We all want our homes to look high impressive and feel comfortable. This is entirely understandable. At the end of the day, this is the space where we spend the most time. It’s a space that reflects us and that we invite guests into. They exude our character. They can serve as a form of self-expression. On top of this, our homes tend to be the most expensive investment we make in our lives. We want them to maintain value and to sell easily if we do decide to move on. Over the past year and a half, many of us have spent more time in our homes than ever. The coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic has spread rapidly across the world, encouraging governments in the majority of countries to implement lockdowns and stay at home measures, asking us to only leave the house as and when it is absolutely necessary. Having spent more time in our properties, we’ve had more time to criticise the spaces and find areas that require improvement. Chances are, you have a to-do list of changes and improvements to carry out. You may have already covered some of the areas below, but here are some home design ideas and areas of focus that you may want to look into further when getting started on this home improvement journey!
Minimalism
Minimalism has taken the home design world by storm over the past decade or so. Many of the homes you see in magazines, on Instagram and other influential places will be minimalist to some extent. Put simply, minimalism is a style of design that has the overall aim of simplicity. When you have a minimalist home, you will minimise clutter or mess. Most belongings in the room will either serve a practical function or contribute to the room in some way. There’s rarely something that is there for the sake of it. Generally, minimalist homes will have neutral colour palettes, little decoration and where shapes are involved, these tend to be basic geometric forms. Of course, implementing minimalism into your home takes a few key steps. The first is decluttering. You’ll need to go through your belongings and determine what you genuinely use, what has high sentimental value and what serves little purpose. Items falling into the last category can be disposed of in a sensible way. Try to sell items of value, donate to charity stores and recycle what you can. Throwing things in the bin should be a last resort.
Feature Walls
Of course, minimalism won’t suit all of us. Some of us do want a little more colour and character in our homes. If you want to venture into this territory, you may want to test the waters with a feature wall. Put simply, a feature wall is a wall in a room that has a different colour to the rest. You could have a brighter or bolder shade, a pastel shade or even a slightly different but still muted shade on it. Alternatively, you could go all out with wallpaper, choosing bold and interesting patterns or textures. Generally, feature walls work best when they are plain and unobstructed. So try to choose a wall that doesn’t have furniture against it, shelves, art or other features, otherwise things can suddenly look busy or cluttered. If you don’t have the time or skills to paint or put up wallpaper yourself, consider hiring a professional who can complete the job to a high standard. There are many painter decorators out there who will tick all of your boxes and create a feature wall to be proud of!
Curtains vs. Blinds
For the sake of privacy, the majority of homes have either curtains or blinds blocking the windows. These not only allow you privacy, but they can help you to control light in your home. If you’re a light sleeper, options that completely block out the light can help you to get a better night’s sleep. Light blocking options are also good for those of us who like to cuddle up in front of the TV to watch films without glare on the screen. Of course, the choice between curtains and blinds can often be a difficult one to make. When it comes down to it, the matter will likely fall entirely down to personal choice. From a practical perspective, electric blinds can be easier to clean, as you simply dust them down, while curtains will require steam cleaning or professional cleaning. In terms of decoration, curtains can offer more colour variety and patterns. You can read more here to come to a decision that suits you!
Houseplants
Houseplants are very on trend with home design at the moment. No matter how much time you have available to commit to a plant, or how much or little experience you have in caring for houseplants, there’s bound to be an option that suits you down to a tee. Some great houseplants for beginners tend to include:
- African Violet
- Aloe Vera
- Croton
- Fern
- Ficus
- Ivy
- Lucky Bamboo
- Peace Lily
- Pothos
- Rubber Tree Plant
- Snake Plant
- Spider Plant
- Swiss cheese plant
Of course, houseplants can look great and add a touch of nature to your interior settings. But on top of this, they can be good for you too! They are often referred to as “nature’s life support system” and can help to purify the air in the room that they’re in. Just make sure to check their descriptions to ensure that you choose non toxic options if you have children or pets in the house.
Aside from plant pots, you can also consider aesthetically pleasing plant boxes. Plant boxes are a great addition to any home design. They provide a unique and natural element that can bring life and color to any space. Whether placed indoors or outdoors, plant boxes can create a serene and peaceful atmosphere that enhances the aesthetic of a room or garden. In addition, they can be used to divide or partition larger spaces, adding both functionality and beauty to a room. They are also a great way to incorporate plants and greenery into small spaces such as balconies, patios, or even windowsills. They’re widely available for purchase, but custom-making your own is a great option as well. Just be sure to have the proper tools such as a Kreg hole jig to ensure that the pieces fit together securely and precisely. With a wide variety of sizes, styles, and materials available, plant boxes offer endless possibilities for customization and creativity in home design.
These areas of home design can give you a good focus to get your journey to a more appealing or comfortable home started out in the right direction. Each of the changes can be easily implementing with minimal investment or time. Hopefully, some of the options will appeal to you and will benefit you in some way!
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