Apr 20, 20213 min read

Bored of your Home?

Ways to effectively and creatively spruce up your interiors...

Being home all the time has been a blessing and a curse. Whilst it has allowed us to appreciate the comfortable, our home has also at times become a petri dish of boredom. I have always been a bit of an interior design freak. Not in the usual sense where I obsess over upcoming interior artists and find myself in deep in Architectural Digest's archive - I mean that too. But, when I say I am interior design-obsessed, I mean in a freakish way. Imagine living with a housemate, who sporadically changes the entire layout of the living room every two weeks - yup, that was/is me, guilty as charged.

Above was our gorgeous flat in Canada. I live here for under a year, and I promise you the layout and look of this living space changed every two minutes!

Change is good. I firmly believe that change and experimentation allow us to identify what our likes are, what our style is, and where we truly feel 'at home'. My freakish behaviour where I would rearrange furmiture and looks so often meant that I developed a '6th sense'. I think, compared to 4 years ago, I have better sense of what interior styles I love, and can work with. With this article, I wanted to share some ways you can spruce up your space without spending money or costing too many of the earth's resources.

BYE, BYE MINIMALISM

I think minimalism is misunderstood.

If I am being really honest, I think minimalism is a cop-out. Often misconstrued as being bare and plain. If you prefer a 'minimalist style' what you actually mean is you prefer harmonious, simplified and clean looks.

For an effective 'minimalist look', I would recommend playing with texture. If you love an all-white feel, then add interest through textures. Invest in textured white furniture, add layers by placing cosy blankets and cushions, and contrast by adding flowers/ plants around your home. Make the place come to life.

Contrast doesn't always mean opposing colour palettes. It just means being clever with what you see. Be brave, and bold. You don't have to shout to stand out, you can do it with whispers.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Positioning and placement can make all the difference.

This one is perhaps my favourite tip, something I have done all my life. Starting with things in my bedroom as a child, and even now as a full-grown adult - rearranging furniure. There is no great way to do this but to play around. Some of the ways, I rearrange furniture to make my home look and feel a little different is as follows:

Follow the light: In any given room, wherever you spend most of your time is where the light should be. This means placing your bed, sofas, desk where the light hits. No matter how beautiful or grand your furniture is, if the light placement is a bit off - it can lose its charisma.

Functionality: Anything obstructing the functional part of the room? Or, how can you make your living spaces more functional? This could mean adding a reading nook for example?

Open spaces: How can you move your furniture around to make the space feel open and airy. I love a communal feel. If your living room is also your dining room, how can you place the two to create 'divisions' without closing off the room?

💡QUICK TIP💡

To create the best open spaces, stand on either end of the room, and you should be able to walk through in a relatively straight line.

FINISHING TOUCHES

It's all about the finer details which take interiors from 0 to 100.

This is the easiest, yet most dramatic change you can make in your home for the ultimate spruce up. It allows for your personality to shine through, and that makes your house, a home. We could all replicate the trendiest interior design looks, but rather than a copycat approach, let's make it our own.

Some ways you can add finishing touches to add a sprinkle of you in your home:

Colour: Not just through the decor pieces but with plants, flowers, and colourful vases to breathe life into any space.

Books: A conversation starter. The books your read or magazines you love, display them! Loudly and proudly. Invest in coffee table books that you would actually love to flick through yourself.

Clean and tidy: Make sure everything has a place for anything. Intentional maximalism is great, but lazy clutter? Not so much.

Keep your space clean and organised.

To read more interior design articles from Ensemble Magazine have flick through of all 5 issues available here