Do you want to bring your place into the 21st century? If the answer is yes, here are five style ideas to inspire you and your makeover.
1. Feature walls
You can add character, colour and style to the inside of your home through a feature wall. They can be subtle or quite out there depending on your taste and the sort of impact you want to achieve. Don’t pick any random wall to highlight, but one that is a room’s focal point. Make sure you pick a colour or pattern that works with the rest of the room. Feature walls can be achieved through paint and wallpaper, as well as materials such as tile, stone and timber.
2. Going all-natural
Using natural and organic materials can help to make your home feel more welcoming and warm. They bring a bit of nature into your space and are timeless, not to mention more durable, with a longer lifespan than their synthetic counterparts. That said, natural materials still require proper care to ensure durability. For example, when using wood, make sure these are sanded before they are stained or sealed. If you have anything that is made of stone, avoid using acidic cleaners. Feel free to mix and match materials and always choose those that work best for you, your tastes and your space.
3. Blending open and separated home layouts
Most contemporary homes now have an open plan layout, but an emerging trend has been a cross between open plan and cordoned off room layouts. The approach maintains the functionality of open plan living, but focuses on creating more defined living spaces with added privacy, rather than just one big area. It can be achieved through various ways such as a split-level design, partial or lowered walls and open shelving. By having a more interconnected layout, families can have their own space to carry out tasks like watching TV, reading and cooking.
4. Decorating interiors with plants
Plants are a great way to bring life into your home. You can use them to fill dead space (such as blank walls), add colour, and enhance the overall look of the interiors. There are a number of ways to add plants to your home. You can hang them from the ceilings, place potted plants in various rooms, or if you have the space, you can create a green-wall or an indoor Zen garden.
5. Choose what you want and what makes you happy
Do a Google search on interior designs and you’re likely to be overwhelmed by the deluge of ideas that come up. At the end of the day, it is your home and you should pick a design that is what you want and what makes you happy. You can’t go wrong with simplicity and neutral tones. Look at real estate listings and interior magazines for ideas and pick what speaks to you.
Regardless of what style you choose, it’s important to plan your renovations before you undertake them.
Draft a budget, work out how much your home makeover may cost you. Can you afford to make the changes using the money you have in your bank account? Or, will you need a loan to finance your renovations?
Your local broker can help you finance your renovations. Regardless of whether you would like to unlock some of the equity in your home, refinance your current mortgage, or take out a personal loan.
