Design dilemmas
FROM HIDING A TV TO MAKING THE MOST OF AN UNLOVED FIREPLACE, FINDING IMAGINATIVE DESIGN SOLUTIONS CAN MAKE YOUR HOME WORK BETTER
How can I ensure that my TV doesn’t dominate my space?
Stylists take pains in upmarket interiors shoots to avoid showing TV sets, yet the fact remains that most of us do have one and it has to go somewhere. The best approach is usually to hide it in plain sight.
Placing a TV set against a dark or even black backdrop is one clever way of making it pretty much invisible when it’s switched off, and with black walls moving firmly from ‘teen goth bedroom’ territory into the ‘chic interiors’ camp, this could be a canny design move as well. Alternatively, distract the eye by nestling the TV among books and ornaments on top of a unit, or surrounded by artworks if it’s wall-mounted. Purpose-built TV cabinets are notoriously ugly, but a slim sideboard can work well, especially if it has a few sections of open shelving for cable TV boxes and consoles, and you can drill discreet holes in the back to feed cables through.
Another consideration is your TV set itself. Although they are traditionally all black, it’s possible to find slightly more interesting models with mix-and-match components to allow you to create your own metallic, coloured or wood-framed configurations. You can also get wall-mounted units that turn from a TV into a photographic image or artwork at the touch of a button.
What can I do with my unused fireplace?
A period fireplace can be a thing of great charm, yet also something of an eyesore if it has been crudely part-removed, boxed in or modernised. If your room has a fireplace that doesn’t work, see it as a chance to have a little fun and inject some personality.
If you’ve just been left with a gaping hole, you could fill it with cut logs, a selection of pillar candles or perhaps a string of fairylights. You could even add an iron fire basket. If you’d prefer to be a little more adventurous in your decoration, fill the gap with a variety of shade-loving plants such as delicate asparagus ferns, or with striking faux flowers. A larger spot, such as an inglenook, can be turned into a little snug with a floor cushion and a crate of books.
If you haven’t been left with an elegantly blackened brick interior, decorate the fireplace by tiling the hole with a statement patterned tile; a gloss finish will help to bounce light around the room. A shelf fixed above it could offer more impact, acting as a makeshift mantel, too.
The best approach for the sad boxed-in fireplace is to hide its shortcomings with something eyecatching. Cover the opening and add a bold graphic design with paint, wallpaper or fabric, place a decorative fire screen or large artwork in front of it, or group bushy pot plants to disguise it, and hope that no one notices.
How do I make a bedroom office work?
No one wants to stare at a messy workspace at the best of times, least of all when dozing off to sleep. But if the bedroom is your only viable space to set up shop, with a bit of organisation you can create a functional spot for both working and sleeping.
For the desk space itself, repurposed furniture works well. A simple writing desk, console or even small dining table can be a good option, but try to make a raised platform for your monitor to ensure it sits at the correct eye level and you can tuck your keyboard under when it’s not in use. If your table has no drawers, a basic fabric skirt fixed around the top will hide a multitude of sins, from printers to power cables. A bureau allows you to just shut the hatch when you’re not using it, too.
If your desk is in an alcove, you can add shelves for storage, but otherwise a ladder-style leaning desk unit may be most efficient, or even a modular shelving system incorporating a desk. Soften the appearance of work paraphernalia such as box files by covering them with fabric or wallpaper swatches, and be creative with storage by archiving paperwork in a small vintage suitcase or stacking printer paper in an old wooden fruit crate.
Am I stuck with my existing wall tiles?
Many people think that bad tiles must be either replaced or tolerated. But there’s actually a range of possibilities between those two options. Tile paint often has cheap connotations, but if it’s done well it can look surprisingly slick.
For a great finish, make sure the tiles are immaculately clean and bone dry (fungicidal wash, limescale remover and even a light sanding with fine-grade sandpaper can all be beneficial, especially if the tiles are particularly stained or very shiny), and apply the paint with a foam roller to avoid brush marks. If you want a colour that’s not available in an all-inone formula, standard emulsion will work if you combine it with an appropriate primer and waterproof topcoat. Finish with a grout pen to complete the illusion.
Tile stickers have the reputation of being gimmicky, but these days there’s a surprisingly on-trend selection available. If the area you need to cover is small, go bold and add the stickers to every tile. For larger areas, display them in a striking strip or use them on random tiles only. If your tiles are plain but feel bland, you could spruce them up with a coloured grout.
If you’re still not convinced, consider putting new tiles over existing ones, but bear in mind that this will work only if the original tiles are clean and sound.
As a renter, how can I make my home feel more like my own? When you’re in a temporary home there are understandably limitations to how much you want (and are allowed) to do to modify the space. If your rental is unfurnished, invest in good, neutral basics that should see you through future homes, then jazz things up with a cool collection of cushions or a quirky coffee table. If you have to work around your landlord’s furniture, all is not lost. Pile on the throws and tablecloths or even experiment with temporary surface coverings, such as sticky-backed plastic.
If you’re not able to paint, think outside the box by decorating with colourful strips of removable washi tape or vinyl wall stickers. Art is another crucial element in making a house feel like a home. If you stick to lightweight, frameless prints, you might get away with hanging them from bulldog clips or vintage trouser hangers attached to the wall with sticky tack. Framed art is still an option, even if you’re not allowed to make holes in your walls, if you use removable Velcro or sticky picture-hanging strips to fix it up.
Using stacking crates as storage will give you the flexibility to add or subtract what you need to suit your space.
And never underestimate the power of accessories. A strategically placed decorative object can help pull together a bland or less-than-lovely room.