Layers in interior design create texture and some visual interest. They add fine details and points of interest that the eye is naturally drawn to. Without layers, home décor will literally and figuratively be one-dimensional.

Getting layers right, however, is a challenge. Do too little and the effect is going to be minimal. Do too much and you’ll have a home that’s busy, cluttered and way too disjointed for things to make sense.

Interior design professionals follow several rules to introduce layers in the most meaningful and impactful way. Trying these professional strategies will give you clean and cohesive results that add value to your home and make the most of each space.

Start with One Main Colour

Here’s the first step interior designers always follow when creating layers – start with one main colour as the base.

The easiest way to layer involves colour alone. Adding textures and patterns is a next-level project that you can take on when you feel a bit more confident in your decorating skills.

A base colour is usually a neutral one because it can work with many other shades. This rule, however, isn’t set in stone. Yes, you can have hot pink as your base colour. Yes, it will be more challenging and the range of combos will be limited. Still, the base colour doesn’t have to be plain or boring. It’s simply the one that gives you the foundation. You can have a simple base tone like grey or beige. The layers on top of it will be the ones that add the fun and excitement to the presentation.

Explore Pattern and Texture

Once you’ve nailed colour, you can start having fun.

Layering also involves different patterns and textures on top of each other. A shaggy pillow over a smooth and silk couch instantly creates some contrast. That’s because differences are noticeable. And you can use so many approaches to highlight such differences and enjoy the playful nature of decorating.

For patterns, you can create juxtapositions in several ways.

Small and big patterns give you an easy opportunity that will almost always look good.

If you’d like to explore something a bit more intricate, you can always create contrast through styles. Geometrics vs. florals is one example. In one instance, you have clean and crisp lines. In the other case, the pattern will involve lots of ornate curves.

Creating contrast through patterns involves an eye for detail and some strategic planning. There’s such a thing as going too far and doing too much. You want patterns that are different but that still look good together. To achieve the goal, you’ll need one unifying element. A similar colour or a texture will give you that unity.

Speaking of texture, it’s also a fun aspect of interior design to explore when planning layers. As a general rule of thumb you should mix textures that are soft and ones that are hard. They balance each other out, giving the room some warmth and elegance at the same time.

Stone floors, wooden furniture and velvet upholstery – here’s a quite visual example of hard and soft textures being mixed for interesting and cosy results. If a velvet sofa isn’t your thing, you can always go for a thick carpet that will add the element of softness to the otherwise harsh interior design.

The Importance of Flooring

Flooring plays a vital role in successful layering, which is why it deserves a separate section.

Just like colour, the floor can give you the foundation that you’re building the rest of the home décor upon. Luckily, there are dozens of flooring materials to explore and select for your interior design concept.

Wood or an imitation of it like laminate is always a safe and stylish choice. It work pretty much like a neutral and lots of layers can be added on top of that base – metal accessories, various types of furniture pieces, glass and mirror details, sculptural elements, etc.

Sometimes, the floor can be the star of the show. Colourful, graphic tiles will instantly turn into a focal point. You can even have them customised or personalised to fit your concept exactly. If you’re starting out with such a noticeable layer, keep the other choices simpler – they should be playing a supporting role.

Use Art

Buying local isn’t just green – the choice also supports local businesses and helps grow the community.

The carbon footprint of furniture and home décor items brought from far away is ridiculous. Unless you’re a dedicated fan to a certain designer or a style, there’s really no need to splurge on such a wasteful choice.

Many local furniture makers, artisans and decorators have exceptional products for you to bring home. Not only are these locally-made and sustainable, such pieces also carry a degree of uniqueness you wouldn’t find in mass-manufactured items.

So, what are you waiting for? The time has come to invest in greener living. Spending some money on sustainability will yield an excellent return on investment and it will also be good for your health.

Contact Home Guide if you’re seeking an interior design company in Singapore that is also an experienced home renovation contractor that thoroughly understands green living. Our home renovation portfolio will give you a glimpse of the modern and sustainable projects we’ve worked on through the years.

Sustainable living isn’t just a fad or a trend. It appeals to people who want to minimise their environmental footprint, leaving the planet in a good condition for future generations. It’s also a great choice for financially-savvy individuals who want to reduce their bills while also enjoying green living.

These reasons are making sustainability hotter than it has ever been in the past. Truth be told, your home probably already relies on some sustainable interior design choices.

But new green ideas are constantly emerging, some of them enabled by innovative tech solutions. If you want to make your place even more environmentally-friendly than it already is, here are some of the interior design concepts to consider testing out in 2023.

1. Growing Your Own Food

For many people, sustainability is about the conservation of resources and the reduction of one’s environmental footprint.

There’s another aspect to it and that’s being self-sufficient.

The possibility to grow food at home is constantly growing on urban dwellers. Not only does it ensure freedom from market dynamics, it also gives homeowners full control over the manner in which fruits and veggies are being grown.

Adding an urban garden to your Singaporean flat is far from difficult.

A sunny part of the kitchen can be turned into a mini greenhouse where you’ll get to grow some essentials and some herbs. Turning your balcony into a garden is another viable option that’s not so difficult to bring to reality.

Various plant species can grow in pots and they’re not too demanding. If you don’t have a lot of experience, start out with a few simple and easy options like bell peppers, raspberries, tomatoes and cherry tomatoes, strawberries, cucumber, squash and carrots. Various herbs are also super effortless to bring into a kitchen greenhouse. Urban plant growing technologies like hydroponics provide amazing opportunities to enjoy delicious, nutritional and 100 per cent safe home-grown produce.

2. Use Sustainable Linens and Textiles

When it comes to sustainable materials, most people think about flooring and furniture. Linens and textiles, however, can also be a serious contributor to your home’s environmental footprint. That’s why one of the biggest green 2023 décor trends is sustainable fabrics.

Unsurprisingly, some of the least sustainable fabrics are synthetic – polyester, acrylic, rayon, nylon. It may be a shock to you, however, to find out that conventionally grown cotton is also not among the greenest choices.

Synthetics have a bad reputation due to the fact they’re not biodegradable. Once discarded, they will take hundreds of years to decompose. The manufacturing of polyester, for example, is also a resource-intensive process. Lots of water is required, which maximises the environmental footprint of such proceedings.

Traditionally grown cotton is not sustainable due to the large amounts of pesticides, fertilisers and minerals used to grow the crop.

Organic and recycled cotton are much better choices. Other great green fabrics include hemp and linen.  And if you’re looking for the ultimate price to quality ratio, stick to bamboo linens. Bamboo grows very fast, which makes it a sustainable plant species. As an added bonus, you’ll enjoy the softness and breathability of this textile.

3. Check Out the Energy Efficiency of Your Windows and Doors

When was the last time you examined the condition of your windows and doors? If you haven’t done that in a while, 2023 will be the perfect year to complete an upgrade.

Did you know that about 30 per cent of energy efficiency in a home is lost through the windows? Drafty doors and old window frames make it so easy for warm or cool air to escape. When this happens, your HVAC system has to work extra-hard. A lot of electricity is needed during the process.

If you don’t have the budget to replace windows and doors, getting them resealed will do the trick. Talk to your interior designer and have a professional contractor check out the condition of your current windows and doors. Together, you’ll determine if they’re salvageable through an upgrade or if you’ll need to get new models.

It’s also a good idea to consider getting some new window treatments like bamboo blinds or roller shades. These can also prevent the loss of heat/cool air and they’re more affordable than a thorough replacement.

4. Buy Local

Buying local isn’t just green – the choice also supports local businesses and helps grow the community.

The carbon footprint of furniture and home décor items brought from far away is ridiculous. Unless you’re a dedicated fan to a certain designer or a style, there’s really no need to splurge on such a wasteful choice.

Many local furniture makers, artisans and decorators have exceptional products for you to bring home. Not only are these locally-made and sustainable, such pieces also carry a degree of uniqueness you wouldn’t find in mass-manufactured items.

So, what are you waiting for? The time has come to invest in greener living. Spending some money on sustainability will yield an excellent return on investment and it will also be good for your health.

Contact Home Guide if you’re seeking an interior design company in Singapore that is also an experienced home renovation contractor that thoroughly understands green living. Our home renovation portfolio will give you a glimpse of the modern and sustainable projects we’ve worked on through the years.

We have gotten used to wanting more from our homes. A lot of that change originated from the Covid-19 pandemic. Stuck at home literally all the time, we started expecting just about everything from our spaces. Many began thinking about having  a home office, a gym or even a personal wellness centre. Many worked on those ideas and brought them to reality.

Technology has helped a lot in the modernisation of interior design. In fact, it has helped for the creation of seamless residential spaces that offer a lot of flexibility. And the best aspect of it all? Quite a lot of that technology is already very affordable and readily available. As a result, many people can start thinking about maximising functionality while also enjoying a ton of residential space flexibility.

Smart Homes That Learn through Artificial Intelligence

A smart home is far from a new or a revolutionary concept. Many people already rely on voice controls and intelligent switches or appliances to automate lots of home tasks.

The combination of smart home and artificial intelligence technologies, however, can bring flexibility to a whole new level.

Artificial intelligence is a technology that has the power to learn and adapt on the basis of the input data.

Say your thermostat features an AI controller. It will gather data about the temperatures you prefer during different times of the day or during different months. Information could also be gathered on the basis of the conditions that you prefer for different activities – sleeping, working out, playing with your kids, etc.

The artificial intelligence solution will get the predictive capabilities to change parameters in the respective space on the basis of your lifestyle and past behaviour patterns. Thus, you’ll easily get the perfect ambiance without even having to change anything. The space will adapt to your needs, augmenting every experience without you even having to ask for such a change.

On-The-Go Enhancements with 3D Printing

Three dimensional (3D) printing is super awesome due to the fact it enables the creation of customised solutions quickly and efficiently.

You may have heard about 3D printing being used in the creation of realistic models, tools and even medical devices. The technology also has a tremendous range of applications in the worlds of architecture and interior design.

With a 3D printer, your interior designer can create custom furniture, décor, even architectural elements like room partitions, arches, storage units and a lot more.

It’s so easy to envision the vast potential of such technology. It can effortlessly create functional zones and personalised spaces. 3D printing can guarantee privacy, functionality and home décor elements that are 100 per cent in line with your needs. The fact that it works so fast and it can be entirely modelled after your vision makes 3D printing even more exciting to test out when attempting to maximise residential space versatility. While this technology is not so widely available yet even for testing your vision, Home Guide does have a virtual visualisation tool to help you envision your new home with a virtual interactive tour service – The HomeAlive 360 Design Package.

Input-Based Home Enhancements Through Dynamic and Modular Elements

The ultimate degree of flexibility can be achieved through the use of dynamic and modular elements. These technology-based interior design components have the power to adapt to their environment in a way that increases efficiency, comfort and functionality.

Dynamic wall materials, for example, can adapt to the room temperature in order to conserve hear or keep the space cool whenever the temperature outside is very high.

And that’s just one example of these incredibly cool and dynamic solutions. We already have colour-changing wallpapers, dynamic furniture that can change its shape or angles for better ergonomics, moving ceilings, adaptable blinds and a whole lot more.

Dynamic solutions can be used to conserve energy, enhance ventilation, maximise overall comfort and have a thoroughly positive psychological effect on the homeowner. The coolest aspect is that different dynamic and modular solutions can be integrated in various parts of the flat to add value and create fully distinctive zones without much effort.

Effortless and Smart Space Reorganisation

Here’s one final really cool way in which technology increases flexibility.

Imagine having an open-floor flat that you’d like to reorganise every once in a while. Having to change zoning configurations frequently isn’t practical or affordable. With technology, however, the idea has become easier to execute than ever before.

Such solutions already exist. A few years ago, innovation-inspired architects built a futuristic home that featured movable modules and partitions controlled via smart TV. These allowed for effortless reorganisation and the creation of new functional zones based on the homeowner’s needs.

This concept is not a breakthrough idea anymore. All of the elements are here and they can be incorporated in every residential space. What matters is picking the kinds of modules and the configurations bound to optimise the layout of the flat and give all of the residents the facilities required to match their preferences.

The future looks bright for flexible interior design. As new technology emerges, so will décor and home renovation solutions that re-configure a living space in a way that’s smart and automated. If you’re looking to implementing smart tech into your home interior design, contact Home Guide. Relying on our experience, we’d recommend the improvements that will give you the very outcome you’re looking forward to.

You’ve been living in your flat for years, even decades and you’re tired with every aspect of the interior. Does the scenario sound familiar? If so, you’re probably looking for ways to give your home the perfect makeover that it deserves.

Unfortunately, budgetary limitations can come in the way of a massive home interior design transformation. In such instances, giving the current interior design a second life is the one idea that makes sense. A few simple and inexpensive tweaks can deliver incredible changes that will modernise the whole ambiance and bring on the freshness you desire.

Sprucing Up Doors, Windows and Cabinets

Wood is one of those materials that can be freshened up effortlessly.

Don’t discard elements made of solid wood like cabinets, old doors and windows. A little bit of sanding and a fresh coat of varnish will do miracles. You can also choose a tinted product to slightly change the colour of the wood – dark tones look really sophisticated and lighter ones will give the space a bit of airiness.

If you want to, you can also have doors and kitchen cabinets painted. A bold, saturated colour will immediately add a degree of modernity to the space. Plus, this is a very easy and budget-friendly way to achieve a tremendous transformation. All that you have to do to make the concept work is come up with a good colour scheme and stick with it when painting.

Choose New Fabrics

To freshen things up, you’ll need to get some new pieces of home décor. If you were to choose one element to upgrade, we’d recommend picking new fabrics.

Textiles rank among the materials that start looking dated the fastest. They may experience some discolouration, staining or tearing. All of these issues will be difficult to cover up. And you wouldn’t have to. Fabric is one of the most affordable materials (depending on what kind you go for) and switching things up will deliver a noticeable modernisation effect.

There are many textile elements you can consider upgrading.

The curtains, carpets and even furniture upholstery can be changed. New colours and textures can help you execute a concept bound to lift the dated interior design and make it look current. When choosing textiles, think about aesthetics but also pay attention to durability. Ease of maintenance and cleaning are also going to be important if you want to maintain the interior in impeccable condition.

Use Old Furniture in Unexpected Ways

Furniture pieces give amazing opportunities to do something fun and unexpected with your home’s interior. Many items can be repurposed or rejuvenated a bit in order to get a more streamlined and modern appearance.

If you want to have a lot of impact with the interior design choices you make, use your old furniture in unexpected ways. That means taking pieces completely out of context and doing something surprising with them.

An old filing cabinet can easily become a coffee table for the living room. Your old ottoman stool may be modified to feature some hidden storage space inside.

Don’t be afraid of turning concepts upside down and being playful. An intuitive approach to interior design is the one that’s going to give your home fresh and exciting vibes. Pieces that no longer look good in their place can be salvaged by getting a new function or being put in a different part of the flat.

Know What to Discard

While many parts of a dated interior design can be salvaged, it’s also important to know what to let go. There are items and accessories that will always look outdated and worn, no matter how you try.

So, before trying to do anything else, sit down and make a list of the things you can let go of. Chances are that you feel emotionally attached to every single thing in the flat. If you are keen on keeping everything, however, you’ll find it very difficult to open up some space for new things. Check out our article on decluttering the Marie Kondo way.

An interior designer can help you sort through your accessories. You’ll get an impartial third party that can exercise some critical thinking in terms of sprucing things up. An interior designer will know which aspects of your old home are timeless and worth keeping. They’ll suggest changes and enhancements that will turn these pieces into the star of the show.

Contact Home Guide if you’d like to benefit from our years of experience as an interior design company in Singapore that has completed many amazing home renovations. We know what it takes to give old interiors a second life and we know how to make the magic happen while remaining inside your budget of preference.

What will home interior design look like in the next 10 years? In the next 50? Experts in the field are always imagining and envisioning innovation’s impact on the field.

While interior design trends can go in so many directions, some scenarios are more likely than others. Here are some of the concepts that will probably affect the way our homes are designed in the years to come.

More Personalisation and Tailored Solutions

People are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of comfort and tailoring one’s environment to individual needs. This new level of awareness, combined with readily available solutions, will lead to more prominent personalisation than ever before.

Our world becomes more automated and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions are gaining a new level of sophistication with each passing month. Technology is playing a bigger part in the home of the of the future.

Home automation will soon enable the tweaking of just about every aspect of one’s environment – from the air temperature to when a smart oven begins cooking dinner. AI solutions learn from the input they get. This means that the more personalisation you do, the more in line with your needs the home is going to be.

Through new technologies, interior design will be tailored to your needs both aesthetically and functionally. Your home will adapt to your needs and introducing further changes will be simplified through the utilisation of smart, technology-based solutions.

Chances are that people will also be more inclined to seek custom-built and made solutions, like custom-built furniture, that enhance the best features of the space. This is a trend that will create more work for professional interior designers and contractors, making commercial or mass-manufactured solutions much less prominent than they are today.

The Power of 3D Printing

This aspect of interior design is somewhat linked to the personalisation process.

3D printing is already impacting many fields and industries. It allows for the creation of affordable, custom-made pieces that are fully functional.

There are many 3D printing applications in the realm of home décor and renovation. In fact, there are so many potential uses that professionals believe 3D printing could revolutionise the field (and many others).

Imagine having the perfect living room furniture of your dreams custom printed via the 3D technology. That’s not a futuristic dream – it’s already here. In the future, 3D printing will simply become more readily available and user-friendly. As a result, 3D custom pieces will probably enter just about every home across the globe.

The time between ideation and conceptualisation to manufacturing is significantly reduced with 3D printing. As a result, a complex and thorough renovation will probably take a fraction of the time required today. Architectural elements, light fixtures, artistic sculptures, window treatments – all of these can be 3D printed. And while 3D printing is still a bit expensive, chances are that the technology will very soon be affordable enough to utilise during the execution of even the smallest interior design projects.

Reduced Waste

The transportation and use of various construction materials during a home renovation can be a resource-intensive process. There is still a significant amount of waste, plus serious remodelling projects tend to be quite expensive because of inefficiencies.

The future of interior design is very likely to reduce the amount of construction waste being generated. Smart technologies are already allowing designers and architects to come up with very accurate plans and estimates that reduce the amount of expensive material going to waste.

Building information modelling (BIM) is one of the technologies that makes waste reduction possible.

This collaborative technology allows the creation of hyper-detailed plans and home renovation/construction models.  When BIM is being utilised, interior designers can reduce waste, decrease the cost of project execution, bring down the risk of error and even make the renovation quicker.

Various types of modelling and renovation planning technologies are already available or being conceptualised. Not only do these allow for the reduction of construction waste, they also help for the execution of more energy-efficient and sustainable interior design.

Manipulation of Space

Many estimates suggest that growing numbers of people will be moving to urban areas in search of better jobs and more secure living.

This trend will lead to another very important phenomenon – growing numbers of individuals or families having to put up with smaller living spaces.

As these people will be unwilling to compromise with conveniences and their lifestyles, interior designers will have to come up with smart solutions aimed at giving a small residential space a big number of uses.

That would be possible through space manipulation and the creation of numerous functional zones within the residence. Multipurpose furniture will also be used and the demand for such pieces is expected to grow a lot in the coming years.

As more people will have to share a smaller space, they’ll also have to address privacy concerns. Everybody will need their personal corner – a mission that can be difficult to achieve in a small flat. Semi-permanent and movable solutions like partitions will allow for the space to be personalised according to the needs of the current occupants.

Are you looking forward to a modern, bright future for your residential space? If so, contact Home Guide. Our experienced interior design professionals understand the past, present and the future of home renovations. That knowledge allows us to come up with and execute solutions that are perfectly tailored to the needs of the individual household.

Our surroundings impact every aspect of life – from the way we interact with loved ones to how we spend our leisure time and even how we sleep. Productivity is also massively affected by the environment we spend the most time in. Research suggests that clutter and interiors that appear too busy can have a profoundly negative effect on concentration and our ability to get things done.

If you’re looking for opportunities to make yourself a better work environment either at home or in office and accomplish the things that need to get done, you may want to consider an interior design change. Here are a couple of the improvements that have the power to deliver the most noticeable results.

Clutter-Free, Airy Spaces

Clutter is the number one thing that stands in the way of being more focused and more productive.

There are several ways in which clutter can impact productivity. These include serving as a distraction, reducing the ability to focus, curbing creativity and even causing some stress. Having too many things in your home or work space can “attack” the senses. Such a sensory overload makes it difficult for the brain to process information at the top of its capabilities.

So, if you have lots of stuff just sitting in your home without a purpose, the time has come to get organised.

Additional storage can be created through many smart approaches. Make use of the spaces that often remain under-utilised. Choose furniture pieces that have built-in storage. Instead of picking bulky cabinets, opt for open shelves. All of these storage units can maximise your ability to get organised without taking away from the available space.

You should also re-evaluate your interior design in every single element, even the smallest ones. Things that are purely decorative can make your space look too busy. It’s ok to feature an artwork or two. When carefully chosen and curated, art will become a focal point that speaks on its own. The trick here is to have a central piece or two. Many scattered, small and insignificant interior design elements aren’t going to serve their purpose and they’ll also lead to a mishmash of stuff just fighting for attention.

Also take a deep dive into removing clutter from your home with our article on the Marie Kondo method and decluttering your home for the new year.

Colour Selection

It’s time to get acquainted with colour psychology – a very important interior design concept.

Colours have the immense power to affect our mood. Some are relaxing, some are energising. Some colours are conducive of creativity, some tones allow for more productive experiences within the respective space.

Blues and greens are great colours for those who want to be more productive. Research suggests these colours have a soothing effect. If you’re a person who gets stressed out easily, you’ll benefit from such a colour scheme.

Orange, yellow and red are energising colours. Just be careful with their usage as such tones can easily become aggressive and over-powering. Use them as accent tones and create a bit of balance with neutrals and more subdued palettes.

Comfy, Ergonomic Furniture

Furniture and appliance choices matter when it comes to productivity.

If you work behind a desk, for example, you need an ergonomic chair that’s going to provide enough support. Feeling uncomfortable and having to deal with a back ache will probably interfere with your ability to remain productive for prolonged periods of time.

The same philosophy should be applied to the selection of all other kinds of furniture. Just think about the spot where you’d like to be productive – the kitchen, the home office, the hobby room. Think of the elements that may lead to discomfort and distraction. Getting those eliminated will quickly produce a notable effect.

Ample Lighting

Just like clutter, the absence of natural light is a productivity killer.

Poorly lit rooms can start to feel depressing which can become a problem, especially if you need to remain in a certain space for extended periods of time to get a job done. Mental health and general well-being should be a big factor when it comes to designing for the home.

There are excellent lighting systems that create the right ambiance and also give you functional illumination.

Apart from getting those, however, consider opportunities to maximise natural light. It is your best friend when it comes to mood enhancement and improving your cognitive abilities.

Natural lights can be increased even in parts of the flat that don’t benefit from a large window. The strategic placement of mirrors is one simple approach that works really well. Mirrors reflect light, which is why they can direct brightness from one part of the flat to another. Light paint colours like white and beige on the wall can achieve a similar result.

Nature in the Home

The final idea is as simple as the other ones, maybe even easier to execute.

Plants in the home, and we mean real ones, is the easies thing to do to making a space feel more “alive” and exciting. Here is a guide to easy to care for plants you can start with. Research suggests that the presence of plants in offices helps workers deal with stress more effectively and concentrate better.

You don’t need capricious flowering plants to feel inspired and more productive. Many green plants look really beautiful and they require minimal care. These are the ones to consider if you don’t have a lot of gardening experience and you’re worried about keeping your productivity boosters alive.

These are just a few of the interior design tricks that can help you become more productive. Contact Home Guide if you’d like to learn a bit more about the other approaches or you’d want them to be executed in your living space.

What do most people want from their home? Safety, proper relaxation and a chance to spend quality moments with loved ones top the list. Comfort core brings these possibilities, which is why many interior design professionals consider it the hottest 2023 trend.

There have been a couple of different “core” interior design concepts that gained prominence recently. Cluttercore is one of these tendencies and it has become quite prominent among younger individuals. The cottagecore concept belongs to the same family. Now, we have comfortcore. There are several reasons why its aesthetics are considered so good that they’ll probably stay with us for the foreseeable future.

What Is Comfortcore Interior Design?

As the name suggests, every single décor element focuses on comfort. From furniture that engulfs you and gives you the warm and fuzzy sensation to fluffy fabrics, you get elements that deliver reassurance and a hideaway from everyday worries.

Most people seek tranquillity and harmony at home. Comfortcore prioritises these concepts and it can also be personalised effortlessly to meet one’s understanding of respite. For some, comfortcore is all about meditation and spirituality. Others find reassurance in soft, plush fabrics that have a calming effect through the power of tactile sensation.

Warm tones, neutral colours, natural materials and lots of homely accessories complete the picture.

All of these choices are based on the fact that most people favour comfort when shopping for furniture or home décor items. These conclusions were reached through a study that examined the preferences of thousands of home owners. Over 60 per cent placed the biggest emphasis on creating a personal space that acted as a haven in a dynamic, crazy world.

Who Is Comfortcore Good for?

The short answer to this question is: everyone.

Now, a fan of minimalism and completely functional living isn’t going to be too impressed with the very nature of comfortcore.

Those who prioritise emotional comfort over utilitarian style, however, are probably going to have a blast with this trend.

Comfortcore is very much grounded in the Covid-19 pandemic realities and the interior design tendencies that emerged from those. Over the course of the lockdown years, people were forced to spend more time at home than ever before. As a result, most re-evaluated their living spaces. They started looking for comprehensive lifestyle choices, an escape from a challenging reality and an opportunity to enjoy as much relaxation away from hectic society as possible.

If you’re all about laid-back, slow living, you will enjoy comfortcore.

The fact that the trend allows for extensive personalisation has won it an even bigger number of fans than its nature.

How to Get the Comfortcore Look in Your Space

Charmingly personalised, comfortcore interiors can be very easy to bring to your space, giving you a balanced and visually-pleasing outcome.

Comfort can be created in one of numerous ways.

One of the most prominent choices homeowners make involves textures and comforting surfaces.

Texture is one of the interior design elements that can deliver a massive transformation without costing too much. Think about the soft, reassuring texture of velvet or suede. These are the materials you want to bring inside your home for comfort.  Soft furnishing and the right kind of furniture upholstery also provide excellent opportunities to get rid of cold and impersonal spaces.

Next, prioritise the quality of your furniture.

This is especially true for seating and your bed.

Make sure that chairs, sofas and loveseats are all ergonomic. They should provide enough support, encouraging you to sit down and open a favourite book or enjoy a movie. A good bed and the right mattress are also top choices in terms of recharging your batteries properly.

You don’t have to spend a fortune on designer furniture to make it work. Vintage pieces can be equally great if you take some time to do some shopping and discover the options that give you comfort. Custom pieces can also be a good choice, especially if you have a particular purpose or design in mind. in the end of the day, such choices aren’t hugely expensive and the benefits that custom pieces bring to the table result in an excellent return on investment.

Keep in mind, however, shouldn’t be the only thing to look at when decorating your home.

Comfortcore is also about elements that look good and deliver positive vibes. If you enjoy art, make that the star of the show. A few splashes of bright colours can also be great to provoke a positive mood and give you a bit of energy. Comfortcore can also be about family moments (a photo collage is perfect for

Very few concepts and ideas get people as polarized as the use of animal prints in interior design and fashion. Are they great? Are they tacky? If you ask a number of people, you’ll get radically different answers to that inquiry.

So, should you use animal prints in your upcoming home upgrade? Are they amazing or just awful? To answer these questions, we need to take a deeper look into the world of animal prints and the reasons why they’re so controversial.

Animal Prints Aren’t All the Same

Animal prints is a general term that refers to many things.  Zebra, cougar, cheetah and even cowhide patterns are all considered animal prints.

Very often, animal prints are linked to sentiments of decadence. Actual fur and animal skins used to be very expensive and unaffordable. As such, they were linked to a certain status in the past. Today, animal prints are usually added to cruelty-free fabrics and textiles. They can bring a lot of drama and create a focal point when used correctly.

Some of the most noticeable and controversial animal prints are those linked to big cats. In fashion, these have been linked to tacky pieces. Such prints, however, add timeless texture to interior design, especially if they get paired with some muted and a bit more neutral elements.

Why Do Animal Prints Have a Bad Reputation?

There’s a reason why animal prints have a bad reputation.

For a start, they have been way overused.

Additionally, animal prints are very distinctive and very noticeable. As such, they can be difficult to tone down and pair with other elements. Whenever the respective print is overused, it starts “screaming” instead of making a delicate and luxurious statement.

If you manage to find the right print for your home and you strike balance with the rest of the interior design elements, you can end up with a really luxurious execution. Relying on such patterns and textured, however, veers into dangerous territories. Any misstep will lead to kitsch instead of class. That’s why getting a professional interior designer involved in the project makes the most sense.

Tips for the Incorporating Animal Prints in Interior Design

You can do a few simple things to get animal prints working inside your home.

For a start, opt for the right kind of layering. If you have a monochromatic sofa, for example, you can create a fun accent piece by having a couple of zebra-patterned throw pillows on it. A black and white execution will work really well and allow you to pair elements that have different patterns and textures together.

There are also some fun and unusual ideas, allowing you to bring animal prints in an element other than a textile piece.

Featuring a giraffe wall print, for example, will give you something a bit more unorthodox and unique to place in your living room. While the piece is small enough, it’s usually displayed in a way that makes a statement. Having an animal print used as a form of art will break up the stereotype and add a bit of freshness to the décor.

Because animal prints are polarizing, they will always make a statement. If bold style is your thing, this is the element to choose for a renovation. Contact Home Guide and together, we will make the most of the trend and the delicious controversy that it brings to the table.

Very few concepts and ideas get people as polarized as the use of animal prints in interior design and fashion. Are they great? Are they tacky? If you ask a number of people, you’ll get radically different answers to that inquiry.

So, should you use animal prints in your upcoming home upgrade? Are they amazing or just awful? To answer these questions, we need to take a deeper look into the world of animal prints and the reasons why they’re so controversial.

Animal Prints Aren’t All the Same

Animal prints is a general term that refers to many things.  Zebra, cougar, cheetah and even cowhide patterns are all considered animal prints.

Very often, animal prints are linked to sentiments of decadence. Actual fur and animal skins used to be very expensive and unaffordable. As such, they were linked to a certain status in the past. Today, animal prints are usually added to cruelty-free fabrics and textiles. They can bring a lot of drama and create a focal point when used correctly.

Some of the most noticeable and controversial animal prints are those linked to big cats. In fashion, these have been linked to tacky pieces. Such prints, however, add timeless texture to interior design, especially if they get paired with some muted and a bit more neutral elements.

Why Do Animal Prints Have a Bad Reputation?

There’s a reason why animal prints have a bad reputation.

For a start, they have been way overused.

Additionally, animal prints are very distinctive and very noticeable. As such, they can be difficult to tone down and pair with other elements. Whenever the respective print is overused, it starts “screaming” instead of making a delicate and luxurious statement.

If you manage to find the right print for your home and you strike balance with the rest of the interior design elements, you can end up with a really luxurious execution. Relying on such patterns and textured, however, veers into dangerous territories. Any misstep will lead to kitsch instead of class. That’s why getting a professional interior designer involved in the project makes the most sense.

Tips for the Incorporating Animal Prints in Interior Design

You can do a few simple things to get animal prints working inside your home.

For a start, opt for the right kind of layering. If you have a monochromatic sofa, for example, you can create a fun accent piece by having a couple of zebra-patterned throw pillows on it. A black and white execution will work really well and allow you to pair elements that have different patterns and textures together.

There are also some fun and unusual ideas, allowing you to bring animal prints in an element other than a textile piece.

Featuring a giraffe wall print, for example, will give you something a bit more unorthodox and unique to place in your living room. While the piece is small enough, it’s usually displayed in a way that makes a statement. Having an animal print used as a form of art will break up the stereotype and add a bit of freshness to the décor.

Because animal prints are polarizing, they will always make a statement. If bold style is your thing, this is the element to choose for a renovation. Contact Home Guide and together, we will make the most of the trend and the delicious controversy that it brings to the table.

Envisioning and executing your dream home as a couple is going to be a super exciting, super big step for the two of you. At the same time, the project can unleash chaos. Having two people with differing viewpoints and understandings of aesthetics working on one and the same thing will easily result in massive disagreements.

Is there anything you can do to make the home renovation harmonious and satisfying for both of you? Professional interior designers believe that’s possible if you employ a couple of strategic hacks.

Find Your Style as a Couple

Many couples commit one grave mistake when working on home décor together.

They believe that making a compromise is all about incorporating both people’s favourite styles in the design of the space.

Most of the time, this approach isn’t going to work. It will probably result in a hot mess of an interior design that lacks consistency and clear focus or function.

Instead of attempting to bring two very different styles together, work on discovering your interior design style as a couple. Are both of you drawn to a certain place like the Mediterranean region? Is there something that both of you value a lot (like clutter-free design that’s easy to maintain in a pristine condition)?

Finding a focal point, whether functional or sentimental, will help you work in unison and make decisions that both of you will enjoy. Also, such an approach will be the start of something new and exciting you will be building for the first time as a couple.

Try the “Yes and” Approach

Do you know what the number one rule of improvisation theatre is? In order to work, impro depends on the openness of participants to try something new and build upon the cues delivered by their stage partners.

This rule of “yes and” can be very effective when working as a couple on any project.

How do you bring improvisation theatre techniques to home design? Keep an open mind and truly listen to what your partner has to say.

As people, we are opinionated in terms of the things that we find most important. This means you probably already have a very rigid vision of what your dream home is going to look like. If you hold on to this vision, you will completely dismiss your partner’s input and find it unacceptable.

So, try to see the space the way your partner does. Instead of automatically turning ideas down, say yes to these opportunities. Once you’ve accepted such possibilities, you can work on refining them together and turning the original concept into something much better and mutually-satisfying.

Agree on a Colour Scheme

Do you know what’s one of the most important unifying elements in interior design? It’s colour.

A strategically-chosen colour scheme executed throughout the home will give the entire space unity, even if slight design variations occur.

The colour scheme is THE one thing you need to agree upon with your partner.

If you do, some compromise could be made in term of stylistics. The end result will still be cohesive and elegant.

When in doubt, try neutral and natural tones.  They always look good and they work well with almost any interior design concept you choose.

Go Shopping Together

Anyone who feels inspired by a more artistic and unorthodox approach towards light selection should consider sculptural fixtures and lamps.

Sculptural lights are being promoted because they allow for the execution of a popular 2023 trend – the use of lighting as a focal interior design element and a statement.

There’s a big selection of sculptural lights – from ornate and classical to abstract. Various materials are also used to enforce the specific statement and give each individual piece more depth and meaning.

Some sculptural lights are also inspired by the beauty of nature – the gracefulness of three branches, the movement of the ocean waves or the immaculate clarity of glass. Beautiful natural silhouettes can easily add fluidity and serenity to the home.

Sculptural lights are also going to work really well with another 2023 popular interior design trend – curvaceous shapes and lines that create better movement and less angularity than traditional edges and sharp lines.

Bespoke Lights

The world has been moving away from mass-manufactured items. More home owners than ever before want pieces that are unique, that are reflective of their personality/lifestyle.

If you have a very particular idea for a light fixture design, go for it. Bespoke lights are an amazing way to add personality to your home without making a compromise with the design vision.

Bespoke solutions aren’t going to focus on just fixtures or individual pieces. In fact, many homeowners are choosing entire lighting systems that are custom-made to make the most of the available space and layout.

Anyone who’s considering the selection of bespoke furniture may want to have some wiring installed into those pieces. When such choices are made in advance, the addition of lights built into the individual unit becomes much easier.

Every single interior design element matters and you shouldn’t leave its selection to chance. Lights and other décor work together to give you the most in terms of visuals and function. Contact Home Guide if you want the right idea, the perfect project and the most tailored execution for your flat in 2023.