From working out what paint works best in different rooms and lighting options to where to place furniture – there are so many elements to consider. That’s where an interior designer’s help and expertise becomes invaluable.

1. Make it your own

Remember it’s your home. ‘There are no rights nor wrongs in interior design, everyone has the potential to design their own home,’ says Vanessa Arbuthnott.  ‘It’s just a matter of getting an eye for it. Remember that you are in control, taking the latest trends into account is worthwhile but always put your own personal spin on something to make it special. Your home is where you spend most of your time, so the space needs to reflect you.’

2. Seek design inspiration for a mood board

‘Transform your interiors from tired to revitalised by gathering inspirational images from magazines, Instagram, Pinterest etc’. ‘Once you have a strong collection you will begin to see the look you would like to achieve. Creating a mood board is a great way to use your creativity to unleash any hidden design inspiration you may have subconsciously seen.’

Buy a large foam board and pins from your local art or stationary shop and collate samples, images, samples of the fabrics, wallpapers, furniture and flooring that you might want to use. This way you can see how they would all sit together within the room.’ Stressing, it is important to add textures through flooring, rugs and fabrics such as velvet, wool, and tweed. Place the mood board in the room and live with it for a while.

3. Consider colours and fabrics

‘Start to hone in on the colours you want to use – for the painted walls or wallpaper, furniture, blinds and curtains. The third colour could be a highlight for cushions, lampshades, bed quilts and accessories such as a tablecloth or even a painting.’

Brilliant top tip: three colours are always better than two – use these colours throughout the room.

4. Try before you buy paint and paper

‘Remember that colours can change depending on lighting so buy sample pots and paint’ Vanessa warns. ‘Paint at least A2 sized paint patches, on the lightest and the darkest walls in the same room – to see how the natural light affects the shade.’ This is especially effective for finding the best white paint, because it changes so much in the light.

Same goes for wallpaper, ‘Tape wallpaper samples to the walls and drape large returnable samples over existing furniture or pin them to existing curtains and blinds. Stand back and see what you think!’

 5. Transform old to new

If you have a blank canvas it’s easier, but more often we must work with existing sofas or rugs etc. Look closely at the rug and see if you can work with the colours within it. Maybe you can reupholster the old favourite sofa to give it a new lease of life? Decide if you are someone who likes pattern or plain; traditional or contemporary; and look at a colour wheel or nature itself to see what colours go with what. For instance, pinks and reds with greens, orange with duck egg, yellows with grey and blues.

6. Size up the furniture

‘Decide on the furniture you want in your room. Think about scale, in a large room you need a big sofa and footstool’ Vanessa advises. ‘Most designers recommend that even small rooms should have one large statement piece, even if it is a headboard in a bedroom. A balance of large and small pieces will create an appealing living space.’

7. Analyse the look and take your time

‘Collect pieces as you come across them, this way you will purchase things you’ve fallen in love with. Rather than settling for what’s available in certain stores or online at the time you need something’ are Vanessa’s wise words. ‘You can spend time analysing the look and colours of your room with accessories. The more time you take to add things into your house, your interior design knowledge will expand as you can understand what works best with certain features.’

8. Order returnable samples

‘Once you have narrowed your choice right down and have a good idea of what you might want, order some returnable samples’ Vanessa reveals. ‘These are half metres of fabric which works best draped over backs of chairs and pined to existing curtains and blinds. The test will see if you’re still happy with them after a few days. This is also a great way to see how fabrics look against the paint colours.’

9. Be bold with paint ideas

The days of strict paint rules are over, the key to interior design in modern times is to embrace the paint idea that works for you. There are no rules of painting doors frames, skirting boards and ceilings in a brilliant white anymore – in fact some top interior designers argue against it!  Kelly Hoppen’ s advice for painting skirting boards is a game changer, she explains how painting the skirting the same same colour as the walls can help to make the room feel bigger.

10. Remember measuring is key

11. Add finishing touches

‘The finishing touches are the fun bit!’ Vanessa exclaims.  ‘Lampshades, rugs, cushions, paintings and plants can all make a huge difference, but are sometimes hard to choose until you have the walls painted or papered and curtains hanging. Even the colours on the spines of books in a bookshelf, a throw on the back of the sofa, or in a kitchen ceramic, tablecloths, create opportunities for accents of colour.’

12. Fill a room with a signature fragrance

The post 12 unmissable interior design tips – to style a house into a dream home appeared first on Studio&Me.

What got you started on your venture?

Being an interior decorator I saw a gap in the market as we had such limited choice when it came to art prints. I also wanted to create an affordable product and great user experience available to everyone, not just interior decorators. With a mass market in mind, I have tried to create gallery walls and design layouts available to give my customers a piece of my inter expertise without the price tag.

What was your biggest challenge when starting?

I think my biggest challenge when starting was sometimes feeling overwhelmed and not having the support of a mentor or business partner to guide and direct me.

1 TIP FOR SUCCESS

One valuable lesson that I have learnt is that setbacks are inevitable but your attitude is what matters. I have learnt to embrace and grow from challenges and mistakes but mostly to try not to let myself get too stressed when something goes wrong. It’s par for the course and you just have to adapt and come up with solutions.

Do you have any advice to future female entrepreneurs?

My advice would be to just start but always to listen and learn from those more successful and knowledgeable around you. And always believe in yourself- if you don’t, noone else will.

The post Get to know Studio&Me founder, Hayley! appeared first on Studio&Me.

During lockdown last year I decided to take my small little attic and turn it into an office that I could comfortably work from but also feel inspired. You can check out the whole renovation series “here.”

A whole year later and I’m still finding gorgeous little pieces to fill my space, which leaves me falling in love with it all over again. But enough about my space, let’s chat about how you can go about choosing the right art or illustrations for you or as a gift to someone you love.

Studio&Me really have a gorgeous selection of art prints all aimed at revolutionizing the art production sphere from tacky to tasteful, with exquisite style & quality.

I’m not good with decorating & I don’t know what size to go for?

Don’t stress the lovely team at Studio&Me are ready to assist. They have provided layout options to help you create your own beautiful Gallery Walls. You can use these templetes as a guide to play around and swop sizes where necessary to make it work in your own space. Still stuck? Head over to their Gallery Wall or Instagram to get some inspiration, they have loads of images for you to browse and ultimately help narrow your decision. They are also only an email or DM away too.

If you are currently looking for items to uplift your space and give it a fresh look then I’d visit www.studioandme.co.za

You won’t be dissapointed!

Studio&Me would like to offer you 15% off your first purchase. You can use the code AMANDA15 at checkout! Code valid till the end of August.

Happy Shopping & don’t forget to tag us…We can’t wait to see your amazing prints in your homes.

Lots of love,

Amanda

The post Curated, Stylish & Affordable by Amanda from Africa appeared first on Studio&Me.

This month we feature a variety of inspiring women who have beat the odds and succeeded, despite living the Covid-era and doing business during a time of massive economic strain facing the country.

Each featured woman was chosen for her unique achievements and was asked to answer five questions about what inspired her to start her business, her role models, as well as what some of the hurdles were that she had to overcome in the process of establishing herself and her brand. The women were also asked to share their secrets for success, as well as advice for other female entrepreneurs. 

After all, inspirational stories will inspire other women to succeed! We reached out to a few inspiring women in business and here is what they had to say:

Meet Maryam, owner and founder of Lanolab

Here is what she had to say:

What got you started on your venture? 

We were looking for a natural and local product that could be used as a multi-purpose balm for the whole family and could not find anything, locally.

What was your biggest challenge when starting? 

Having patience! Everything takes time and I tend to want to get things done instantly – learning to trust that things will happen as they should has been a vital lesson.

1 Tip for sucess

Most of the time I would recommend going with your gut feel and what feels right to you, while keeping in mind the advise of those that are working alongside in your venture.

Name A women that inspire you

Lamees Romaney, also a mome who juggles a business and family and has been the instumental driving force behind her brand Pomegranate Wellness Collagen.

Do you have any advice to future female entrepreneurs?

Do enough research and make sure there is a gap in the market for your product/service and always be 100% hands on in all aspects of your business.

Meet Leigh Sarembock, founder and owner of Spirit Girl

What got you started on your venture? 

This venture initially started with two Spiritgirls who worked in the corporate event world. My early partner and I met working at the same company and instantly there was a bond.

We were both yoga fans that enjoyed an active outdoor lifestyle. We dreamed of creating a sustainable yoga brand that represents our love of nature, and passion for health and wellness incorporating our design skills.

In 2014 we realized there was a gap in the SA market for fun, uniquely designed leggings for eco-conscious women. We hunted down the perfect technical fabric and Spiritgirl became a reality.

what was your biggest challenge when starting? 

Our biggest challenge was finding the right fabric. A fabric that’s technical with moisture-wicking, good stretch, printable and recycled. Good technical sportswear fabric is not available in South Africa. So, we are faced with manufacturing and import delays regularly.

1 tip for sucess

Networking with the right people. We were very fortunate to be given a retail space at Yoga Life when we first started. This was a great platform for us to market our products to the right audience.

name 3 women that inspire you

1. My mom has always inspired me to work hard and follow my dreams.
2. A good friend of mine. She is a mom of 3 and runs a successful PR agency.
3. Daniela V. Fernandez, the founder of Sustainable Oceans Alliance. Her company supports Ocean tech startups that are interested in ocean conservation.

do you have any advice to future female entreprenuers?

Resilience, hard work and finding key people that can nurture your brand with you for the long run. 

MEET RIZWANA CASSIM

What got you started on your venture? 

My love for fashion started at a very young age and grew stronger over time, people around me always loved the way I put pieces together especially for my body type and so I began my personal styling journey on a close colleague of mine at the time, where we transformed her entire look – from then I knew I didn’t belong in corporate any longer and this was my true passion and dream so I pursued it and have been loving it ever since!

what was your biggest challenge when starting? 

My biggest challenge was getting my name out there as a “stylist” – people knew about me but they didn’t know what I did exactly and so it took quite a bit of self-marketing and promoting to let people know who I am and what I can do for them.

1 tip for sucess

Consistency is key, if you want to be successful in anything that you do, stay true to who you are, what you stand for and don’t ever lose that. 

name 3 women that inspire you

1. My mom has and always will be my first fashion icon and biggest inspiration.
2. Princess Diana for all that she encompassed and stood for.
3. Fashion designer & businesswoman Gabrielle Chanel for her influence over the fashion world to date.

do you have any advice to future female entreprenuers?

If you have a passion and if it makes you utterly and absolutely happy, persevere and see it through – you have no idea what you’re capable of until you set the bar for yourself and work towards achieving your goals. It is the most rewarding and satisfying feeling to see the magic of your actions come to life, so persevere and don’t strive for anything less than you want to be!   

MEET CASSIDY, FROM THE GLAM GREEN GIRL

What got you started on your venture? 

The Glam Green Girl started by sharing easy ways of how people can make small changes to their everyday life to help the environment. It grew from there to include cruelty-free beauty; lifestyle posts and travel diaries. 

what was your biggest challenge when starting? 

Getting someone to read my blog posts haha 

1 tip for sucess

Make sure you are passionate about what you are doing. It should be the driving factor behind your brand. 

name 3 women that inspire you

1. Sivan Ayla – she’s my favourite blogger and an amazing entrepreneur that constantly inspires me
2. Blake Lively – my ultimate icon
3. Rushda Moosajee aka Rushtush – she’s turned her fitness career into a thriving business and looks amazing while doing it 

do you have any advice to future female entreprenuers?

Listen to your gut and stay true to yourself. It’s not an easy path but it’s worth it. Always try to do one thing a day that will help you in furthering your career.   

The post Inspiring Women in Business appeared first on Studio&Me.

It is fitting, then, to celebrate the skills of one such female creative talent who has built her own successful business from scratch. Hayley, the founder and owner of Studio&Me (a virtual art gallery) took her passion for interior decorating and harnessed it to create an online studio offering a unique selection of art prints and posters, with the aim of revolutionising the art reproduction sphere. By keeping her prices affordable, she has made it easier to decorate your walls, without breaking the bank. 

From bare walls to creative masterpieces

The Studio&Me online platform has been lovingly tailored by Hayley and her team to encourage creativity and artistic flair when approaching a bare wall space. Customers can delight in choosing the art prints that ‘speak’ to you the most, and use the gallery walls to achieve a sense of cohesiveness through picking styles and colour schemes that will best suit your space and taste. 

“We at Studio&Me are grateful to be a part of such an intimate process as making a house a home, and we cherish every opportunity to do so,” says Hayley.

And what better way to celebrate Women’s Month than by choosing a proudly female-owned business such as Studio&Me?  You know the saying, “If these walls could talk?” Well, once you have created your décor scheme using Studio&Me, your walls won’t just talk, they’ll sing. 

Visit Studio&Me, and get stuck into transforming those walls, or get in touch to discuss your décor needs.

The post Make your walls sing for Women’s Month appeared first on Studio&Me.

Here are things to consider when deciding what size artwork to buy:

1.  The Room –  When picking art for any room BIGGER IS BETTER!  My clientele of designers and homeowners are amazing!  Any interior designer can aid you in sizing your artwork.  However,  there is one decorating mistake that I see made every so often when I receive a nice photo from a homeowner showing me my painting hanging in their space.  It is that people tend to choose wall art that is much too small for the room!  If you are investing in art, you certainly don’t want to buy it, and hang it,  only to discover your room still feels barren.  Take into account the amount of furniture that you have in a room, if it is sparse, then a large piece of artwork will fill up the visual field as furniture might.  Think about your ceilings are they high, voluminous, vaulted ceilings allowing for a grand painting, or low -where a shorter canvas height with landscape orientation might work best?  Just remember – to be on the safe side, GO BIG!  This is especially true if buying modern, contemporary art, bigger is definitely better to maximize the statement.

2.  The Wall – Well, of course, you will consider the wall, and you will probably measure it once or twice, but then what?  You need to think about two things here – of course there is the overall dimensions of the wall,  but then you also need to think about the orientation.  Tall, narrow walls will work best with art of a similar shape, created in a portrait, or vertical orientation, while horizontal wall spaces (often found over sofas, in a hallway) work best with landscape-oriented artwork.  In looking at the overall wall space dimensions your artwork should take up two-thirds to three-fourths of the wall.  Like I stated above… go big!

3. Over Furniture or Mantels – Many of my clients who ask for my help in recommendations for art for their home send me photos of the wall where they intend to hang the piece.  This is great!  Along with the measurements they provide me, I can quickly tell them just the right size canvas for hanging.  However, I sometimes receive photos sent from clients of my work hung in their rooms, and I wish they would have consulted me on size selection prior to purchasing,- because the beautiful 30″  painting they just invested in looks lost over their 8 foot couch.  Here is the rule of thumb when hanging over furniture like a sofa, table, fireplace mantle, etc.:  The art should be three-fourths the width of the furniture and hung 15cm – 30cm above the top.  It is that easy!  Of course it doesn’t need to be exact, sometimes an off-center piece brings wonderful visual interest to a wall, but when in doubt, fall back on that rule!

4.  Gallery Walls – Gallery walls are a fun, eye-catching way to fill a large space when you are drawn to more than one piece by the same artist, when you find several prints or paintings within the same color palette which you’d like to group together, or to display amazing photography in frames.  You can group together wall art which is all the same size, or create real visual interest by grouping together art of varying sizes in one of many gallery layouts that you can find online.  Whichever layout you decide on for your gallery wall, lay the artwork out on the floor first, measure the total groupings height and width and make sure it follows the same guidelines above for filling up your space.  There are many online websites which can provide you with free downloadable gallery wall templates to guide you in your layouts.

5. Just how tall do you think you are? – A close second in sizing mistakes to art being too small for the wall, is art being hung much too high!  You need to think about this when determining the size of art to choose, any piece of art should be hung with the center point at eye-level.  Not with the bottom edge 6 feet off of the floor on an otherwise blank wall.  (If you are very short, or very tall, use the average 5’6″ person as a guideline.)  Again, don’t be afraid to fill up that space!

Art, is an investment that can last a lifetime, it can make or break a room and is essential to a finished look.  Now comes the fun part… explore artwork, and have a blast selecting a gorgeous piece of art that is the best fit for your home! 

The post 5 Tips for Choosing Art That is the Right Size For Your Room appeared first on Studio&Me.

Trust us, it’s not as difficult as you might think. Just follow these tips. First, here’s what you’ll need.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• Your collection of framed artwork and objects.
• A roll of kraft paper
• Scissors
• Masking tape
• Hammer
• Hardware for hanging artwork. May vary depending on the size and weight of your pieces.
• Level

HOW TO CREATE A GALLERY WALL

1. MIX IT UP OR STAY THE SAME
   The first step is probably the hardest step. Choosing what you want to display on your gallery wall. In a previous post, Becky Freeman and I talked about How To Curate Art with Heart which helps you choose meaningful pieces for your space. There are still some things to consider before creating a gallery wall.
   
   When choosing your pieces consider size (various or the same), the style of frame (various for more eclectic, or the same for a more cohesive look) and the number of pieces. It’s nice to have an odd number of pieces, but if an even number happens to flow, that’s okay.
   
   Vary the style of works for a more dynamic look. Realism and abstract. Geometric and soft organic shapes. There should be a common element tying them together (colour is easiest, as mentioned below). Too many similar pieces will create competition. Variation allows each piece to shine.
   
   One final thing to consider is the theme or colour scheme of the pieces. Try to tie in one element for consistency. Is there a consistent colour throughout? Maybe a consistent theme of beaches you love. Colours and themes will easily help create a cohesive gallery wall, but it’s not necessary. When in doubt – keep it simple. It’s a balancing act, but it will work in the end.

2. ARRANGE ARTWORK ON THE FLOOR
   Once you’ve curated and framed your artwork, it’s time to develop a composition for your gallery wall. Clear a space on the floor that equals the space on the wall (not too big, not too small) and start piecing together a layout.
   
   Again, you have a choice to mix it up and create a more random look. Or, you can space things out equally to create a grid which works well when the frames are the same size/style.
   
   Anchor your favourite or largest piece in the centre, and gradually work in other pieces around it/them. Keep a few inches between the pieces as you hang them, and try to keep that consistent throughout.
   
   Play with it until it feels right. It’s all about creating a sense of balance. Don’t stress! Just follow some simple guidelines, your intuition and some inspiration. There are no real guidelines or rules when creating a gallery wall.
   
   Handy Tip: Photograph the arrangement while it’s on the floor to give a different perspective during the process. Plus, you’ll remember where everything goes!

3. MOCK IT UP ON THE WALL
   It’s time to start working on the wall. Consider the gallery’s proximity to the ceiling, furniture, other walls and objects (not too close!). Also consider where the focal point will be.
   
   Once your layout/composition feels right, cut out pieces of kraft paper to match the size of your pieces. A roll of kraft paper is perfect since you’ll likely need a lot. Now, you can use masking tape to adhere them to the wall. Mimic the composition you created on the floor and feel free to move things around until it looks right. Don’t forget to step back every now and then.

4. HAMMER AND HANG
   Finally, it’s time to commit your pieces to the wall with hammer and hardware. Using your pieces of artwork as a guide for where to hang is the most accurate way. Place the artwork over it’s matching piece of kraft paper to see where the hardware will sit. Use your hand or a pen to mark on the paper. Hammer your hardware in place of your mark and simply remove the kraft paper and tape from the wall. Hang your piece! Keep doing this until the gallery wall in complete. If you need to adjust slightly during this process, it’s okay.

5. ENJOY!
   Take a final step back, breathe, and enjoy your gallery wall. Feel free to add or take away pieces as time goes on, keeping the artwork relevant to your life. Have fun and enjoy!

The post HOW TO CREATE A GALLERY WALL appeared first on Studio&Me.

Decorating your home is not a big conspiracy – whatever your budget, there are quick and easy things you can do to make your interiors sing. From writing a design brief to finding your style – here are some inside decorating tips to get you styling your home like a professional from interiors expert Jacinta Preston.

1. HOW TO FIND YOUR INTERIOR DECORATING STYLE

The “Style & Error” technique is a fundamental method of solving problems, including design and interior decorating ones. “Style & Error” means repeated, varied attempts until you find a style that is just right. It can be as unsystematic as you like. Don’t expect this to be a finite or static thing either… the “Style & Error” operation will continue throughout your life. Each new life phase or new property will force your hand, to somewhat reinvent your ideas on style. This is the ridiculously fun part – embrace it!

2. CREATE A DESIGN BRIEF

Even if you are going to be your own designer it’s important to follow a process. It all starts with the design brief… or perhaps a long wish list. A good design brief should focus on the outcome of the design. A design brief is often referred to as a scope of works. It includes details on all elements that need to be covered in the project, a shopping list of needs and wants, together with ideas on the budget and timeline. It’s easier to prepare a design brief room by room.Draw inspiration from a range of sources. I like to brainstorm all, and I seriously mean ALL my options, from the modest to the deliciously over-the-top. Travel, magazines, journals and trade shows help to keep a designer up to date with new products and materials, and even design ideas.

5. TRY BEFORE YOU BUY

Many stores and suppliers will let you take pieces like rugs home on “appro”. Rugs area very VIP “try before you buy” candidate. I would even suggest that it’s impossible to make a great rug selection without first viewing it. The lovely exception is if you have the opportunity to simply buy what you like and build the perfect room around it.

6. REALLY UNDERSTAND YOUR SPACE

The easiest way to understand the size of a space is mock it up within a large room (or even a shed!). Include the key items of furniture, either by using real pieces or a stack of cardboard boxes to resemble the volume. Masking tape and chalk can help with this process, too. The idea is to figure out what you need and where you can cheat.

7. CONSIDER FURNITURE AND FLOW

Allow for a generous corridor in a room, making it easy to move around and pass someone. Apply this generosity to the garden path, too. Study the possible movement patterns on your floor-plans – use different colours to track possible routes. Flipping the orientation and configuration of furniture in a room can dramatically improve the experience of how you live within it.

8. SPEND TIME (AND MONEY) ON CUSHION SELECTION

You need more time and disproportionately more budget to get these right. Understand that symmetrical positioning of cushions makes things more formal and structured. Symmetry tends to work well in bedrooms and lounge rooms, but I would note a preference for keeping this look in the bedroom. Symmetry often means fewer cushions so this can be used as a strategy to manage budget constraints. Random cushions need more “Style & Error” testing (see point 1) than just about any other item. Cushion colours need to relate to something else in the room, but beware of the “perfect match” – this can easily go wrong.

Play with pattern, but do try to work within just one or two same colour palettes. Patterns can either be a similar scale or a balanced mix – just make sure you throw in a couple of low-key options or block colours so the eye has somewhere to rest. Finally, play with shape too; larger cushions should be placed at the back, and layered forward to create a mix.

9. KNOW THE SECRET BEHIND GOOD CURTAINS

Please order full-height curtains only – and do take the rod or track right to the ceiling. Better yet, conceal the track inside a recessed pelmet.

10. UNDERSTAND THAT CHAIRS ARE TO INTERIORS WHAT SHOES ARE TO FASHION

You know what they say about shoes: they will make or break an outfit. It’s the same with chairs. Think of them as accessories. They are the perfect design tool to add sass to any interior. It’s sensible to play it safe on really big-ticket items like sofas, rugs and dining tables but chairs can defy the rules. Let loose. Fake fur, animal prints, velvet, vintage leather armchairs… just remember that a chair has to be comfortable.

11. CUT THE CLUTTER, CRAP AND CHAOS

Everything you own will be better for it. And so will your mental health. Go through your house, room by room, and seriously remove the crap. Keep only things that are both functional and beautiful. This is the single biggest thing you can do for your home and the really great news is you can usually do it in a day (OK, maybe a week). If you don’t know where to start, try the Marie Kondo method and take everything out, bar the basic big-ticket furniture items, and “interview” all the other items before they gain entry back into the room. “Do you really belong here?” “Do you spark joy?” If the answer is no, chuck it!

12. IF YOU WANT GOOD STORAGE, PLAN IT

Be space-aware and “use” all the unused spaces. For lovers of books, magazines, ceramics, guitars, CDs, DVDs, kitchen accouterments, say hello to [joinery]. Joinery has gone viral and is inspiring household displays around the world. Joinery, bookshelves or storage display units can be designed to fit precisely what you need them to.

+ READ SOURCE ARTICLE

The post 12 Rules An Interior Decorator Never Forgets appeared first on Studio&Me.

The grey skies and wet mornings of winter are beginning to set in, and with the cooler weather comes a need to spice up our homes and make them cosy. The change in season provides us with the perfect excuse to give our homes a little makeover, and it can be as easy as laying down a few rugs and incorporating some warm hues. Here’s five quick cosy winter interior decorating ideas that will help you feel snug as a bug in no time.

1. INCORPORATE COLOUR & TEXTURE

If you are considering purchasing some new homewares for the winter, re-evaluate your interior colour scheme. This season calls for rich, saturated colours such as dark green, jewel tones, reds or oranges. Similarly, fabric selection echoes the opulence of winter, with velvet, wool, cashmere and (faux) fur being the options of choice to channel warmth and texture into a room.

2. ADD GREENERY

In South Africa, winter is the season where our cultural desire for outdoor living is suppressed by gusty winds, frost-bitten lawns and icy evenings. Bring a little of the outside in by way of hardy indoor plants, or buy a bunch of flowers every week at your local farmers market to bring a sunny disposition to the dreariest of corners.

3. REARRANGE AND RECONSIDER

Change is as good as a holiday, and winter can have even the jolliest of snowmen dreaming of exotic places. Cast an eye over your living, dining and bedrooms and examine if there is any other way the space could be laid out. Could you rearrange seating to encourage conversation, or to gather around an open fireplace? Create new vignettes of vessels and trinkets on the sideboard in your dining room. Maybe you want to cozy up your bedroom with a textured bedhead? Sometimes rearranging a space, or simply the accessories filling it is enough to breathe new life into an old arrangement.

4. LAYER UP

One of the quickest ways to cozy up your home is to introduce layers. Things like throw rugs, cushions, faux sheepskins, floor rugs and heavy curtains all bring an element of coziness to a room and you’ll have all creature comforts within arm’s reach.

5. LIGHTING

Winter days are shorter than their summer counterparts, but don’t be discouraged. Use the lack of natural light as an opportunity to create atmosphere with different kinds of lighting. Try lamps, candles and look for bulbs with warmer tones for overhead lighting to give a warmer overall cast to a room. If your lamps have exposed bulbs, perhaps try integrating vintage decorative ones.

+ READ SOURCE ARTICLE

The post 5 Winter Interior Decorating Ideas appeared first on Studio&Me.