It’s that time of year when love is in the air, so let’s chat about bringing some of that love to our home decor.
If you watch my FashionTV show, Let’s Shop, you know how much I love to travel. But what you don’t see is how much I love coming home.
So what can we do to our rooms to ensure that they return some of the love we work hard to give them? Here’s my top 10 love list:
• Select a shade: Paint the room you spend the most time in in your favourite colour, whether it’s a seductive black, citrus yellow, passionate red or cool, calm turquoise. This is about what you love most — not anyone else — so just do it.
• Concentrate on comfort: Be comfortable in that space by ensuring that the seat or bed (depending on which room we’re talking about) is comfy and welcoming. If more than one person needs to be comfortable in this room, make sure it’s roomy enough for all.
• Try some texture: Look for opportunities to add sexy, sensual textures: textured wallpapers such as real silk or flocked velvets; faux fur throws and pillows; furniture upholstered in fabrics you want to snuggle up in or leathers that melt next to your skin. Don’t forget the toes – wiggle them in sexy shag carpeting or wool floor art.
• Don’t forget fragrance: Like a fine cologne or perfume, shouldn’t a room have its own signature scent? Burn soy candles scented with seductive ginger or patchouli; not only do they offer lovely fragrance, but candles are calming and give off sexy light. You also could keep an incense or essential-oil burner on the table by your favourite chair or fill a beautiful silver bowl with potpourri in your signature scent.
• Add some art: Surround yourself with paintings, sculpture, photos and other mementoes that remind you of good times, favourite people, adventures and travels.
• Pick a plant: Ensure the space has a least one fabulous potted plant. Not only will it help keep the air pure and fresh, but it will literally bring the room to life.
• Kill that clutter: You won’t be able to relax or enjoy the true beauty and sensuality of the room if it’s cluttered. Less is more, so make sure there’s a place for everything and everything’s in its place.
• Look at lighting: Lighting can be sexy or it can be unflattering and make a space uncomfortable. Avoid glare or lights that hit your eyes, and give yourself the ability to dim or soften lighting when you don’t need full light.
• Buy a bouquet: Fresh flowers are sexy, so treat yourself.
• Indulge in inspiration: Fill your rooms with things that inspire and comfort you. Put out your most beautiful coffee table books, upholster your favourite piece of furniture with a fabric that excites you and have a gorgeous bottle of wine readily available for just the right moment.
Ultimately, try to make every aspect of your room scream, “Welcome back, we missed you!” Then cuddle up, get cozy and sink into your beautiful room.
Cheryll Gillespie is an internationally celebrated, award-winning designer with a passion for travel. Visit her website.
Designer notes
Red is the colour of energy and enthusiasm. One British study found that when they compared Olympic athletes, some wearing red, others wearing blue, red-wearers won significantly more often than blue-wearers. Red is a fabulous choice to increase energy levels in any room – a home office, entryway, family or sitting room or even a hallway or staircase. If you’re intimidated by a lot of red, just add a touch here and there, perhaps a red bowl on a table, a pair of red leather pillows or simply a vase filled with red flowers.
