One thing I find appealing is a home that is finished, but not finished up. Not perfect magazine style, where there is nothing left for the homeowner, per se, but rather curated in such a way as to make life easier. The great thing is, it doesn’t have to cost a lot or require a renovation. Some small design details can make all the difference.
Whether you are preparing your home for the warmer months or are just craving some change, here are some stylish and useful tips you can apply in your home in Brisbane.
Build a Beautiful Hydration Station
Forget about concealing water bottles inside the refrigerator and organizing them on the table. A water station is just that, a place where everyone can serve themselves a glass of clean, filtered water whenever they like.
Position it in the kitchen with some glasses and/or a pitcher. Add a tray to hold all this organized and possibly some herbs or even just a vase to add some interest to this designated space for all this stuff to go into and hold all this equipment and quite possibly some chemicals and preservatives.
Having a water delivery service in Brisbane assures you of having filtered and chilled water at all times without having to refill those jugs or even go out and buy bottles. It is one of those little luxuries in life that improves your daily life and does it in style, particularly when entertaining guests and allowing them to serve themselves without digging through your fridge.
How to Style Your Shelving Incorporated
Open shelving can be amazing or chaotic, depending on how it’s styled. The idea is to strike a balance between functionality and design by putting out things you use while doing it in an aesthetic way.
Group the objects in odd numbers. Create a variety in terms of height and texture. Employ the use of nice storage containers for storing day-to-day objects such as coffee, tea, or dry goods. Add a few pieces that are decorative in nature, including a small plant, your preferred ceramics, or your collection of books.
Leave some breathing room. Too-full shelves come across as cluttered rather than curated.
Rotate things seasonally to keep things fresh without always having to go buy something new.
Soft Furnishings Blending Comfort and Style
The right fabrics can completely accessorize and change the mood of the room. Linen cushions, cotton throws, and natural fiber rugs can warm the room without overpowering the decor.
With the climate of Brisbane in mind, pick natural fabrics that don’t retain heat. Linen and cotton are excellent choices for every season and with age. Use a limited color scheme – sticking to the basics with an accent color or two to avoid an oncoming look.
Layering is essential. A couch with a few thoughtfully placed pillows and a throw blanket is much more appealing than a single piece of furniture. Add a rug to a seating space, and you will have a soft, defined area to relax. None of these is a significant purchase, but collectively, they complete a space.
Curate a Bar Cart for Entertaining
An elegantly styled bar cart is a dual-purpose piece of furniture – it can be used for serving at parties and is a pleasure to look at even when it is not in use.
You can design one by arranging your favorite liquor, some choice glasses, bar tools, and a few decorative elements on it.
Make it simple! It doesn’t take much: a small plant or vase with a candle or just a bowl with citrus fruits. And trays and levels: group small things into levels with glasses in the second level and fruits or tools in the front.
Fill it up with necessities:
Good ice, mixers, and quality water to mix drinks or serve guests who do not imbibe. It is so much easier to have everything in one place, especially when entertaining. It is enough to encourage you to use it when you are possibly storing everything in cupboards.
Lighting That Sets the Mood
Overhead lighting is almost never flattering. Lighting, dimmers, and candles give off a warm and romantic ambience that overhead lighting will only ever lack.
Add layering to your lighting. By incorporating lights with different functions such as ambient, task, and accent lights, you get the flexibility to light your space depending on the time of day and the activity you are doing. Lampshades and floor lamps increase the warmth of your living space. Undercabinet lights make it easier to prepare food in the kitchen.
Candles are an easy win. They create ambiance, an air of scent, and an element of specialness even in the humdrum of everyday life. Group them, the better to display them, and opt for scents that enhance rather than overpower, a citrusy, eucalyptus, and beachy scent is perfect for Brisbane.
Small Improvements That Simplify Everyday Living
What’s even more desirable in terms of convenience upgrades is when they are aesthetically pleasing. An attractive water cooler or water delivery system is great because it ensures that people stay hydrated without taking up space in the refrigerator. Having a coffee station with everything in one place is even more ideal because it makes mornings much easier. An organized pantry with matching bins is even ideal because it makes cooking easier.
These are not exactly exciting changes, but they eliminate the friction of living in a space and make it suddenly feel more put together and functional. And when a space is functional, it makes it easier to keep it beautiful.
Final Thoughts
It’s all about building an environment that supports the way you live, not just how it looks in photographs. In other words, when your home is both beautiful and functional, you’ll enjoy it every day. This is what it’s all about.
