Looking for some new furniture, you went to the nearby store to check out what’s available. Unfortunately, none of the pieces there caught your eye. They lacked the personality and fun you were seeking.
Does this scenario apply to you?
If so, sculptural furniture could be the exact thing you’re looking for.
Sculptural furniture made headlines lately as one of the newest interior design trends that’s gaining tons of popularity.
As the name suggests, sculptural furniture brings intense aesthetics and function together. Regular furniture is a lot more functional. It often lacks the dramatic flair that makes sculptural furniture unique and attractive.
Sculptural furniture, in a sense, is a piece of art you can interact with it. Like other types of art, it’s available in numerous styles ranging from hyper-realistic to abstract. A hand-shaped chair is a very popular example of sculptural furniture you can seek online. In other instances, sculptural furniture creators play with shapes and colours to give you something quite unorthodox and modernistic.
Hence, sculptural furniture is an umbrella term for lots and lots of pieces. That’s great because you have the freedom to explore many options before pinpointing the one you’re most drawn to. Regardless of the fact that the trend is fairly new, there’s quite a lot of pieces you can examine and buy (or have custom-made for you).
Let’s check out some of the most common sculptural furniture varieties. Realistic and abstract are two choices we’ve already mentioned but there are others, as well.
Tubular furniture is often oversized in form and very bold in terms of colour. The trend originated in the 1970s and it brings some fun retro chic to interior design. Tubular furniture is usually chunky but it has rounded corners. The trend can be applied to chairs, sofas, tables, beds and various other types of furniture.
Many sculptural furniture creators also use geometric elements and symmetry to create outstandingly beautiful designs that are also very functional. Do check for such pieces on Pinterest, they’re striking and a great choice for just about any home.
Post-modern sculptural furniture is also worth mentioning. These pieces are large and bold. They have almost child-like naiveté and over-exaggeration to the shape and form. Think of pop art on steroids and you’ll have some idea what post-modern sculptural furniture looks like.
There are various other choices, as well. Some sculptural furniture creators are inspired by nature (in their choice of materials or shapes). These pieces have a more organic, subtle feel to them.
And last but not least, there are the pieces that look like actual sculptures. These could feature carved wood or elaborate metal elements that resemble an actual sculpture you can place in our living room. Usually, these are one-of-a-kind, unique pieces that carry a ton of artistic vision and cannot be replicated due to their ornate nature.
Rules about using sculptural furniture aren’t set in stone. You’ll have to take into account a couple of things to make the most of these pieces and turn them into your home’s shining star.
Understand the fact you don’t need to be an art connoisseur to select such unorthodox furniture pieces. Just trust your gut when researching. You’ll feel instantly drawn to certain pieces and styles. These are the ones to consider getting.
Even if an item you like is borderline kitsch, it can still be incorporated in beautiful and modern interior design. The key to making that happen is balance.
When using sculptural furniture, you have to let those pieces “breathe.” In other words, sculptural furniture doesn’t need tons of accessories to stand out. It does that on its own. A few accents like a rug in front of the sofa or a plant by its side are fine but you don’t need a whole lot more.
Also, you don’t have to match sculptural furniture to the other pieces in the respective room. Eclectic design can be really fun, especially if you have an eye for detail and you pick and choose items that look nice alongside each other.
And if you don’t have that eye for detail, you can count on some professional assistance.
A well-established interior design company in Singapore can help you on several fronts.
For a start, interior design professionals like the Home Guide team can help you find a contractor who’ll make custom pieces for you. The quality of execution is very important for every home décor element but even more so for sculptural furniture. Not only do these pieces need to look good, they also have to work as expected.
Also, we can make that custom piece a perfect match to the home interior you’re hoping to achieve. It’s our passion to work on such highly personalised projects. Just let us know what your dream home looks like and we’ll make that vision happen.
Contact Home Guide now to start your home’s transformation and turn the interior in an actual piece of art.
Can you easily envision the impressive height of the Eiffel tower, the regal silhouette of Vienna or the massiveness of New York’s skyscrapers? If so, you’re a definite travel junkie. You live and breathe adventure, you love discovering new places and cultures. Chances are that you’d want to be reminded of these experiences when you’re home.
The task can be accomplished easily by bringing a travel theme to your home’s interior.
Travel-inspired interior design is more than just featuring souvenirs from your trips on a shelf in the living room. You can weave a comprehensive idea or pattern throughout your home, making the place feel just like a favourite destination. Here are a few ideas to help you execute that vision.
If you’re both into travel and photography, you can combine the two passions to make your home’s interior unique.
A gallery wall dedicated to your travel pictures in the living room is a great choice. You can go for framed pictures or something a bit more casual. Using thumbtacks to stick pictures on a map of the world, for example, would be a great way to celebrate your trips.
Travel photos can be featured in many other parts of the flat.
Use the hallway to create a chronological representation of your journeys.
Have some stylish black and white photos in the bedroom. These can add a lot of sophistication to the space. Alternatively, feature the pictures that you’re most emotionally-connected to. A bedroom is a really intimate space, which is why you may want to select photographs that carry a lot of meaning.
Bring the Essence of the Country to Your Home
Apart from featuring small details like photos and accessories, you can infuse the interior design of your home with the essence of the country or region.
It’s easy to bring Indonesian, Japanese, Scandinavian or Mediterranean interior design styles, cultural elements or influences inside your living space. And these are just three examples.
Each country is known for a particular style, building materials, textiles and even colour schemes. You’ve probably paid attention to such details during your trip. Use these details to bring a destination you cherish to your Singaporean flat. Luckily, the home decor market features a wide array of furniture and décor styles. You’ll easily find the pieces that you need. Even if you can’t, these will be fairly easy to order and have custom-made for you.
The key to making travel-inspired interior design work is authenticity.
You don’t want cheesy pieces of furniture or decor that are mass-manufactured to represent an idea of a certain country. These knock-off pieces, however, are only going to make your home look like the typical souvenir shop. Needless to say, you don’t want that.
Instead, focus on a few high quality, authentic accent pieces.
If you’ve brought such home with you from your trips, you’ll enjoy definite authenticity. And even if you haven’t, genuine markets as well as higher-end furniture or decor stores that focus on a region can be found. Look online, work with local craftsmen or even check out a vintage furniture store. By doing so, you’ll probably come across some hidden gems worthy of your attention and your money.
Travelling abroad is just optional if you want to have a travel-inspired home.
Instead of picking a country as your inspiration, you can choose another kind of destination.
A home’s interior design can be inspired by the mountains, the beach, a lush forest or a rustic desert. Chances are that you can visualise those places effortlessly. To bring them home, you’ll need the right colour scheme and materials. Some plants and a few pieces of art will tie the entire concept together.
Just like in the case of a country-inspired interior design, you don’t have to stick to just one idea for the entire home. Each room can be dedicated to a different place, giving you some variety and a chance to experience different moods through the ambiance. Such an endeavor, however, will require a good eye, great taste, astute planning and strategic restraint. Qualities that a trusted home interior design company like Home Guide has.
A final idea would be to focus on an activity related to your trips.
Yoga and meditation, spa and balneological procedures, bird watching, mountain climbing, kayaking, scuba diving – these are all activities people get to enjoy while travelling.
You can either dedicate a part of the flat to one of those activities – photos of you and your family performing those activities, featuring gear as a décor like hanging up a beautiful ski board.
As you can see, there are so many fun ways to approach the travel theme.
When choosing one, make it personal. Otherwise, the décor is going to lack depth and soul. Don’t opt for something just because it’s trendy and exciting right now. You should stick to an idea you’ll enjoy as much in five years as you are loving today.
If you’d like professional assistance, you should definitely let us know. At Home Guide, we enjoy all of the beauty and authentic charm that different cultures bring to the table. Contact us and we’ll embark on a transformative journey for your home renovation in Singapore together. The end result will be a reflection of your experiences, memories and passions.
If you are living in a HDB flat or going to, check out our 2-room BTO renovation package, 3-room BTO renovation package , 4-room BTO renovation package as well as 5-room BTO renovation package.
Leather is considered a high quality, posh material that will instantly elevate the interior of a home. It has a range of popular applications, mainly in the realm of furniture and accessory making. A luxurious leather sofa or an office chair have established themselves as staples. Still, there are many other ways in which leather can be used to add originality to your home interior design.
Sometimes, the little touches and details are the ones that will make or break an interior design concept.
If you like leather, choose a less obvious way to incorporate it in your home’s décor.
Fun little decorative elements and accessories can be crafted from this flexible material. In fact, various designers and artists work with leather because of its pliable nature. Just do a basic online search and you’ll come across a number of fun and inspiring choices.
Leather rugs, leather patchwork art, even leather clocks and vases can bring a lot of sophistication to your home. There are even leather phone dock stations and leather bins/containers readily available for purchase.
If you need something with a bit of rustic charm, something more contemporary or even something more abstract, you can definitely find it. If you come across an artist whose style you like, you can get several different pieces in the same collection as they will carry the same distinctive style, adding cohesiveness to your décor.
Brown, beige and black are typical colours when it comes to leather furniture and accessories.
To make your execution pop, look for leather that has been dyed in unusual tones.
Red, marine blue, Bordeaux, grey and even white are all intriguing options. Choosing white leather, however, means you’ll need to be invested in its cleaning and maintenance. If you’re looking for a home interior that’s not capricious and difficult to keep spotless, white would be one of the tones to avoid.
It’s up to you to decide if the leather accessories will fit in the home interior design colour scheme you’ve chosen for everything else or if they’d be used to add some contrast. Also, consider brightness and finish. Pastel, matte tones are a bit more subdued. In some instances, however, leather can feature intense colours that will make much more of a statement.
Leather is most commonly used in the living room, the library and home office. How about featuring leather accents in rooms where such aren’t too common?
The bedroom and kitchen are two places that will definitely look a lot posher if you choose the right leather elements to add.
A leather headboard and bed frame are fairly easy to find and they look awesome with any style of bed. In some instances, the bed frame could be fully upholstered with leather. Such a design choice makes a statement because of the texture of leather. And when it is used for headboard creation, the material adds some padding and insulation.
In the kitchen, you can easily feature leather in the form of barstools by the kitchen island. Leather storage containers will also make wonderful and practical kitchen accessories.
Here’s one more creative idea that’s perfect for the kitchen, the living room and anywhere else you may be featuring cabinetry.
Leather handles and hooks can replace traditional cabinet and shelf hardware. These leather loops will immediately transform the appearance of your storage units, making them edge and unusual.
On top of being practical and fun, such leather hardware replacements can also be used as hooks for the hanging of towels, utensils or something else. If you’re short on storage space, this idea will definitely come in handy.
Old leather belts have a really cool vintage look that become amazing home accessories.
Just do some research on how old leather belts can be repurposed for interior decor. You’ll be surprised by how creative people can get with these for amazing results!
Old belts can be used to hang plants, create a brand new chair seat, put together a nifty floor mat or even create handles that keep curtains properly folded in place. The material is so versatile and long-lived that these accessories will probably outlive you with a bit of good care.
Decorating with leather can be incredibly fun if you decide to try something outside the box.
It doesn’t matter if you want to DIY your décor or have custom pieces created for you. Both of these strategies will give you the unique elements that reveal your personality through the appearance of your home.
And if you have a specific idea but don’t know how to make it happen in real life, contact Home Guide. We are the best home interior design company in Singapore that has the inspiration, the knowledge and the experience to build upon your dream and give you the outstanding home renovation execution you’ve always been hoping to enjoy one day.
Space is a limited resource. If you live in a small flat, you know that fact all too well. You have to prioritise the most important lifestyle aspects when designing the apartment and giving each room purpose. And you’ll probably have to make a compromise with everything that you’d like to fit in the limited amount of space.
Or would you?
Dual purpose rooms are the perfect solution for space-starved apartments. They allow for the creation of two (or even more) functional zones, making it possible to host everything that you dream of having in a small flat.
Designing a dual purpose room isn’t easy – you have to be smart and strategic. Working with an interior designer is the best way to ensure complete functionality that also looks good. Here are a few of the essentials you’ll focus on while working on such a project.
The first and most important thing you have to decide is the dual purposes and functionalities of the space. Preferably, these should have something in common so that things like furniture can easily overlap in uses. Looking at it this way will allow you start space planning and curating furniture and other functional items for both of the activities that the space is intended for.
A living room and a space for a family game night can work really well together. The same applies to the living room and multimedia centre combo. For small spaces, a living room and dining area combo is very often seen.
A home office combined with a guest room is another popular choice that interior designers often execute today. There’s a simple reason why this idea works well. Most people don’t host guests that frequently. As a result, the space can be used as an office or a library most of the time while it will get transformed into a guest room when the need arises.
It’s easy to see how the logic works here. A kitchen can have a dining zone or a space for hosting guests. A bedroom can feature a yoga and meditation corner. Take some time to think about the main things you’d like to do at home. When you have some idea about the top priorities, you can start conceptualising the most logical dual purpose spaces.
A room in the house is going to have a main function and a secondary purpose. Let’s take the living room as an example. Its main purpose is obvious. But chances are that one corner of the room can be dedicated to something else.
Filling a corner is a good idea because this way, you’ll be taking up less space while still featuring the essentials.
A triangular, custom-built desk, for example, can be fitted in the corner to create a home office. Add a few shelves and storage containers and the place is ready for use. It will look minimal but at the same time, it’s going to feature all essentials required to work, handle family finances or complete any other activity that requires concentration.
You can create a study area for your kid in the very same way. Custom-built furniture or a folding desk will be ideal because these take into account space limitations while also giving you everything required to partake in the respective activity.
If a flat is particularly small, you’ll have to tidy up elements of one purpose in order to utilise the room’s second purpose. To do that, you’ll need plenty of storage space. Luckily, clever storage solutions exist for the need of space-starved apartment owners.
When you’re not using items and accessories related to one activity, put them away. Otherwise, you risk having a space that features everything but the kitchen sink and looks chaotic.
Vertical storage that frees horizontal space, as well as built-on or concealed storage units that are dual function can work really well. Generally speaking, you should be making use of the nooks and crannies that remain empty and cannot be utilized in any other way. While you may have to invest in custom storage units, these will add a lot to the versatility of the respective space.
Some dual purpose ideas may not make sense. For example, a home office that is also a home gym or a kitchen that is also a multimedia space.
While you may be pushed to create as many dual purpose areas as possible due to flat size limitations, some combinations aren’t viable. If you attempt to work on such projects, you’ll end up wasting time and resources. Eventually, you’ll get an outcome that isn’t practical and that simply takes up space instead of adding value to the property.
A home interior design company can help you avoid this mistake and some other common issues related to making dual purpose rooms work. Contact Home Guide if you have a small flat you’d like to enrichen. We’ll come up with various smart solutions and creative zoning approaches to give you everything you’ve ever been hoping for. Also check out our 2-room HDB BTO renovation packages as well as 3-room HDB BTO renovation packages as a starting point to get your new home renovation going!
In the world of home interior design and decor, visual balance is just about everything. There are also ways to stimulate other senses and these add another experiential dimension to how we design for the home. Tactile elements, for example, can make interiors richer and more inviting.
Stimulating the sense of touch in interior design is fairly easy to do through the use of different fabrics. Tactile fabrics are definitely what we think can achieve this. With the right placement in combination with other design elements, they can easily add depth to how one experiences the home and add intrigue.
These textiles have a self-explanatory name. When touched, they add texture and three-dimensional appeal to the home interior.
Furry and shaggy rugs, velvet, silk, linen, suede and even faux leather all qualify as textile fabric elements. They can be mixed and matched in numerous ways, adding to the fun and playfulness of the décor.
You can use tactile fabrics anywhere and in combination with all kinds of materials. In fact, you’re probably doing so already. Check out your living room. Is there a fluffy carpet in front of the sofa? Do you have throw pillows on it? Or maybe a wall hung tapestry is positioned above the multimedia centre?
All of these fabrics aren’t just good to look at because of their colours and patterns. They also encourage touching. Many tactile fabrics create a sense of comfort and peacefulness. Others add a luxurious touch to an otherwise simple home décor.
You can use tactile fabrics regardless of the interior design style you’ve chosen. They’re also a great idea for every room, including functional spaces like the bathroom and the kitchen.
Now that we’ve covered the essentials, let’s check out a few ways in which tactile textiles can be incorporated harmoniously in an interior design upgrade.
Contrast is wonderful and it can play a role in every aspect of interior design. Contrast works well when it comes to colours or a juxtaposition of styles (minimalist and bohemian elements working alongside each other for a truly eclectic home).
Mixing contrasting tactile fabrics will also work really well to make things a bit more intriguing and engaging.
Curtains, for example, can be crafted from a soft linen that features a faux leather trim at the bottom. Not only will these curtains look unique and unusual, they can also add a bit of continuity to the overall execution (if you have leather furniture in the home, the faux leather trim will tie in nicely with the larger pieces).
Having different fabrics all in the same colour will create a really cool effect, allowing the different textures to stand out.
Monochromatic home décor can be difficult to pull off because it may look a bit too matchy-matchy or even boring. Adding different textures is the best way to make things exciting.
And it’s not just the texture. Each one of the fabrics will give a different finish to the colour. Silk, for example, is going to give a certain tone a shiny and glossy finish. Velvet and suede, on the other hand, create a matte effect that will look quite different from the previous one.
Tactile fabrics will easily set a specific mood in a room.
As a general rule, heavier textures create a more intimate feel. Light textures uplift the mood, they’re bright and modern. Hence, heavier tactile fabrics are perfect for a place like the bedroom. Lightweight and smooth textiles will work better in a room like the home office.
Keep in mind, however, that heavier textured fabrics tend to absorb light while lightweight ones reflect it. This is an essential to keep in mind when planning lighting and making sure that a certain room doesn’t look too gloomy.
Another way to approach the selection of tactile fabrics involves a seasonal logic.
Heavier, coarser textiles will be a perfect choice for colder days. A shaggy rug creates an immediate warm and cosy sensation. Other good choices for those cold moments include corduroy, velvet, faux fur and suede.
Linen, cotton and silk (natural fabrics) will be ideal lightweight options for the hottest days. These fabrics are breathable and smooth. They’ll ensure a sense of airiness even when the day is hot and humid.
And finally, remember to focus on keeping things balanced.
Overdoing tactile surfaces, just like overdoing another aspect of home décor, can result in visual clutter. You don’t want a space that feels crammed and you definitely don’t want numerous beautiful materials fighting for attention. A few contrasting textures are great (for example – a furry throw pillow on top of a smooth, upholstered sofa). Going overboard, however, will take away from the individual amazingness of every single piece.
And as simple as this may sound, balance is one of the most difficult things to achieve in the world of interior design.
In the absence of a trained eye, you can easily do too much or too little.
That’s why Home Guide interior design will love to step in and help you out.
Work with textiles and textures is one of our favourite approaches to add some “spice” to a home renovation. Contact Home Guide now to begin a transformation that will quickly and effortlessly elevate your living space.
The freshness of a salty breeze, the rush of wind through palm leaves, long beaches and intense sunshine… Who wouldn’t want to replicate the feel of a tropical holiday in their own home? Luckily, the task is easy to achieve when the power of interior design is employed correctly.
Tropical elements add warmth and sparkle to your home interior design. You can introduce those without being too obvious and opting for clichés. To add a tropical touch, you’ll simply need to focus on some of the following ideas.
The term tropical is rather general but it can refer to a number of things.
Will you recreate the lush appeal of the Bahamas? Or Hawaii? Or Maui? Each one of these places (and many other tropical nations) have their own stylistic appeal that you may want to recreate. This is the first thing you have to decide on, if you want your execution to look consistently good.
Hawaii-inspired design, for example, incorporates natural fibres, dark wooden finishes, bright but natural colours and lots of tropical plants. The decorating style of the Bahamas is based on lots of rattan, teak furniture and even paintings by Bahamian artists like Brent Malone, Maxwell Taylor and Stan Burnside.
These have already been mentioned but we need to emphasise the importance of all three design elements. They are the ones that will set the tone and make the design scheme recognisable.
As far as colours go, bright but natural is the rule.
Go for blues, greens, yellows, browns, orange and all creams. Apart from being reminiscent of an island paradise, these colours are also very soothing and perfect for the creation of a serene ambiance. There are many tones to choose among, giving you a good opportunity to introduce a slightly different concept in each of the rooms (a peaceful blue in the bedroom, a green and refreshing living room, bright yellows in the nursery, etc.).
When it comes to materials, natural is once again the way to go. Bamboo, rattan, sisal, linen and basket weave are all ideal. Not only do these materials bring the right vibe, they also add some fun texture to the interior design.
As you can see, you don’t have to spend a ton of money on very expensive accessories and upgrades. Often, a fresh coat of paint and working with what you have is going to be enough. Something as simple as the addition of rugs and rope decorative elements can easily transform the appearance of an entire room.
Plants are another important element to bring the tropical flora to your home. Many tropical plants can be kept in containers and they’ll thrive with a little bit of care.
Some of the authentic houseplants to consider adding to your home interior design include Snake plants, philodendrons, monstera, pothos and calathea. Obviously, you have many other choices, as well. If you like a specific plant and it matches the brief, go for it!
When selecting houseplants, you should also check out the care requirements.
Unless you have enough experience with gardening, pick varieties that don’t have highly specific light, water and fertilisation requirements. Some tropical plants (especially flowering varieties) will be tempting due to their beauty but they could be notoriously difficult to take care of. Go here to learn more.
If you don’t have authentic furniture pieces or artworks, you can add the tropical feel to your home through the selection of patterns.
Colourful and playful, these will instantly “lift” and brighten any room.
Bright flowers, palm leaves, tropical birds, tropical fruits and orchids are all fun and fairly obvious choices. You can also use colourful geometric patterns that feature fitting colour tones. Patterns reminiscent of sandy beaches and the ocean are also great.
There are lots of fabrics carrying tropical prints. These will be ideal for the creation of curtain, pillow covers, bedsheets and other textile elements that can be dispersed throughout the home.
With so many fun decorations to choose among, it’s easy to go overboard. The trick is to make a statement with one focal point that sets the tropical tone (or maybe more depending on the size and layout of your space) with everything else playing a supportive role. If you have too many strong elements fighting for attention, you’ll end up with interior design that looks too busy and cluttered.
Think of beach bar furniture or a little villa on the beach. There isn’t anything ornamental or excessive there. A few handmade furniture pieces and some lightweight fabrics will be enough to convey the message.
These are a few of the guiding principles to follow if you want to enjoy the beauty of the tropics every single day.
Still, bringing those concepts to reality is often easier said than done. If you don’t know how to execute a tropical design or you worry about going overboard, partner up with professionals.
At Home Guide home interior design, we love the warmth and holiday vibe that tropical design carries. Needless to say, we can execute a home renovation from start to finish including interior design, space planning and project management for results that are tailored to you and exceed your vision. Contact Home Guide now to let us know what your dream home looks like.
It’s that exciting time and you’re thinking about a complete home renovation. You envision so many beautiful upgrades that will result in more functional, comfortable and exciting living. The only thing left to do is choose the right interior design team to help you bring that vision to reality.
With so many interior design experts in Singapore, making up your mind isn’t going to be easy.
When doing your research, you’ll probably check out home renovation portfolios and learn a bit more about the experience of each company. You’ll make sure that the style the team works in comes close to what you want for your home. And you’ll also look for HDB licensing to stay on the safe side (as you definitely should!).
Still, expertise isn’t an absolute guarantee of quality.
That’s where customer reviews can come in handy. Learning about the experience of other customers will reveal valuable information about communication, the ability of a team to meet deadlines and to offer some flexibility in line with the client’s desires.
We’re proud to let you know that Home Guide’s team has received excellent rankings time and time again. Based on what clients have to say about us, we can confidently claim that our professionals are a top choice for your project.
Most clients who worked with Home Guide on the execution of both residential and commercial interior design projects were impressed by the team’s punctuality and by the quality of customer service.
A recurrent trend in most customer reviews focuses on professionalism and an ability to personalise the execution to offer the customer exactly what they’re looking for.
Based on testimonials, we can conclude that the pros of choosing Home Guide for home interior design include:
Reading through customer reviews will give you a better idea about what we can do for you. Hopefully, you’ll find the answers to many questions with a simple search. If you want to go through the details, don’t hesitate to check out the following testimonials page as well as our Google Review page.
Still, if you need additional answers, contact Home Guide now. We do our best to respond to inquiries as soon as possible.
Whether you have a very specialised project in mind or you simply want to get to know us better, we’d be more than happy to get in touch and get the process started. For more information, please check out our promo packages and the HomeAlive 360-Degree Tour solution. This way, you’ll know a bit more about who we are and what we’re capable of offering.
Can’t wait to get to know you and your renovation plan better!
While retro design could be fun to bring into your home, it can easily start feeling dated when not done right. Is it possible to bring retro charm and modern design sensibilities together? We think the answer is a definite yes!
Bringing freshness to old-school design isn’t always a simple task. After all, you risk creating a hodgepodge that doesn’t look harmonious or balanced. An eye for detail and sense of adventure when it comes to styling, however, can really pay off.
Choose a number of high quality, authentic vintage pieces and let them be the star of the show.
You can accomplish the goal by keeping the rest of the home interior design somewhat more neutral and minimal.
Authentic vintage furniture from the 1950s, for example, is going to look stunning against a white background. The rest of the room should be kept clean, giving a sense of modernity and upgrading the focal points.
Very often, vintage pieces are executed in strong colours and you’ll find intriguing materials like velvet, plush, silk or leather. These make a statement enough on their own without necessitating any enhancement.
Start by picking the focus of each room. When you do, you’ll find it fairly easy to put together a beautiful and clean composition that lets that particular piece be the star of the show.
As already mentioned, materials and textures are the key to recreating a favourite retro style. This should be your next focus and you’ll definitely need to come up with some form of layering.
Tactile materials are very typical for retro designs like those from the 1970s. You can feature macramé plant holders, shag rugs, plushy throw pillows, linen and sequins in your home.
To elevate the retro “kitsch” of these materials, do the layering against a clean and modern background. For example, you can have a streamlined, minimalist sofa that houses a couple of colourful, glittery throw pillows.
This way, the layering of textures will create fun accents that aren’t overpowering. Texture should give a nod to retro stylings instead of taking over the entire interior.
Campy, bright colours are defining for many retro styles. Mustard yellow, orange and neon tones are all very typical and very commonly utilised when a retro interior design execution is the main assignment.
The brightness and camp of these tones, however, can make them feel somewhat dated. You can create a nod to those palettes while modernising in order to bring retro chic into 2022.
Here’s how to do it – pick an and add a bit of earthiness to it. Bringing the original to a more natural tone will still carry the spirit without making the colour obnoxiously noticeable.
Mixing such tones with warm-coloured neutrals will add a layer of cosiness to your home. You’ll make everything look fresh and contemporary while paying homage to the days gone by.
Going for furniture and vintage decorations is often the most obvious thing to do. Chances are that you’d like to bring the retro style to life by choosing something less typical.
Light fixtures provide amazing opportunities.
You can find original pieces or fixtures inspired by the styles of the 50s or the 70s. Swapping modern, streamlined fixtures for those alternatives will give you exciting statement pieces that catch the eye. Choose glossy finishes and geometric shapes to feature the distinctiveness of the classics.
Even if you’re in love with what you’ve just created, take some time to edit and fine-tune.
Inspired and excited by the opportunities, you can easily go overboard and make a beautiful accent way too prominent and dated. This is an especially common mistake among people who are not interior design professionals.
Use your common sense and a critical eye to review all elements and determine if they’re needed. Remember that very often, less is more. If you have too many retro items fighting for attention, you’ll end up with an interior that misses the mark,
When looking at a space, make sure it incorporates a good balance of vintage and modern elements. Ask yourself what the purpose of each piece is. If you can’t answer the question, chances are that the respective item isn’t really needed.
Retro elements, especially authentic and valuable pieces have to be curated properly. Unfortunately, this task can be very difficult.
You can easily overcrowd a space or make it look aged.
To reduce the risk of such problems, consider partnering up with an interior design company in Singapore .
At Home Guide, we know what it takes to honour and highlight vintage elements without making them look aged. We also have a keen eye for detail, recognising retro treasures that are definite must-haves.
Don’t hesitate contacting Home Guide if you are a fan of retro design. We’d be excited to work on your project, giving the traditional idea a modern, bright and unique spin nobody would have anticipated.
The desire to do a DIY home décor project stems from many factors. Fear of a costly professional execution, the lack of desire to entrust home interior design experts with the project and the desire to be personally involved can all feel quite overwhelming. Unfortunately, styling a home without assistance can be very challenging.
There are many home interior principles and guidelines that a professional home interior design company will follow, and break strategically, in order to create results that are harmonious yet interesting. Thus, hiring an interior design expert in the field is the best thing to do if you want an outstanding outcome.
Still, a few simple ideas can be followed in order to enhance your home’s interior. Here are a few of the possibilities bound to yield a nearly professional result.
First and foremost, you need a colour scheme that consists of more than just two colours.
Most homeowners will either go with two tones that contrast themselves or two complementary colours. Such choices will result in a home interior that’s way too matchy-matchy. Professional colour schemes consist of three colours or more.
A good interior design project has to feature one main colour, another one for key accents and a third tone that’s used in smaller accessories. Here’s how these three can work together – the first colour is used to paint the walls, the second one features in larger décor pieces (like textiles – curtains, carpets, throw pillows) and the third one highlights small accents.
These three colours don’t necessarily have to be similar or contrasting. Just look at interior design palettes online. You’ll find many fun and unusual combos that work incredibly well together.
Here’s another big essential that many home owners get wrong.
Proper layout matches the interior design elements to the size of the room. Proper scale allows for enough space to be left in the particular area. That’s how many rooms can be made to seem larger and much more comfortable.
So, how do you choose a proper layout if you don’t have professional skills in space planning and an eye for detail?
The number one rule is to always, always take measurements before buying anything. Furniture, paintings, rugs and other home décor elements can easily appear out of scale if you just wing it and don’t’ insist on precision.
It’s also important to examine the different pieces in relationship to each other. Remember that all of them will have to fit within the same space. Thus, an individual item could have the right size but if it’s fighting for attention with another element, the décor will end up looking busy.
Too big is a no-no but the same applies to too small.
You can always use graph paper and a pencil to create a scale model of the room. One square will represent one square metre of room space. Furniture and décor element paper cutouts can next be placed inside the “room” to see how they fit and if everything you have in mind belongs there.
Floor planner smartphone apps are also available and they can be used to complete the same project.
We understand it can still be difficult to visualize after doing the above, especially if you do not have the experienced eye or professional training. That is why we think our HomeAlive 360 package is a service that creates an interactive 3D environment that allows you to explore your fully designed new home in a virtual simulated environment to get a feel of how everything works together.
One thing gives away DIY interior design almost immediately.
Sticking to the same design concept throughout the flat is a big no-no. Just like colours, such a choice can make things look way too ordered and sterile.
It’s always a good idea to mix and match elements of different styles that you like. Picking and choosing bits that will work within your living space requires some true mastery and knowledge of how interior design elements work.
You don’t want your house to look like a catalogue entry. That’s exactly what’s going to happen if you make the décor just minimalist or just Mediterranean, for example.
Sticking to the same concept will turn your interior design into a cliché and that’s precisely what you don’t want.
Ornate, cosy elements can work really well with streamlined and minimalist accents. These will let the statement pieces “breathe,” turning them into the stars of the show. Modern farmhouse pieces will be complemented by mid-century modern decorations. And these are just two examples of mixes that will result in visual harmony.
So, how do you accomplish such a goal in the absence of professional training?
Count on unifying features like colour, pattern and texture. These can make a décor balanced and fun, even if the different pieces don’t belong to the same era/style. When in doubt, go for neutrals and add a touch of black. It works well in most rooms and adds a bit of a dramatic effect (without you having to work too hard in order to achieve the result).
Finally, remember overthinking and reworking the original concept too much can lead to doubt and confusion.
Letting interior designers refine and polish what you’ve conceptualised is going to be the best approach in such scenarios.
At Home Guide, we believe that your vision and input are both invaluable.
Let us know what you’re trying to achieve and tell us what your dream home looks like. We’ll build upon the vision in order to deliver a result beyond your expectations. Contact Home Guide right now to start that transformative journey.
Did you know that one of the more fast moving trends in home interior design involves tiles? Yes, this is an exciting and impactful interior design element that evolves quickly. Materials, patterns, textures and even sizes get modified from one year to the other. So, what should you be looking for if you’re going to be tiling a part of your flat in 2022?
Terrazzo was out a few years ago but now it’s making a comeback.
Terrazzo tiles are made with flecks of marble. They’re speckled, unique and really practical as far as cleaning and maintenance go.
These tiles are perfect for the kitchen. An excellent flooring choice, they can also be used to put up a beautiful and modern backsplash. Terrazzo tiles are currently available in traditional rectangles or you can choose more unusual shapes like hexagons.
Speaking of unorthodox shapes, you have a couple of other fun choices.
Triangular tiles will be in during 2022.
According to Singaporean interior designers, people are starting to get more adventurous with the design chosen for their bathroom or kitchen. They’re seeking unique opportunities to break the traditional mould and execute a project that’s a bit more playful.
Triangular tiles are easy to work with but they’re a nice diversion from rectangles and squares. These tiles can be small, creating a detailed pattern or much larger for a bolder look.
Traditional tiles are usually glossy and smooth. There’s a reason for the selection of such texture – it looks good, it’s classic and very easy to clean.
Classics, however, can get somewhat boring over time. In addition, glossy pristine tiles can feel somewhat boring.
An alternative comes in the form of three-dimensional tiles. These are very tactile. They can feature ridges, bumps or grooves and elevated swirls. Such textures can either sooth or evoke excitement, depending on the desired effect – for a spa like environment or for a room meant for creativity and fun activities.
Textured tiles can also look really fun under functional light. Rich textures are also intriguing – you’d want to look at them and touch them. Since these tiles alone will make enough of a statement, you have the allowance to keep the rest of the room simpler and more minimal in decor.
If you’re looking for something more traditional and ornate instead of the modernistic choices listed above, Moroccan-inspired tiles will probably match your needs.
The style features saturated colours and rich, very intricate patterns. Usually, the tones are warm and nature-inspired. Hence, they create a welcoming and relaxing environment. You don’t have to put together an entire hammam to enjoy a relaxing ritual. The tiles, in combination with the right bathroom fixtures will create a little oasis of self-care and enjoyment.
Moroccan-style tiles can work well for just about every home and they’re perfectly fine for bathrooms, kitchens and hallways. While they’re a perfect match for a rustic or a Mediterranean-inspired home, such tiles can also work well in a modern or minimalist space (adding a little bit of warmth and traditional charm).
Patterns, textures and three-dimensional tiles aren’t the only ones that can stand out. Sometimes, the simplest choices are the most impressive ones.
Monochromatic tiles in saturated hues will be very popular over the course of 2022. Deep green and blue are two very in-demand colours but they’re not the only ones worth experimenting with.
An intense colour is enough of a statement on its own. Deep, saturated red or purple are making a splash in bathrooms across the world. Such bold choices are very different from traditional gentle tones or safe neutrals like white or beige.
Colours can be further enhanced through the selection of an appropriate tile finish. Glossy tiles will look fresh and clean. A matte finish is another fun idea worth exploring because it will add to the boldness of the colour.
The final 2022 trend is probably the most bizarre one and chances are that many people wouldn’t be on board with it. Still, the idea can result in some interesting, very unorthodox executions that are worth exploring.
Typically, when tiling is being done, grout widths are maintained the same throughout. Designers are now experimenting with different widths to make even more of a statement.
Grout can easily turn into a feature that spices up the most boring tiles. You don’t need very ornate or patterned tiles to create something interesting if you decide to vary the grout width from one row to the next.
Such grouted patterns can be created to match the individual interior design project. There doesn’t need to be symmetry or repetition for the idea to work. Experimenting with grout this way, however, does take some skill and experience. Entrusting the project in the hands of an interior designer is a good way to enjoy a harmonious, visually-pleasing outcome.
Home Guide designers are eager to take on some of the more interesting tile trends and personalise those to match your home’s aesthetics. Contact us now to try something new, modernise your home and give it the appearance that you’ve always dreamed of with our home renovation contractor services.