Stylish and natural, grasscloth wallpaper adds timeless beauty and texture to your walls. It is a textured wall covering made from 100% natural materials, offering versatility to complement almost any interior décor style—from tropical and rustic to traditional and modern. This handmade design imparts a natural look that enhances any room. Visible seams, imperfections, and variations in colour are characteristic of this naturally made product and should be anticipated. If you do not like visible seams, grasscloth may not be for you. This textured wallpaper brings depth and plenty of coastal style, making it an ideal choice to enhance living rooms, bedrooms, and more. It offers a sophisticated step above a simple paint job with many tactile options. 

It is recommended to buy all the grasscloth wallpaper rolls you need in one go to ensure they are from the same batch and avoid colour discrepancies. For a more affordable and removable option, Vinyl Faux Grasscloth Wallpaper is available. This self-adhesive, peel-and-stick alternative is especially hard-wearing in areas of the home where moisture is an issue. thespruce.com  thedecoist.com wayfair.com

Green, blue, pink, yellow, purple, orange, and purple are the main pastel colours when we think of pastels for the interior walls of a home. Pastel hues add subtle hints of colour without overwhelming a space. Find a full-strength colour you love, then go with the lightest that the paint is available in, the colour intensifies once all four walls are painted. They are also a great option for exteriors. Whilst white remains popular for exterior colour schemes, it’s best to add a hint of colour. White, beige, and grey are now less popular. Grey can create a sullen feel, beige is everywhere, and white can be characterless and blinding when the sun hits it. (Always choose a warm white to avoid this issue). Earthy tones are also very popular, but for those looking for something a little different, a beautiful pastel may be the answer. Always consider the roof colour and make sure your colour complements it. Light blues, soft pinks, pale yellows, and mint greens are popular choices for pastel-coloured homes. Once you have decided on a colour, to add interest, choose a slightly darker version of the paint colour for trims and maybe the front door. Make sure the difference between the two or three colours is discernable and not just blending in together.    elledecor.com  pinterest pinterest dazyden.com 

Rooms with low sloped, slanted, or vaulted ceilings can be challenging to manage in terms of colour. It's best to paint the entire room one colour. Changing the paint or wallpaper at the junction between the straight wall and sloping ceiling only accentuates the slope and visually lowers the ceiling. Choose the colour you love and then go three shades lighter if you are painting the entire room one colour. Light neutrals such as whites, creams, and pastels help create a sense of space and make the slanted ceiling appear less imposing. An entire room painted with one color can be overpowering, so lighter is always better. Unlike the exterior, where it's best to go three shades darker, for interiors, choose lighter colors. Dark colors, like black, are receding and won’t make the room feel smaller, just darker—ideal for a moody vibe. Ensure there's plenty of natural light, regardless of whether the walls and ceiling are black or white. The room’s shape dictates furniture placement; avoid putting the bed where you could hit your head while sitting up. Ideally, place your bed under the highest part of the slope. Slanted ceilings can make a room feel smaller, but the right use of colour can create the illusion of more space.  soulandlane.com soulandlane.com  swhomecolour.com housebeautiful.com swhomecolour.com

Elements of a successful indoor-outdoor design include large retractable glass doors, sliding doors, or French doors that remove the barrier between the inside and outside. Use your indoor colour scheme outdoors to blend the spaces seamlessly. Add a TV with speakers and a basic kitchen with a BBQ. Ensure the seating areas are adequately covered from the sun, rain, bird droppings, dirt, and mildew. Timber outdoor furniture will fade; powder-coated outdoor settings, with fully metal seats, will last much longer than timber, which can warp, rot, and discolour. Most outdoor furniture has a 12-month warranty and advises against leaving it outside all year round. Privacy is important, ideally achieved with barriers such as brick walls or plants to separate your home from your neighbours. If you have an outdoor rug, ensure it doesn’t get wet, as it will become waterlogged and eventually rot. All of these elements add value to your home.  empirehome.com  coastessential.com 

There is a wide variety of awning colors and styles to choose from, so you can find the perfect match for your home. Whether your home has a modern or traditional design, awnings are a great addition. They need to be both functional and visually appealing. Awnings protect from the sun, rain, and wind, and are flexible depending on the time of day to shield you from the late afternoon sun. They also reduce the heat entering the home and help protect indoor furniture from sun damage. The ability to retract or fold back the awning is crucial, especially when there is approaching wild weather, to prevent damage to the awnings.  amazon.co.uk  shadefxcanopies.com  retractableawningau.blogspot.com shadecoindia.com 

"Take your time to come up with a design that’s not only practical and safe, but also adds a touch of style. Modern or traditional, the staircase can often be a focal point in any home. Stairs, staircases, stairways, stairwells, and flights of stairs are connected steps leading up or down. Stairways may be straight, round, or may consist of two or more straight pieces connected at angles. Ideally, there should always be a handrail to hold on to, and if possible, a landing which breaks up a long staircase. Safety is an issue, so concentrate on each step as you go, always holding on to the railing and with a tread with grip to avoid slipping. I prefer a runner: Carpeting that runs down the middle of the stairs. Runners may be directly stapled or nailed to the stairs or may be secured by a specialized bar that holds the carpet in place where the tread meets the riser. I prefer a landing or platform: A landing is, structurally, an intermediate floor between flights of stairs. It is typically used to allow stairs to change directions. Changing the direction of the stairs allows stairs to fit where they would not otherwise." Make your staircase a standout, the options are endless.  trendir.com  home-designing.com   verandah.com  

"The oriental-style fabric is Mendoza Suzani Blue and Green on Navy from Thibaut Design.com. It consists of white, three blues and green. The fabric has a fresh, light feel. Therefore, when using this fabric in a room, an option is the paint colour "Suddenly Sapphire" by  Bristol.com.au or the lightest blue colour would also work well on the walls for a lighter fresh look. Steer away from cream as the base is white, the cream will only appear dirty. If you choose white as the wall colour, you may create an imbalance in the room where one wall is heavy with colour from the wallpaper and the remaining walls have no colour at all. navy and green cushions in textured linen or velvet. Adapted from a traditional Suzani textile and modernized with a hand-painted watercolour, Mendoza Suzani features simplistic shapes in a symmetrical layout." 

Reminder: When using warm colours like red, orange, and yellow, it's best to choose the cooler side of your home or the room with the least amount of light. Warm tones can make a room more inviting, while a hot colour in a hot room might not work well. The base colour here is white and is usually the best choice for the walls, you can also use one of the pinks in the fabric to create a vibrant room. Here we have chosen River Rouge by Bristol.com.au. Take time to observe the fixed elements in a room and determine what can be changed. Consider whether warm or cool colours are best. Painting the walls is the most affordable and versatile option, deciding on the room's contents before painting. This stunning fabric is Travelers Palm Pink and Coral from Thibaut Design.com  The strength of colour that is in your fabric choice dictates how light or dark the room will become.

Have you ever driven past a house with a bold, solid colour? Even if it's an all-white house with just a pop of bright colour, it still seems odd. Have you ever wondered why? It's because these colours are better suited for commercial properties. They are eye-catching and attention-grabbing, which is why businesses use them. These colours help establish brand recognition and loyalty. 

When selecting the exterior colour for your home, it's crucial to notice the difference between brighter and softer colours. This decision is significant, as changing it later can be costly. You have the freedom to choose any of the aforementioned colours for your home's exterior, but it's wise to consider your neighbourhood's architectural style and the colours of surrounding homes. Additionally, take into account the fixed elements such as window frames, the roof, and any stone or timber features. 

A black exterior will pop with greenery and be a standout in your street. A white exterior will have the same effect. Choose a black that is slightly softer like Black Jack or a white like Simply White. A stark black or white version will be too intense and you will tire of it quickly, as will your neighbours.  If your home has only two colours - say the roof and exterior wall colours, the home will look boring. Add elements like timber, steel, or stone or an accent colour to add interest. Here is a stunning home by Livspace.com, an all-black home with texture in the bricks and timber feature walls to add interest. This elegant white house from Monicawantsit.com has a timber accent to create interest.  Alway's a minimum of three elements for the exterior of a home. 

The colour of your gutter should always match your roof. When it comes to the fascia, for two-storey homes, the gutter and fascia should be the same colour. For single-level homes, the gutter should match the roof, and the fascia should be a colour that blends with the home. This will give a greater presence to the two-storey roof and make the single-level home look less weighed down and more elevated.

Your roof deserves much consideration as it can account for 40% of the exterior. A lighter grey colour scheme by Weeks Homes is soft, tranquil, and sophisticated. Traditional in its roots, often with silver zincalume roofing. Can easily be paired with white trim and a white roof for a clean look. So as not to appear boring, here we see the texture of the timber siding which adds interest as we are dealing with two colours.  This grey home is from Architecture and Design.  Grey is classified as neutral, with a relaxing and soothing presence.  Again paired with white and timber siding creating texture, which brings the color to life.  Grey is not an attention seeker, stable and reliable, offering a sense of modernity or minimalism, also being both classic and contemporary.

This cream home from Colorbond.com represents a tried and true exterior house colour. Forever popular as it sits well on a wide selection of home styles and goes with a wide selection of colours. Colors such as Green, Blue, Ochre, Black, Brown and Red. The colour Cream is between white and yellow, the more white is a tint, the more black is a shade. A shade means there's a little black which dulls the yellow into a more suitable exterior color.  The next home is a taupe colour by Henley.com.au. Taupe is a grey-brown rather than a beige which is a yellow-brown. Taupe sits well with dark chocolate, steering well away from yellows. It offers a practical solution as it is less likely to show dirt if you live in a dusty area. Sophisticated and elegant, you can't go wrong with this colour.  Very much a contemporary colour with subtle earthy tones, use full strength for the exterior and quarter strength for the interior, ideally with architrave, cornice, and doors in white.  

Here we have a beautiful home from Architectures Style.   Green is the perfect colour for a home that has a woody, outdoor vibe being the colour of nature. It is the most restful and relaxing of colours to the eye. The white trim and timber accents add life to the design. Green presents a refuge from the stresses of a busy urban or contemporary life.  Black is neutral and can be used on most house styles. This stunning home from My Design Port is an excellent example of the diversity black offers, suiting all homes especially those surrounded by bush landscapes. Greenery balances out the black. Dark exteriors have practical benefits like reducing heating costs as black which increases energy efficiency. For now, black is the new white. Black makes a strong visual statement and this neutral colour contrasts well with many other materials, textures, and hues. 

Red houses are quite rare, but people still love the idea of a bold, red home, especially if it reflects their personality and taste. The style of the home is important, as well as the neighbourhood it is in. Will a red home stand out for the wrong reasons, perhaps clashing with the colours of the surrounding houses? Red is a colour full of life and energy, a friendly and inviting colour often used on the front door. Paint technology has greatly improved, so red no longer fades as it once did. When choosing paint, opt for a quality product and pay attention to surface preparation. The rich look of red brick buildings makes red homes work well in both rural and urban settings, adding a pop of colour.  Love the yellow on this home by Idei.club. 

Blue, Orange, Pink, and purple are colours that work well on the right home and the right street. Many of us have travelled to countries that have row after row of colourful homes that look amazing. So choose wisely,  also make sure the color suits the style and will not stand out for the wrong reasons. If you love a colour but can't use it on the exterior, choose a room inside then you'll still get to enjoy it. The blue home is from K Shan Design. The orange home is from James Design Group The pink house is from Maria Killam  and the purple home is from House of Valentina.

I understand the importance of staying up to date with paint trends. However, it's essential to remember that just because a colour is popular doesn't mean it's the right choice for you or your home. For example, the trend for grey was short-lived. When choosing a paint colour, the overwhelming selection at the store can make it difficult to decide. If you want to use the same colour for your home's interior and exterior, choose the lightest shade for the interior and one of the darkest for the exterior to create a sense of continuity. Taking home swatches and taping them to the walls can help you visualise how the colours will look in different lighting. Viewing the colours during the day and at night is important, as they can appear different in varying light levels. If you're unsure, seek opinions from family and friends. Ultimately, if you love colour and it receives positive feedback, then it's likely the right choice for you. Don't limit yourself to traditional colours like cream, white, or black. Consider a variety of swatches and don't be afraid to choose a color that stands out. Taubmans.com  Colourtrend Paints  Martha Stewart.com.

When decorating a room, the first step is usually painting. Start by painting the ceiling, then move on to the walls, doors, and architraving. Other items can be brought into the room only after the painting is complete. If it's a kitchen or bathroom, select the tiles, fittings, and cabinetry first, then choose wall colours that complement the tiles. For a lounge room, choose the rug first, followed by the sofas and other furnishings. In bedrooms, select the furniture and bedding before worrying about paint colours. Once you have a plan for each room, put together a mood board or use a computer to visualize the design. Finally, choose the paint colours that enhance the furniture and decor, paint the rooms, and then add the furniture to the rooms. With a wide range of colours available, it's easy to find the perfect paint colour for each room. I would find three colours that work together and then use that as the basis for the design. As the paint swatches above show the different strengths of one colour, do the same; it will create a sophisticated room design. 

"There is nothing like fabulous fabrics to show you what colours go beautifully together. In addition to the neutral base colour, greens, reds, oranges, and blues can be used in the room with this fabric. A visually intense patterned fabric works well with a neutral wall colour. You can then add colours such as a bookcase or dining chairs painted in orange or red, a coffee table painted green, a light green ottoman piped in blue or a ceiling painted in green. Don't settle for variations of brown when painting timber furniture." Chiang Fabric schumacher.com Southpole Paint taubmans.com.au Carnival Paint sherwin-williams.com Stop Paint  sherwin-williams.com  Peacase Paint dulux.com.au    Wiggle Paint dulux.com.au dulux.com.au 

Don't be afraid of bold colours. The secret is to choose a colour that you truly love, not just because it goes with a print or a cushion, but because the colour resonates with you and holds personal meaning. Each room features bold wall colours, but they become unique and special with careful furniture and decor selection. When rooms are divided rather than open plan, moving from one colour to the next is easy, keeping to equal tonal value, meaning maintaining the same strength of colour rather than a bold colour in one room and a delicate pastel in the next. Having a neutral architrave and doors like white makes it easy to move from one colour to another.   archive.curbed.com Pinterest  Elle Decor.com Pinterest

Remember the following text: A dimmer switch can provide versatile and multifunctional lighting for your dining room. It's important to have your central dining light installed on a dimmer, especially in the dining room, as it allows you to create a subtle glow of light. perfect for dining. Remember the rule of three when grouping objects for a visually appealing finish. For rectangular, longer tables, consider using a trio of simple pendant lights to define the space in a kitchen diner. Generally, your light fixture should be about one-third the width of your dining table. A single central pendant above a dining table can create a strikingly modern and elegant look. To create the ambience, consider incorporating wall lights and table lamps. You may find that your central dining light may not be used very often. Wall sconces or table lamps on a buffet or credenza table can offer a more subtle lighting effect, creating mood lighting. In the first and second images, the lighting would be overpowering even with a dimmer - too much for a home, more suitable for a hotel. The third image is ideal, even with multiple lights, as each light is half-enclosed, proportion and style are perfect, absolute luxury and you control how many you need. Animalia-life.club  Sonnemanlight.com  animalia-life.club

When furnishing a home from scratch, it's important to carefully plan the design while considering budget constraints, regardless of the size. Start by choosing a set of three colours as the foundation for your main furnishings, artwork, and rug. Ensure these elements complement each other, then use these colours as the theme for your home decor in that room. Consider the following order: floor covering, window covering, sofas and chairs, dining table and chairs, occasional furniture, bedroom furniture, decor and accessories, and lastly, paint colours. Why paint last? Because paint offers the widest range of colours. Also if your design includes a floor rug, choose the rug first, like in a bedroom, choose the bedding first, especially if a pattern is involved.  freedom.com.au cassavida.com.au  templeandwebster.com.au cassavida.com.au templeandwebster.com.au  templeandwebster.com.au templeandwebster.com.au   iddesignoman.com

"People who are fond of the color black are often seen as confident and sophisticated thinkers and are frequently chosen as leaders. The color black has a protective aura, and those who love it prefer to keep their private life to themselves. When painting a room black, it's important to ensure that the room is well-lit, ideally with larger than normal windows, as black absorbs light. If your walls are not in perfect condition, it's best to use a matte finish, as eggshell or satin finishes will accentuate any imperfections on the wall. Matte black may not be the best choice for a kitchen, child's room, or other high-traffic areas, as it is not as durable. Additionally, don't forget about the ceiling, as it is the fifth wall and is often overlooked. To find the perfect black paint, place a selection of black paint swatches in the room you intend to paint. Not all blacks are the same, so remove the ones you don't like over a few days, viewing them during both the day and night until you find the perfect black."  zyhomy.com decoholic.org elledecor.com 

When planning a bedroom, my priorities include having beds on ground level, making it easy to change linens and tuck in the bedding, ensuring there's a bedside table, bedside task lighting, and heating and cooling. However, when a room needs to accommodate more than one person, priorities change. When four beds are required in a room and there isn't enough floor space, the only option is to go vertical, assuming there is enough head height for a child to sit up in the top bunk. Safety becomes the next concern because the beds are elevated. Children are not always sound sleepers, especially if they are ill, need to use the bathroom, or worse, sleepwalk. It's not advisable to allow a child younger than 6 years to sleep in the top bunk. In multi-storey buildings, lock windows so a child cannot climb out, or ensure that the windows open just a little so they cannot fall out. Proper railings and a good set of steps are crucial. Although the beds may become a little more difficult to make, it is a small price to pay to have four children in one room.  pinterest baciamistupido.com pinterest 

Reds, pinks, and oranges are located next to each other on the colour wheel, which makes them analogous colours. An analogous colour scheme consists of colours that are adjacent to the wheel. Coral is a colour that incorporates red, pink, and orange, creating a warm, cosy, and cheerful ambience. When using these colours, choosing a cool room or the cool side of your home is best as warm colours can make a room seem even hotter. At full strength, these colours can be energising or soft and romantic, depending on your chosen intensity, such as blush, peach, or pale pink. These versatile colours are suitable for any home style, both exterior and interior and should be used more often. Consider using all three in your next design. dezeen.com  pinterest  vogue.com  mansionglobal.com

Make a statement with your unique dinner plates that will command attention at your next gathering. Enjoy dining at home in style every day, regardless of the occasion or company, by choosing from a selection of stylish plates. Don’t keep your beloved dinner set stored away; use it regularly! A sophisticated and elegant dining set is essential for entertaining guests at home. Explore the range of individually sold plates for a more eclectic approach to your table setting. Every piece doesn’t need to match, so don’t worry if some plates are broken. When it comes to design, choose colours and patterns that appeal to you. Look for pieces you love, and you’ll never tire of them. Select designs that coordinate with your existing tablecloth, napery, or dining room theme. Dinner plates are typically made from three types of materials: bone china, porcelain, and stoneware. Both bone china and porcelain are incredibly durable and resistant to chipping, ensuring your dinnerware remains scratch-free even with regular use. Stoneware, on the other hand, is made from clay and is more porous and less durable than bone china and porcelain.  Thrift shops and estate sales can be a great source of one-off plates.   petersofkensington.co.au   petersofkensington.com.au  petersofkensington.com.au  petersofkensington.com.au petersofkensington.com.au  houseoffraser.co.uk perigold.com perigold.com  perigold.com 

The choice is yours, of course. I like three decorative cushions combined with two pillows for each person on a queen-size bed. Alternatively, I prefer four pillows with just one special rectangular cushion. Adding and removing them takes time and energy and raises the issue of where to place them when not needed. To achieve that clean hotel bed look, invest in cotton; percale is the best as it is breathable, cool, and smooth. I prefer white sheets, especially with a white ceiling, as it creates balance in the room. Some people like the crisp, ironed cotton look, while others prefer linen, which doesn’t need to be crisp and ironed. Always aim to have a bedhead or headboard; it protects the painted or wallpapered wall and is an important detail in finishing the bed's look. Keep the height of a headboard to around 70 cm so the bed itself and the pillows don’t look dwarfed. Also, keep the design simple; panels and pin-tucked are unnecessary when you see the bed complete.

Four different-sized beds

• Single bed: One sleeping pillow, one standard sham (usually a cover for a pillow that matches the quilt cover), and one 45 cm square cushion.

• Double bed: One or two sleeping pillows, two standard shams, and two 45 cm decorative cushions.

• Queen bed: Two sleeping cushions, two Euro shams, two standard shams, and two 50 cm cushions.

• King bed: Two king sleeping pillows, three Euro shams, two king shams, and two 50 cm decorative pillows. pillowtalk.com.au  johnlewis.com johnlewis.com templeandwebster.com.au