What's your style?

When it comes to picking the style for your new house, where do you even begin? There’s so many different options out there – textures, colours, materials, styling pieces – it can certainly get a little bit overwhelming… And, especially when you see all those gorgeously decorated and styled homes and rooms on Instagram – cue the styling envy here.

So how do you channel your inner stylist if you’re not really sure to start? Well – we recently sat down with our Expressions Design Studio Colour Specialist, Emma Boulter, to give you a run down on her top five picks for the hottest styles right now.

Trend: Modern Minimalist

Minimalism has become increasingly popular over the years, as both a design philosophy and a way of living. Think simplicity – a simplicity of form, space, materiality, detail and colour. Who doesn’t like clean, open spaces that allows the home, the furniture and the materials in the room to breathe? It’s in the simple, honest detailing and materials that make it so appealing.

How to play interior designer for modern minimalist

Colours:

• “Try restricting yourself to a limited colour pallet. Think either monochromatic (a single colour in a range of tints, tones and shades) or achromatic (blacks, whites and greys only – no colours).”
  

Textures:

• “A bold design style is encouraged through the mixture of finishes. Pairing high levels of contrast will create interest in an otherwise simple space – try a mixture of natural finishes and modern materials such as fingerprint-less matte cabinetry against a striking marble benchtop.”

Furniture Suggestions:

• “The key thing to remember is the focus should be on the materials, the finishes of the home or furniture pieces. Clever storage solutions are super important to incorporate, as surfaces should be clean and free from clutter. Little to no décor is used in this style and often only a marble vein or timber grain will be the pattern used in a room.”

Lighting:

• “Large windows and doors create focal points and are a true feature of this style, so natural lighting is a must. At night, strip and track lighting is used as it is simple but effective.”

Trend: Traditional and Timeless (Hamptons)

Timeless design – or anything timeless for that matter – has staying power. Not created to be temporary, a fad or a trend – traditional and timeless is here to stay. If you want your home to look as good in the future as it does today, seek out designs, styles and colours that are considered to be ‘classic’ and meant to last.

How to play interior designer for traditional and timeless

Colours:

• “Light blues, beiges, whites, charcoals and navy blues are your go-to’s”

Textures:

• “I love the look of a light or dark wash timber, some structural design elements such as bulkheads or coffered ceilings, profiled shaker style cabinetry, lots of linen fabric, jute rugs and rattan furniture.”

Furniture Suggestions:

• “Typically, this style features furniture that is graceful, with straight or soft lines and tapered lines. Traditional fabrics such as timbers, cottons, linens and leathers are preferable. The aim with this style is to create an inviting space that will not date within the next 5 years (think of Nancy Meyers’ movie set)”

Lighting:

• “Natural lighting plays a big part for this style! Let that light in with large windows, which also contributes to the overall design of the façade of the house.”

Trend: Scandinavian

On the most basic level, Scandinavian design is minimal, simplistic yet functional too. It is all about balance – Sweden uses the word lagom, which means not too little and not too much. The real beauty about this design style is it’s incredibly versatile – winning! Think about ways of incorporating those key pieces of furniture that also double as handy storage spaces too.

How to play interior designer for Scandinavian

Colours:

• “Your main colour is typically white, with touches of grey to support. Feature colours such as light blue or baby pinks are introduced through décor items and soft furnishings. A hot tip though – typically only one feature colour is used per space to avoid over-cluttering your room.”

Textures:

• “Linen blend or cotton fabrics, moulded plastics or resigns (think Eames Eiffel Chairs), light timbers with a cool hue or white wash, white matte tiles and/or cabinetry, and light tan leathers.”

Furniture Suggestions:

• “Furniture pieces are often a mixture of new and old for this look. Dining chairs are often a nod to mid-century designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, or Hans Wegner. Furniture in this style has a purpose but is still beautiful through shape and form.

Lighting:

• “Take advantage of natural light with lighter wall colours and large, open windows.”

Trend: Industrial

Just because the word industrial makes you think of warehouses, doesn’t mean it can’t be chic too! The look is based on combining the best aspects of old-world charm with modern sleekness. Some might say it’s the perfect compromise. And, just because you don’t live in a converted loft, doesn’t mean you can’t apply this style to your new home.

How to play interior designer for industrial

Colours:

• “Blacks, greys, navies, rich browns and pops of red or mustard. The key is to utilize the complementary colour scheme – so colours which are opposites on the colour wheel.”

Textures:

• “Use different textures of concrete, recycled timbers, exposed brickwork, wrought iron, leather and recycled metals for the complete industrial look. Plants and greenery are often a great way to soften your space.”

Furniture Suggestions:

• “Furniture is often a mixture of soft and hard finishes. Think of rich brown leather chesterfield style lounges with a recycled oil drum coffee table. Layers of different elements help to create a fuller feeling and soften harsh lines.”

Lighting:

• “Lower light level is used to create a moody atmosphere in this style. Feature pendants are restricted to locations such as dining rooms or kitchen islands, and are often grouped together to complete the look.”

So now that you’ve go the low-down on what styles are on-trend and how to recreate them in your home, the hardest part now is figuring out which style you are…

Happy styling!