CREATING A ROOM WITH ATTITUDE

Decorating your home is a great way to make a personal statement. But it doesn’t have to mean mountains of stress or living on brown lentils for the next six months.

No matter how small or big your decorating budget may be, there are some golden rules -“ to be broken if you dare -“ to ensure your decorating results are sensational and not mediocre.

1. Many people think of the space in a room as something that needs to be filled. However, it’s important to realise the space you leave empty is as important as the space you fill. De-cluttering is the rule here -“ simply allowing space between your furniture and accessories will give your room a sense of flow and calmness.

2. Style doesn’t mean something has to have an expensive label -“ quite the opposite. What counts is how you use it to create a sense of presence and how even the most modest objects when used with careful consideration can bring your room to life.

3. We like to describe design as like editing a book. When your room is finished, look around and remove at least one or two accessories or furniture pieces from the space to complete the perfect look.

4. An object by itself is only an object. Combine it with something else or clump your objects together in odd numbers -“ then they become an eye-catching feature.

5. Contemporary doesn’t mean stark and lifeless. Make sure your room doesn’t look over-disciplined with too much structure -“ this look can leave you feeling cold and bland. Always try to add a touch of excitement to your room -“ this helps turn it from the ordinary to the extraordinary.

6. Don’t always follow the architecture of your property. For an unexpected twist, go against it.

7. Your room doesn’t need to be kept static. Good style means you can continually regenerate your space by simply moving the furniture around and adding a few touches with the latest accessories to create a fabulous new look and feel.

8. In the end it all comes down to personal preference. There are no rules set in concrete -¦ simply follow your intuition to create a space you’re happy and proud to call your home. And remember to take a little risk and experiment with your style.