Magicians use optical illusions all the time to trick the eyes. Coming up with design strategies for organising a room's layout, decor and colour scheme is no different – you can use these simple steps to make a small space, such as a studio or tiny office, seem much larger.
Let there be light
"Cream colours and icy blues are just a few of the best colour combinations that can convert a tiny interior into a seemingly bigger living area," wrote Mihai for Freshome Design & Architecture Magazine.
When we think of exotic destinations or calm oriental spots, we may feel a sense of bliss or relaxing vibes. Why not enjoy these sensations every day by giving your home a makeover inspired by these styles?
Here's how to achieve both styles in your interior design.
Oriental: Think Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, China and Japan.
First of all, embrace patterns. In an essay published by the Department of Asian Art in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the authors described the Japanese Rinpa style as "vibrant colours applied in a highly decorative and patterned manner" used to decorate not only paintings but also textiles, ceramics and lacquerwares.
Don't just give your bedroom a run-of-the-mill headboard. Get your DIY groove on and check out these ideas for inspiration for a unique, creative, one-of-a-kind headboard that will be the star of your bedside area.
1) Old books
Find a bunch of books that are of a similar size and with equal numbers of pages, preferably with soft covers and no jackets. Open each book to the centre page and lay them in rows as wide as you'd like your headboard to be. Using an old, thin wooden panel as the base, screw down on the spine so each book is attached to the wood. Hang it up behind your bed – bedtime reading just got a whole lot more inspiring!
A great way to personalise a wall is by adding your own collages, curating a range of prints, photographs or artwork to show off your personality and interests in an artistic manner.
Those of you who love a vintage look can hang these collages in chunky gilt frames in a salon style by placing the prints, posters, photographs or postcards at odd angles, much like a scrapbook. On the other hand, homes with more of a contemporary design can benefit from collages carefully measured and hung in sleek straight lines.
Your son or daughter is likely to spend many hours at his or her desk during the school years – and it's not always to study, either! Arts and crafts, reading a book for fun or playing games on a laptop all require a sturdy yet inviting desk space.
Sometimes it can be hard for them to feel motivated to study before an exam or assignment, and in these cases a well-designed desk area can go a long way towards inspiring them to knuckle down and put in the hard yards.
Ahh, painter's tape. Ye old' friend of every tradie and any person with a creative bone in their body.
There is so much we can do to our walls using painter's tape, so grab your nearest roll, start peeling away and paint to your heart's content with one of these designs! Make sure you use the low tack version so it's nice and easy to remove once you've finished painting.
1) Cool chevron
Even if you're not under strict time restraints like contestants on the latest TV reality show, these seven time-saving tips can speed up the process of painting your walls.
1) Plan the painting order before you start
It's usually a good idea to start from the top of the room and work your way down – so that means painting the ceiling first before the walls and the floor. This order helps make sure that freshly-painted surfaces don't get ruined by splatter or drip marks.
If you admire the masterpieces that were painted during the Italian Renaissance, here are some fun ways to decorate your home using the styles, colours, patterns and textures of this historic period.
Step through the front doors into your home full of beautifully detailed floral or gold patterns and feel like you are going back in time to the days of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
The wall is your canvas
One of the most relaxing things to do after stepping inside from the bite of the winter cold is to run a hot bath. Bathrooms aren't just a space for cleaning, they can be a room for unwinding and taking a much-needed break.
Whether you like to soak in the tub or get a massage from the burst of water coming out your shower-head, here are eight steps to decorate your bathroom like an oasis of comfort.
The joys of travelling the world, from soaking in the sunshine at sandy beaches on distant shores to walking through ancient temples and forts, make memories to last a lifetime. We buy souvenirs and take hundreds of photographs on our trips away, so that we have a lovely, constant reminder of the places we saw and the experiences we shared.
Luckily, there are many ways you can decorate your bedroom so that even the months in-between your trips can feel like an exotic getaway!
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