In this article, originally published in the July edition of Lost in Lagos, IDesign’s Tola Akerele offers some simple yet salient advice when it comes to adding personal style to your home. She highlights 5 things to consider in developing a design scheme that represents your preferences and personality.
Words by Tola Akerele
Our home provides us with the perfect canvas to show off our unique personality. It should not only feel comfortable but also reflect our lifestyle. However, it can be quite a daunting process to put together a cohesive look. The below tips are a good guide to help you create your own personalised space
Create an Inspiration and Mood board
Create a board based on the sort of feel of the room you would like to live in. Spending time on websites is a great way to see the range of what is out there. You can get a glimpse into different homes and styles from all over the world. Websites such as Houzz and Pinterest are great resources for collating images that inspire. Do be critical of what you like and don’t like of the images you select. Remember that the point is not to copy and paste the design, it is much more interesting and special if you can pull in the elements that you like from various sources to build your own vision.
Take time
Take time to sit down and go through your favourite personal belongings. It could be items that you’ve brought back from a trip, or things that you have collected over time, particular printed photographs (rare these days!), paintings, sculptures or carvings. Think about the things that you love – it could be food, cooking, maps, a particular culture, a colour, books or even movies. Take time to brainstorm about how you can incorporate all of these things into your environment in a way that is visually appealing. Integrating these pieces into your home will help determine your own personal style and make your home feel like a reflection of who you are.
Balance function with aesthetics
Another important consideration is ensuring we are comfortable in our space. An image may look amazing in a magazine or on Pinterest but how will it translate in your personal space. It seems like such an obvious question to ask, but sometimes we forgo the practical for the aesthetic, and this puts an unnecessary pressure on the way we decorate and design our home. Think about how you will use the space that you have every day, in conjunction with the overall beauty. Part of personalising your space is to also ensure it works for you.
Transitional design
A refreshing trend in the field of interior design these days is the move towards mixing different mediums and styles, known as transitional interior design. This is great as it makes for an interesting overall aesthetic and a great way to personalise your space. You may like a traditional chair but you might also like the super modern clear coffee table. Take note of these two different styles and think about how you could create a room that blends modern and vintage pieces. This does need to be clearly thought out as there is potential for the room to look like a mess if not planned well.
Anchor design piece
I favour art as a good anchor for a room. It gives great insight into your personality and can also give inspiration for the rest of the room. It also adds depth and dimension to the space. In Nigeria we are surrounded with super talented artists with diverse styles appealing to various personalities. Other objects you can use as an anchor could be a centrepiece bowl, lamp, a bookself or even a small piece of furniture that you just love. Use it as your design anchor, and style the rest of the room using that one piece. That way, you have something you truly enjoy as reference point for the rest of the room.
The above tips should really help in creating a space that is truly you!
