Image from www.livingetc.com
One sure way to bring some warmth into a room is to inject a bit of bold red. For those who don’t feel very confident with such a dramatic colour, here are a few images and ideas to get you going.
Red can get a bit overpowering if you take it too far, but if you stick with one good splash like this deep red duvet cover and then use smaller red elements like the thin ribbon for the clock and the faded red striped sheets you get the impact without overdoing it.
Image from mwazloves.blogspot.com
Here, the duvet set is the only red in the room…and it works well.
Image from www.designismine.blogspot.com
These french style beds are so beautiful, and are rightly the focus of the room with only the faded patterned rug backing up the colour.
Image from www.pure-and-lovely.com
Red looks fab in kitchens. Love a red door, a big red poster or even some great red dinnerware.
Image from www.designspongeonline.com
Image from www.fint.tumblr.com
Quirky uses of red are the most fun and effective I think. These painted steps give real personality to the staircase.
So have a look around your house. It may just take one bright splash of red to brighten up both your home and your winter experience.
Image from www.housetohome.co.uk
Your hallway shouldn’t be ignored. It’s the first and last view of the inside of your home. Rustic country is my favorite look for this room. It’s welcoming and unpretentious…just as the entrance to your home should be.
Image from www.housetohome.co.uk
Hooks, natural light, pretty wallpaper and a sweet mix of floral accessories are the keys to the hallway above, while the one below is a gorgeous ode to practicality. Panelled walls, tiled floors, storage trunks, enamelware, market baskets and gumboots…love it!
Image from www.pinterest.com
I love, love, love the brick laid floor and the saloon door! Not to mention all the clever storage under the stairs.
Image from www.pinterest.com
Image from www.housetohome.co.uk
Wood piles are an essential part of country living …invest in some sturdy market baskets or vintage trunks to keep your wood supplies in.
So…consider your hallway. Big or small, it’s a room you can do a lot with, on both a practical level and an aesthetic one.
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Image from www.housetohome.co.uk
I know sometimes words as art in the home can be a little cheesy…but sometimes cheesy is just what you need. And then again…sometimes it’s absolutely groovy. Don’t just keep those magnetic words on the fridge..magnetic paint or primer can be used on any wall and then you can do as the owners above did and liven up a dull spot in the house in a really cool and interactive way. Also…this is particularly great for kids.
Image from www.lushlee.com
Sorry about the quality of this image…but I LOVE this quote! “Love is the new black”…so not cheesy, and so easy to do yourself.
Image from www.apartmenttherapy.com
Ok, so here I might be getting a little cheesy…but the use of block black letters, no mount and a plain black frame goes a long way to lowering the sugar level on what is a pretty nice sentiment…
Image from www.livingetc.com
As does the industrial style block mounting above. And really…you can’t say John Lennon was daggy.
Image from www.livingetc.com
Finally, it’s a little pedestrian using wash in the bathroom, or food in the kitchen, but mix it up with different sizes, fonts, vintage and new letters and the end result is pretty cool (although I’d still suggest less obvious words…)
Image from www.lushlee.com
Thank god colour is back! No more Sara Lee neutral layer upon neutral layer. That has its place and can look beautiful…but in every room?? Dull.
It’s still very sensible to have a neutral palette on your major pieces…couches, wall colour …but inject some life and fun with your acccessories.
Image from www.housetohome.com.au
Here the white walls and floorboards, and the classic wooden bench lay themselves open to any colour scheme you could want. The orange, purple and pink cushions work beautifully together and with the scarlet rug. And when the owner feels like a change…it’s totally affordable just with new cushion covers and a rug change.
Image from www.lushlee.com
Again, here, a white base is the perfect backdrop for a really vibrant mix of yellows, greens and blues. Rather than searching for that perfect neutral match that lacks personality, start buying decorative elements that you love, in colours that you love. You’ll find they all play well together in the end and the result will reflect you rather than bored display home stylists.
How fantastic do these stairs look!
Image from www.lushlee.com
Carpet on stairs looks so terrible, and if you can’t afford to put good hardwood there this is a fabulous way to make painted stairs look amazing. I love especially that the text is so esoteric…I can’t think of a phrase or a quote that wouldn’t look naff - although I will keep thinking! Using the industrial shipping stencil with random words and letters has made this staircase the coolest set I’ve seen. I will absolutely be doing this when next I do a two storey house…
Image from www.homesandgardens.com
If you’re about to rush out tonight or tomorrow to hastily grab some Chrissy decorations, think twice about getting the standard tacky pieces the supermarkets are filled with at the moment. Choose a theme, like the hanging baubles above, and follow it with confidence… If you’re going to hang baubles then get lots and lots!
Image from www.livingetc.com
Or…rather than add more to the landfill, you could do all your own decorations with the kids. Popcorn and marshmallow strings are really fun to do, you get to eat the result… and the whole, pared down, green and white christmas palette is beautiful (so much better than the garish multi -coloured stuff that you find everywhere. )
Image from www.housetohome.co.uk
Lighting is a big element in your decorations. Tea lights are a great way of making home look festive. If you don’t have many recepticles for them, the classic paper bag and sand is cheap, and beautiful.
Image from www.housetohome.co.uk
Furniture plays a very practical role in our lives. So it doesn’t matter how good it looks…if it doesn’t do the job it shouldn’t be taking up space. The basis of the Eames philosophy is “what works is better than what looks good.” The core of my styling approach! Everything in your house should have both function and form. In the study above and the hallway below the Eames chairs are perfect for the space and the look.
Image from www.housetohome.co.uk
Eames chairs have really stood the test of time with most pieces retailing between $400 and $3000. Big fat cheater that I am, I have no issue whatsoever with replica furniture. Check out two great online sources…. www.mattblatt.com..au and www.milandirect.com.au
Image from www.mattblatt.com.au
I can’t seem to find an image with a lounge chair and ottoman in situ. But this cowhide one from Matt Blatt is stunning. A classic lounge chair like this is perfect to break up the monotony of the lounge suite . Also…it will be the one everone fights over. With that ottoman it will be the comfiest seat in the house.
Image from www.livingetc.com
If you have a window with unused space around it…build in a window seat!! They are the very nicest spots in the house. To grab a book and settle in with a beautiful view to be distracted by is a great way to spend the afternoon.
Image from www.homesandgardens.com
Here, they’ve incorporated a window seat in the bathroom…there’s really nowhere that a window seat won’t work.
Image from www.homesandgardens.com
They are particularly good for filling in an odd spot in the house. Combine a window seat with some built in shelves and you have an instant, and very comfortable library. Just make sure that what you are looking out on is beautiful. There’s no point making a window the focus if it looks straight on to a bare fence or ugly weeds.
Ria FitzGerald has worked as an interior stylist in Melbournes inner east for the past twelve years.
Now based on the Bellarine Peninsula, Ria continues to offer in-home styling consultations for both the visual and the practical elements of your home, renovation and colour consulting and event styling.
Rias work can be seen featured regularly in Home Beautiful Magazine.
\"The I want I want I want! blog is a weekday (ish!) update with reviews of the best online homewares shopping, styling tips, peeks into my favorite homes and commentary on design, interiors and art.
Hopefully you will find new products, designs and ideas to inspire you to make your home the most fabulous place it can be!\" Ria x
