Having some general design themes for each room or for the whole space can be a good way to keep from letting your stuff become your theme. Here are some theme ideas to consider when reconsidering your living space:

Greg Natale

1) Rustic chic

A vintage look is popular in all sorts of ways these days, whether it’s for a living room design scheme or a barnyard style wedding. This is also a good theme for just about any room in the house as it lends itself to nice neutral tones, which can be very adaptable to different rooms, and to comforting touches like distressed paint furniture or hand-knit blankets that can make just about any room feel comfier. If you tend to prefer comfort, but you don’t like overpowering color schemes or strong patterns, this would be a good theme for you.

Jessica Buckley Interiors

2) Retro futurism

This design theme recalls visions of the future from the past. Think George Jetson take on modernity. You tend to see lots of products in these kinds of design schemes that feature strong angles and bright (neon green and bright purple) or severe colors (black, white, and gray). This is a great design theme for rooms like the kitchen and bathroom, as modern design products for these areas tend to focus on efficient styling, which can make a room feel very sleek and clean.

James Dawson Interiors

4) Modern-Living

Spice up your apartment or add some fun to your living room. Have a favorite quote or song lyric? Custom custom die cut stickers are the perfect way to express yourself and bring ordinary walls to life. Designing unique custom stickers that are suitable for your room means you don’t need to spend a lot of money or effort to get customized wall decor. The difference between custom die cut stickers and other decal wall stickers is that you can design any shape, color, or appearance according to your apartment theme.

3) Nature-centric

There’s plenty of evidence out there to suggest that people tend to be happier when living in areas with lots of trees and green spaces. You can channel some of this into your indoor living spaces by choosing a design scheme that focuses on nature and natural things. Choose some indoor plants, as well as plants that can live in your window boxes or on your porch to add some nature your whole area. If you have trouble keeping plants alive, consider joining team faux. Don’t worry about the lackluster quality of fake plants from before; high-quality artificial plants that look just like the real thing – without the maintenance are perfect for you. They allow you to get the look while saving time, energy, and money. You can also get some hanging plants for inside or some materials to make your own hanging terrarium.

 Jessica Buckley Interiors

4) Big and bold

If you love bright colors and bold patterns, then you’re definitely in-tune with some of the biggest trends in interior design right now. Designers love a judicious use of really striking colors and patterns, like throw pillows in slightly different shades of a bright burgundy color, or a piece of wall art in a different but similar pattern to the rug.

The key is to focus on bold and bright but not to overdo it. Bold colors can overwhelm a space, so start out small with just a few items to act as highlights for the room. You should also consider exploring the wonderful world of color blocking. You may find that you prefer to stick to “strong” colors rather than “bright” colors. That is, stay away from hot pink and go instead for a dark red wine kind of color. This will still make a room feel full and expressive without making your eyes hurt.

Greg Natale

Designing a room is all about finding a theme that fits you and fits the space. Consider each room one at a time and ask yourself what the room is for, what you like to do there, and what theme will be most conducive to making the room comfortable for your lifestyle!

Every small space faces the same dilemma – how can we make it look as big as possible? We’ve all heard of the same tricks over again like hanging mirrors in your living space to trick your subconscious into thinking a room is more spacious. There is are tons of other easy and creative ways you can make the most of your tiny home without needing a drastic home reno. Take a look at these five great ideas on how to transform your small space in a snap:

Choose a Unified Colour Scheme

If you’re lucky enough to have great views, create a continuation of colour with the world outside. So if you are overlooking a park, choose a green colour theme in that room, or paint a beach house using a Palm Beach color palette. This also works well if you choose a unified colour scheme for your entire home.

Alan Malouf

Invest in Raised Furniture

Furnishings such as sofas, chairs and tables that are raised on legs can promote a sense of space throughout a room. Use thin, sleek furniture that looks almost invisible like these FADS armchairs that provide ample space for seating and moving around throughout the space.

Sofas set on raised legs can also provide additional storage space in the living room – an ideal place to keep magazine racks and DVD collections when space is truly at a premium.

Lisa Petrole

Clear Junk Out of Your Space

You should definitely do an annual clean up of your home and toss any unused possessions. If you have not used something in the past 12 months, it may be time to get rid of it. Any knickknacks on the mantel, bookshelves and even on the coffee table have definitely got to go. Clearing out junk will not only make your space seem instantly larger, but it’s also great for your mental health and wellbeing. Holding a neighbourhood garage sale every summer is also a smart way to help cash in on some of your unused belongings and get involved in your neighbourhood.

Butler Lutz Interiors

Pair Light, Cool, and Glossy Colours

Choosing furniture in light colors such as white with a glossy or lacquered finish will give you the same effect mirrored furniture does – it looks invisible and bounces light throughout your room, making it seem bigger than ever. Painting a room’s walls in cool colours such as pastel blue or light grey will also create the impression that the walls are visually receding.

Celia James

Small Prints and Features

Choose small pieces of artwork and prints on the wall to create the impression that the room is larger than it is. Framing numerous small prints on the walls, and placing smaller rugs on the floors, can help the natural features and contours of the room appear larger.

Caitilin Moran

I recently came across an article about “the death of the dining room”, and how most homeowners are completely tossing out the dining room and replacing it with a home office or extra storage space. Most people are living solo, don’t have the space, or even the time to sit down at a dining table and eat a meal. It’s time to re-take control of your dining room and restore it to its former glory. Obviously, if you physically have no room for a dining room then you may have a semi-reasonable excuse, but if you already have a dining room but just don’t use it then you have no reason to ignore it.

Bring some serious panache into your dining room this season and grace it with tons of color, flair, and accessories. Instead of completely neglecting it, take the time to actually sit down and have a proper meal with your family – in style. We’ve rounded up 4 ways to revive your space and make is super special as it was back in the day:

Clear Out Junk and Knicknacks

Every house has one place that seems to be a dumping ground and for many it’s the dining room. The dining room table is pretty big and flat, which makes it perfect for throwing newspapers, junk mail, magazines, and even seems like a great place to put the hamster’s cage! However, it’s even better for eating your dinner on. Have a clear out of your dining room and you’ll instantly feel more inclined to use it.

Think Green and Recycle Furniture

If you want a huge dining room table crafted from the finest oak the world has to offer, then you’ll naturally pay an arm and a leg, but a simple dining room table really doesn’t have to cost very much at all. Instead of scourging stores for a brand new table, think green and check out websites such as freecycle.org where you can pick up all sorts, including dining tables, for absolutely nothing. You never know – you may come across a one-of-a-kind antique table that would make perfect restoration project!

Make Way for Your Table

One of the most common reasons people eat in the living room off their knees is because they claim they don’t have enough room for a dining room. Lies! You can turn any room into a makeshift dining room simply by adding a dining table, and when they’re as minimal and space-saving as this one, you can fit one just about anywhere.

Host a Dinner Party

Now that you’ve actually got yourself a dining room, it’s time to use it. Inviting people over for a dinner party or even a summer brunch is a great way to get to start using your dining room to its full potential. Make your dining room look complete with colourful tablecloths, runners, and placemats that complement your wall color and furniture. Prepare something light and colourful like croissants and strawberries for brunch or a nice watermelon salad side for dinner. Playing with the colors in your décor as well as with your food choices is a great way to dive into the new summer season. Enjoy!