Looking Back – 2010 Highlights

2010 has been an exciting time in interior design, so let's take a quick look back and remind ourselves of the highlights.

I began the year by sharing the new trends and colours forecast to be big throughout the year – we saw designers re-cycle and up-cycle, create eco-friendly interiors and focused on using the space in our homes to their full potential.

By the summer we'd given you ideas on how to make statement headboards as well as ways to brighten bedrooms and kitchens on a budget. We touched on fantasy ideas to bring a completely new look to your rooms and took a brief look at using Feng-Shui.

We also talked a lot about window dressings, the art of layering and how the catwalk can also inspire interior design ideas. As autumn approached we looked at using bed throws, cheap rugs, curtains and blinds to help keep your homes warm and cosy; and of course in December we've looked at ways to add festive cheer into your rooms.

So what's in store for next year? Well, we can look forward to more stunning interior design trends, new colours, different perspectives on design as well as tips and hints on how to transform your home on a budget. 2012 is set to be more fascinating than ever before, especially as designers are introducing to their latest design innovations which we take build or adapt to suit our own homes.

Happy New Year everyone, and I look forward to your company throughout 2012!

Image: Design Heaven

Let's Get Ready to Party!

I love the seeing in the New Year and although I do like the hustle and bustle of Christmas I'm glad when it's over and life returns to some sort of normality! For me New Year's Eve spent with friends, eating scrumptious food and a full glass is my idea of heaven.

I also get fed up with the traditional festive colours, so this year my New Year feast will be in bright bold colours with subtle touches of sparkle. I love this turquoise/teal colour, it tones beautifully with lots of other colours surprisingly – think of a peacock and all the colours in the tail feathers and it will give you an idea of which other colour or colours to team with teal.

I also like the idea of having everything the same colour – it makes a real change from the norm. Match teal curtains with cushions, throws and cheap rugs to see if you can live with the colour or whether you just want to use it for special occasions. Maybe the soft furnishings could be a shade darker and that will help to draw attention to the table setting, which is of course the focal point in this style of room.

Image: Modern Luxury Home

Spruce Up Your Interior For Christmas – Kid's Rooms

I couldn't leave out kid's rooms – especially at Christmas! You'll find that the great thing about soft furnishings like curtains, beddings and rugs is that these come in a dizzying array of designs spanning everything from under the sea to outer space. Kids and their parents then have plenty of selections to choose from that will suit the formers' interests and preferences in room décor. In short, anything goes.

There's no need to purchase new pieces of furniture like a bed, tables and chairs, wardrobes and storage shelves. Simply changing the soft furnishings in the room gives the area a new look although you may also want to apply a fresh coat of paint to the walls.

Parents and kids can choose from numerous themes most of which come in complete sets from childrens curtains to the rugs and from the duvet cover sets to pillowcases. If your desired theme does not come in a set, I suggest improvising. For example, buy fabric with TV character prints, cut a few figures and then pin (use safety pins) onto the curtains for a Christmas theme which is special for you child – these can easily be removed in the New Year.

If you don't want to be woken at the crack of dawn on Christmas Day, or any other day for that matter blackout curtains are always worth considering for kids rooms!

Image: The Trusted Wardrobe

Spruce Up Your Interior For Christmas – Hallways

Make a real feature of your hall or entrance which gives your guests a taste of what's in-store when they enter your home.

Use colour in entryways and hallways is to use it to create the illusion of larger spaces. Take note that most houses have small hallways and entryways unless we are talking about palaces and mansions. Anyway, the general rule is that the lighter the colours on the walls, the larger the area appears to be.

Thus, stay away from dark wall colours and décor especially when it comes to curtains and rugs. Pale-coloured curtains, rugs and runners make the area stretch since the hues recede from the eye. Think of pale blues, greens and yellows, all of which are the colours of the outdoors, thus, creating the illusion of space.

However, the far wall should ideally be a darker hue than the walls nearer the door. The entryway or hallway then appears to be wider than it really is. No need to get a new can of paint for this purpose as even a curtain will do the trick, not to mention that you can choose patterned curtains to add flair to the area.

Festive touches can be as simplistic or lavish as you wish. Decorate the stair banister with garlands, ribbon and bows – if you don't have a banister a simple garland draped over a mirror, or a piece of mistletoe are great ways to welcome guests!

Image: roomenvy

Spruce Up Your Interior For Christmas - Bathrooms

The choice between using a full or partial window dressing depends on your need for privacy first and on your bathroom's design second. For example, in a bathroom with floor-to-ceiling windows, full opaque curtains or wooden blinds will be a must when there are neighbours. Full sheer curtains are great when the house is in the woods where nosy neighbours are nowhere to be found!

Go for Decorative Accents:
Don't forget the decorative accents using soft furnishings either. Think of the ways that the area above the mirror or the sink can be livened up by placing swags of colourful fabric artfully twisted into a valance. Or place a valance over the shelves to add a pop of colour into a utilitarian space.

Even colourful towels can become decorative accents when placed in visible spaces. The bath will look nicer when a double towel bar with patterned towels is positioned over it. Better yet, swap your old, tired towels with new ones or hang new hand and face towels for added flair – mix and match until the colours complement each other.
You can go festive and add a little tree to stand on the vanity unit or window sills – I'd prefer candles scented with festive fragrances such as spiced mulled wine, fir trees or Christmas pudding!

Image: roomenvy

Spruce Up Your Interior For Christmas – Dining Rooms

This is for some the only time of the year when their dining room is used solely for eating! Festive tables piled high with food for informal dining or more formal table settings using the 'best' china will play an important part of your festivities. So, a couple of tips to help your spruce up your dining room in time for Christmas.

Liven Up Tables and Chairs:
Obviously, tables can be spruced up with tablecloths and place mats. Even when your table looks tired, so to speak, the addition of stylish soft furnishings as well as pretty-looking tableware can instantly make it more inviting. Browse online for interesting tablecloths and placements. Don't forget the chairs either. You have the choice of either covering the upholstery with slip-covers or wrapping them with inexpensive curtain fabric.

Display the Towels and Napkins:
Colourful, pretty and attractive towels and napkins can form part of the décor as well as serve their utilitarian purposes. Place the towels on creative hooks, while the napkins can be displayed in glass cabinets or placed on the table.
With a little imagination and plenty of soft furnishings, your kitchen can truly become the enter of pleasant festive activity in your home.

Image: inspirebohemia.blogspot

Spruce Up Your Interior For Christmas – Living Rooms

I'm deliberately going to steer away from all the razzmatazz and commercial side of the festive season for living rooms and suggest that you use your curtain poles or tracks as a means of hanging natural and handmade festive decorations.

Combine these with pretty bowls filled with pine cones in various shapes and sizes along with home-made tree decorations, such as gingerbread men, iced biscuits, cinnamon sticks tied with red bows and natural items that you found in your garden or while taking a walk. For those who like to have a more calm festive season these types of decorations show that you have great interior design flair and can turn your hand to create stunning displays which you've made yourself.

The great thing about using your curtain poles to hang decorations is that you can add decorations to every room in your home in a subtle and whimsical way without having to spend lots of money. You can also use natural or home-made items as tiebacks to your curtains to give a coordinated look to your windows.

Think outside the box this Christmas and make your own decorations to suit colour scheme and style of your living room.

Image: GreenGifts