It is difficult not to be seduced by the weird and wacky images we see on home makeover programmes and in interior design magazines. Bright colours or a monochrome palette accentuated with metallic accessories—they all look great in someone else's home, but are they really you and should you try to imitate what you see on the TV?
Design trends are big business. Design bloggers, magazine features writers and interior design consultants are paid lots of money to come up with the ‘next big thing' in the design world. It is their job to predict the trends waiting just around the corner to dazzle a whole new generation of consumers eager for a fabulous look in their living room or bedroom. This is why there are so many different trends in the stores at any one time and from animal prints to vintage, you would be forgiven for having a complete breakdown at the thought of having to pick just one style to go with. So why bother?
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Step Outside Your Comfort Zone
Just because your neighbour has redecorated their entire home in a harmony of blue, it doesn't mean you have to follow suit. For one thing you might not like blue, and for another, blue might not look so great with your oxblood red leather sofa. The key to a successful design scheme is to think about what you really like as opposed to what you think you should like. We all have different tastes and colour preferences. Some people like nothing more than to spend their Saturday wandering through the local Ikea store whereas others are much happier rooting around the local junk shop in search of a bargain.
Choose Your Favourite Pieces
Look around your existing décor and pick out the pieces you really love. That pale green vase you picked up ten years ago from a car boot sale and the colourful rug you bought from a market in Spain. Use these as a starting point to help you decide on the direction to take your new decorative scheme. Next, decide what you can afford to replace and what will be staying.
Work With What You Have
The chances are good that you won't be able to splash out on a new sofa or carpet, so you are going to have to be creative and find some workarounds—particularly if either or both are truly hideous. But don't panic—there are always ways and means to make the most of what you have. Just watch any daytime home makeover show if you don't believe me!
Colour Palettes and All That Jazz
Colour is important, so it is essential that you make the right choices early on. If you really have no idea what colour scheme to go for, look in your wardrobe and see what colours you are comfortable with. Do you gravitate towards cool tones, or are you more into warm, spicy shades? This will give you a starting point and help you rule out colours you really hate. Next, think about the light in the room. Dark rooms need lighter colours whereas light, bright rooms can cope with darker tones. What is the room to be used for? Do you want to create a more intimate feel? If so, will a richer colour be the way forward?
The point here is not to get too hung up on what you perceive the latest trends and styles to be. They won't necessarily be right for you or your home and unless you are the kind of person who enjoys redecorating every year, it is far better to choose colours and styles you are comfortable with and that you can live with for a few years at least. The latest design trends might be cutting edge, but they will also be out of fashion in a year's time!
