You want your home to be stylish, modern and on trend but with some things more expensive than others, you want to be confident that key items will last the test of time – and not date too quickly! Balustrade Components talk us through how to create a stylish home that looks great for a long time.
Whether you enjoy loft living or a have a busy family home, you want everything around you to be stylish and functional. But with interior design trends coming and going, how do you strike a balance between stylish modern and longevity?
Materials and fabrics
Top of the list is choosing high-quality materials and fabrics but, say Balustrade Components, opting for natural over synthetic is a sure winner every time. In fact, the latest trend is an almost 360° return to what your grandparents probably did – opt for natural materials so that items lasted a long time.
However, some natural materials can be more expensive than their synthetic cousins, although it can depend on how the materials are used. When it comes to fabrics and upholstery, wool is top of the list. With ‘new’ technologies allowing modern patterns and colours, it is no wonder that more of us are investing in wool upholstered items, including sofas and armchairs.
When it comes to materials for use in construction, opting for materials that are sustainable and have a long shelf life is key to a stylish home. From glass balustrades giving a modern, yet elegant appeal to the natural warmth of wood, choose materials carefully.
Natural, high-quality materials and fabrics are an investment. Robust and durable, there is now a growing range to invest in, including colourful designs and patterns.
Design and shape
Another factor that adds to a stylish home is to opts for designs and shapes that are fresh and modern, but without being overly ‘unique’.
The Chesterfield sofa has become an iconic shape that in all honesty, has never fallen out of fashion. In fact, no matter what style your home, this sofa slots in perfectly. At one time, it was a dark brown leather material with same coloured button back and side detailing. The curvaceous arms and back, as well as the low level of the back and sides, give it a pleasing uniformity.
But maybe the colour won’t fit with your modern styled living room? Or maybe you are unsure whether a dark brown leather would be too oppressive? Opt for a variation on the iconic shape instead. Choose a modern colour, or a modern material, dress it with scatter cushions and throws or leave it plain and understated.
Choose items that have a pleasing shape to them and steer clear of items that have such a unique appearance that they have a short shelf life.
Change the smaller, inexpensive details
Colour is an element of interior design that comes and goes at an alarming rate. At one time, we were all in love with bright, neon colours but now, the muted palette of grey and pinks looks to be the ‘in’ colours for 2018. With Pantone announcing Ultra Violet as Colour of the Year, it would seem that either dark earthy colours are the order of the day or lighter pastel versions.
We don’t always have the time nor the budget to continually change wall colour and so, if this is the case, opt for smaller details that can be changed easily when it comes to adding or changing colour accents in a room.
From charity shop finds to the latest coloured cushions and throws, opt for changing and updating the smaller details in a room to give it a modern twist, without breaking the budget.
Your style
There are style sets that come and go – we are just bidding farewell to the clean-cut, yet warm Scandinavian style and welcoming the more angular, but just as practical industrial interior design scheme – but here’s the thing: YOUR design style will never go out of fashion.
For example, the Scandinavian style will remain the style of choice for many people long after the glossy interior design magazines are telling us all about the latest design trend. And when the Scandinavian look comes back into fashion, you will already have the basics in place.
There may be things that you want to display proudly in your home, and as it is your home, why not display them with pride? It may be intricate ornaments or souvenirs, photos of precious memories, or memorabilia or certificates that you have won. You can display these things with pride in an Acrylic Display Case so that they are protected. It also looks aesthetically pleasing in your home.
Interior design is not about magazines or what designers say we should have. It is about us, our homes, our likes and dislikes. More importantly, it is about what works for us. What works in your home?
Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post with Balustrade Components.
Balustrade Components create stunning balustrades for stairs and balconies for domestic and commercial customers. They understand the importance of style but also the balance of modern and fresh, with elegance and longevity. Why not joint them over on Twitter and follow their latest projects @BalustradeComps?