Author Archives: dev

Quiz: How Well Do You Know Your Interior Decorating Trends?

Question 1: In which 20th century decade were rattan and cane furniture most popular? a) 1990’s b) 1920’s c) 1970’s d) 1930’s

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Question 2: What colour timber is most popular in the Scandinavian design trend? a) Oak and pine b) Merbau c) Spotted gum d) Teak

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Question 3: Frank Lloyd Wright was a renowned architect popular during which era? a) Art Deco b) Mid-century Modern c) Post-War d) Rococo

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Question 4: I am opulent, glamorous and bold in my style. I use a lot of geometric shapes and love metallics such as gold and silver. Which interior design style am I? a) Hamptons b) Art Deco c) Mid-Century Modern d) Bauhaus

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Question 5: What are the most popular accent colours in the Hamptons design style? a) Red and orange b) Pink and purple c) Yellow and Brown d) Blue and Green

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Question 6: Who is a popular furniture designer that has replicas made of their work to this day? a) Charles and Ray Eames b) Phillipe Starck c) Hans Wegner d) All of the above

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Answers: Question 1: C – 1970’s

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Question 2: A – Oak and pine

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Question 3: B – Mid-century modern

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Question 4: B – Art deco

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Question 5: D – Blue and green

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Question 6: D – All of the above

6 Hacks For Keeping An Organised Home In The New Year

If you are like us, one of your new year’s resolutions is to have a more organised and structured home. In today’s post we are sharing our top hacks for not only implementing organisational solutions but staying on top of them long term. We have so many handy tips and tricks we’ve used time and time again and suggestions on the perfect storage solutions that will transform your home life. Read on to find out more!

1. Start The Year Fresh

The festive season is one of abundance, decadence and overflow, so it is no wonder we all feel like cleansing and minimising once the new year rolls around. For most people the start of January can be a calm time where work is quiet, and you can reset both yourself and your home. We suggest setting a day aside to have a thorough declutter of the highest traffic areas of your home such as the kitchen, pantry, wardrobe, kid’s bedrooms, playrooms and garage. Sort through all items and get rid of anything that has not been used recently, has been replaced with something new or that no longer brings you joy. By starting off the year with a declutter and organising day this allows you to head into the new year with a fresh perspective and a clear mind.

 

2. Create A Drop Zone

Creating designated drop zones in the home allows for clutter to be contained to one area and avoids it building up throughout various areas of the home. We recommend creating a ‘drop-zone’ that is separate from the kitchen or living area in a space such as the entryway, home office or towards the garage. Create a drop zone by using items such as baskets, in-trays, boxes or containers and label them with each family member’s name. You can pick up some beautiful baskets from Freedom or some great storage containers from Howard’s Storage World that would be perfect for this. The key to keeping drop zones under control is to dedicate a couple of minutes each week to sorting through and actioning any items that need to be actioned and putting things away that have a separate home.

 

3. Go Label Crazy

Labels are a lifesaver when it comes to organising your home. Not only do they look aesthetically pleasing, but they help each member of the family know where items belong. We recommend labelling key areas of the home that are constantly having items picked up, put back, used, and taken in and out. For example, categorise your pantry using wire baskets for different food types and use swing tags to label. The linen cupboard is another great area of the home to use beautiful baskets to categories like-minded items such as sheets, quilt cover sizes, towels and more.

 

4. Purchase Your Storage Solutions Now

December is the perfect time of year to pick up a bargain as the Christmas and Boxing Day events are in full swing! If you have the time, we suggest making a list of items such as baskets, containers, drawer dividers and turntables and heading in store to grab yourself a saving. We love Howard’s Storage World for all our kitchen, wardrobe and bathroom storage solutions and Provincial Home Living and Freedom for gorgeous baskets.

5. Set A Timer

When thinking about decluttering and organising your home it can often become overwhelming as you do not know where to begin. As the saying goes, the easiest way to achieve something is to ‘just start’. We love setting a timer to either 15 minutes or 30 minutes and having a ‘fire round’ of decluttering, picking up items that are lying around, sorting a drawer or deep cleaning an area that has been neglected. You will be surprised how much you can get done in a short amount of time if you set your timer, put your phone on silent and pop on some inspiring music to get motivated!

 

6. Lock In Maintenance Days In Your Calendar

Implementing organisational solutions in your home such as categorising, labelling and decluttering is the first step in creating an organised home. The second and arguably most important step is to ‘maintain’ the spaces long term. Having an organised home is not a matter of ‘setting and forgetting’, rather a system that is put in place and maintained regularly for optimum performance. Maintaining your organisation solutions simply means to set aside time in your calendar every quarter to check in on the systems put in place. This can include going through the pantry and throwing away expired foods, sorting through each family members in tray and ensuring all items are put back in their designated category baskets in the linen cupboard and playroom.

Our Top Kitchen Organisation Hacks

The kitchen is often described as the heart of the home and as such is required to be not only a welcoming and aesthetically pleasing space, but a functional one too. Whether you are cooking dinner, packing lunches, emptying the dishwasher, or doing homework with the kids, the kitchen functions for all types of activities. In order to keep the space functioning well and to avoid frustration, the kitchen needs to have systems and organisation tools in place. Today we are sharing with you our favourite tips, tools, and products to help you organise and create flow in your kitchen.

Create Zones

The working triangle is a common term used when designing kitchens as it refers to where the dishes are done, the food is stored, and the cooking is undertaken. Zones can also be created in other ways in the kitchen such as in your pantry, cupboards and drawers. To ensure breakfast time runs smoothly as a family and cooking dinner is a breeze, we recommend setting up zones within the pantry to enable this. Group like-minded items together such as cereals with spreads and pastas and rice with spices, sauces and oils. This saves you time in the long run as you know where everything is and can easily access the items you require. Zones can also be created within your cupboards and drawers by storing cooking items such as pots and pans near the stove and plates, bowls and glasses near the dishwasher for easy access when unloading. Create zones in your kitchen this weekend and thank us later!

 

Use Baskets And Containers To Categorise

Baskets and containers are one of our favourite tools to use when organising a kitchen and pantry. In the pantry we suggest grouping likeminded items together and dedicating a basket for each category. The most common categories to use and are snacks, cooking, meal kits, baking, rice and noodles and of course backstock. Freedom and Howard’s Storage World have some gorgeous baskets that would up level any pantry and create a beautiful look in your home. Clear or white containers are great for areas such as under the sink where you can group items together such as cleaning, dishwashing, paper towels, sponges, and bin bags. Our biggest tip is to ensure you measure each space before purchasing to make sure you are buying baskets that fit correctly and utilise the space properly.

 

Label

To create the ultimate Pinterest and Instagram-worthy organised kitchen and pantry you cannot forget to use labels. Labels not only look pretty but allow for each member of the family to know where to put things, helps with maintaining systems and makes it easy to know what items you require when creating your shopping list. We suggest adding labels to items such as decanted pantry staples in containers or jars, the categories of each basket of food products and the containers for your under-sink storage. Swing tags, acrylic tags or clips are best for baskets with handles whereas printed vinyl labels are perfect for containers.

 

Drawer Dividers

Drawer dividers are the saviour for any kitchen drawer, and we love using them to up level our kitchen organisation. The utensils drawer is the perfect place to use drawer dividers as you can sort by likeminded item and this in turn allows you to avoid rummaging around for the utensil you are looking for. They are also great for drawers that house your zip lock bags and food wraps to ensure these are stored in a neat and organised way. Other areas you can use drawer dividers in the kitchen are if you store your Tupperware, plates, bowls and pots and pans in drawers. Howard’s Storage World have some great options, so be sure to head in store to check out their range soon.

 

Maintaining Systems

Once you have implemented your organisational systems in your kitchen and pantry it is essential to spend a little bit of time every few months to maintain them. Like everything in life, maintenance is the key to ensuring things run smoothly and avoids any build up. We recommend that at the beginning of each season you complete a once over of your kitchen drawers and cupboards to ensure all items are in their correct zones and nothing has been moved or shuffled around. We also suggest checking your fridge and pantry for expired foods and throwing out any items that are out of date or donating items that will not be used.

 

We look forward to seeing you soon at Aspley Homemaker City and helping you with all your home organisation needs. If you would like any advice on ways to organise and what storage items would suit your needs, simply click here book in for your free styling session with our Resident Stylist, Eliza.

nick scali sofa

How to Choose The Right Sofa

Sofas are one of the biggest investment pieces you’ll ever make when styling your living room and take up a large amount of floor space, so getting the right sofa for your space is absolutely essential. Not only do you need to consider the size of the sofa you want to purchase, but you also need to think about the sofa’s shape, size, upholstery, colour, and whether a Nick Scali sofa is the right one for you or if Freedom has what you need.

With so much to think about, choosing the right sofa for your living space can feel a bit overwhelming. So, to help you find the perfect piece, we’ve created a quick and easy guide to choosing the right living room sofa for your space. So, without further ado, here are the key things you need to consider when purchasing your next living room sofa.

The size of your living room

It might seem obvious, but one of the key mistakes people make when choosing a sofa for their living space is buying one that’s either too big or too small. When considering the right sofa for your living room, make sure you measure the area you’re wanting to put it in first. You’ll need to make sure there’s enough space for people to walk past or around the sofa once it’s in position and whether it’ll obstruct any window views.

Also, when you’re measuring your space, try to take into consideration any other furniture you have in your living room, such as coffee tables, floor lamps, entertainment units and bookshelves. You’ll need to make sure that people can walk around all your other living room furniture as well when your new sofa is in place. Finally, don’t forget to measure the doorway! The last thing you want is to have to return your dream sofa because it can’t fit through the door.

If you’re short on space, consider a sofa that’s raised off the floor with narrow arms, to create the illusion that your living room is larger than it is. Nick Scali has a great range of sofas like these that’ll make your space feel incredibly roomy, despite the small floor area.

nick scali sofa

nick scali sofa

 

The shape of sofa you need

The shape of the sofa won’t just be dictated by the size of your living room. It’ll also need to ensure it aligns with not just your lifestyle, but your aesthetic as well. Think about the overall concept of your space as you explore different sofa shapes. Do you want a sofa you can stretch out on? Does it need to accommodate several people? Is it for a formal living room or a bustling family space?

Modular sofas are an incredibly popular shape, as they offer both comfort and flexibility. You can stretch out at one end and curl up with a good book at the other end (if you include a chaise), it’s large enough to seat multiple people and can also help frame your living space. Freedom has a great range of modular sofas available in so many different colours and styles, however those with a smaller living room may find a modular sofa slightly too big for their space.

If your living room floor area is a bit tight, instead of opting for just one living room sofa in a specific shape, it may be beneficial for you to invest in two smaller sofas. A Nick Scali sofa ia always a good choice when it comes to chic living room furniture, and they also have great two-seater sofas with slim legs that you can place in your living room to make it both spacious and stylish.

Your sofa’s upholstery

When considering the upholstery of your sofa you have two main options: leather or fabric.

Leather sofas may have a higher price tag, but they’re easy to clean and durable. They may show signs of age after a few years of use, as well as the usual stains, scratches and creases every sofa is susceptible to, however the great part about this is that, like a fine wine, leather sofas tend to get better with age as they’re more comfortable and give your space a bit more character.

Fabric sofas tend to look cosier than their leather counterparts and have a wider range of colours, patterns and textures to choose from. We’re talking everything from the on-trend boucle to linen, velvet and or just good old woven fabric. These sofas tend to be cooler in summer and warmer in winter, whilst leather is generally cool all year round, they are also more difficult to clean and are less forgiving when it comes to stains.

If you’re leaning more towards a fabric sofa, Freedom have living room sofas in so many on-trend textures. We recommend getting your sofa Scotchguarded before it’s delivered, for an extra layer of protection.

For leather sofas, you may want to cast your eye over Nick Scali’s sleek selection or pop into La-Z-Boy to check out their range for a leather sofa with built-in recliners.

Your budget

Finally, when it comes to choosing the perfect living room sofa, you’re definitely going to have to consider how much you’re able to spend. Sofas can range from $200 to $20,000, with designer and bespoke pieces even exceeding those numbers, so when you’re shopping for a new sofa, the biggest questions you’ll probably want to ask yourself when considering your budget is whether you’re looking for a new sofa or a forever sofa.

If you’re looking for a forever sofa, you’re going to want to invest in a piece that’s durable and high-quality. Sofas are one of the most used items of furniture in your entire home and often must survive jumping, long periods of sitting, spills, and the odd relocation or two, so when browsing for a forever sofa, pay close attention to the quality of the fabric, craftsmanship, internal cushioning, springs, webbing and stitching, as well as the price tag.

If you’re simply looking for a new sofa to replace one that’s reached the end of its long life, then you can probably afford to be more lenient when it comes to craftsmanship, although it’s still important to make sure your sofa is durable and will last a long time.

If you’re unsure about how to check a sofa’s quality, you can book a consultation with our Aspley Homemaker City stylist, who’ll help you work out what to look for.

Find the Perfect Nick Scali or Freedom Sofa at Aspley Homemaker City

Shopping for the perfect living room sofa shouldn’t be overwhelming. So, if you’re not sure about which sofa to choose, just follow our guide and soon you’ll be relaxing on a new piece that not only feels comfortable, but also looks amazing in your space. Shop

Fun kids’ bedroom design tips

School holidays have arrived, so why not tackle a project as a team and refresh their bedrooms together! The perfect place to unleash yours and their creativity whilst having some fun. The best bedrooms are the ones that captivate a child’s imagination and encourage them to play, whilst still being a comfortable place to sleep.

Here, we share our top design tips and ideas to achieve a fun kid’s bedroom that will impress and delight your child.

1. Get the layout right

As with any room, start by working your layout around the largest pieces such as the bed and wardrobes.

If your space is restrictive, consider a bunk or fun loft bed that does double duty; you’ll find different styles at leading bedroom stores like Snooze or Bedshed. Avoid the urge to overfill the bedroom by mapping out the pieces to ensure there is enough space to move around and play.

2. Go bold with colour

A kid’s room is one space where you can relax a little and be bold with colour. Paint is one decorating move that can be relatively easy to change as your child grows, but sticking with timeless colours such as deep blues, earthy greens, and pastel pinks may help your effort last. If you’re not feeling too brave, an accent wall or painting halfway up the wall may be enough of a visual impact for your child’s space.

3. Frame up art

Gone are the days of bedroom walls and ceilings lined posters stuck up by Blu Tac. Today’s children are much more sophisticated! Framed artwork, posters and photos can make an affordable designer statement.

4. Go vintage

Mix and match your new furniture pieces with vintage items for an aged feel. Style with an old-school lamp, a classic designed occasional chair or a vintage-inspired bookshelf. Rustic timbers and brushed metal can help enhance that authentic aged feel.

5. Be unique with wallpaper

Wallpaper can create a fun visual backdrop for your child’s bed or a bold feature wall. Keep it mature with a simple texture, go girly with a floral print or be worldly with an expansive map. If wallpaper is out of the question try exploring the many decals and removable wallpaper options for something more temporary. You’ll find plenty of designs suitable for young ones at Baby Bunting.

6. Add a sense of play

If you don’t have a playroom or a large backyard, why not create an indoor playground? Items like swings, hanging egg chairs and rope ladders can be woven into a bedroom design. Indoor basketball rings, soccer goals and comfy bean bags can ensure the games just continue and are perfect for kids who can’t sit still!

How to decorate with colour

Decorating with colour can be daunting even for the most seasoned home renovators and designers. Having the confidence to go bold with a colour or choose a combination of multiple colours does not always come naturally. Today we are sharing with you some simple tools and tips for how to incorporate colour into your home in an easy and stress-free way. From using the one colour in varying tones to choosing the correct colour combo for your interior design style, we’ve got you covered!

Start With Soft Furnishings

Soft furnishings are the simplest way to introduce colour to your home and allow you to switch them out with the varying seasons. Soft furnishings include items like cushions, throw rugs, blankets, curtains, and other decorative elements that are often affordable and do not require a big commitment when purchasing. Try adding coloured cushions in tones of blue or green for Spring Summer and switch to warmer tones of orange, mustard, or forest green for Autumn Winter. By keeping your large furniture pieces neutral, you can have fun with colour in your soft furnishings! Head into Pillow Talk and Bed Bath N’ Table to view their gorgeous range this weekend!

 

Try Paint, Panelling Or Wallpaper

If you want to make a statement with colour in your home, then we recommend adding a splash to your walls. Changing the paint colour of a room can completely transform the space and is a relatively affordable way to make a big impact without spending too much money. We recommend opting for either a subtle colour such as sage green or a muted blue for all walls or doing a bold hue of dark navy for ultimate impact. We also love adding panelling to painted walls to add an extra layer of depth and up levelling the feel of the home. Wallpaper is another great way to add a pop of colour and pattern to your home and looks gorgeous in a powder room, dining room or bedroom.

 

Colour Pairings

Pairing the perfect colour tones together can be a tricky task to master but looks absolutely beautiful when done right. A classic colour pairing that works well together is using muddy greens with tan for a warm and relaxing look. We also love using mustard with pink or red for a brightly coloured warm toned feel in your living room or bedroom. Blue always pairs well with tans, beiges and white to create a beautifully traditional combination that suits most classic design styles. Head into stores such as Rice Furniture, Freedom and Provincial Home Living to see how they have paired their beautiful store displays with the perfect colour combinations.

 

Using Colours For Particular Design Styles

An interior design style is a group of certain elements from the furniture to the fixtures to the decorative accessories that work together to create a particular look. For example, the ever-popular Hamptons style uses a colour palette of mostly white and beige paired perfectly with a traditional, rich blue or green. Whereas the Mid-Century design style must include warm tones of orange, yellow, brown and red to create the ultimate 60’s vibe. The coastal design style sticks to a predominately neutral colour palette of beige white and tan with washed out tones of blue, green, and orange. If you would like to learn more about how you can incorporate a particular design style into your home and what colours to use, then book in for your free styling session with our resident stylist this weekend!

 

Use Shades Of The One Colour

If pairing a variety of colours sounds too intimidating or you prefer a softer and less contrasting look, then we recommend using varying shades of the one colour when decorating. Using an ombre effect of one colour creates a soft and calming look, whilst still having impact and adding vibrancy to a space. Try adding varying shades of blue or green from light to dark in your cushion combinations. Against a neutral-toned scheme of whites, beiges or greys the ombre effect looks stunning. You can also try this decorating style with your home décor pieces choosing vases, books, and candles in a variety of shades such as pink, green, or orange. Head into our beautiful retailers to see how they have incorporated this decorating trick in their styling!

 

Playing It Safe With Neutrals

When we think of colour in interior design and home decorating, often we imagine bright painted walls, coloured furniture pieces and a colourful array of home décor objects. This definitely doesn’t have to always be the case. If you are a fan of neutrals and lean more towards a minimal design style, you can still incorporate colour into your home. Choosing pieces that have a subtle hint or an undertone of a certain colour can be enough to bring a space to life. For example, using soft sage green cushions paired with a neutral throw rug will create a styled look on your sofa. Or try using a pale blush pink wall colour or inn an accent chair for a subtle pop of colour.

Using colour in your home does not have to be daunting. You can incorporate as much or as little colour into your home as you are comfortable with. We look forward to seeing you soon at Aspley Homemaker City to help you on your home decorating journey!

Creating The Perfect Christmas Tablescape

Here at Aspley Homemaker City, we are well and truly in the Christmas spirit! Our beautiful retailers have their amazing new Christmas décor on display and the carols and festive tunes are right around the corner. We love the festive season as it incorporates all the things we love most; spending time with loved ones, eating delicious food and decorating our homes in a beautifully themed way. One of the many aspects we love about decorating our home for Christmas is styling our dining table for the big day. There are a few key elements that go into creating the perfect Christmas tablescape and today we are sharing all of our secrets with you. We hope this leaves you inspired, joyful and ready to host Christmas day this year for all your loved ones!

Pick Your Theme

The best place to start when thinking about designing your tablescape for Christmas is to narrow down a theme. There are so many different themes you can choose for Christmas decorating and some of our favourites include traditional, bright and colourful, native and natural or glamorous and metallic. Our beautiful retailers have some amazing pieces that will work perfectly with your chosen theme. Provincial Home Living have some beautiful, themed ranges including their navy, gold and silver collection that would be perfect for a glamourous and metallic theme. Or why not go bold and try their mixture of pink, orange and green for a fun and bright take on Christmas decorating! If you can’t go past a traditional look, then a colour palette of green, red, and gold is always a crowd favourite. Your theme should be intertwined within every aspect of the tablescape decorating from the linen tablecloths and napkins to the name tags, flowers, and dinnerware. If you are struggling to pinpoint an exact style you love, we recommend jumping online to Pinterest to curate your theme and find an abundance of inspiration.

The Essentials

To create the perfect Christmas tablescape you need to ensure that all the essential items are catered for. This includes dinner plates, side plates, dessert bowls, cutlery, water glasses and wine glasses. Other important aspects that we believe are non-negotiables are beautiful linen napkins, placemats, name tags and bonbons. When setting your table for Christmas lunch, start by laying your placemats, followed by your dinner plate in the centre, with the side plate and dessert bowl on top. Continue by placing the fork to the left of the plate, the knife to the right and the spoon to the right of the knife. Traditionally, a water glass is placed at 1pm on the top right, followed by the wine glasses to the right again. If you follow these simple steps, you will have the perfect tablescape layout and your guests are sure to be impressed by your thoughtfulness! You can pick up some gorgeous dinnerware, glassware and serving ware from a variety of our retailers such as Freedom, Provincial Home Living and Pillow Talk.

Decorate

Remember that when decorating your table for Christmas lunch it is always important to leave space for the food if you are following a grazing style. We love leaving space down the centre of the table where family can pick and choose their sides or dessert and help themselves with some gorgeous serving ware. To elevate your table and take it to the next level in style, we recommend adding a few key pieces to finish off the design. When selecting placemats and napkins, opt for a fun print in a beautiful linen fabric to tie in with your theme as mentioned above. We love adding candlesticks and a number of small vases with foliage or blooms to create a styled look without blocking the view of your guests. To finish off the tablescape we suggest adding some fun name tags or a Christmas bauble to the centre of each place setting. If you are after some beautiful tablescape inspiration, we recommend heading into Provincial Home Living where you will find some gorgeous displays and product you can pick up for your big day!

If you would like some help with curating the perfect Christmas tablescape, then click here to book in for your complimentary styling session with our Resident Stylist. We look forward to seeing you soon here at Aspley Homemaker City where we can help you find inspiration and shop for all your decorating needs this Christmas.

Bring Life Into Your Home – Decorating With Faux Plants And Flowers

Plants are a huge trend in interiors right now and have been growing in popularity over the past few years. As you scroll through Instagram or Pinterest you are flooded with images of beautiful interiors with gorgeous, vibrant plants and vases overflowing with foliage. Although we all love the look, some of us aren’t blessed with a green thumb or have pets or children that make owning indoor plants rather challenging. We are here today to show you how you can achieve the same beautiful, styled look through the use of faux plants and flowers. Faux plants and flowers have come a very long way since the powdery, plastic versions of the ’80s and ’90s. A number of our retailers here at Aspley Homemaker City offer an amazing array of faux items that are such good quality, you’ll fool even the keenest of eyes! Read on for our top tips and where to purchase our favourite faux plants and flowers.

Decorating With Faux Plants

Plants are a key aspect when designing any room, be it the living room, bedroom, dining room or kitchen. Plants not only add a beautiful pop of colour and vibrancy to a space, but they allow for a calming atmosphere by creating the illusion of being surrounded by nature. We believe you can achieve a very similar look by using faux plants that you can with real plants through a few simple tips. The key to choosing the perfect faux plant is to see it in person and feel the texture of the leaves, the colour consistency and how the plant falls. The plant should have a natural-looking texture, no shiny plastic and the leaves should fall nicely and appear light in weight. We also recommend investing a little bit more into your faux plants as the price point usually reflects the quality with these items.

Now that you have chosen the perfect faux plant it is time to add them to areas of your home that will make a statement and create a beautiful decorative accent. We love adding large floor plants such as a fiddle leaf fig or a bird of paradise to the corners of the living room, dining room or bedroom. Adding trailing plants to floating shelves or open shelving units can create a beautifully styled look. To give a natural effect, we recommend placing your plants in filtered light, near a window to give the illusion of a real plant. Make sure you wipe your plant/s leaves down every few weeks to avoid any dust collection as a dusty faux plant will give away the secret in no time!

Decorating With Faux Flowers And Foliage

Faux flowers, dried flowers and foliage are a huge trend in interior decorating at the moment. They are the perfect alternative to real flowers as they not only last longer but work out to be a more affordable option in the long run as well. Faux flowers and foliage are great if you are selling a home or staging a home as you don’t have to worry about changing the water in the vase or the flowers looking limp as time goes on. When choosing your faux flowers, stems or foliage make sure to touch and feel the product to ensure it has a natural look and avoid any pieces that look too perfect or plastic.

There are a number of places in the home that a beautiful vase of faux flowers looks amazing, but today we are sharing with you our absolute must-haves. We love the look of a large vase in the centre of the dining table with long stems to create a beautiful wow factor and centrepiece in the space. You can also add a vase of dried or faux flowers to your coffee table or bedside table for a styled look. To create a beautiful vignette on your kitchen bench we recommend grabbing a tray or chopping board and placing a beautiful bunch of faux flowers in a vase paired with a bowl of fruit and a beautiful smelling candle.

Where To Find Them

Here at Aspley Homemaker City, we have several retailers that offer an amazing range of faux plants, flowers, stems and foliage. Head into Freedom to check out their huge range of indoor plants that look so real, we’ll swear you’ll want to water them! We also love Pillow Talk’s trailing vine plants to add to open shelving or their beautiful faux flower stems in a variety of heights and varieties. Provincial Home Living have a gorgeous range of long stems that look amazing paired with a large vase for a statement centrepiece on your dining room table. Why not try adding a fresh, floral scent to your home to finish off the look? You can pick up some beautiful scents from The Sheridan Outlet or Provincial Home Living today!

Redecorating Your Home On A Budget

Are you feeling uninspired by your home? Are you wanting to breathe life into your space, but don’t want to spend thousands of dollars? Redecorating your home doesn’t have to be an expensive exercise! In today’s blogpost we are sharing all our tips, tricks and exercises for redecorating and transforming your home on a budget. There are plenty of affordable stores here at Aspley Homemaker City to help you on your redecorating and restyling journey and we’ve outlined a few below. If you find you are still in need of a little extra help, you can book in a free styling session with our resident stylist today! Just click here to head to our ‘Stylist’ tab on the website.

Update Soft Furnishings

Soft furnishings can be one of the simplest ways in your home to make the largest impact. Cushions and throw rugs can be added to the areas of the house we use the most, such as the bedroom and living room; completely transforming a space. If you are looking for one of the best ways to create a brand-new look in your home, without spending a truckload of money then soft furnishings are the key. Stores such as Pillow Talk and Freedom have an amazing range of cushions, blankets, and bed linen at affordable prices. At the moment we are seeing a mixture of warm tones trending, such as mustard, blush pink and beige. We are also huge fans of the ever-popular Coastal or Hamptons design style which can be created by adding an array of neutral cushions with a pop of navy blue or sage green.

Minimise Clutter

One of the simplest and cheapest ways to transform your home on a budget is to declutter and simplify your belongings. You may not initially think that this can create a whole new look for your home, but we guarantee you will be surprised! Simply by removing a few items from cluttered shelves, over-stuffed bookcases, or the top of a chest of drawers can breathe life into a space and create a renewed atmosphere. If you want to take things one step further, we recommend heading into Howard’s Storage World to pick up some beautiful and affordable storage solutions. Try overhauling your pantry with organised containers or adding beautiful storage baskets to rooms such as the living room or the kid’s playroom to sort and hide clutter.

 

Add Artwork

Artwork is an easy way to redecorate almost every room in the home and can also be done in a budget-friendly way! We have plenty of retailers here at Aspley Homemaker City that stock a wide range of affordable artworks that will suit any home or design style. Our favourite places to add artworks are above the bed, in the dining room, down a hallway or on a blank wall in your living room. Rice Furniture, Freedom, Provincial Home Living. and Pillow Talk have a wide range of prints or canvases at varying prices and sizes. Alternatively, if you’ve already got a beautiful print or art piece you’ve been meaning to get framed, then head into Frame Today! Adding artwork to an otherwise blank wall can completely transform a space. We love utilising artwork to add a pop of colour to a space or if you love the minimalist style, try adding a black and white line drawing in a gorgeous timber frame!

Shop Your Home

Another great, budget-friendly tip we love that makes a huge difference to the overall look of your space is to ‘shop your home’. Shopping your home essentially means that you re-arrange home décor, furniture, and art pieces throughout the home to give them a new lease of life and create a whole new look. We recommend taking all your decorative pieces out of every room and putting them on the kitchen bench, so you can see what you are working with. From there, re-style each area of your home, experimenting with using items in new locations and grouping different pieces together. We also love re-arranging the furniture in a room to create a new floor plan and design. If you don’t have the means or space to re-arrange every item, try swapping out a side table or an occasional chair and see the difference it makes. Dedicate an afternoon on a weekend or a weekday evening and simply have fun with it. We know you will love the result!

Use Greenery & Foliage

An affordable way to redecorate your home and breathe life into a space is by adding greenery, plants, and foliage. Using greenery not only adds texture and life but creates pops of colour throughout your home as well. Try adding some gorgeous large plants such as a fiddle leaf fig or bird of paradise to fill an otherwise empty corner of a room. Place them in beautiful woven baskets from stores such as Provincial Home Living. or Freedom. Both retailers also have an amazing range of faux flowers and foliage at affordable price points. We love places a large bunch of stems and flowers in a gorgeous vase and placing it on an entryway table, the centre of a dining table or the coffee table.

These simple tips and tricks will have your home looking fresh and new in no time! We’d love to hear any other tips you have for redecorating your home on a budget. Comment below or head to our Instagram to have a chat!