Indulge in the luxurious homewares you likely already own.
Photographer: Louise Wellington
A few classic touches of décor and a little effort will create an ambience that makes staying at home a treat. Most of these touches you may already own, but need an incentive to dust them off and bring them out on display. If you don’t, it could be time to consider some new investments that will never go out of style.
If you’re feeling like your home lacks lustre and needs some je ne sais quoi, follow these simple steps to introduce timeless touches of style that will make your home feel far more luxurious.
1. Set the vibe with soothing music
Jane Austen once said, “Without music, life would be a blank to me.” Your home feels the same. Set the atmosphere with a favourite playlist and fill your home with memorable tunes. If you’re lacking inspiration Spotify has some fantastic playlists, or you could consider the soothing melodies of Carla Bruni…because nothing sings sophistication like a love song with a French accent.
2. Add a floral bouquet
Flowers are the oldest trick in the book when it comes to simple, but divine decorating. Today, a cluster of branches is just as stylish as a curated display of flowers, so grab a set of secateurs and bring armfuls of nature into your home for a dramatic, beautiful display. Better yet, a dried flower arrangement can be striking and will last much longer. If you don’t have access to a garden there are plenty of florists who will deliver a spectacular fresh bunch to your door.
Photographer: Alana Landsberry
3. Lay a woollen throw like an interior designer
Deliciously soft throws are a designer’s worst-kept secret when making a home feel more luxurious. Lay a merino or cashmere throw on the bed or a creamy woollen blanket on an armchair for instant opulence.
Loom Cashmere Merino Throw, $245, from Shop Your Home and Garden
4. Trailing curtains rather than blinds
Frame your windows with some elegant curtains. If you keep drapery gauzy and fresh, it not only adds a dignified atmosphere to the room, but it can cut your need for air-conditioning on a hot day, and warm your room in winter. We favour light, semi-sheer curtains for a simple but stunning statement.
5. Invest in your indoor plants
Large indoor plants are an easy and affordable way to make a style statement in your home, they’ve also been proven to create both a calming and enlivening ambience. In the perfect pot, they’ll turn any sad, empty corner into a stage. Indoor plants are an easy way to add some visual interest to your living areas. In case you’re worried about plant care, see our guide to caring for and styling indoor plants.
6. Go to bed with crisp linen bedding
Freshen up your bedroom with crisp bed sheets. If you can, use 100% French linen for a luxurious look. The rising temperature calls for the renewal of your bedding, and with these summer sheet sets, you’ll be welcoming the warmer temperatures. If you don’t already make your bed like a stylist, maybe it’s time to try your hand at adding more voluptuous layers of pillows and valances, we guarantee you’ll feel like you’re climbing into a plush hotel bed every night.
Buttercups Linen Duvet Cover, from $289, from Shop Your Home and Garden
7. Put your coffee table books on display
A collection of old and new coffee table books, magazines and hardbacks will go a long way to making your home feel more cultivated, well-read and considered, so layer them with other decor items like candles and sculptural ornaments on any table or flat surface.
8. Curate your tableware
You don’t need a crowd to appreciate a beautifully set table. Styling your table with placemats, linen napkins, multiple glasses and more than one piece of cutlery, will turn your meal into a feast no matter what’s on the menu. You might be saving them for a special occasion, but the special dinnerware and glassware that you already own deserve more use, and you deserve a long, leisurely dinner. Looking to refresh your tableware? Shop the best spring tableware this season.
Styling: Gina Riley Photography: Babiche Martens
9. Layer up
The easiest way to make your home comfortable – without looking like a uni-students dorm room – is to add sophisticated textures, such as velvet, linen and leather. Introduce them with delicate cushions or a large leather sofa to make a room feel more polished and inviting.
10. Adorn your walls
If you still have blue-tacked posters on your wall, shame on you. Because nothing says style like a well-chosen artwork. One-of-a-kind art can transform your home and if you choose wisely, you’ll hold onto a statement piece forever, so consider looking to old and emerging artists to turn your walls into a curated gallery. If you’re on a budget (or not looking for an investment piece) but hoping to liven up your home with a floral artwork, consider a botanic-inspired art print.
Photographer : Martina Gemmola
11. Sweet scents
The final step should be an obvious one – because you can’t go wrong with a sweet-smelling scented candle. So take carpe diem as your motto, and light up that treasured candle that’s well and truly over getting dusty on your sideboard.
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