Myself and three other bloggers started a new interiors Hashtag on instagram at the start of the year, we already have over 2,700 posts. Its #SUYHome, if you fancy a gander. On Instagram, the hashtag ‘interior design’ has over 40 million posts, its an amazing place for inspiration. The search returns anything from staged photography of plush cushions in the infamous millennial pink, homes that have gone to the ‘dark side’, contemporary décor and copper and gold EVERYTHING!
A picture-perfect house may not be your main priority. You want to spend time with your kids, partner or pets, chilling out or having fun. It’s difficult to get the right balance though, do you really want a house that looks picture perfect all of the time? Isn’t imperfectly perfect really the aim of the game? Whatever the goal is, I wanted to give you my top tips to keeping your home looking good.
Living Room
As the hub of the home, the living room gets a lot of traffic and is perhaps one of the most difficult rooms to keep neat and tidy. You don’t have to sacrifice comfort to get that picture-perfect lounge area.
Whilst leather sofas are generally harder-wearing, you can’t beat snuggling up on a soft corner-couch with a warm throw and a romantic comedy. If there’s a little extra room in your budget, a couch is a worthwhile investment piece that will last for years. Scatter some cushions in your chosen pallet for a splash of colour and if you’re feeling ‘extra’ add a statement chair too.
I’m in love with this grey velvet chair, complete with brass details, from Houseology – https://www.houseology.com/liang-eimil-nova-occasional-chair-night-grey-velvet-brass. It would make such a special addition, with its chic, designer edge. I can just envision sitting here with a cuppa and a good book when the kids are at school!
Kitchen
Remodelling your kitchen is not only expensive, but time consuming and labour intensive. If you’re not ready for a full redesign, you can easily spruce up the design with some accessories. Think marble finish chopping boards and copper utensils, for a chic and modern addition. This heart shaped one from flamingo gifts is sheer perfection – can you imagine the flat lay?
If you have the budget and time for a full remodel, a trend I’ve noticed, and think its only going to get bigger, is contrasting monochrome cabinets. I think, pairing white cupboards, with a charcoal or black island, offers a stunning finish. Choose grey wood effect vinyl flooring for an extra dose of chic, and to maintain the cool monochromatic design.
Bathroom
Similarly, the bathroom can be a pricey renovation job. Unless you’re stuck with an oh-so-70’s avocado suite, chances are you can easily spruce up your bathroom with a few simple hacks. Before you start, give your bathroom a good scrub, then you can identify what needs replacing.
Whilst lino flooring is relatively cheap and cheerful, it can wear quickly and shows any imperfections in the levels of the floor. When it comes to the bathroom, I think floor tiles are practical and durable. They come in a tonne of different designs, everything from wood effect to porcelain finish. I adore these patterned ones from Victorian Plumbing – https://www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/vibe-grey-patterned-wall-and-floor-tiles-223-x-223mm. I can just imagine taking a stunning Instagram bathtub shot, surrounded by scented candles, with these tiles making a real style statement!
Other simple updates, that make a world of difference include; replacing dull taps; swapping out the shower curtain for a glass screen; and adding storage for an overall tidier finish. If you’re looking to replace your full suite, check out Victorian Plumbing, for quality products that don’t break the bank!
Bedroom
Whether you want to add a romantic twist to your own bedroom, or mature the kid’s rooms, there’s not much a fresh coat of paint and a new duvet can’t solve! Bedroom redesigns are generally uncomplicated as they usually just require cosmetic updates.
Try adding a feature wall colour and modernising the décor with framed poster prints, from somewhere like Desenio – I did that in my office area.
they seem to be all the rage on social media at the mo! Check out the range of bedding at Primark too, they’re good quality and there’s some real ‘instagramable’ designs – I’m sure you’ve all seen that marble print duvet. Add some faux fur throws, scatter cushions and scented candles for a romantic, yet welcoming boudoir effect.
When it comes to kid’s rooms, similar rules apply – paint, prints, & statement duvet. You could get a little more creative and opt for a geometric feature wall in neutral tones for a modern twist, and maybe add one of those tepees for bonus points from the kids and your followers… Whatever you decide on, happy decorating!
At the moment, shiny accents in gold and copper shades are very popular along with minimalistic interiors… So that beautiful armchair is very on trend! Also, the picture feature wall is a great alternative to messy painting which would be time consuming when trying to balance family and home life as well! Framing quotes as well as beautiful and sentimental images can transform a room in no time 🙂