deco Rug and Bed Bath N’ Table.

Shop Your Home

Shopping your home is one of the easiest and most simple ways you can update your home without spending a dollar! It is a common concept that allows you to restyle each room of your home using pieces you already own. The process is super simple, to begin with you need to take all your decorative items from each room and place them in one central location such as the kitchen bench. These items include but are not limited to vases, plants, trays, candles, objects, souvenirs, and books. From here you can see your space with fresh eyes and work out what areas can be styled in a brand new way. Try styling your items in a new room or pairing an item with something that was previously in a different location. This gives your home a beautiful new look and allows you to see your decorative pieces in a whole new light!

Play With Layouts And Orientation

Has every room in your home had the same layout and furniture orientation since you first moved in? If you answered yes, it might be time for a little shuffle around and refresh. We understand that it is not always possible for some rooms to change orientation due to the size or another contributing factor, but if you can, we definitely recommend it! The living room is a great place to start. Think about if the sofa can go against a different wall or if the occasional chairs and bookshelves can be swapped around or switched out to create more flow within the space. In the bedroom, have a look with fresh eyes if the bed can go up against a different wall to allow for artwork or if the orientation could be adjusted so that you can wake up with the morning sunlight. Have a play with different orientations in all the rooms you can, and you never know, you might find a layout that is much better than before!

Simplify

Throughout our blogposts we often share how you can add beautiful furniture pieces and accessories into your home and style them up in unique and interesting ways. Sometimes however, to create an entirely new look in your home, it can be about simplifying, not adding. Start my evaluating your styled spaces such as the coffee table, bookshelves, media units, console tables, bedside tables etc. Simplifying a space can be a therapeutic exercise by allowing yourself to look at your pieces with fresh eyes and think about whether they bring you joy or if it is time to let go. Once complete, you will notice your space feels more open and airier and the items that remain will be your absolute favourites.