With the last two years forcing us to spend more and more time at home, the importance of our environment on our mental health has been amplified. Clutter increases stress levels, and the colours we have at home can affect our mood and wellbeing. With the new year approaching, who better to ask for great styling tips and home décor ideas than Arete Culture’s Caroline Chin Geyler? Here, she talks us through 10 ideas to refresh and revamp a home for the new year; and they’re particularly cost-effective and simple ways to switch things up. “At Arete Culture, we believe in three things: editing what you have, buying well, and finding ways to make things last.”
Ten great styling tips and home décor ideas
#1 Understand why you want to do this
Fancy home décor ideas are all well and good. But knowing the purpose and direction can help make a daunting task far less intimidating. It also help you pull through when the going gets tough!
#2 Ask for help, if you need it
Having a plan can be useful but, however you choose to tackle your home preparations, remember to be kind to yourself in the process; know when you might need professional help! Many of our clients like to start home styling their communal spaces, especially since homes in Singapore tend to be smaller and more of us are working from places like the dining or living room.
#3 Group your sentimental collections
#3 Group your sentimental collectionsGrouping collections that have special meaning can help to streamline clutter and also allow you to understand what is most important to you. For example, designate a space to display family photos as a gallery wall, such as in a hallway or along the stairs. Instead of displaying everything, have the family choose what’s most important! It’s such a simple but effective home styling tip to create a gallery wall, and the process is so meaningful.
#4 Break up sets of furniture
If you have coordinating furniture sets, or too many of a certain type of furniture, don’t use everything in the same location! When we work with families who have quality furniture pieces that can still be reused, we like to break up the sets; so, we use coordinating armchairs or side tables in different rooms, for example.
#5 Reupholster or refurbish
Reupholstery is a great way to refresh an older piece, and works best with chairs that look a little tired but are still in good condition, or benches that require new seat cushions. You can also refurbish the pieces with paint — this works best with dark furniture that can easily overwhelm a space. Use a high-gloss black paint to modernise an old piece, or redo it in a bright pop of colour for quirkiness.
#6 Shop what you already have at home
This is something we often do in our makeovers if a client has existing furniture and décor items they might want to keep. This can be as simple as moving an existing artwork into a different room, or swapping a table lamp in the entryway with something in the bedroom.
#7 Show off your artwork!
Don’t just lean it against the wall where it’s at risk of falling, especially if you have kids or pets at home. Try properly framing an art piece and hanging it. No artwork to show off? A fresh coat of paint or strategically placed wallpaper can also perk up a space and add so much more interest to a space.
#8 Add more light sources to a space
If you’re only using overhead lighting, we highly recommend layering your lighting to achieve a cosier home. Home styling tip: A well-lit home also gives the illusion of a larger space! Consider track lights, under-cabinet lights, table lamps and floor lamps.
#9 Add a tray
Adding a tray can be a great way to incorporate beautiful home styling and corral tabletop clutter! Trays work wonders for coffee tables and consoles/sideboards; we recommend choosing one in a contrasting shape and material to your table for best results.
#10 Add greenery
If you don’t already have plants in a space, it’s a great way to make an area feel more appealing and alive. They can be used as accent pieces, to soften areas or create expression, and better still they play a role in your overall health.
Find out how Arete Culture can help you and your home styling needs by calling 9640 3829, or go to the Arete Culture website for more information.
Arete Culture at Tan Boon Liat
315 Outram Road, #06-01
For more great home décor ideas check out our Homes page.
