Style your home like a pro – to live in and to sell

Our homes are our havens and we love its safe familiarity, generally giving little thought to the aesthetics of our surroundings until that day dawns when we notice that it’s become a little shabby and dated and in need of some love.

However, for many of us, decorating a home is a daunting prospect, despite the multitude of home renovation shows on television which not only offer inspirational ideas, they also highlight the amount of work involved as well as all the potential pitfalls and mistakes that can be made.

This is especially true if your budget is limited because you could find yourself stuck with choices that you end up hating but have to live with - and they could also impact the sale of your home further down the line because your décor decisions will directly impact potential buyers’ first impressions.

Although your home decor is a very personal expression of yourself and your family and you want to create a space that reflects your personality and suits your lifestyle, it’s also important to remember that this may not always be your home and that you may decide to sell in the not-too-distant future.

This may seem like a challenge, especially if your tastes are more quickly than mainstream, but creating a space that you love but will also appeal to a broad buyer base as well is definitely achievable if you follow the key principles of design and do a little homework.

Some trends are fads whilst others will have longevity, and if you understand the difference, it’s very possible to decorate your home to your own taste whilst introducing the key elements that will tick most buyer’s boxes.

DO:

Take into consideration the architecture and the location of your home: for instance, an industrial-style interior probably won’t suit a beach cottage. Embrace where you live and look to your environment for inspiration;

Create mood boards and floor plans for each room: this will help you to see how the overall design works as a whole, whilst allowing you to give each space its own thought and effort;

Take your time: there is no need to try and finish it all at once. That’s also when the most mistakes and bad purchases are made;

Remember the front door: this is where the first impression begins so don’t neglect the entrance. Re-varnish for a natural look or paint in a bright glossy colour to make a statement. Place a pot plant or two alongside the door and buy a new welcome mat;

Optimise natural light: it’s not only beneficial to our health and wellbeing, natural light also makes rooms appear bigger and colours brighter. Choose window coverings that can be opened completely and trim bushes and trees outside the windows;

Give thought to thoroughfares: a common design error, especially in open-plan areas, is cramming in too much furniture without leaving enough room for people to comfortably move around. As a rule of thumb, the busiest thoroughfares in your home should be at least 90cm wide, leaving enough space for two people to pass each other;

Consider cohesive flooring: if your space is small, the same flooring throughout is an easy way to make your home feel much bigger than it actually is. Larger open plan areas will benefit from the use of rugs to demarcate different areas and break the continuity;

Blend old and new: modern interiors are stylish but they can feel too uniform or even clinical. Add a few older touches such as antique candlesticks or a vintage lamp to add character;

Look up: often overlooked, ceilings are the biggest blank canvas in any room and should not be ignored. Opt for interesting light fittings and remember that white will make a small room appear brighter and the ceiling higher, choosing another colour in in larger rooms can add much character and atmosphere;

Bear in mind that furniture can potentially take up crucial circulation space: this is especially important in smaller rooms where space is already tight. If you want to put a large piece of furniture in a small space, buy one with a track arm for a clean and modern look;

Mount curtains high above your windows: the closer to the ceiling, the grander and bigger the room will feel.

DON’T:

Create rooms that are overly themed: we all have a particular style or era that we love, but be careful not to take this too far. Rather select your favourite elements and incorporate them into your décor;

Stick to one colour or colour scheme: you can certainly have dominant colours, but infuse complementary hues for depth and interest. As a rule of thumb, the surest way to create a balanced colour scheme is to stick to 60% for your dominant colour, 30% for your secondary colour and 10% for an accent colour;

Place all the furniture up against the wall: By bringing pieces in and creating walkways, you give the walls breathing space and can use the whole room. Incorporate narrow bookshelves and plants to utilise the remaining areas. This works especially well in open-plan spaces;

Clutter the space: there is definitely such a thing as having too many ornaments or throw pillows and less is very often more in decorating. Rather stick to your base style and don’t go overboard when adding adornment;

Skimp on rug size: Ideally, a rug should be big enough that some or all of your furniture’s feet can sit on it. This will highlight your furniture whilst a tiny rug under a coffee table will only make a room feel poky;

Feel that you have to buy the whole matching set: everything doesn’t have to look the same, just related. For instance, buy the couch you love but replace the accompanying armchairs with one or two in a similar style and colour;

Underestimate the value of your wall space: empty walls are not only wasted spaces, they can also make a room seem very unwelcoming. Optimise your biggest display area to showcase what you really love. Use large art to make a small room seem bigger;

Neglect the lighting: It’s more important than you think. Old fittings will make a room look dated and the right lighting can really set the ambience in a room. Lamps and light fixtures can even double up as wall art;

Confuse ‘vintage’ and ‘worn out’: just because something is old doesn’t mean it’s antique or even charming, so unless the piece is a functioning antique and/or made from high quality materials it’s probably past its prime.

Finally, the most important tip of all is to have confidence when decorating and to trust your instincts. The more unsure you are of yourself, the more likely you are to make the wrong choices and decisions.