The Sunday News
Amanda Ncube
DECORATING or designing a home is not something that is done over a short space of time. It is something that needs time, serious planning and dedication. This process is supposed to be “fun”, there is no need to rush or seek absolute perfection but instead this is the time to experiment and make mistakes in order to come up with something that you will be proud of, in the process enjoying every moment.
Whether it is a new space that you have just bought or you want to renovate/ revamp your old space there are different factors that should be taken into account. One of the most important factors to consider is the intention . . . the intended aim. Knowing what you want to achieve will not only make your home look beautiful, but it will feel warm, personal and perfectly resemble you.
In this week’s column, I will be exploring ways to tap into your unique personal style and decorate from the heart, in the process creating a vision for your home.
This may sound trivial but seeking inspiration is a good start-up point. Browse through your favourite books, magazines, catalogues and the internet for items that might inspire you. You can even create an idea book or inspirational file where you will store all the cuttings that may have caught your eye and you would like to use. Make sure that you jot down what it is that you like on your findings. For example it might be the flooring style, colour — be it on the wall or items, rug and lamps.
At times it might be better if the resources are available to visually organise your ideas. For instance if you have lots of cuttings, be it from magazines or catalogues, you might want to create an inspirational board. A magnet or any other board can work brilliantly or clip photos to art wire or a simple length of twine strung between two hooks. The aim is to organise all your ideas in one place where you can begin to make connections and infuse in your inspirations. This will give you a clear view of what your space will look like, if there is going to be coherence in your items.
Once you have combined your inspiration images, take some time to start picking out themes and similarities in what resembles your personality. For example, some are inspired by flowers; this means that your inspirational file should include lots of pictures with flowers. By so doing this will help you to sharpen in on what you really love.
One thing to note is that it does not mean all the items in your inspirational file will be useful hence editing is required. Go over the file again and do not be afraid to be ruthlessly discerning. It does not matter even if you are left with a few images, but make sure that the ones left perfectly capture your personality. The unique way you combine your items is what puts your personal stamp on your home.
Make space for what you love, whether it’s dancing or singing, be sure it has a place in your home. You can also incorporate some of the items that excited you when you were still young. This means that you can use antiques to spruce up the look of your space. — Additional information from Online sources.
