DEMIM DECOR: TRENDY OR TACKY?

Kiwi interior designers weigh up whether or not denim should be used in the home, writes

You can’t go anywhere without seeing someone wearing denim, but would you use it in your home? Christchurch-based interior designer Becky Lee said that while denim isn’t considered ‘‘trendy’’ by the design world, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use it.

‘‘It’s definitely not tacky,’’ she said. ‘‘In my opinion we are in the design age of ‘anything goes’ – as long as it’s executed with commitment and curated well.’’

Lee said denim has been a fashion staple since the 60s largely because of its durability as a fabric, but also because ‘‘as a colour, it’s very versatile’’.

Lou Barker, interior designer and owner of furniture store Blue Scarlet, is a lover of all things denim and said she’s previously used it in her home. ‘‘I love denim for furnishings and, just like jeans, the styles may change slightly but it never really goes out of fashion. Denim is timeless.’’

Incorporating denim into your home isn’t as hard as it might seem.

‘‘Denim in interiors will coordinate effortlessly with natural leather – just like your favourite jeans with a pair of boots,’’ Lee said. ‘‘So, denim blue paired with tan is a relaxed and stylish match.’’

Lee, who is a self-described colour lover, said although she doesn’t have any denim in her own home, her turquoise couch ‘‘could happily change into a denim outfit and still look great with the magenta and mustard cushions’’.

Denim blue also pairs nicely with wood, cane and other natural fibres.

If you want to test out the denim trend but are worried about how it will look, start by incorporating it in small doses, Barker said.

‘‘They can always use it in, for example, cushions, a small Roman blind or a lampshade.’’

However, before you fill your living room with denim, there are a few things you should be careful with. ‘‘Denim is quite a strong colour, so make sure there’s some visual relief around it,’’ Lee said. ‘‘Add freshness and contrast with patterns, plants and lighter colours.’’

Lee said you should take care not to do it as ‘‘a whole lounge suite in denim will look dated... as in fashion – ‘double denim’ interiors can be hard to pull off’’.

In it for the long run? Protect the surface of your denim furniture.

‘‘As denim is normally made from cotton, and therefore a natural fibre, be mindful that it may fade a little,’’ Barker said.

Denim accents, such as cushions, are a good place to start.

JARDAN FURNITURE Denim pairs well with natural elements such as wood and concrete.

‘Anything goes’ in decor at the moment, as long as it’s executed well.