Decorate your home without leaving the front door

First things first, walk around your home. Are there things which feel cluttered? Unloved? Now is an excellent time to have a great deep clean, put things aside to donate, ditch or reinvent. Visualising what you want your home to be is a lot easier when there’s no junk, which can pile up very quickly! You may even find your home feels much better with a good tidy, or at least a lot more peaceful and organised to live in.

When I have time, I love to create little styled vignettes at home. Perhaps on the coffee table, bookshelf, dining table or even the kitchen island bench. Group items together (odd numbers work best!) such as a vase, a bowl of fruit and a candle. I like to “ground” vignettes with a tray. No tray? Books are a home’s greatest accessory. On the coffee table or sideboard place a beautiful book. Layer with something from nature like a shell or pebble and another small object, like a small potted plant or a decorative dish. These items don’t need to be expensive things, you’ll probably already have enough “things” to make a vignette. Some of my favourite objects are picked up at vintage stores or while travelling. These objects spark memories.

If you’re lucky enough to have a backyard and access to plants, bring them indoors! Flowers and foliage instantly lift the mood. They don’t need to be grand. A few stems in a jar in the bathroom or some branches with leaves in a larger vase on the dining table work beautifully. Smooth river stones, shells and pinecones are other lovely objects to layer on books, on shelves or in bowls.

Do you have a bare wall and no art? Re-think the concept of art is a painting behind a glass pane. Raid the cupboards. A drop of beautiful fabric, a kimono, travel photos, a small floor rug, children’s art, posters, maps, pinboards, garlands, hanging plants and many other things can be considered art. Time to think outside of the square. Get creative! Sort through children’s artworks, travel photos or memento’s and create a gallery wall. You might not have all the frames ready to go home, but playing with the arrangement with temporary adhesive now will mean you’re ready to install the artworks properly once you can leave the house again.

Make the bed properly every day. When the world feels chaotic, there’s something nice about having a well-made bed. I’m not talking hospital corners here, I mean pull the covers up, sit up the pillows and plump one or two cushions. A throw at the end of the bed and you have a hotel room!

Give items a new life. An old sheet? Could it be made into cushion covers? An old jar becomes a pencil cup or vase for the bedside table. An unwanted pot, strainer or tin from the kitchen is a new vessel for a propagated plant… Use your imagination… or jump on Pinterest for a world of inspiration.

Spending a lot of time at home is also a great opportunity to re-think the layout of your furniture. Move things around and you will be surprised how fresh and new the home will feel. Create a reading nook by moving an armchair to a corner with a lamp and a side table or swap bedside tables between rooms for example. If you have a rug, these are also easy decorating tools to move around. They can make a space feel completely different and can also create nooks or zone areas. Our online Rug Store offers a great selection if you want a fresh new look. There’s outdoor rugs, kids rugs, pet friendly rugs, jute rugs, wool rugs and more.

If you work from home, take special care to create a positive workspace. You may be lucky to have a whole office room or maybe it’s the end of the dining table. Either way, make sure you have a comfortable chair, adequate light and something inspiring close by, whether it be a candle, plant or family photo.

Playing with inspiration tools is now very possible while sitting in the comfort of your living room! Instagram and Pinterest are great tools to seek inspiration and the wonderful thing about these apps are the ability to find interiors that reflect everyday homes and relatable content. If you’re a renter or on a tight budget, there is excellent content that is both inspirational and achievable.

The Flooring Xtra Room Visualiser is another tool to play with from home. Imagine what your home could look like with fresh carpet or new hard flooring. Compare and contrast colours and product types easily with a quick phone photo of your room.  The options are endless!

What flooring is good for coastal homes?

There are many great solutions for homes by the beach. It’s important to consider how much maintenance you would like to upkeep and the resilience of the flooring that will withstand the extra elements that coastal living incurs (we’re looking at you, sand!). Easy-to-maintain flooring also includes laminates and vinyls as well as easy-to clean-carpets. You can read more about this on our blog.

What are the benefits of Marlu Oaks engineered boards?

Marlu Oaks engineered boards are wide in design which means there are fewer joins. Installing wider boards adds to a contemporary feel and can create the illusion of space in smaller areas. The colour palette with the range is full of character, meaning there’s a perfect style for any application.

What is a pet-friendly rug?

A pet-friendly rug is a must in a home with dogs and cats! Look for attributes such as washable features, anti-stain qualities and non-loop pile fibres (for pet paws to get caught in).