23rd July 2020 / Prue Fletcher: Creative Ideas to Set the Tone of your Home

There is a lot of beauty in ordinary things and it would serve us well to remember that quite often, it's all smoke and mirrors when we see spaces shine brightly on the covers of magazines. It doesn't, however, stop us from wanting to recreate the same magic within our own homes!

Things like colour, materials, palette and decor will inevitably dictate the overall look of your home, but it's the feel that sets the tone. For this reason, it's important to consider how it is you best enjoy your home, as well as the people who will both use and visit your sacred space.

Whether it's wanting your home to look it's best for an upcoming dinner party, or getting it photoshoot-worthy for sale, here are some of my top tips that will help you set the tone!

Personality

The most important thing when styling a space is that the pieces work harmoniously. Maybe that means starting with your favourite piece of artwork or a statement rug, but whatever you choose to begin with, think about why this piece is interesting to you and start to bring in some pieces that will compliment.

Furniture Layout

Before getting caught up in how you will watch the television, focus your intention rather on flow of the room. Consider any architectural features worth showing off or vistas that require an armchair view. Symmetry works well, but so too does having some irregular items to feature in a space.

Lighting

Light is a powerful thing. It has the ability to transform a room by lifting the mood, inspiring productivity and in times like present when we find ourselves spending more and more time at home – it can comfort us. The right light can awaken the soul — bringing to life our morning routines or intimate moments spent with family & friends.

Experts often comment that more than one source of lighting is needed in a room, so aim to achieve a layered approach. Illuminate each room with a mixture of lighting including overhead, accent and task lights.

Colour

When committing to paint colours, artwork or large pieces of furniture, it's important to factor in both the natural and artificial light in your home. At different times of the day, a colour palette throws different lighting, in the morning it something could appear in warms hues yet in the evening a much cooler shade, so experimenting with different sample colours on walls and fabric swatches on floors is a great way to ensure everything will tie together harmoniously.