Tag: interior styling

The Nalu, Eden Beach Estate

Hi everyone,

I’m super excited to showcase one of my recently completed projects today. The Nalu display home by Homebuyers Centre is located in Eden Beach, Alkimos and this house design has already received so much love! With wall-to-wall dual ensuite vanities and double showers, open plan kitchen, dining, living and multipurpose room, spacious theatre and walk in pantry- it has all the essentials and so much more. While we wait for professional photography I thought it would be a great opportunity to show you my favourite room in the house and provide some budget-friendly decor inspiration, based off the Nalu’s modern coastal interior style!

The multi-purpose room is my absolute favourite space in the Nalu for a few key reasons! Firstly, the cut out opening in the wall visually connects this room to the kitchen, main living and dining area. It is such a great feature if you have (or are planning) a family in the future. Children don’t like feeling ‘left alone’ to play, read or complete homework in a separate room, so this allows them to feel included and safe when you’re cooking, unpacking groceries, stacking the dishwasher or prepping snacks. By having the opening start at 14courses high, it allows furniture to be placed against the brickwork which maximises functional space.

Secondly, the sliding door feature that opens up onto the alfresco is really beneficial as well. It makes the room feel spacious and allows so much natural sunlight to stream into the whole open plan living area. Easy access to the backyard is always handy as well, especially when entertaining with friends and family.

Thirdly, I have decorated the multipurpose room as a fun space that both adults and children can work, play, read and relax in, but the possibilities are endless. It can be easily styled based on how you will personally enjoy using the space, think- full office, home gym or pilates studio, gaming room, guest bedroom with sofa bed, kid’s playroom. You can even make it into an additional bedroom by adding a door and keeping all walls full height (with no cut out.)

Boho Palm Decals by BlondNoir in Sage, Olive and Bronze.

If you like the way I have styled the Nalu multipurpose room, here are some suppliers and products that will help you re-create this design in your own home! I love that we have achieved a built-in look, using budget-friendly items to produce a room that appeals to the whole family and that flows seamlessly with the rest of the modern coastal fitout. Happy Shopping!

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The bench top was made by cabinet makers in an Egger laminate, 38mm thick x 600mm deep. Colour- Sanato Oak with ABS edging. Please email me directly for the cabinet maker’s contact details- info@oheightohnine.com.au

Mini Mod in Tan by Homeday. Fill with 150L of beans each from Spotlight.

If you have visited my page to get some budget-friendly decor inspiration then look no further! I love styling all my projects with a mixture of affordable home decor items, alongside some unique and pricer key features. It helps me achieve a fuller and cosier looking home without breaking the bank, and instead I can spend more on statement items like artwork, wallpaper or lighting. I have curated a collection of my favourite 20 Kmart products that are influenced by the Nalu’s refreshing palette, earthy textures and modern coastal interior style below. Happy (continued) Shopping!

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Stay tuned over the next few weeks as I continue to share more images, videos and budget-friendly decorating ideas across social media. If you would like to visit the Nalu in person (highly recommend) the location details are 16 Selacosa Avenue, Alkimos. A huge thank you to Homebuyers WA for once again sponsoring this post, to bring you this ‘Shop The Look’ content completely free. Everyone loves freebies and we love affordable home improvements, so thank you to the HBC team for making this possible!!

Lots of love… and for anyone reading in Perth- stay cool, keep hydrated!!! T x

Faux Seagrass Wallpaper is from Olive Et Oriel in the paste/textured finish.

Tarina WoodLeave a comment

Cohesive and Affordable Study Inspiration

Hi all,

First of all if you’re reading this from the email newsletter- the best format and image quality can be viewed here 🙂

End of term means a lot of us will be working from home a little more than usual over the Christmas and New Year school-holiday-break! I thought it would be nice to provide some inspiration from the Homebuyers Centre Bayside display, that demonstrates how to affordably achieve a neat WFH space, while ensuring the open plan living area still has a cohesive look and feel. If you read my last entry on the Jamieson Gaming Hub, you’ll notice the desk and base are the same making these two back-to-back posts a great example of how versatile these pieces can be!

The drawers, shelf and office chairs are all trusty Ikea! They provide a neutral base that pairs well with the rest of the home and also kept costs down. By saving $ on the main items, it allowed me to get a custom 2.4m bench top made in the same laminate as the kitchen (which is directly opposite the study wall.) The top wasn’t overly expensive because it doesn’t have any hard fixings mounted into the back, so the labour time was cut down and the price was reduced.

** TIP ** If you engage a cabinet maker to make a square-edge laminated benchtop for your home, don’t forget to ask for ABS Edging!

This is a common factor forgotten about because not every cabinet maker includes it as standard in their pricing for shelving or laminated panels but it makes the world of difference in both aesthetic and general wear and tear.

The LÅNGFJÄLL chairs are a fave of mine and I have used them multiple times in study spaces over the years. Here are a few key reasons why they’re a winner in my eyes.

  • They’re quite solid and weighty- making them good options for children because they won’t easily tip over. 
  • The white frame/ base is a lovely option if you have light and bright interior selections. 
  • The fabric is SO versatile and goes with various different colour palettes. 
  • The wheels don’t need to be installed if you prefer a ‘swivel’ only study chair.
  • The price (being under $200) is awesome for the quality of the product. 
  • They also come in a high back option if you need additional support.

The pinboards are awesome wall decor to display anything and everything- memos, planners, kid’s artwork or merit awards, advent calendars, utility bills (ergh), vision or mood boards, photos or small scale accessories like headphones. Depending on how the pinboards are used, they can add personality to the space and enhance a colour scheme that you’re wanting to achieve (if small artwork prints are styled among the everyday items.) Wooden push pins can also be a stylish way to introduce more oak tones into the area. I found this pack of 80 at Officeworks for under $5.

The Bayside study nook is directly in front of the kitchen and beside the dining and living room (in one large open area) so I wanted to keep the colour palette flowing throughout. By selecting a couple of accent colours used in the surrounding areas, it allowed me to style the benchtop and shelf simply but effectively. I used the ruffle vase from target which is an absolute steal at the moment (only $6.00) to introduce a pop of grey-blue and also picked up on the tan tones by purchasing some of the Officeworks Otto stationary (mousepad and A4 storage boxes.)

Other decor selections include the Elena photo frames from Target ($10.) They have a lovely white return on oak frame which is nice and thick- making the frame perfect for shelves as they sit upright by themselves (without needing a support arm.) The marble and brass lamp ($45) adds a touch of luxe, creates ambience and acts as an additional light source for night time work. The ceramic jar ($12) is a great trinket dish for small tech like usb devices, camera cords or to stash the candy you don’t want your children to eat! Lastly, don’t forget your greenery. It adds life to an area which can sometimes feel overwhelming and can be sourced affordably as artificial stems ($6) or pruned from your own garden.

Feel free to steal my style below and shop some of the key items in the Bayside study nook below.

Pinboard || Push Pins || Lamp || Pen Cup || Pens || Office Chair || Drawers || Photo Frame || Ruffle Vase || Ruffle Candle || Trinket Jar || Mouse Pad || Artificial Stem || Storage Box || Laminate ||

If there are any other suppliers you want to know about, please comment below or on my instagram.

Stay cool everyone and take care xo

Tarina WoodLeave a comment

Margot Girl’s Room

Good morningggg,

Following on the back of my last post I wanted to share with you all the sweet details of mini Margot’s bedroom. We wanted to stay cohesive with the home’s modern luxe interior style but also introduce younger elements that can easily transition from primary to teenage years. To do this without changing the entire room we kept the base foundation very neutral and then introduced pretty gold details and pops of colour in the decor, art and bedding.

The feature paint is a lovely warm grey tone that is suitable for all ages and genders. It’s called Wattyl Signal Station and it pairs beautifully with the Wattyl Floral White internal wall paint featured throughout the Margot. It’s a great, affordable option that creates a subtle visual impact and the look can be further elevated with the introduction of contrasting spot or star wall decals like these.

In addition to the neutral wall colour, I also specified transitional pendants, bedsides, storage and furniture. This means that they can easily adapt with different trends, styles, colour palettes and kid’s interests making them awesome options to ensure you’re getting the most out of your purchases. The headboard cover can even be taken off to wash and keep fresh, or swapped over to a different fabric (without changing the headboard itself.) Check out the upholstery options below, ranging from King single to King size beds.

Juno Slipcover headboard and covers by Black Mango.

Another handy tip

is to frame wall art and posters yourself, instead of buying them as a framed option.

This allows you to swap the poster inside and update the space as your child’s interests/ hobbies evolve. Repurposing the frame not only saves money, it generally saves you on shipping charges too (as the unframed print comes in a lightweight tube) PLUS you won’t have to drill new holes in the wall- winning! Urban Road have a lovely range of artwork suitable for all ages available and my go-to retailers for store bought frames are Target, Spotlight and Freedom.

Homebuyers Centre have kindly allowed to me share the details of suppliers and stores so you can easily shop the look and create this sweet space in your own home. It’s always such a joy when I can offer these boards free of charge to visitors of my website, so feel free to click on the links below and shop the featured products before they sell out!

|| Pendants || Macey Mouse Poster || Alley Cat Poster || Poster Frames || Flower Cushion || Cat Plush Toy || Floral Sheets || Bedside Tables || Wall Book Ledges || European Pillowcases and Quilt Cover || Headboard || Clock || Vase || Storage Ottoman || Boucle Throw || Mongolian Cushion ||

If there is anything else that catches your eye which hasn’t been linked, feel free to comment below and I’ll respond with product/supplier details. Have a great week everyone.

Much Love,

T x

Tarina WoodLeave a comment

Welcome to the Margot

It’s Friday, the sun is shining here in Perth and it’s almostttt the weekend- YAY!

Today I have an exciting post for anyone who loves modern luxe interiors!!! I recently completed the beautiful Homebuyers Centre ‘Margot’ display home and I’m excited to share some fresh content with you. The Margot showcases a modern luxe interior style that hopefully inspires you to also achieve this look in your own home, without breaking the bank. As always, I’ll be sharing some helpful tips and super handy ‘shop the look’ boards to assist you with sourcing some bargains and creating cohesive, flowing spaces

The Margot is packed with impressive home features so the modern-luxe brief was a great fit for this display based in Apsley Estate, Mandogalup. The raked ceiling, open-plan kitchen/dining/living/activity, double vanities and showers, separate study and spacious master bedroom make the Margot floor plan one of my absolute favourites and the refined luxury details elevate the overall aesthetic. You can view the display floor plan and location details here.

My starting point

When doing the interior selections for this home, I chose my preferred colour palette first. I wanted to work with a tonal range of warm grey, champagne and brown tones, with my feature colour being Ochre. These are all neutral colours that evoke a sense of opulence, indulgence and luxury which is fitting to the brief. They also make a versatile base foundation and the ochre /muted mustard accent colour compliments the brass details repetitively used in each room of the Margot.

To work back with the muted brown tones, I specified the Wood Effects Plus ‘Lodge Oak’ Hybrid flooring from Carpet Call. We have already received so many compliments on the flooring colour, which is a greyed, dark-oak tone. I love that it differs from the commonly seen natural oak flooring and that it showcases a lovely alternative to hybrid if you’re searching for a product that isn’t a yellow-based timber-look floor cover. Polytec Oyster Grey Matt laminate went into the kitchen, Polytec Artisan Oak Matt was featured on the bathroom/ensuite vanities and Caesarstone Snow was my bench top selection throughout.

Key Selections

With the Margot palette and interior selections locked in, it was time to make the furniture, art, linen and decor selections. This is where the luxe interior style can start to shine with carefully chosen pieces. Key materials and details that I used to emphasise the lavish look are listed below to also help you filter through products that will best suit the brief.

  • Marble
  • Brass or gold accents
  • Glass and acrylic
  • Chunky boucle fabrics
  • Lush velvets
  • Quilting and pleat details
  • Faux furs
  • Fluting and ribbed profiles
  • Metallics
  • Gold foil
  • Woven silks

All these textures and materials evoke that opulent and luxury feel in the same way the palette does and these elements were placed cohesively in each space to ensure the modern-luxe style flowed seamlessly throughout the home.

Luxe looks for less

You might be wondering if this brief comes with a high price tag attached, but that certainly doesn’t need to be the case. I used a portion of my budget on some of the key elements above, and then saved a lot on other areas to maintain a beautiful overall look… without going nuts with $$ eyes. Here are my top 5 tips to help you get a luxe look for less.

  • Buy white furniture and use brass or gold hardware to add a feature to the doors or drawers. Don’t let an unfavourable handle on a product deter you from buying it, as often the handles can be changed (but best to check with the supplier first.) I had new handles installed on both entertainment units and the master bedroom bedside tables (above.) Ikea and Mocka were my go to stores for white furniture.
  • Use paint or wallpaper as a feature, rather than a lining board that might incur higher labour and install costs. The pearl weave wallpaper in the Margot master bedroom was an affordable purchase and it gives the room visual impact, in a soft and subtle way. Linked below in my Shop The Look.
  • Posters are a great cost effective way to fill blank walls in your home without spending hundreds on each piece of artwork. Simply buy the poster based on a standard size to fill your wall and purchase an off-the-shelf frame to match. I used a lot of artwork and posters from Urban Road in the Margot because they have an awesome range of abstract, neutral and kid’s designs available in both framed and unframed options. I also saved on shipping by getting the majority of my artwork from one place- yay every cent counts!
  • Marble, acacia wood, embossed glass and brass/gold decor can be found in a lot of budget-friendly retailers. Shop around in various stores to get a wide variety of complimenting decor. The stores I shopped at most for luxe little trinkets were Spotlight, Big W, Kmart, Target, Adairs, Officeworks, Freedom, Myer and Ikea.
  • Affordable bed linen can be dressed up easily with a beautiful coverlet or throw. A (flat and tight) waffle weave quilt cover will make a great foundation to then layer some more lavish textures on top of. These can be sourced for as little as $26.00 for a queen set from Big W- shop here.
  • Mirrors are the ultimate luxe statement and can be used to lighten a room, create the illusion of more space, reflect a feature or BE the feature on an empty wall. The Halo range from Temple and Webster, as well as the Lindbyn range from Ikea are awesome budget- friendly options who stock a brass or gold frame.

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An affordable alternative to the bedside tables are one of my favourite Mocka products- the Oslo- linked here.

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I hope you have gained some inspiration based off the beautiful Margot display and feel more confident making purchases to fit a modern-luxe interior style. If you’d like to walk through the display in person you can view the opening hours and days here. Otherwise, if there is a product you see specifically in any of the images, please feel free to comment below and I’ll be sure to reply with the supplier and item details. A huge shout out to my second family at Homebuyers Centre who kindly sponsored this post to bring you all of the content for free, and to my incredible assistant Mel for helping compile all of the shopping links so you can easily access the products online.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone,

T x

Tarina WoodLeave a comment

Pre-start made EASY!

Happy Hump Dayyyy!!

I hope you are keeping well and enjoying the start of Spring! September is the busiest month of the year in my family (with birthdays galore) so I’ve been enjoying a bit of down time with family and friends. It has been ah-mazing but I’m excited to jump back online today and share some new, valuable content with you all.

At the end of June I presented a project I have been working on with Homebuyers Centre to over 200 people, showcasing 6 carefully curated collections of internal and external finishes, forming the ‘HBC Go’ range. I had such great feedback from attendees that I thought I would also give a run down of the presentation on this platform for anyone who couldn’t make it, or for those who would like to shop the look!!

What is HBC Go?

HBC Go is a complete curation of internal and external selections, that can be applied as a package to your new build making the process an EASY, QUICK, AFFORDABLE and ENJOYABLE experience. I have carefully compiled 6 different styles/themes (listed below) that consist of timeless, neutral selections, allowing you introduce your own personal flair through the use of furniture and styling.

  • Contemporary Coastal
  • Modern Monochrome
  • Mediterranean Resort
  • Modern Australiana
  • Urban Chic
  • Modern Industrial

The Benefits

EASY:

  • HBC Go takes the guess work out of pre-start. It offers complete peace of mind, knowing that your finishes have been refined by an industry professional to ensure your home flows seamlessly from front to back and floor to ceiling.
  • All the boards are on display in large format at Home Collective so you can touch and view everything together- no ordering a million, tiny samples from various suppliers and having to imagine what they look like on a much larger scale.
  • Quality brands and quality finishes from leading suppliers and skilled trades- Beaumont Tiles, Reece, Carpet Call, Polytec, Caesarstone, Caroma, Austral Bricks, The Maker Designer Kitchens and the long list goes on.

QUICK:

  • Any of the 6 packages come with a Quality Assurance Guarantee ensuring an 18 week pre-construction lead time (from signing your contract to slab down!!!)
  • Significantly cuts down time during the pre-start phase of your build because I’ve already done the prep work for you.

AFFORDABLE:

  • In selected schemes we have included various upgrades like stunning woodmatt laminate, black tapware and matching hardware for no extra cost!
  • All packages come with a really valuable electrical upgrade bundle as well- see below for the full list.
  • Saves money in potential rent with the Quality Assurance Guarantee/ 18 week pre-construction lead time. Whack those savings into a decor fund to style your new home instead 😉

To ensure the overall look and feel of each scheme is easily adaptable, I have kept the selections very fresh and neutral. They’re not going to date quickly and will also appeal to a wide audience should you choose to sell the property. If you would like to emphasise the theme of each home there are some key areas to achieve this successfully. I’m going to share my favourite 3 boards and give some designer tips on how to maximise a coastal, monochrome and mediterranean interior style to work back with the finishes already chosen.

Contemporary Coastal

The interior selections of the Contemporary Coastal scheme are subdued and light. I have chosen a soft wood look laminate throughout the home called Polytec Maison Oak Ravine, which features a chalky-beige undertone and a textured grey woodgrain finish. This pairs really well with both the main area floor tile and the wet area floor tile, being a gorgeous sandy ‘stone-look’ terrazzo tile. Classic chrome tapware and hardware are featured throughout and compliment a cool, refreshing colour palette.

To achieve a Contemporary Coastal interior style there are some simple and effective details you can introduce to emphasise the tranquility and beachy feel of your home. Using a soft feature colour like seafoam green or a greyed blue hue, will bring seaside elements inside and introduce a pop of colour to the space. This can be applied in wallpaper, cushions, feature paint, artwork, rugs or through the use of decor items- like vases, vessels or books. Choose products with raw, organic textures like rattan, straw, linen, cotton and rope. This will enhance a tactile aesthetic and keep your home feeling cosy and inviting, even when using a cooler colour palette.

Key design features to factor in for styling, furniture and decor include:

  • Slip cover upholstery.
  • Woven occasional furniture- being rattan, rope or leather.
  • Tassels or fringing on textiles.
  • Thick nautical stripe patterns.
  • Linear repetition in decor, wall panels or wallpaper.
  • Photographic artwork of nature and objects.
  • White, beige and oak furniture create a neutral foundation.
  • Use foliage like tropical leaves (palm, banana, monstera, bird of paradise) and pampas stems for a cohesive coastal look.

To get you started, here is a shop the look compilation featuring some of my favourite coastal inspired decor. Links below!!

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Modern Monochrome

The interior selections of the Modern Monochrome scheme are bold and high-contrast- perfect for an edgier, contemporary fit-out. I have chosen my favourite dark charcoal laminate for cabinetry throughout, called Polytec Cinder Matt. It’s a striking addition when paired with minimalist selections like white subway tiles and light oak hybrid flooring. Black tapware, fittings and cabinetry hardware are included at no extra charge and emphasise the sleek aesthetic of this interior style.

Materials to look for when furnishing a modern monochrome home should be fairly refined, urbane and luxe- think marble, oak and concrete. Keep the overall design minimal and use textures like linear ribbing, loop-pile wool rugs and boucle to add warmth and softness among the heavier/bolder elements. Want to introduce colour into a black/white/grey colour palette? EASY! Green, slate blues and tan/brown hues are your colours to explore!!! All three are insanely neutral and can be subtly woven into your interior without affecting the overall monochrome palette.

Green- greenery, plants, foliage, fresh fruit.

Tan- oak furniture, tan leather (or linen) cushions, throws or ottomans. Decor like timber trays or oak framing of artwork.

Slate Blue- pair with greys, blacks and white in linen, bedding, cushions, artwork or vases like I have in the Odelle Display Home below.

Key design features to factor in for styling, furniture and decor include:

  • Black frames on furniture like dining chairs, sofas, barstools will give a sleek, cohesive look.
  • You can go a step further by using a black track on your sheer curtains.
  • Magnolia stems are a beautiful introduction, with their brown, green and white foliage.
  • Abstract designs in artwork and cushions accentuate a modern, contemporary impression.
  • Opal bulbs on pendants, floor lamps, table lamps and wall lights add a high contrast element to your lighting.
  • Mirrors will bounce around light and keep your interior feeling spacious and bright.

Get the look with this Modern Monochrome compilation featuring some of my favourite furniture and decor pieces on the market. Links below!!

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Mediterranean Resort

The interior selections of the Mediterranean Resort scheme are timeless and classic, creating a neutral base for you to decorate with a rich, earthy palette after handover. I have chosen a light oak hybrid floor to pair with a warm grey kitchen laminate called Polytec Stone Grey and white splashback tiles to ensure the overall look is light and bright. The bathroom, ensuite and laundry then flow nicely on from the main interior with a natural oak laminate for the vanities and a stunning soft grey/ almost white floor tile (one of my all-time faves.) The neutral cut pile carpet means you can go bonkers on textured furniture and decor, which suits the Mediterranean resort style perfectly!

To achieve a Mediterranean Resort aesthetic you want to adapt a raw, earthy and organic approach to furnishing and styling your home. Using creamy neutrals like beige and ivory as a base foundation, then injecting rich feature colours like sienna, terracotta, nude and tan tones will ensure you have a well balanced and harmonious interior palette. This can be done easily through paint, wallpaper, cushions, artwork, rugs, books, lighting and decor. Materials and textures like mosaics, bone inlay, organic wood, clay, terracotta, leather, rattan, plaster and wool will all hugely emphasise the interior style, especially if you’re gravitating towards a Moroccan approach to Mediterranean… If you a prefer a more European direction like the Greek Islands or Positano trend, the above design elements are still relevant, but try introducing blues among the warm, rich tones and you’ll be on the right path.

Key design features to factor in for styling, furniture and decor include:

  • Arches, curves and soft winding shapes.
  • Contrast the above with rough, chunkier textures.
  • Imperfect, handmade decor and tableware.
  • Photographic cultural landmark and nature artwork will accentuate the Mediterranean style.
  • Aztec and tribal patterns can be used in rugs and textiles.
  • Rattan will introduce the coastal resort element required to achieve the look.
  • Pressed metal/tin is also a material commonly featured throughout Moroccan interior design.

Here is a curated collection of some beautiful and cohesive Mediterranean Resort decor, to help you achieve the look effortlessly. Links below!!

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I love putting these shop the looks together for you all and even more so, when I know they will be utilised by clients who are building beautiful, new homes using the ‘HBC Go’ schemes I have worked hard on. I will get cracking on the next 3 schemes over the next month or two because they’re beautiful in their own unique way- think Urban Chic, Modern Australian and Industrial. If you have any questions about the concepts, shop the looks or schemes please feel free to comment below and I’ll respond back to you.

Have an amazing week and enjoy the remainder of school holidays!!

T xx

Homebuyers Centre WA has kindly sponsored this blog entry, based on my experience as their Interior decorator. All thoughts, design work, styling and written content are my own.

Tarina WoodLeave a comment

Decorating small homes!

Hey everyone!!

This year I have completed a number of beautiful display homes for Homebuyers Centre that are built on narrow blocks of land. I must say it has completely inspired me, seeing how much can be done on limited land, without compromising on design or features. Compact living is becoming increasingly popular and with so many of you building, buying and renovating your own properties at the moment, I thought it would be a lovely idea to share some of my top tips to maximise space and decorate small spaces confidently. Here goes!

Sheer Curtains

Sheer curtains create a soft, dreamy aesthetic to all homes, especially when installed in a light coloured fabric. They not only help filter the sunlight, but disperse it in a subtle way throughout the room, in comparison to blinds and shutters. Sheer curtains can also help make the room appear larger when a few key pointers are factored in.

  • Have the track installed as high as possible, even if the window is not full height. If you have a cornice, wall-mount the track straight underneath it, and if you have shadow line ceilings then you can ceiling mount the track. By hanging the sheer curtains as high as possible, you create the illusion of an elevated ceiling and more spacious area.
  • Run the track further than the window itself, so when you draw the curtains completely back, the full view outside is visible. This emphasises the scale of a window and it appears larger.
  • If you require a blockout aspect for privacy, select a block-out roller blind over a block-out curtain. Reason being- the roller blind is much more slimline and fits within the window sill, whereas the block-out curtain eats more into the room and will require a double track to then also hang the sheers on.
  • Try to avoid having excess fabric and draping at floor level. In smaller homes we want to make the area feel more accessible and this will be achieved by having a sleek drop with either a serger stitch or weighted hem (that skims floor level.)

My go to (light coloured) sheer curtain fabrics are:

  • Crisp White- Warwick Corfu Snow
  • Ivory- Warwick Corfu Moonlight
  • Light Beige- Warwick Burano Vanilla
  • Light Grey- Nettex Cannes Cloud
The Blinds Gallery is my preferred supplier of window treatments including S-Wave Sheer Curtains and tracks.

Furniture

You want to try and keep your furniture selections sleek, fuss free and cohesive so that the whole space works harmoniously together. Here are some of my top tips to ensure you choose the most appropriate furniture for your small home.

  • An overall light, airy palette will ensure your home feels fresh and spacious.
  • Keep storage in the forefront of your mind. For example, instead of selecting a console table, try opting for a narrow buffet to allow for more closed-door storage.
  • Furniture like sofas, coffee tables, bedside tables etc that have legs (and are elevated off of the floor) will create the illusion of more space.
  • A thinner arm on your sofa will maximise seating.
  • Elongated seat and back cushions on your sofa won’t look as busy and chaotic as smaller width ones. For example both of the below sofas are 3 seat designs, but the second option looks much neater.
  • You might not have room for a modular or chaise sofa design, but you can utilise a round ottoman nestled under your coffee table as a foot rest for when you want to kick your feet up and enjoy a movie.
  • Avoid solid, chunky coffee tables unless they have a useful function, like extra storage. These round coffee tables from Life Interiors are a great way to maximise hidden storage in your home!!
  • Alternatively, coffee tables that allow you to nest a side table and/or ottoman are really handy as well. By grouping these pieces together, you’re freeing up floorspace and have three usable surfaces to utilise when needed.
  • A dining table with slim, tapered legs or a pedestal base will allow for more dining chairs without crowding.
  • Try to avoid a dining chair design that has any sort of armrest element, as these require more room to seat the same amount of people.
  • If your bedroom can house a bed-end-ottoman, one with a storage component would be ideal to store extra linen, towels and seasonal clothes in. If space is limited and you can’t comfortably fit one in, then you can always look into a gas lift bed which allows for plenty of storage between the floor and mattress (inside the bedframe.) The ‘Reno’ design below is available at Forty Winks and was featured on The Block by Ronnie and Georgia.

Artwork and Decor

  • A large, statement artwork is going to create a focal point within a room and be a deterrence from limited space.
  • Wallpaper can be a great alternative to artwork. Choose a calming, soft wallpaper to create a master bedroom sanctuary, or a stronger pattern to inject a bolder feature.
  • The use of vertical linear repetition in the form of wallpaper, artwork, tiles or lining boards will draw your eye upwards towards the ceiling and emphasise height, rather than the lack of width.
  • Artwork featuring greenery like palms, florals, forest or desert scapes will add life into your home without needing as much in decor. Save space by ditching the large potted trees inside and instead utilise surfaces (kitchen/dining/living/shelves) to display a delicate arrangement of flora and plants.
  • Less is more when it comes to styling a smaller home. Minimal decor will speak volumes and keep the area feeling clutter free. For example, instead of styling both an entertainment unit and coffee table in the same room, I would choose to style the entertainment unit (on one side) and then keep the coffee table bare, or opt for a low stack of books.
  • Wall Shelves are a fantastic way to create interest on your walls without repeating artwork. Decorate with personal items, family photos, cascading plants or a stack of books and the wall will look not only full spatially, but full of personality too. You can shop the above 190cm Ikea one here.
  • Wall hooks provide a great option for storage without taking up extra floor space. Utilise a number of hooks in your entry to create a useable and beautiful drop zone. You can shop the below button hooks from Freedom here as a set of 3.
  • Utilise smaller/pokier walls in children’s bedrooms (like the side of a sliding robe wall) to display books on, if you have door swing clearance. This allows you to decorate larger walls with artwork and the ledge won’t protrude into a walkway. You can even select a few books with covers that coordinate with the rest of your child’s bedroom, to enhance a cohesive colour palette or interior theme. You can shop these affordable book ledges (below) for $9.50 each from Ikea.

Lighting

If you’re in the design phase of building or renovating a compact home, add in more lighting than you think you will need, especially if you’re building boundary to boundary and have limited windows to let natural sunlight in. If your home is already built, here are a few ways to enhance the ambience and lighting in multiple ways.

  • Pendant Lights in a master bedroom are great because they allow for more usable surface space on your bedside tables, and they also make a beautiful feature in the room. Opt for one that evenly disperses light like an opal bulb or glass shade. You might find that a rattan or wire one will cast too many busy shadows in a small area and leave you feeling overwhelmed, instead of calm.
  • If you do require a lamp, touch sensitive ones are particularly handy in bedrooms because you won’t need to fumble around for the on/off switch behind a bedside table. You can find a wide range of touch lamps at beacon or by clicking here.
  • Alternatively, you can look into smart lighting products. Bunnings or Ikea sell wireless bulbs that pair with the appropriate gateway/app using bluetooth and wifi connectivity.
  • Large mirrors will bounce around the natural sunlight available and can instantly brighten a dark wall. They also help emphasise the scale of a room by using reflection, making the area seem larger than it is.
  • Floor lamps with multi/directional heads will light an area (or multiple areas) all from the one light source. They can be placed in the corner of a room to fill an empty space, and light an otherwise dull corner. Here are some my favourite multi-directional floor lamps.
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  • Make sure you don’t obstruct any natural light source with bulky furniture pieces. Same goes for landscaping… Make sure you don’t plant any large trees in front of windows that will restrict sunlight. If you have an already established home with larger plants limiting your light source- it might be time to redo some of your landscaping in order to maximise sunlight and warmth inside.
  • Lastly, if you’re wanting to install a patio or covered structure to act as an alfresco, it would be a great idea to look into transparent roof cover options so that you’re not shading any more windows or sliding doors.

Narrow Lots and Home Designs

For anyone considering downsizing or building a smaller home, I wanted to showcase two of my recently completed projects built on narrow blocks, that have completely blown my mind. The cleverly designed Homebuyers Centre layouts, inclusions and use of space is appealing to not only singles and couples, but small families as well. The thought of bonding within a more homely, comforting environment is really appealing to me and if it means less area to clean- well sign me up nowwww!

The Axton is a 6m wide two-storey design, which is perfect for narrow blocks. The floor plan is super versatile allowing you to choose either 2x living areas or 4x bedrooms. There is also a convenient study nook in the open plan kitchen/dining/living area, which makes compact living so achievable! Lastly to secure this as one of my favourite floor plans- the ensuite has a double vanity and double shower, so when paired with the light-filled master bedroom and WIR, the overall space feels like a complete sanctuary. View the Axton here.

The second of my favourite narrow lot designs is the Berkeley which is a 10.5m wide single storey design. Oh my goodness! If you’re an entertainer- THIS home is for you!!! Sporting a 7.2m long kitchen at the rear of the home, with scullery and servery window opening up onto the alfresco- the Berkeley makes compact living sooo enticing. There is also a bright, light-filled open plan living/dining/kitchen, separate study space, theatre and (again) features a double vanity and double shower in your ensuite! Everything you need to live comfortably, under one cosy roof. View the Berkeley here.

I hope this advice has inspired and made you feel more confident in styling small spaces. If you have any questions or want to read other tips and tricks, feel free to scroll through my other website entries. There is an abundance of great content for likeminded interior enthusiasts that I’m sure you’ll love (I’ve linked some recent posts below.) Have a lovely week everyone and stay warmmmmmm.

Cosy hugs,

Tx

The Nalu, Eden Beach Estate

Hi everyone, I’m super excited to showcase one of my recently completed projects today. The Nalu display home by Homebuyers Centre is located in Eden Beach, Alkimos and this house design has already received so much love! With wall-to-wall dual ensuite vanities and double showers, open plan kitchen, dining, living and multipurpose room, spacious theatre…

by Tarina Wood

Cohesive and Affordable Study Inspiration

Hi all, First of all if you’re reading this from the email newsletter- the best format and image quality can be viewed here 🙂 End of term means a lot of us will be working from home a little more than usual over the Christmas and New Year school-holiday-break! I thought it would be nice…

by Tarina Wood

Jamieson Gaming Hub

Hey all. I wasn’t expecting to have so many responses to my latest post about the Jamieson gaming hub but thank you for all the love so far on this cool space! I thought to make things easy, I will upload a quick ‘Shop the Look’ section here to help you achieve a similar scheme…

by Tarina Wood

Homebuyers Centre WA has kindly sponsored this blog entry, based on my experience as their Interior decorator. All thoughts, design work, styling and written content are my own.

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