How to incorporate different styles in the home without doing a full makeover

If you find yourself thinking your home is looking a bit boring or tired, you might want to revamp your style and living spaces.

You don’t need a full renovation if the bones are already there – in fact, a neutral palette as a starting point gives you the opportunity to jump off in any number of style directions.

Understanding the origin and foundations of a style allows you to fuse your home’s bones with a fresh look from popular design schemes:

Hamptons

With its roots in the stately, cedar-clad, beachfront manors in East Hampton and Long Island, east of New York, this style is classic, but with an ease that comes with a beachside lifestyle.

To create the Hamptons look in your own home go for linen sofas, ticking stripe fabrics, nautical themes, and stick to a palette of grey, taupe and white.

Use classic tiles such as herringbone marble or bevelled subway tiles in kitchens and bathrooms.

Timbers can be rich and dark, embracing a walnut or chocolate palette, or can sit at the other end of the spectrum – from aged oaks to limed or greyed timber flooring and furniture.

Metallics also feature. Try brushed, aged or rubbed brass or brightly polished chrome in wall sconces and pendants for a touch of elegance.

Art deco

The skyscrapers built in New York in the 1920s and ’30s were heavily influenced by art deco style, just look at the impressive Chrysler Building.

Influences stem from the patterns of ancient Egyptian and Aztec artwork, and geometric patterns reference natural elements like the sun’s rays. Art deco home decor is often edging on kitsch, but the glamour of deco is easy to incorporate in your own home.

When shopping, look for polished chrome, geometric facets and lush fabrics, like velvet, in rich, vibrant tones for furniture items.

Ornate wallpapers and rugs, such as Catherine Martin’s range featured in and inspired by The Great Gatsby, are a lovely go-to, as are the deco-inspired patterns of Ralph Lauren Home’s range of wall coverings.

Japandi

Japandi fuses the tried-and-true-style of Scandi with the Japanese methodology of wabi-sabi – the celebration of the beauty in imperfection – and embraces simplicity.

To nail this look at home, your palette should simply be white, oak and black. Incorporate raw edges and natural forms such as timber slab tables or benchtops, handmade and imperfect ceramics and anything that looks beautiful because it’s not a machine-made product.

Handmade tiles in matte finishes can be the perfect addition, as can the classic, mid-century lines of furniture pared with unique, artisan-made items.

Industrial

This popular style usually includes a palette of unfinished materials such as brick, steel and concrete.

To bring an industrial feel to your space look for decor, sinks and benchtops in concrete or concrete-looks.

Black steel in furniture, stools, lights and handles is a no-brainer.

Add lighting that looks as though it’s come from a factory floor. Exposed bulbs are ubiquitous, but there are some lovely metal and glass factory lights to be found if you search the right places. Schots Home Emporium is a good place to start.

Tan or brown leathers can be right at home in an industrial space but, you’ll need to pepper in elements of softness. Try white or concrete-toned cotton or linen slipcover sofas.