9 Brilliant Decor Tips for a Luxury Home
Different people will have different definitions of what makes a luxury home. For many, it will be all about the quality of the materials and finishes. For others, it will be the sense of comfort and calm the space provides. And for some, it will purely be a matter of cost – the more expensive, the more luxurious.
Whatever your measure, a well-designed décor is sure to be a crucial component. Fixtures and furnishings have a major impact not just on the look of a house, but also how it feels. More than mere creature comforts, they can transform an empty, lifeless space into a warm and inviting sanctuary.
However, getting your interior design just right takes careful curation. This is particularly true for higher-end homes, where uniqueness and exclusivity are just as important as form and functionality.
Good news is, while taste cannot be taught (or bought!), there are a few simple tricks to creating a luxury interior.
1. Focus on the lighting
Lighting is often overlooked when designing a home, with many homeowners defaulting to downlights throughout. While this is perfectly practical for most areas, it does a real disservice to others. It also is not the greatest option when it comes to creating ambience.
A well-designed lighting plan will use a variety of lighting options to create layers of light. This will allow you to adjust the level of light to suit the situation and the mood. For further ambience, adding floor and table lamps to a space can complement the fixed lighting, while providing you with more flexibility.
Statement fixtures are a great way to mix up your lighting and add some visual interest to a room. When choosing a fixture to be a focal point, consider both the design (i.e. does it fit with your overall aesthetic) and scale (bigger is usually better, but you do not want to go too big).
Also, consider how you plan to use each room and work out the best way your lighting can support that. For example, in the kitchen, you want to be able to clearly see what you are doing, so the brightness of downlighting works well. However, in your dining area, the starkness of downlighting is not ideal.
2. Exercise restraint
When something is high quality, it does not need anything else added to make it lux. In fact, extra adornment usually detracts from a piece’s natural beauty. Less truly is more when it comes to designing a luxury décor.
With this in mind, start your design by choosing a couple of statement pieces. These should be high-quality furnishings that speak to your personal style. You can then build your design around these by selecting other pieces that complement your focal points.
Also, try to keep functionality at the front of your mind. The last thing you want to do is create a space that looks great but does not suit the way you and your family live.
3. Source great art and give it the respect it deserves
Artwork is a brilliant way to bring colour and personality into a home. It is also quite easy to change out as your taste evolves or if you feel it is time for an update.
Art is also enormously subjective. Pieces you love may not speak to those you know. Do not let this influence your decisions. It is your home, and it should be designed to suit your unique taste.
If you have taken the time to select special pieces that you love, you want to make sure you are showing them off properly. Simply hanging them on the wall is not enough; you need to consider framing and the location within the room. And make sure you light your pieces correctly. This may require the installation of additional fixtures.
4. Scale is everything
When it comes to furniture and fittings, the scale of a piece can make a massive difference to how luxurious it feels. Think of the generosity of an oversized lounge or even the grandness of an elevated ceiling.
Maximising scale will not only make your space seem more opulent; it can also make it look bigger.
However, you need to manage scale carefully. A lot of large furniture in a compact living space will make it seem even smaller. A large lounge matched with a rug of a similar scale and complicated by other slimline pieces could make it feel larger.
5. Don’t be afraid to mix-n-match
If everything looks the same and matches perfectly, it will look like a set and feel less special and bespoke. So while you should always pick pieces that work together, it is important to have a variety of tones and textures.
And not everything needs to be high-end. More modest pieces can help provide context for your statement items, making them stand out and appear even more luxurious.
6. Avoid trends
While it might be tempting to fill your home with what is hot right now; choosing classically stylish pieces will be a much better decision in the long term. This is because trends tend to be short-lived. As such, designing your home based on what is popular at that moment will mean it only looks ‘good’ for a set period. Once popular taste has moved on (and it will!), the space will feel dated and out of touch.
This is not to say that everything must always be timeless. Being able to bring in the best elements of a trend is a true indication of style. And embracing classics can actually make it easier to adapt your design to current trends, like by bringing in new artwork or changing the soft furnishings.
7. The devil is in the details
Large pieces may make your house feel full, but it is the smaller pieces that will make it feel like a home. From treasured trinkets to quirky curios, the little details will add interest and depth to your rooms. They should also show off the story of you and your family, providing a sense of who you are, where you have been, and where you are going.
There are many different opinions on the best way to dress a room, but a few basic rules always apply:
-
Start with the largest items and work through to the smallest. Like when dressing a bookshelf, start by placing the biggest items, then add in the medium-sized pieces, and finish with the smallest. This will help with spacing and balance and avoid any one area looking too cluttered.
-
Blank space is important. Not everything you own needs to be on display, and leaving some spaces empty helps bring attention to the things you have chosen to show off. Blank space provides important relief for your eyes and can help define areas and frame objects.
-
Odd numbers are the key to balance. It may seem counterintuitive, but when you are clustering objects together (e.g. on shelves or a bedside table) it is easier to make it look balanced when you have an odd number of things.
-
Be sure to add plenty of greenery. Indoor plants and fresh flowers instantly lift the energy of a room, making it seem lighter and airier.
8. Find ways to create contrast
Contrast creates visual drama. It also adds depth, dimension, and richness to a space.
You can add contrast through your use of colour (think black and gold or navy and white), texture (picture a sharp metal coffee table on a soft shag rug), or material (like the much-loved combination of warm timber and cool stone). It can also be used to create an accent (i.e. including touches of a contrasting colour/material) or focal point (i.e. make a feature out of the contrasting colour/texture/material), or as the basis for your whole design.
9. Be clear and consistent in your style
While having variety and creating contrast is important, this should not come at the cost of a consistent vision. Trying to mesh together too many different styles will make a room feel fragmented and unresolved. So pick one design style and try to stick to it.
This does not mean you should not bring in other elements and influences. It also does not mean you have to adhere strictly to the standard features of your chosen style. However, the overall design style should feel cohesive.
The Carmel Homes Difference
Carmel Homes is a price-competitive and service-focused family business, operating primarily in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. We pride ourselves on working closely with our clients to achieve a common goal: building beautiful craftsman homes that breathe quality - your dream home. Every project we undertake has a company director present, and we are always contactable.
To discuss your new home, duplex, or townhouse build, we invite you to contact us today.
READ > How to create a luxury home on a budget
READ > 12 Insightful Questions to Ask Before Designing Your Dream Home