Category Archives: Styleboard

Create a stylish home office

Is it your dream to create a stylish home office?

It’s hard to feel inspired or to work efficiently in a dull office. You don’t have to spend a fortune to make small changes that can lift your space from drab to fab with these tips and tricks.

Declutter

Clear your workspace from piles of random papers and folders, books you are not using and other clutter that has made its way into your office. If you have not or will not use the item in 3 months, put it away.

Get organised

There will no doubt be folders or books you will need at hand. Use magazine file holders or stylish boxes to neatly store them. Open rattan baskets available from Bed Bath n’ Table also look great.

Light it up

Add a table lamp to your workspace. It will lift the mood and with the great range of lamps out there, you’ll be sure to find one that can become a feature.

Extra seating

If you have space why not add an occasional chair and create a reading nook. Perfect for off-screen work, you can position the chair to maximise natural light. Pop into Focus on Furniture to choose the perfect chair.

Add more colour

Using an accent colour against a neutral palette can make the room ‘pop’. Denim blues and lush greens are the colours forecast for the year ahead.

Style it

Your bookshelf has so much styling potential. Work it right. While there are no hard and fast styling rules, some great tips are to stack books horizontally and vertically, add a collection of objects, layer objects and incorporate some artwork.

Designing to maximise space

Regardless of your home’s size, we all crave a little extra space to make our interiors function better and feel more open and welcoming. As such, creating the feeling of spaciousness is one of the most common problems people face when decorating their home.

We’ve uncovered 9 tips to help you achieve that ‘airy’ feeling in your home, regardless of how compact it is.

Make your space work harder for you

When you’re short of space, making every room work harder for you is imperative. After all, smaller homes often won’t have the luxury of a dedicated room for every function such as a study, dining room or rumpus.

Consider how you can incorporate other functions in the one room. Could up incorporate a study nook in a corner of the living room where you can shut the doors to keep everything hidden? Maybe that unused space under the stairs could house a desk or some additional storage.

For those with young children, increasing the storage in your lounge room is essential to hide away all the kid’s stuff and avoid the space looking like a toy room. It’s also worth considering how you furnish the space to make it useable and inviting for both adults and kids to use.

Optimise the natural light

Natural light can help improve the perception of space as well as make the home more inviting. Open up and take advantage of the natural light where possible. This may mean by creating a bigger window opening, installing sky lights or knocking a wall or two down.

If your natural light source is limited, utilise reflective surfaces and mirrors to help create the illusion of more space and light. Bright white lamps rather than those that illuminate yellow can also provide the effect of more light in an interior.

Create an indoor/outdoor connection

Creating a connection with the outdoors will help your interior feel more spacious.

If you have the ability to open up your home to a garden or courtyard, you’ll be rewarded with a more useable and expansive space. Consider this outdoor space as an extra room which could be used as a dining area, an additional lounge space or a great area for kids play and to store their toys.

Those with only a small outdoor space such as a balcony can still utilise this space to make the room feel larger. Ensure the doorways to your outdoor space are clearly visible and can be opened with ease. Make your balcony space is also visually appealing, even if you don’t use it often, by potting up some herbs or hanging some plants.

Furnish within your limits

While you may desire a modular sofa that you can stretch out on and watch a good flick, it simply may not work with the dimensions of your space. Rather than filling your entire room with a big sofa, armchairs and tables, be realistic about what can actually fit.

Your room may be better suited to a finer sofa like our Melba with a couple of armchairs to allow for circulation. A round dining table may better suit the limited space than your large extension table which doesn’t allow your guests to move in and out of their chairs easily.

It’s also worth considering furniture that offers a multi-functional purpose such as a coffee table with drawers or shelving to put your magazines, remotes and coasters.

Consider custom-made pieces

Furnishing your home to fit its proportions perfectly will help maximise space and enhance its functionality. It also means you don’t have to go without or make a compromise on the overall style.

This may mean designing custom-made shelving that can be built into an area of your home or arranging for a table to be made at a shorter length. By incorporating some custom-made pieces into your interior, you’ll have a one of a kind home which considers the entire space and its aesthetics.

Show the floor

Interior spaces read larger when you can see the full extent of the flooring. This means learning to levitate your joinery where possible. You can create this optical illusion in most rooms, like the bathroom by installing wall-mounted joinery or shelving a bedroom.

You can trick the eye further my choosing furniture that has legs allowing you to see underneath and for air to circulate. A sofa like our Encore or Olso occasional chair creates the illusion that there is more space simply with its lighter appearance. They also make it easier to clean underneath!

Unite the spaces through materials

Nothing can make an interior look and feel smaller than a mishmash of materials. This is especially true for open-plan layouts.

Instead of having different materials in your living, dining and kitchen, treat all the spaces as one single entity. This may mean by running the same flooring through all rooms or painting the walls in the same colour.

Think about the materials you’re using for your kitchen cabinetry and how you can bring these into your dining room or living area. This doesn’t mean you need to adhere to one look and create a dull looking interior. Subtle uses of the material or colour palate in each room will help create consistency and provide a greater feeling of space.

Embrace the feeling of intimacy

We often view smaller interiors negatively. However, you can decorate these spaces to be not only highly functional, but feel warm, intimate and familiar.

To create the feeling of intimacy, look at incorporating materials that are comfortable and inviting. Wool, linens, leather, felts and timbers are all warming thanks to their natural qualities.

Small interiors also don’t need to be kept bare to retain their feeling of spaciousness. Find a place to display personal treasures or family heirlooms in your interior. This will enhance the feeling of intimacy and give your home personality.

Edit, edit and edit

Just when you think you’ve nailed your interior’s décor, edit one more time. A little restraint can go a long way in making your interior feel more spacious.

Start with editing your materials and colour palette making sure they are all work together and not one is competing over another. Consider if you’ve squeezed in one too many side tables into your space. How does your space feel if you remove one piece of furniture or swap it for something smaller? Edit your soft furnishings, artwork and decorative items too. Remember, if it doesn’t fit into your space or work harmoniously with the rest of your interior, it’s time to ditch it.

Original Post by Urban Rhythm

Image courtesy of Urban Rhythm

The perfect bedroom accessories

These accessories will complete your bedroom with a refreshing touch.

Adairs

The Adairs at Nunawading is the perfect place to visit for accessories that will complete your bedroom. Pick out your favourite floor rug or mat to enjoy in your bedroom now because they have a huge sale for this range where you can get up to $250 off!

Cushions are a must! They make your bed more inviting and comfortable. Pick your selection of pillows from Adairs for your bed, be sure they suit the colour scheme and texture of your bedroom. The store currently has a sale of up to 50% off on cushions, so don’t miss out!

As a part of the store’s mid-year sale, you can save 30% on lighting. There is a selection of bedside table and floor lamps to choose from.

Spice your bedroom up with some wall art, or perhaps a mirror, you can also save 30% on these accessories. The artwork available are beautiful pieces that will add a splash of colour and life to your bedroom.

If you want a more organic bedroom vibe, discover the pots and plants section at Adairs. There is a range of pots, plants, flower stems and plant stands to choose from, again, saving 30%. Greenery can make your bedroom feel fresh and can create an encouraging environment when beginning your day in the morning.

Finally, for your beloved pet! You can save up to 50% off on mats, pillows, blankets and washing amenities for your furry friend.

Provincial Home Living

For a more sophisticated bedroom atmosphere, come down and visit the Provincial Home Living store.

Here you will be able to find the perfect:

  • Cushions;
  • Throws;
  • Rugs;
  • Mirrors;
  • Lighting;
  • Coverlets;
  • Shams.

To match your style and enhance your bedroom’s theme.

Bed Bath N Table

If you are looking for accessories such as clocks, frames, lanterns, candle holders, vases, wall décor and hooks, home fragrances or other decorative accessories, our Bed Bath N Table store is the place to visit.

They currently have a June clearance where you can save up to 50%!

4 ways to embrace Autumn into your home

It can be hard to farewell summer. Endless sunshine, carefree days, sweet, ripe fruit and relaxed barbecues. Helping make the switch a little easier is the knowledge that every season has its own unique beauty and is rich in traditions to embrace.

Here are a few Autumn ideas to get you inspired.

Colour

There are classics hues which are synonymous with colder weather. From browns to oranges, experts say you should try and replicate the colours which are occurring outside.

The key is to infuse the entire house with relatable and powerful colours, such as purples and dark blues. Not only are they autumn shades, but they are dark and vivid. Plus, they are warm and add an element of cosiness. This was be easily achieve with a selection of throws, cushions or even some new wall art from PillowTalk.

Also, if you want to see items inspired by you, you can go through Decorug at Alexandria Home Centre.

Candle Lit Glow

To set the mood as the coolers month start to approach, introduce some candles around the house.

We love the collection of Ecoya candles from Bed Bath n’ Table there are so many unique scents to choose from.

Rustic Wood

We’re always talking about how the rustic warmth of wood can transform a room but the effects are even more apparent as we go into Autumn and Winter.

To achieve a truly homely look with lots of character, try mixing and matching pieces from different furniture ranges. Koala & Tree have a large range of unique pieces that are collected from all over the world. It is hard not to fall in love with all of them!

Seasonal cooking

One way to shake off the blues of a summer farewell is, naturally, with food.

Autumn brings with it a huge variety of seasonal goodness to invigorate your cooking. In March, look out for pumpkins, figs and apples, April is when we see mushrooms and chestnuts coming on board and May is a great time to enjoy Brussels sprouts and quinces.

Creating space in small bedrooms

Small bedrooms can have a big impact with the right design and use of space. Whether you opt for the illusion of space or embrace what you have, there are endless ways to make a small space livable and chic.

Choose the right colours

Colours can make a world of difference to the look of a small bedroom.

The darker the paint on the walls, the heavier the atmosphere and the more enclosed the room looks. Select light coloured paints, preferably pastel shades to make the room look open, light, and airy. Or you could look at light coloured wallpaper with small light patterns or designs.

Stay Minimal

All rooms tend to collect junk and the bedroom is the worst of them. Take a close look at your small bedroom.

What are the non-essential things in it?

Remove them all and see how much more space you suddenly have. It may not be floor space, but even having an open dresser top or uncluttered bedside table can make the room seem more open.

Creative storage

Optimise your space with creative thinking and creative storage from Howards Storage.

There is space under the bed and at the bottom of the closet that often is lying idle. The space under the beds is ideal for exercise equipment or things that are needed just once on a day. To make access even easier keep your old shoe boxes to use as storage so they can be easily retrieved. High mounted (but not unreachable) shelves on the walls will also free up space below giving the room a more clean and open look.

Lighting

Lighting plays an important role in how a room looks.

This does not mean that brighter is better – a bedroom lit up like a Vegas casino is not a place that you will be comfortable in. But keeping the lighting reasonably bright and using pendant lights or standing lights to focus the lighting ensures that there are no areas that are in shadow or sudden changes from bright areas to darker ones will give the room a feeling of being more open.

Custom Bedding

Investing in custom bedding to suit the size and style of the room.

This will allow you to optimise space while complimenting the look and feel of the room. Bevmarks offer custom beds with nifty storage solutions and decorative bed heads to suit any style!

A breath of fresh air: Our favourite indoor plants

If you are looking for that single, secret ingredient that has the ability to make just about any room look better, it’s a plant. The humble house plant is well and truly back on trend, and for good reason. A splash of healthy greenery instantly lifts a space to make a room feel fresh and welcoming.

If you feel like one of your rooms is lacking a little something, try adding one of our favourite plants for the home and if you feel that you don’t want the responsibility of care for it opt for a fake plant from PillowTalk or Rice Furniture!

Devils Ivy

Also known as golden pothos, fights nasty toxins like xylene, benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. Just be sure to keep this plant out of reach of your cat or dog as it’s toxic to pets.

Boston Fern

Ferns can typically be quite tricky to care for but the Boston fern is the most tolerant of the bunch. They prefer moist soil, indirect sunlight and humid conditions, so they’re an ideal plant for the bathroom. Not only do they provide a lush green display, they filter out the irritating chemicals, Xylene and formaldehyde.

Chinese Evergreen

This easy-to-care-for plant can survive in most conditions, even with low light and little water. It helps filter out a variety of air pollutants and begins to remove more toxins as time and exposure continues.

Weeping Fig

Often referred to as Ficus (like most plants in the fig family), Weeping fig’s love the light and don’t like being moved so it’s best to find a nice sunny spot in your home for it to stay and only re-pot when necessary.

Peace Lily

This popular indoor plant survives with very little sunlight and only needs watering about once a week, depending on the weather. Peace lilies cleanse your home of pollutants like acetone – a carcinogen commonly found in nail polish and paint. Keep this one away from your fury friends also.

Flamingo Lily

Native to the tropics, this exotic flowering plant prefers a warm and shady environment and daily misting helps to prolong its flowers.

They are known to be effective in removing formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, and ammonia from the air.

4 tips to a well-dressed bed

Looking to the achieve that hotel feel right at home? Get started with these 4 tips:

1. Vary the sizes, colours and textures of decorative pillows

Different sizes and colours provide interest and variation. To achieve thatt hotel feel, go all out with layers of European pillows, multiple standard pillows and at least three decorative cushions to finish it off.

The result is dramatic, plush and polished.

2. Play with colour and patterns for a more casual look

Simple, clean white bedding can be offset with a highly patterned coverlet for an artistic feel. Adairs have a beautiful new range of quilt cover sets and throws this Autumn to help add colour to the bedroom.

3. Invest in good sheets

The easiest way to snazz up your bedroom is to outfit your bed with a gorgeous set of sheets. To keep the hotel room look, go for a crisp, white set of sheets that are at least 1000 thread count. Hotel rooms tend to use sateen or percale sheets, but you should choose the material that feels most comfortable to you. The experts at Bed Bath n’ Table will be able to help you put together the perfect set to fit any look.

4. Consider the lighting

You’ll notice that almost all hotel rooms have lamps or sconces on either side of the bed. This always helps pull the room together visually and also allows you to turn off the overhead light and create a warm and cozy mood in your space.

Our 5 top tips to reduce clutter

1. Have a place for everything

This means your keys, your wallet, your office supplies, etc. If everything has its place, it’s pretty hard to lose anything once you learn where that place is. Files are in the file cabinet, my keys hang by the door, and my wallet goes on the little table in the hall.

There is no mad scramble to get out the door as I know where everything is!

2. One thing in, one thing out

When you get new bright cushions, get rid of the old faded cushions. When your kids get a new toy, help them pick out a toy that they’ve outgrown.

3. Purge twice a year

Make it a point to spend a day or two twice a year doing nothing but purging.

4. Keep a basket in every room

Despite your best ongoing efforts, stuff from one room inevitably finds its way into another. Keep a small basket in each room of the house. Each evening, put the out-of-place items in the baskets, and each morning, return them to their proper place.

5. Limit storage

The more storage you have, the more stuff you’ll keep. Instead, have limited storage and if stuff doesn’t fit in there, get rid of it.

 

3 chic bathroom storage solutions

The bathroom is one of the most high traffic areas in any home. It’s where we go to prepare to take on the day, and it’s where we head to wash up and decompress when the day is done.

Here are 5 easy ways to keep it well organised.

Add a Storage Cart

What a difference a storage cart can make. If you’re like so many who are short on cabinet storage, take matters into your own hands. Howards Storage offer a large range of storage solutions especially designed for the bathroom.

Take it one step further and roll your towels and add a succulent or two, and you’ll feel like you’re in a spa each and every day.

Organise with draw dividers

If you’re like the so many of us who have bathroom drawers overflowing with products, miscellaneous items, and general chaos then pick up some draw dividers from Howards Storage and finished off the look with well organised draws which will make the morning rush much more satisfying.

Get creative with mason jars

When it comes to DIY organisation, the wonders of the mason jar know no bounds!

Present your glosses, cotton balls, and tiny toiletries in the cutest way imaginable by taking advantage of this sweet idea. All it takes is a little paint, glue, and a few animal toppers.