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 Whether it’s scent, lighting or just the right plant, no detail should be ovelooked in your quest to take your rooms from good to great, Cheryll Gillespie says. |
When it comes to detailing a room, sometimes what you don’t see is as important as what you do see.
How a room smells says as much about the space as how it looks. In fact, scents trigger emotions faster than visual cues, so your nose will influence how you feel in the space faster than your eyes.
In my opinion, you should choose a scent you love that also fits the style of the space and the season.
For instance, if your room has a strong Asian influence, it would make sense to employ an exotic scent such as lemongrass during the warmer seasons and a spicy orange ginger during cooler months.
If your home is chic-rocker style, with leather, chrome and mirror details and a deep, dark colour palette, you might choose a summer scent of iris and a winter scent of bewitching sandalwood.
Or in a more traditional space, try an appropriate winter scent of cranberry and a sexy but crisp grapefruit and melon for summer.
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It also pays to put some thought into lighting.
One of my pet peeves is bad combinations, such as teaming cool blue driveway lights with warm yellow-based lighting on a home’s exterior. It’s a huge oversight by the architect or designer that throws me for a loop.
If you want to combine warm and cool light, then mix it up in all elements.
In your rooms, the most natural light comes from a mix of cool- and warm-coloured lights. Make sure none of the lights overpowers the other and that the tone of the light is flattering to the space and people in it.
I love plants in the house and believe that every room needs some green to bring it to life — but not just any green will do.
I choose an appropriate plant for each space. A palm tree doesn’t look right in an Adirondack-style room but looks great in a modern space. A rubber tree that looks right in a traditionally styled room would seem out of place in an Asian-inspired room — try orchids instead.
Pay attention to the details: the plant’s height, width, leaf colour and shape. And make sure it’s in proportion with the room, the furniture and other patterns in the space.
Whether it’s scent, lighting or just the right plant, no detail should be ovelooked in your quest to take your rooms from good to great.
Cheryll Gillespie is an internationally celebrated, award-winning designer with a passion for travel. Visit her at cheryllgillespie.com.
Designer secrets
Save yourself the calories and the headache and clean your plants with vodka. Vodka will keep aphids off houseplants. Wash the leaves of your plants with de-chlorinated water (just let tap water sit out overnight), then dab the leaves with a cotton ball dipped in vodka. Do not use alcohol on delicate plants like African violets.
Weekend projects
Turn a favourite set of bookshelves into a family photo zone by placing small photos atop stacks of books, alongside a row of books or, if your shelves are deep, push books to the back and place photos in front. A bookcase simply loaded with books is boring, so spice it up with your framed photos a few curvaceous vases and other doodads.