The easiest ways to turn your new house into a home

From the colour of the bed linen to the texture of a benchtop, every element of a house presents an opportunity to convey a style and feel.

Before going to town on the latest Kmart collection, take a step back and consider following some expert tips on how to create a more personal home space.

“A house becomes a home when it tells a story. It is a sincere energetic reflection of who you truly are internally,” says Julie Parmax, design director of 3 Marks of Existence.

Establish your personal aesthetic

The first port of call for every interior project is to establish a concept or style that will carry throughout the home.

While taking inspiration from trends can be a fun way to mix up your home’s look over time, this underlying concept will help create an enduring, effortless aesthetic.

If you don’t naturally feel drawn to a particular home style (such as Scandi, bohemian, minimal, for example), look at your existing furniture for inspiration.

“Look at the items and see the common threads, whether they be the colour or texture, and use it as your key inspiration for your home’s base palette,” says Catherine Valente, design marketing manager at Laminex Australia.

“By using your core palette, you will create a stunning flow throughout and your style will be seamless.”

Place hero items throughout the home to create a consistent overall look, and frequently refer back to them for colour inspiration.

“If you’re working with an existing space, take colour palette inspiration from an item already in the space, such as a rug or artwork … Ideally you want to be using three to five colours on repeat throughout,” says interior decorator Emma Blomfield.

Try also to inject elements of your hobbies and passions into the home, as this will create a unique and intimate point of difference.

“What is your passion? Are you an art lover? Do you collect magazines? Can you draw? Incorporate it into your home,” Parmax says.

“This is who you are, so why not be inspired by your own passions … Make a point to surround yourself by what you love.”

Photo: Essastone by Laminex

Keep hero pieces neutral

Playing with colour and texture can be great, but too much can lead to an overly busy and cluttered home.

To avoid going overboard, stick to timeless shades and materials for the more permanent features, such as benchtops, splashbacks and flooring.

“Start with a neutral canvas that includes different textural elements. This way you can always build on a base,” Parmax says.

“Remember, accessories are easier to change than the foundation of a space.”

To achieve this classic look, Valente recommends using neutral shades from the essastone ranges Fino Venato, Ash Concrete, Saint Moritz, or from the Laminex Colour Palette range, Basalt, 180fx Carrara Marble and Bianco.

“If you wish to add a layer of colour, add it through small feature areas (rather than hero pieces) such as a small shelving unit in a pastel blue shade like Laminex Colour Palette Fresh Spring,” Valente says.  

Experiment with colour and texture through homewares

Now that you have your base palette sorted, it’s time to add more personal touches to your home through furniture and homewares.

“Simply adding in colourful or printed cushions and rugs makes such a difference,” says Christie Turvey from Neue Blvd.

“I absolutely love how rugs can transform a space; they instantly add depth and a sense of comfort to any interior.”

Interior designer Crystal Amesbury recommends selecting a range of textured decor items.

“If you have a smooth textile sofa, then add some chunky knit or heavily tactile cushions. If your bed has plain linen, then add a patterned throw,” she says.

It also pays to mix up the shape of your furniture, making sure that this is balanced throughout the home.

“It comes back to contrast. Is your space minimal and all straight lines? Then add a sculptural element. Is your living space ‘boho’ with texture overload? Then add a solid square edge ottoman in a plain colour or generous armchair with strong lines,” Amesbury says.

“Visual or tactile contrast implies thought and consideration, which is something all beautiful spaces have in common.”

Photo: Cultiver

Look beyond IKEA

IKEA can be great for the basics, but creating a distinctly personal home requires a more eclectic approach to furniture and styling.

Turvey advocates shopping at op-shops and garage sales, as well as modern homewares stores, for a more individual look.

“You would be surprised at the stunning pieces you can find at your local op-shop or garage sale for a bargain price,” she says.

“It is so easy to simply change the handles on a cabinet, or repaint a desk to suit the style of your new home.”

The key is to remain patient throughout this process. As tempting as it is to dedicate just one weekend to buying your furniture, in reality, it takes years to develop a curated home.

“The nicest interiors are created over time,” Turvey says.

Display sentimental items

Contrary to picture-perfect home magazine photos, no home ever feels personal without some one-of-a-kind sentimental pieces.

Items such as photos, family heirlooms and collections are ultimately what make your home an inimitable space.

“Your home needs to stimulate those happy memory triggers that get your heart pumping and your mind racing … Being surrounded by memories gives you a feeling of protection and stability,” Parmax says.

According to Amesbury, the trick is to curate these items in a way that tells a story, such as grouping those of similar shapes, colours or textures together.

“There’s nothing more clinical than walking into a home that has all the hot and trendy pieces, minus your personality,” she says.

Invest in art

Whether it’s framed photographs, art prints or original paintings, make sure your home has something hanging on the walls to avoid feeling unfinished.

“No home is complete until there are some beautiful pieces of art hanging on the walls,” Blomfield says.

“Bare walls aren’t anywhere near as inviting and welcoming as a home filled with artworks showing your love of colour, texture or pattern.”

This doesn’t have to be expensive. Retailers such as Society6, Hello Polly and Hunting for George all offer affordably priced artist-designed prints to suit any budget.

Photo: Hunting for George