One of my favourite client requests is: "make my home perfect"!"No problem!", I always respond. But what does that really mean? My design philosophy is that a home has to be gorgeous and functional at the same time. Gone are the days of ‘museum rooms’ with plastic over the sofa! Instead, lets create beautiful spaces that the whole family can use – adults and children alike- without compromising style.
With that in mind, here are my foolproof tips on creating a home that incorporates functionality in its décor.
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Use appropriate materials –High traffic areas, such as the kitchen or family room are the best places to be creative and adventurous with fabric. These days there is a wide variety of vinyls, leatherettes, outdoor fabrics amongst many others that are durable and beautiful. Pair upholstered dining chairs (always scotch guard – it will pay for itself the first time you spill red wine!) with a naturally stain resistant wood bench such as Artemano’s Suar Freeform Bench. The look is modern and elegant and very functional.
Suar freeform bench
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Hide your clutter – clutter is something that we all have but I don’t ever want to see! It should all be neatly hidden behind the closed doors of a hutch or buffet. This is especially helpful for people with kids. At the end of your little one’s day, your floor that was covered in books, toys, puzzles and dolls should easily convert back to an adult sanctuary. Close the doors of a beautiful yet functional cabinet (like the Artemano Cabinet made of metal and recycled wood from old fishing boats) and enjoy your adult evening.
Cabinet made out of metal and recycled wood from old fishing boats
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Stick with neutrals – Your big-ticket items that are more expensive to replace are best in neutrals – grey, beige and white. This way you always have a clean palette to work with when it comes to colourful accents and accessories. The key to decorating with neutrals is to ensure that you mix different tones, textures and scale to create visual interest.
Overall, think about the use and users of each room - In order to properly style a room you have to be mindful of who will be using it and what they are using it for. Once that’s determined, you can decorate accordingly. A living room, which is often more formal and designed to facilitate easy conversation amongst guests, will be decorated very differently than a basement that is often more casual.
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