Make your home function for the entire family with these straightforward practical décor tips.
Paint strategically
Did you know that the colour of the walls can significantly impact your mood in your home? When choosing your shades, think strategically to inspire suitable feelings for each room. For example, blue and green encourage restfulness making them great bedroom colours while orange and pink can boost productivity and work well in studies. Yellow inspires a sense of joy and encourages communication, ideal for busy communal spaces such as the kitchen.
Remember that new houses built this year should not be painted for at least nine months after construction while they ‘dry out’. This is because fresh plaster absorbs paint differently and you risk bubbles or peeling as it settles. You should follow the same principle with wallpaper.
Increase storage
All parents know that children come with a lot of ‘stuff’, and you can never have enough storage! But never fear: increasing your storage doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style. There are plenty of elegant and discreet ways to create more space, and having more ways to reduce chaotic clutter will help your home breathe and appear bigger.
Consider clever integrated storage options such as converting your understairs cupboard into a wardrobe with a railing for coats and racks for shoes or adding shelving to awkward alcoves. Utilise wall space by using hooks to suspend cloth bags and hang up bulky clothes like dressing gowns or adding floating shelves which look sleek and leave the floorspace beneath clear. Avoid traditional cabinets and dressers as these are bulky and will reduce your room space.
Use curved furniture
Another way of opening up your space is to use curved furniture. Featuring pieces with no sharp corners or harsh edges improves the flow of the space, and physically means more room to manoeuvre. It will also reduce the risk of little ones accidentally injuring themselves when running around the house.
Be whimsical
Running a theme throughout your house is key to achieving a cohesive design, but this can make the space feel very ‘adult’ with lots of neutral tones and sparse décor. In rooms dedicated to your children such as a playroom and their bedrooms, take the opportunity to be whimsical and go wild with age-appropriate colours and patterns. This will emphasise that these areas are their domain, making your children feel more secure and settled within the house.
Why not paint a mural on the wall, perhaps featuring animals, film characters or book storylines? You can complement this with patterned curtains, bright walls and furnishings in the same theme such as a rug, cushions and table covers. Primary colours can aid the development of children’s vision and entice play, so don’t be afraid to go bold!