There’s a misconception that renovation is the most difficult part of owning a new house, but when you think about it, other than micromanaging – which you can avoid if you choose a good contractor – and settling on a design pilfered from the internet, there’s not much else you can do except wait.
Having too much of a hands-on approach will only interfere and stall the process.
It’s best then, to let the professionals do their job. But once that’s done and it’s time to outfit your home, that’s when things get a little challenging. Not everybody has an eye for home decor so deciding on how to furnish your house can be quite a nightmare.
If you’re already struggling to design the perfect house in The Sims computer game let alone in real life, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
A common complaint around the world is the condos are getting smaller, so the first thing you want to do is figure out where all the small areas in the house are and, if it makes sense, enlarge them.
Breaking down walls is one option but it is also expensive. Besides, there are only so many walls you can tear down before you start feeling like you’re living in a four-by-four prison cell.
Mirrors, on the other hand, are a great tool that will help add depth and light to certain areas of your home. If a particular hallway is too small or dark for your liking, hang a mirror on one side and watch a formerly narrow corridor turn into a wider walkway. A mirror that is strategically placed in the living room can also make it appear larger and brighter.
The shape of the mirror, however, affects the result.
For example, oval mirrors help to draw the eyes upward and make your room feel bigger from top to bottom. This is useful if your ceiling is low and in need of some height. If you have a big living room however, putting up mirrors to make it look larger may not be the best idea. Larger living rooms are better off designed and outfitted to be cozy instead. Besides, when you have less space to fill, you’re likely to spend less cash – if you shop wisely that is.
False ceilings are a great way to make a very high ceiling look compact but if it’s out of your budget, then a paint job and simple furniture can be used to help. For example, an L-shaped sofa and coffee table can help divide your living space.
Choose furniture with warmer colours for a cosier ambience and colder ones if you prefer the clinical/minimalist look. But be wary of the size and scale of the tables though. The height of the coffee table should not exceed two inches from the seat of the couch.
Oversized furniture will make your room appear larger than it seems so use bigger furniture only in areas that can benefit from this illusionary metamorphosis.
Another way you can bring some colour and width to the room is by using area rugs. The colours and patterns on the rugs will create specific illusions. If the diameter between the walls of the room is shorter than others, then a rug with horizontal stripes will help widen it. Furthermore, if the floor is made of marble or white porcelain, a rug will help turn an otherwise cold floor surface, warm. In addition, it gives you decor points.
Outfitting your home may sound like a science but it’s really not.
You don’t need a degree to get your home looking presentable and aesthetically pleasing, just a little research and experimentation.
Credit: www.wtpstyle.com
Author Christopher Chitty is Senior Content Producer with PropertyGuru Group.
