Putting Your Home on Show
House and Home Ireland’s biggest selling interiors magazines explains how creating good displays can be the difference between a cluttered mish-mash and a practical styled interior. Follow these simple rules to get the look.
1. Repetition
Unite your displays by using uneven numbers of different items in the same finish to tie your scheme together. Enlarge a favourite black and white photo to make a dramatic impact on a living room wall. Glass objects in differing shapes can decorate a side table which should be in the same finish as any other furniture/tables in the room. Finish a living room with a quirky design touch such as a tall stack of logs in an alcove.
2. Grouping
Grouping items is a favourite design trick to add impact to any room. A selection of tall candles and vases make for the perfect display on the fireplace. Cushions should be grouped together, and can be placed on the floor for extra seating.Interesting objects should be grouped to one end of the fireplace and books and groups of decorative glass pieces can adorn open shelving. Use a neutral white background as the perfect backdrop for what could otherwise seem like clutter.
3. Behind Closed Doors
You can create a successful display behind closed doors, particularly if you keep similar items together in a glass fronted unit, perfect for tableware and glasses. You do need to be tidy for this to work, but not as much as if you opt for open displays.
4. Open Shelving
Pigeon-hole style opening shelving, particularly large expanses over a whole wall, for example floor to ceiling example, offers fantastic storage and an interesting display wrapped into one. In open shelves keep loose items in attractive wicker baskets, which can be picked up very reasonably in major department stores.
5. Symmetry
Create balance in your rooms with a symmetrical approach to your displays. This works particularly well in bedrooms or in a living room where you can match side lamps and tables. Match lamps, flower arrangement, candle and glass on either side of the four-poster bed.
6. Walls
Walls are also the perfect place to group a favourite photo collection. Use this display technique in unusual places such as the bathroom, use one wall to create an intimate display of family photos. Towels and magazines stacked neatly add to the look.