Tips and tricks for a stylish home that feels like you’ve got an interior stylist on speed dial. Starry-eyed over the gorgeous interiors that fill the pages of decor magazines and Pinterest? Even if you aren’t looking at a major refresh, there are little tips and tricks to style your home and add a bit of poise to your pad. If you don’t quite know where or how to start, scroll on.
Get a decorative tray, baskets or bowls
One effortless way to instantly make your knickknacks, travel mementoes or other curios look put together — group them with a tray. Media essentials like remote controls will likewise look less messy if you place them on a tray. Add extra design elements like candles, pebbles or a small potted plant.
For clutter that you want to keep out of sight, choose stylish baskets or boxes that add to the style of your home while doubling as storage.
Create a beautiful vignette
A vignette is a curated group of objects displayed together in a visually pleasing and balanced manner and adds a polished look to any home. You can create a vignette anywhere, from the entryway console to the coffee table or a sideboard. Here are ways you can experiment with:
- Consider pieces like sentimental items, heirlooms, potted plants or a vase of flowers, glassware, books, a decorative mirror, and yes, a tray with smaller items.
- Have one large object like a mirror or frame to anchor the space, instead of a smattering of small items.
- Mix sparkly or metallic pieces with matte objects.
- Go for items of varying heights and sizes, and keep to this mantra: Less is more.
Add plants
Plants and vases of flowers add natural beauty and dimension to your abode, and no matter the aesthetic you’re going for, there’s a plant to suit your space. Large plants such as fiddle-leaf figs are great for making a statement or concealing awkward corners, while smaller potted plants can go on a console table, as part of a captivating vignette. But we get that not everyone has a green thumb. In this instance, faux plants (but avoid tacky low-quality ones!) or dried branches in a vase work equally well.
Once you’ve gone plant shopping, skip the plastic pots that plants from the nursery often come with. Shop for chic, quirky planters and pots that complement your interior style. But of course, if you have furkids around, keep them safe with these non-toxic indoor plants.
Add tactile elements
Tactile accessories add cosiness and a lived-in appeal to your space — think sofa throws, cushions, rugs and table runners. And since they take up a chunk of visual space, especially rugs and curtains, they can dictate and instantly change up the feel of your room, too.
Woven textiles like linen and hemp as well as ethnic patterns add a casual vibe, while velvet, leather and silk bring in elegance.
Dress up a blank wall
Pondering over what you can do to dress up a blank wall?
The options are endless really, from wall hangings to a console table or beautiful wall decals. Or take it a step further with stunning wallpaper. Below, see our top tricks for sprucing up a bare, lacklustre space.
Go for oversized art
If you aren’t quite sure of what to do with a blank wall, an oversized piece of art work is a surefire way to instantly make an unexpected impact.
It can be a print, or a painting that speaks to you. Unless you’re going for a maximalist style, keep the rest of the room’s design elements simple or give it breathing space so it gets ample room to shine.
Go for statement decor
A hero decor accent like a fantastic lighting fixture can make a serious impact, especially in a small space. Not only does it not take up floor space, it adds instant drama – think of it as an art piece with a practical function.
Choose ones that play up your space, whether you’re going for a gorgeous sculptural chandelier to elevate a contemporary living room, or statement pendant lights over a dining table.
Mix trends
Sticking to one of-the-moment trend can feel predictable, and look dated once the trend has run its course. Instead, consider mixing styles to give your home a timeless quality, plus inject it with a dose of personality, too. A midcentury modern console could go well with a boho wall hanging, for instance. Here’s a basic guide to keep your place from looking like a confused hodgepodge of styles:
- Don’t go beyond three different styles
- Have a unifying element running throughout
- Keep to a limited colour palette
Check out this modern and eclectic four-room HDB flat which mixes a clean-lined style with plenty of character.
Don’t forget about the bathroom
Small as it may be, don’t let your bathroom be an afterthought. Short of a major overhaul, there are little ways you can add to evoke the feel of a hotel bathroom. Instead of leaving your shampoos and soaps in their original packaging (unless they come in beautiful bottles), shop for stylish bottles or holders instead, which you can then display on a tray. Ditch raggedy towels for soft, fluffy ones, and consider a beautiful mirror.
Fragrances like candles or diffusers are lovely for adding that little bit of luxury, too.
