A STYLISH HOME IS A HAPPY HOME

When furnishing your home, will you opt for the minimalist or the maximalist look? Do you prefer bright colours or muted tones? Whatever your choice – make sure it makes you happy!

Be inspired to introduce stylish home furnishings. Do you prefer the minimalist or maximalist look? Whatever you choose, make sure it makes you happy.

This year, home furnishing trends seem to fall into two distinct camps – minimalist versus maximalist. In the former, mid-century furniture with tapered legs takes centre stage in living rooms. Stick to muted, soft-colour palettes and brushed metal accessories for an elegant, Scandi-inspired vibe. Remember, simplicity is the key to this look. On the other end of the scale, this year’s version of a maximalist look is all about clashing patterns, layered colours (often shades of the same colour, like pink or coral) and lots of textures (velvet sofas are a popular option). For both opposite styles, bamboo or rattan is an on-trend choice for lights, coffee tables and other furnishings such as headboards. Meanwhile, whether you go for carpet, engineered, laminate or hardwood flooring, grey is one of this year’s most popular flooring shades. Go for a light grey for a beachy feeling, or add warmth with a slightly darker tone. Elsewhere, it’s hard to avoid rust-toned oranges and mustards at the moment, but luckily they’re both exceptionally versatile. Keep it simple and add splashes of these

against neutral whites and greys, or go for a bolder look and contrast them against a teal feature wall. When it comes to feature walls, bold wallpaper prints are an easy option for adding some interest to a room. While wallpaper’s popularity waned significantly in the past decade or so, over the past couple of years it’s once again become an increasingly fashionable home décor choice. From tropical palm prints to graphic abstract patterns, anything goes. With this year’s home furnishing trends falling at opposite ends of the scale, from minimalist to maximalist, there are plenty of options out there to suit all tastes and styles. Choose pieces you love and you can’t go wrong!

BUY QUALITY, BUY LESS

Make sustainability a focus for your home makeover. Work to your budget but choose high-quality pieces that stand the test of time, and opt for natural fabrics and materials wherever possible.