Styling advice for renters and first time buyers

If you aren’t sure where to start with your home decor, here’s some quick tips to get things right,
whatever type of home you live in…

Home styling and decor for rentals

There are plenty of ways you can add interest to your home, even if you aren’t permitted to
make structural changes or permanent decoration statements. If you rent and aren’t a fan of
white or there’s an old school pattern on your walls which you can’t find peace with then peel
and stick wallpaper could be for you. Simply peel off and smooth onto the wall, most of these
can be taken down again at a later date with ease. Another great way to add style to
a home you don’t technically own is to opt for decorative decals to create a wall feature.

This is a great way to cover unsightly holes or peeling plaster. They look utterly fabulous in
bathrooms and above dressers or beds.

Wall decals are perfect for adding design and style to any home without having to wallpaper a full wall.

They come in two different sizes and 11 striking designs.

 

If rooms feel dark and dingy, add mirrors and warm glow lighting. Mirrors opposite windows
work best as they reflect the outside in creating natural light and the illusion of space. While
you won’t be able to re-wire where you live to accommodate picture or wall lighting, you can
concentrate on floor and table lamps to highlight and define key areas. There are also some
fantastic rechargeable spotlights available on Amazon which you can add to stairways rather
than losing your deposit over drilling holes.

If floor coverings appear worn in places, consider purchasing fluffy rugs to cover them. Not only
will it freshen up the space for a very modest investment, but they also add texture and depth.
And if you have a bold carpet, a lighter rug is a good way of creating more light and space.

Advice for first-time buyers

Rule number one. Never rush your decisions. It’s very easy to be too gung ho when you’ve been
given the nod that your first home is yours. However, without careful consideration you could
end up paying for furniture and decor that doesn’t quite work for your space. My advice would
be to firstly define the function of each room. Give thought to what you need the space to do.
For example, is your kitchen going to be the heart of the house? Does it need space to entertain
the whole family? If so, don’t go overboard and buy bulky, oversized furniture and instead allow
people the freedom to move around and ensure there’s ample storage so it’s free from clutter.
Would your bedroom or bathroom offer your escapism and comfort perhaps as it’s here where
you can really ensure that you feature your favourite things, colours and go big on design.
Mood boarding each room is a good starting point. This will also help you build a timeline of
what you need to do and when. It can also help you set budgets so you don’t get overwhelmed.

In terms of which design and colour to use in your home it’s obviously important for you to add
your own personality to make it feel like it’s yours. Again, this can take time. It is easier for
those buying a new build or off plan as you are often given a number of up front choices for
things like kitchen units and bathrooms which you can use as a basis for the rest of the design
to fit.

Design for custom or self build properties

Wallpapering can seem like an arduous task for those who have led a self-build project from its
inception. It might be the last thing you want to think about after the process but actually wow
factor walls are vital for pulling together a scheme and ensuring your own personality shines
through within your home.

Like paint, wallcovering options can fit every budget and creative mind. To help you choose, I
suggest you keep in mind two simple things – scale and proportion. In a small room, for
example, a large-scale pattern may not repeat more than once before it meets the skirting
board. This would be rather like seeing only half of a painting. Instead, try a smaller pattern
with a shorter repeat or go for a mural on one statement wall.

Wallpaper can manipulate our illusion of a space. For example, wallpaper with a vertical stripe
can give the impression of greater height to a room with a low ceiling. Rich, dark, large patterns
will make a large room feel more intimate while using open patterns in light or neutral colours
can make a space feel bigger and add depth.

A larger room can handle bolder colours and larger patterns. If you have a small room, but
prefer a large print, make sure it has lots of lighter colours or space to balance the effect. While
maximalism is a key trend for 2023, eyes do still need ‘resting places’ so muted accents and
white space is still key to compliment busy and bold designs.

Check out the ombre murals; they can be hung in any direction depending on
the effect you wish to create within your interior, giving a softer aesthetic opposed to
a singular block colour of paint. They also make excellent complimentary partners
to the busy scenic Avalana murals.

 

If you have ideas but need an expert to bring things to life for you, I do offer a bespoke
interior design service. Working in collaboration with you, helping reflect your unique
personality or add a little Avalana flair to your home. It just takes an initial consultation to get
your started. The service covers mood boards and conceptual floorplans plus a list of co-
ordinaing products such as furniture and accessories. These are brought to life with 2D finalised
designs to help you visualse how the finished space will look. Simply fill in the contact form and
we can go from there!

Avalana x