Modern Vastu Interior Design Trends

bedroom

Vastu Shastra has an ancient history that was recorded in the Vedas during the period of 1500-1000 BC. While not many people outside of India have heard of Vastu, those who have known it see it as an architectural and spiritual guideline. Its origin is attributed to Vishwakarma, one of the gods in the 33 billion deities that exist in the Hindu pantheon of gods and goddesses. Vishwakarma is known as the divine architect who is credited with creating the world and teaching all crafts to mankind. Even today, some believers do prescribed rituals before construction work can be carried out.

Most of the earlier writings between the sixth century BC and the sixth century AD have been lost or are in a fragmentary state. Our modern knowledge of Vastu Shastra is a composite of what remains in the fragments that have survived, the Veda, traditions handed down orally, and what can be observed in examples of Vastu architecture. These beliefs are thought to have originated, developed, and been extended in the period 6000 BC and 3000 BC, influencing Hindu architecture.

We take a look at the principles that have been gleaned from these sources and how they can be applied to the interior design of modern homes.

The Principles of Vastu Shastra

Vastu Shastra did not only apply to Hindu architecture but was valid for any form of construction including a town, city, road, temple, and house as well as for plots to build on. Factors that guided decisions were based on how to maximise the potential of a piece of land and the placement of a structure on it, wind direction, the position of the moon, the heat and light from the sun, and the planet’s magnetic field.

The five key elements needed to be in harmony. These are air, fire, water, earth, and space. Photos of modern-day interior design using Vastu principles demonstrate this with plenty of space between furniture and other objects, wide internal walking areas, and space between the house and the plot boundaries. The five senses, seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touch should also interact harmoniously.

The energy field, which surrounds every home and is specific to it, affects those that live there. Vastu design principles ensure the attraction of positive energy and abundance. There are some similarities between Vastu and feng shui, which seek to align the home with its natural surroundings.

We cannot apply all of the Vastu Shastra principles to contemporary homes. For example, one of the requirements is to have a courtyard in the exact centre of the house. Front doors must face a certain direction. We cannot break down our houses and recreate them correctly. However, it is possible to incorporate certain elements into how we carry out interior design. Let us see what we can do to improve the energies in our homes and hopefully increase our wealth, balance, and happiness.

The Front Door

hallway & front door

The front door plays an especially important role in Vastu Shastra. It is through the front door that energies enter the home, along with all else we allow to come in. When you exit the front door, you should ideally be facing the north, the east, or the northeast. Many properties today are north facing.

The front door should open clockwise. It must be much taller than any of the other doors in the house. No bathroom must be positioned close to this door.

If your home doesn’t comply, don’t worry; there are other things that can be done.

Your front door should be made of the best quality wood available and be more attractive than your other doors. It must not be painted black. There should be no water elements, such as fountains, in the direction of the door. Other items that must not be placed outside the front door are shoe racks, figurines, animal statues, and dustbins.

The entrance must have bright lighting; this applies to all lighting inside too. You can use stunning nameplates to decorate the door. A toran, which is similar to a wall hanging and is decorated with auspicious symbols, can be hung outside the front door.

Furniture

living room & furniture

The living room where you receive guests should face in the same direction as the front door. If you have heavy furniture in the living room, this must be placed in the west or southwest. Mirrors should be situated on the northern wall of this room. Position appliances and electronic items in the southeast in any room. Don’t situate big pot plants in the northeast.

If your bedroom faces southwest, then it is perfectly placed for wealth and good health. The bed must be situated in the southwest, and when you sleep, your head must face west. No mirror or television must be situated in front of the bed while you are sleeping as it will capture your reflection. If you fail to comply, you can expect marital disharmony and discord in the family. Don’t use rooms in the northeast or southeast as bedrooms to avoid problems with your health. Wardrobes must face southwest.

Once again, you may have no control over the direction a room faces. But what you can do is use earthy colours to paint the walls to create positive energy. Never use black paint. If you want to avoid high, unstable emotions, avoid anything in the bedroom that is watery, for example, a fountain or a painting of nature that contains water elements. Make use of fragrant oils and mood lighting for a calm state.

All walls should be painted cream, blue, pink, or green, or in earthy colours.

Items That Will Attract Good Fortune to the Home

A crystal or wooden tortoise symbolises protection with its hard shell. Wooden tortoises should be placed either in the east or southeast. For crystal tortoises, the northwest or southwest provide the best placement. They will bring you fame and fortune.

An Arowana fish is used for attracting good luck and money. Place it in the east or northeast.

A Shree Chakra in the east is more than a decoration. It entices wealth. The Shree Chakra is a yantra, a mystical diagram, with nine triangles. It is possible to get it in a 2D form for hanging, or a 3D model, which is more powerful.

Apply Vastu to your home by applying these guidelines and use matching textures and colours in your décor.


How To Style And Use Your NFT At Home

sarah mayohas ai petals
credit: Sarah Mayohas AI Petals

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have hit the headlines in recent months, but millions of people remain unfamiliar with what an NFT actually is and how it can be used. If the world of NFTs is still a mystery to you or you’ve never heard of incorporating NFTs into your interior design, you’re certainly not alone, but help is at hand. Here, we take a closer look at how NFTs are changing the way we look at design and how you can use NFTs to enhance your own home.

What Are NFTs?

A non-fungible token is actually a form of financial security that confirms your ownership of a digital asset. Until NFTs were introduced, purchasing digital assets was a risky business. After all, there’s nothing stopping other users from right-clicking on a digital image or video and downloading it to their own hard drive.

Now that NFTs are available, purchasing a digital asset becomes more worthwhile, as your ownership is recorded in the blockchain. The blockchain is essentially a distributed ledger that records information. Additional blocks are added to the chain when there’s new information (or transactions) to record. While ownership of an NFT can be transferred by adding another entry to the blockchain, previous entries cannot be deleted. This makes it easy to authenticate your ownership of a digital asset.

What Can Be Sold as an NFT?

When you purchase an NFT, you’re effectively buying the right to assert yourself as the owner of a digital item on the blockchain. However, a wide array of items can be sold in the form of a non-fungible token. Clothes, artwork, furniture and even houses have been sold as NFTs in recent times, with Beeple’s artwork entitled, ‘Everydays – The First 5000 Days’, selling for a staggering $69.3 million dollars at Christies in 2021.

Of course, buying an NFT doesn’t mean that you receive a physical item – quite the opposite. While some NFTs may include physical assets, the majority of non-fungible tokens are related solely to digital files. If it seems strange that a virtual chair or digital painting can sell for as much (or more) than its physical counterparts, you’re beginning to understand the new and exciting world of NFTs.

How Can NFTs Be Used in Interior Design?

As so many types of NFTs consist of artwork, decoration and furniture, it’s no surprise that non-fungible tokens are having a revolutionary impact on interior design. Despite the increasing trend of releasing NFTs amongst creators, many people are still unsure how to use and style their new decorative assets. For inspiration, take a look at these four ways to use NFTs to enhance your surroundings:

Digital Displays

Buying a digital asset gives you the opportunity to display the piece in your home in its original digital format. From digital frames that showcase your latest NFT artwork to projectors that generate life-size images of your NFTs for an immersive experience, there are plenty of innovative ways to display digital assets around your home in their original format.

A dedicated NFT frame is designed to show off digital artwork at its finest but there are also a lot of user-friendly features to look out for. Using motion sensors to determine when people are nearby, an NFT frame can even recognise when to start displaying pieces, for example, or show various artwork from your NFT collection on a loop.

Physical Copies

Being able to render a physical version of your digital NFT gives you added scope when it comes to using and styling the item around your home. If you purchase an NFT of a chair, for example, having a physical version created allows you to incorporate the piece into your interior design and integrate it into your day-to-day life. Adding physical functionality to the digital form, this is an exciting way to make your NFT tangible and maximise its impact.

When creators release NFTs, they sometimes offer buyers added bonuses, such as access to a new collection or a physical copy of their non-fungible token. If so, you’ll receive a physical version of the digital asset you purchase, which ensures you’re able to enjoy a new piece in various formats throughout your home.

Showcase NFTs via the Metaverse

The ‘metaverse’ is still tricky to define but you can think of it as a blend of virtual reality, augmented reality and real-life. Commonly hailed as the ‘future of the internet’, the metaverse empowers people to live digitally, as well as physically, so where better to use your NFTs to spruce up your environment?

If you’re active in the metaverse, you’ll notice than NFTs are becoming increasingly coveted within this world. In fact, designers and major brands, like Adidas, are releasing new product ranges for users to wear or enjoy within the metaverse and you can use your own NFTs in a similar way.

Print Videos

If printing videos sounds like an oxymoron, prepare to be surprised! In a new twist on NFT displays, adventurous innovators are printing videos and turning them into permanent design objects. When you add printed video to your interior design, you can style it in the same way as printed images or regular artwork. From custom frames and bespoke installations, printed video turns moving images into must-have artwork in your home or workspace.

Alternatively, print a still image from your NFT video and incorporate a QR code into the design or frame. You can style the piece as artwork in your home, with the QR code providing instant access to the NFT video in digital format.

Are You Ready for NFT Interior Design?

Although NFTs are proving to be wildly popular, we’re still at the inception of this exciting new technology. As more creators release NFTs and interior designers become more accustomed to integrating non-fungible tokens into their work, we’ll see more and more people adorning their spaces with these innovative pieces. If you want to get ahead of the curve and set the trend, begin exploring the world of NFTs now and discover how interiors can be elevated by blending digital and real worlds.


Reshaping Real Estate with Interior Design - The Developer’s Guide

Commissioning a new property development gives stakeholders the opportunity to build real estate that will entice future buyers and maximise value. However, interior design plays a key role in ‘selling’ a property and can have an enormous impact on a potential buyer’s purchasing behaviour.

Due to this, it’s vital that property developers realise the value that an interior design can add to their project and use their expertise to enhance the final outcome. In our Developer’s Guide, you can discover how to integrate an interior designer into future development projects to achieve the best results:

1. Appoint a Designer at the Concept Stage

Hiring an interior designer once a property has been built is a little like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted! While a talented designer can certainly add value to a project at this stage, you’re limiting the impact they can have. In contrast, appointing a designer at the concept stage of a project allows them to integrate their ideas and visions into your plans for design and construction of the building itself.

Essentially, you’re pooling more resources and knowledge-sharing on a wider scale at a time when it can have the most beneficial effect on the project. As a result, you’ll be able to use input and recommendations from your designer to inform your overall design and construction decisions.

2. Prioritise Internal Space Planning

No matter what the square footage of a property is, it’s how the space is used that has the biggest impact on subsequent owners. A poorly planned property doesn’t make the most of the space available and can be frustrating or disappointing to live in. As well as making it more difficult to secure buyers and potentially reducing the value of the development, this could result in unhappy customers further down the line.

Working with an interior designer allows you to prioritise internal space planning from an early stage and gives you the scope to utilise the interior in a way that is most effective. Designers are adept at defining how a space will be used and creating interior designs that accommodate everyday living, which is vital for a successful residential development.

3. Permit (and encourage!) Creativity

 

People often assume that using bland colours and leaving a property as a ‘blank canvas’ will make it easier to sell. While it’s true that this approach allows new homeowners to make their mark, it may not have the effect you expect it to. In fact, being too neutral is off-putting to potential buyers, particularly in the luxury and sub-prime market.

Instead, permit and encourage your interior designer to use their creativity to design a unique and inspiring interior. When prospective homeowners walk into a property, the interior essentially allows them to envisage a future for themselves and sells them a dream lifestyle. With a distinctive yet non-polarising interior design, you can ensure that buyers are captivated by a property as soon as they come through the door.

4. Choose Quality Craftsmanship

One of the advantages of working with an interior designer is getting access to their network of artisans and craftspeople. As you might expect, interior designers work closely with creators to access high-quality products and inspired designs. From furniture and joinery to artwork and decorative pieces, choosing quality craftsmanship will elevate the properties within your development and enable you to attract the right investors.

Furthermore, don’t shy away from having bespoke items commissioned. This empowers your interior designers to collaborate with creators and have unique pieces produced. When custom-made furniture or decoration is used within your development, it accommodates, reflects, and highlights the features of the property and showcases them to maximum effect.

5. Create a Legacy

If you want your property development company to be renowned for its work and highly respected within the industry, focus on creating a legacy for your brand via your properties. While maximising commercial value will always be a top priority, don’t overlook the fact that you’re creating homes that will be enjoyed for generations.

Hiring an interior designer ensures that the purpose of the property is at the heart of the design and construction process at all times, and it gives context to the build. As your designer focuses on how the interior will look and feel, this approach will enhance the final product and allow you to cultivate a reputation as a top development firm.

6. Factor in Final Dressing

‘Dressing a property’ is the final stage in getting it ready for sale and it should never be skipped or hurried. When your interior designer reaches the stage of final dressing, they will be adding the artwork, furniture and decoration that brings the property to life and highlights the features you want to draw attention to.

However, many developments run out of time and over budget, which means that developers tend to overlook the importance of final dressing. By ringfencing some of your budget and allocating sufficient time, you can ensure that this critical aspect of preparing your development is given the time and expertise that are required.

7. Trust Your Designer

Successful property developers have a wealth of expertise, knowledge and skills, but interior design may not be one of them! When you’re working with an interior designer to enhance your developments, be confident in their abilities and put your trust in them.

Establishing the parameters of the project in advance and being clear about expectations will help both parties to set reasonable objectives and give you an insight into how your chosen designer can enrich the project.

Can Interior Design Add Value to Your Developments?

When you’re reviewing a site for potential development, the interior of the property might not be the first thing you think about. However, interior design is a major factor for potential buyers, which is why it has the potential to add significant value to your developments. With input from the right designer, you can ensure your properties exceed the expectations of subsequent buyers, reflect your brand’s attributes and add value to your portfolio.


gold basin in powder room

Modern Arabic Interior Design Trends

gold basin in powder room

Blending Islamic, Mediterranean and Moroccan styles, modern Arabic design is a wonderful fusion of colours, textures and cultures. From the elaborate ornamentation and interlacing arches synonymous with Moorish architecture to the geometry and structure of Islamic design, Arabic art is celebrated all over the world and now, you can discover how to integrate this timeless style into your own interiors.

To get started, take a look at these top modern Arabic interior design trends and find out how to weave them into your own interior design:

Warm Colours

Traditional Arabic design is known for its warm, enriching colours and you’ll see this palette coming through in more modern interiors too. Moroccan styles tend to incorporate bold colours, like blues, reds and greens, for example, while Islamic interior design often uses more neutral shades interjected with more vibrant colours.

If you want to put a modern twist on your interior and embrace the latest trends, stay true to the warm colours associated with Arabic design but choose hues that offer tone variation to add depth to your design.

Luxurious Fabrics

Often seen in traditional Mediterranean and Moroccan design, luxurious fabrics play a significant role in Modern Arabic interior design also. Plush furniture adds a sense of decadence to any room and the use of tactile fabrics adds another layer of depth to your design. Furthermore, adding luxurious fabrics in the form of sofas, chairs, rugs, and cushions to a room allows you to integrate bolder colours into the space easily, if you choose to.

Silk velvet, damask and even cashmere can all elevate your design and feature in a modern Arabic interior. No matter what colour palette you choose, using luxury fabrics to furnish the space will emulate the traditional aspects of the style.

Strategic Space Layouts

The way you use space has a considerable impact on how a room looks and feels but it also determines its functionality. Unsurprisingly, space layout has been a top priority for centuries amongst designers and you can see how traditional Arabic design used layouts to reflect the purpose of a space.

For Modern Arabic interior design, take the same approach to space layouts and ensure that the proportions of the room and its styling reflect the functionality of the space. When you want to encourage interactivity and conversation, for example, ensure seating is not too far apart. Alternatively, when peace and tranquillity are the order of the day, adjust the layout to afford everyone a little extra space.

Ceiling Design

bedroom & chandelier

In modern homes, the design potential of the ceiling is often overlooked but one glance at Arabic interior design will highlight just how impactful this element of the room can be. While you may not be able to recreate the glorious ceilings seen in traditional building in a residential property, you can certainly be inspired to use ceiling design to create your own modern Arabic interior.

Recessed ceilings and strategic lighting are effective ways of integrating ceiling design into the overall aesthetic of the room, for example, and this can draw your design together too. A suspended ceiling with clean lines gives a modern, minimalist feel, for example, while ornamental lighting fixtures and chandeliers deliver a traditional feel.

Low-Seated Furniture

glass door leading into bedroom

If you want to embrace modern Arabic interior design trends, be sure to feature low-seated furniture in your new space. Hailing from the traditional use of mattresses around the perimeter of a room, low sofas can easily be used to reflect the tenets of Arabic design.

For maximum flexibility, choose modular pieces that can be easily modified to accommodate your needs. When you’re hosting large gatherings or entertaining guests, for example, a modular sofa or ‘diwan’ can provide additional seating without disrupting the flow of your design.

Organic Materials

Organic materials have been used for centuries in interior design but, more recently, they gave way to man-made alternatives. However, the cyclical nature of fashion, combined with the desire for increasing sustainability, means that demand of organic materials is once again on the rise.

If you want to futureproof your modern Arabic interior, choose organic materials that represent those used in a traditional setting. Ethically sourced rosewood, lemon wood and walnut exemplify Arabic design and can be used at the centrepiece of a modern interior, for example. Similarly, cotton, woollen linen and even hemp can be used to incorporate organic fabrics into a modern Arabic interior.

Lighting Effects

Lighting always has a tremendous impact on a room, so be sure to factor this into your design plans. While traditional designs will feature warm lighting, more modern designs can lend themselves to cooler, more contemporary lighting styles. This is especially true for certain spaces, such as home offices, hallways, and kitchens, which typically require brighter lighting to optimise functionality.

When it comes to fixtures and fittings, modern Arabic interior design gives you the perfect opportunity to embrace luxurious light installations and decadent drop lighting. Suspended fixtures and pendant lighting are a fabulous way to draw attention to your ceiling design, for example, and will draw different elements of the space together.

Fine Flooring

Tiles, marble and carpet are all acceptable flooring options if you want to use modern Arabic design to elevate your interiors, but this doesn’t mean that wooden flooring is to be avoided. Adding clean lines to traditional styles is a key element of modern Arabic design and wooden flooring is one way to achieve this. As always, you can use rugs and floor coverings to reflect the space layout and integrate accent colours into your design.

Using Modern Arabic Interior Design in Your Home

Traditional Arabic design is a fusion of styles that has developed over the centuries and the most modern interpretations blend age-old elements with contemporary trends, such as minimalism and muted tones. By adding a modern twist to Arabic design in your home, you can create an interior that’s luxurious, welcoming and decadent while maximising functionality and flexibility.


lanterns

6 Decor Trends That Will Rule 2022

lanterns

Following the super-successful Milan Furniture Fair in June, we’ve got the inside track on which décor trends are going to be big throughout next season. As we transition to a post-pandemic era, designers are reflecting the new demands of homeowners and presenting innovative and exciting ideas.

There’s no doubt, however, that the pandemic has left its mark on the interior design world, particularly as people’s needs evolve and lifestyles change. In this year’s décor trends, you’ll find inspiring ways to enhance your home while maximising functionality and prioritising comfort.

Whether you’re planning a total redesign, starting a new renovation project, or looking for ways to refresh your interiors, these six trends will give you the inspiration you need to envisage a whole new style:

Bold Stripes

powder loo

Many top furniture designers are incorporating exaggerated stripes into their work, so you can expect to see this fashion statement in on-trend homes throughout 2022. Perfect for adding drama and excitement to an interior, stripes can also make a compact space feel larger. Select vertical stripes if you want to add height to a room and horizontal stripes to make the area feel wider.

To stay on trend this season, you’ll want to choose stripes that are thick and bold and use them to inject a little colour into an interior. Bright, playful colours or soothing, traditional tones work equally well, so be sure to use stripes to complement your existing style. From a welcoming sofa to a statement armchair, bold stripes are an easy yet uber-fashionable way to ensure your interior design stays bang up to date this season.

Woven Furniture and Accessories

corner sofa, coffee table and chairs

Rattan furniture has proven popular this year and the trend looks set to continue throughout 2022. However, don’t feel restricted as any woven piece will fit the bill and keep your home up to date. Cane, wicker, raffia and even seagrass can all be used to create a light and relaxed interior, so use them to keep interiors feeling fresh.

Often seen outdoors, woven furniture has become a firm favourite amongst interior designers and is becoming increasing popular in living rooms, bedrooms, and studies. The lightness of the material lends itself to smaller spaces, while intricate woven designs can add detail and character without being overpowering.

When you embrace furniture made from natural materials, you can also inject biophilic designs into your interior. Achieving harmony between traditional architecture and the natural world, biophilic interior design is heralded for optimising wellness and delivering a sense of calmness and tranquillity.

Inspired Home Offices

After two years of living and working from home, it’s no surprise that people are looking for innovative new ways to combine these elements of their lives. As the remote working trend continues to boom, an increasing number of people are making their homes dual purpose and updating their interiors to reflect the changing environment.

Designers are responding to the demand by creating inspiring yet functional home office furniture in chic, fun palettes. Instead of relying on drab, grey tones or using transient spaces as a makeshift office, dedicate some of your home over to a permanent workspace and make it a motivation hub. From bright colours to ergonomic designs, home offices are about to become better than ever.

Cool Comfort

Unsurprisingly, comfort continues to be a top priority amongst designers and homeowners alike. We’ll see a rise in cumulous sofas and low-to-the-ground chairs in 2022, as people embrace a relaxed and welcoming vibe.

When you incorporate low-to-the-ground furniture, it creates a sense of casual calm and positively entices you to lounge around and take life at a slower pace. As people continue to seek comfort from their homes, this trend is set to be even bigger this year.

What’s more – low-slung furniture makes it easy to integrate statement pieces into any space. In smaller sitting areas, for example, a low sofa can be eye-catching without dominating the space. Conversely, low-to-the-ground furniture can be idea in minimalist interiors, when you want the space to speak for itself.

Paper Lanterns

For a super-fast way to brighten up any room, add paper lanterns to your interior design. While paper lanterns have long been a popular lighting choice, designers are putting a new spin on the trend this year. With geometrical panels over a wooden frame, for example, colour and light can fill the room without relying on a traditional overhead light.

While paper lanterns may be popular in garden design, they’re enjoying something of a renaissance when it comes to interiors. Use them in isolation or pair them with bejewelled lighting for a mesmerising focal point.

Enhanced Colour

colourful bedroom

Changing the colour of a room can be one of the quickest ways to give it a brand-new feel and an enhanced focus on colour in 2022 makes it easy to update your interior. Sky Blue is a popular shade this year and has already been named as Dulux’s Colour of the Year. Associated with nature, it’s ideal when you want to connect to the outside world and add a sense of calm to your interior. Also from the blue colour family, Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2022, Veri Peri, uses a red violet undertone to add a dynamic feel that inspires and motivates.

Whatever colours and palettes you choose for your home, rely on colour theory to achieve a sense of balance. Remember – repainting the walls isn’t the only way to inject colour into your interior design. With a spectacular selection of pieces in coloured glass from this year’s top designers, there are plenty of ways to incorporate more colour into your interior.

Embracing 2022’s Décor Trends

Using the latest trends to enhance your interior design is a fantastic way to keep your home feeling new and fresh. While you needn’t redesign your entire interior on a whim or use every trend to renovate a property, incorporating your favourite elements of this year’s décor trends can give you the inspiration and impetus you need to reset and refresh your home.


gilston road chelsea design swimming pool

Fabric

Interiors: Home Spas to Inspire

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north london terrace garden

10 Stylish Outdoor Dining Ideas

north london terrace garden

When the sun’s shining and the temperatures are soaring, a garden, terrace, or courtyard is the perfect place to be. By embracing al fresco dining, you can extend your home beyond the property’s four walls and make the most of the space you have available. Of course, you’ll want to expand your interior design to the exterior of your property too! To get started, take a look at these 10 ideas to enjoy stylish outdoor dining this season:

1. Mimic Indoor Flooring

Creating an outdoor dining space requires practical considerations, as well as design choices, and adding robust, durable flooring will create a level space that helps to avoid accidents and prevents your outdoor furniture from sinking into the grass! When you’re selecting flooring for an outdoor dining space, mimic or complement your indoor flooring to extend your interior design throughout the entire property.

2. Add Soft Furnishings

Don’t let the thought of bad weather prevent you from adding extra comfort to an outdoor dining space. Instead, choose soft furnishings and accessories that are designed for outdoor use. Outdoor rugs and cushions are a great way to enhance the design of an outdoor dining area and they will increase your comfort levels too.

3. Consider Outdoor Cooking

If you really want to embrace outdoor dining this summer, why not take things a step further and install an outdoor cooking station too? This will give you the opportunity to impress your guests with your cooking skills and make it even easier to make the most of your outdoor space. From pizza ovens and built-in BBQs to standalone workstations and integrated kitchens, there are endless options to consider. With a range of styles available, you can complement your garden design with a traditional feel or opt for an uber-contemporary style to modernise the space.

4. Beat the Heat with a Canopy

Getting too much sun isn’t something you often have to worry about in the UK, but it’s important to protect yourself from the rays if you want to enjoy al fresco dining. Whether you’re designing an outdoor dining area for your home in London, a holiday home in the south of France or a villa in Tuscany, you can increase the functionality of the space by adding a canopy.

5. Fuse Indoor and Outdoor Spaces

In many homes, it’s possible to create a seamless transition from indoors to outdoors by removing an exterior wall of the property and replacing it with sliding or folding doors. This creates a unique indoor-outdoor environment that can be enjoyed whatever the weather and it can also increase convenience for outdoor dining. When you have a bar or entertainment space that leads directly into your garden, for example, it’s easy to entertain guests and host light refreshments indoors before moving outside for a more formal feast.

6. Add Table-Top Heating

When you’ve been enjoying the sun throughout the day, evening temperatures can feel a little chilly. With table-top heating, however, you needn’t let this prevent you from enjoying al fresco dining well into autumn. Self-contained table-top fire pits are a top trend this year and it’s easy to see why. As well as keeping your guests warm, a table-top fire pit makes for a spectacular centrepiece on your tablescape and enhances your table design.

7. Update Outdoor Furniture

If you’re upgrading your outdoor dining area, it’s a good time to update your outdoor furniture too. From classic wooden furniture with soft, sumptuous cushions to sleek, brushed metal and ornate wrought iron, you’ll want an outdoor dining set that complements your design and reflects the style of your home. When you pair an outdoor dining table and chairs with outdoor armchairs, daybeds, and side tables, you can enjoy flexible and functional garden living at any time.

8. Illuminate the Space with Outdoor Lighting

As the days get longer, it might not seem necessary to add lighting to an al fresco dining space, but you’ll soon realise the impact it has. In addition to increasing functionality as dusk draws in, outdoor lighting adds ambience and atmosphere to your dining area. To create the ultimate outdoor dining space, use soft lighting to create a sense of warmth. From table-top candles and string lights to hidden uplights, there are a variety of ways to enhance your design with the right lighting.

If you have a water feature nearby, for example, be sure to showcase it with underwater LED lighting. This will ensure it remains a statement feature at all times of the day and night – even when you’re enjoying a late-night meal in your new outdoor dining space.

9. Use Screening for Discreet Dining

Garden screening is a fast and effective way to add ambience to an outdoor dining space and it can be an effective way to increase your privacy too. If you’re green-fingered, you can rely on shrubs, hedges and climbing plants to create a natural screen that will separate your outdoor dining area from the rest of your garden. However, if you don’t want to wait for plants to mature, consider using container plants, artificial green walls, or freestanding room dividers as garden screens.

10. Create Stunning Tablescapes

When you’re entertaining guests in your home, a tablescape can set the tone and really showcase your interior design – and the same applies when you’re hosting guests outdoors. By choosing a spectacular table design, you can give a temporary outdoor dining area a sense of permanence and reflect your broader design choices in the finer details. Use decorative table linens or runners to add colour to the space, for example, and add accessories, such as candleholders, vases, or barware, in varying heights to add visual interest.

Enjoy Al Fresco Dining All Year Round

With the right design and materials, an outdoor dining space can be functional at any time of year, which means you can enjoy al fresco dining throughout every season. Combining stylish design choices with practical additions, like heating and overhead coverage, your new outdoor dining area can become a permanent and much-loved part of your home.


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Irish Examiner

Revealed: The interiors trends that will transform your home

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The Interiors Event You Won’t Want To Miss

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Entryway Design Tips: 9 Ways to Make an Entrance in Your Home

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The entryway of your home is somewhere you’ll pass through multiple times a day and it’s the first part of the interior that your guests will experience, which is why it’s such an important part of your interior design. By making the most of this space, you can set the tone for the rest of your property and create a welcoming feel that extends throughout your home. To get started, take a look at these nine entryway design tips:

1. Select a Bold Colour Palette

While neutral shades can work well in a foyer or entryway, don’t feel you have to stick to muted tones when designing a hallway or entrance. Using vibrant colours gives you an opportunity to make an impression with your interior design and a bold shade can lift the space. When you choose a bright or empowering colour, such as yellow, you can add a sense of warmth to this welcoming space and transform a transitional area into a feature in its own right.

2. Use Floorboards to Amplify the Space

If your entryway is a little on the small side and you want to make it feel larger, consider using real wood floorboards. Orienting the floorboards so that they run into the home from the entryway can make the space feel significantly larger and will draw the eye further into the property. Alternatively, lay rectangular tiles leading into the property to create a similar effect.

3. Add Seating

No matter what size a foyer is, seating can be an excellent addition to this space. Many people assume that seating isn’t necessary in an entryway, particularly if the area is relatively small and you don’t plan on spending much time there. However, entryway seating can play a functional role, as well as an aesthetic one. While bold, statement furniture can work well in larger foyers, a slimline bench or a sleek, contemporary chair can enhance smaller entryways while minimising the amount of space that’s used.

4. Use Feature Lighting

Lighting is one of the most important components in any interior and this is true of entryways too. The right lighting will illuminate a foyer effectively and create a welcoming feel that instantly puts guests at ease and makes you breathe a sigh of relief every time you arrive home. You can make the space feel warmer with soft lighting, for example, or give the entryway a modern feel with cool, overhead lighting. Whether you opt for a spectacular chandelier, hidden recessed lights, or eye-catching drop lights, make sure the accessories you choose turn functional lighting into a noticeable feature.

5. Consider Form and Function

How you use your entryway will depend on the layout of your home, so consider the many purposes the space may need to serve. If you don’t have a separate cloakroom, for example, your hallway might be somewhere where you store coats, outerwear, bags, accessories, and shoes. If so, you’ll want to ensure that these items can be kept neatly and that they don’t detract from your carefully curated interior design.

Adding furniture to an entryway can enhance its functionality considerably and is an effective way to combine form and function. A well-placed coat rack, storage chest, or cupboard can give you access to the space you need while reflecting your preferred style, for example.

6. Use Vertical Space

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When you’re designing an entryway or foyer, be sure to use wall and ceiling space to accentuate the area. Statement pieces, such as sculptures and suspended artwork are perfect in large, vaulted foyers and will act as a focal point. Alternatively, smaller entryways can be enhanced with artwork on the walls, shadow boxes, and even custom murals.

By making the most of the available vertical space, you draw the eye upwards and create a centrepiece for your design. Furthermore, using the vertical space well in smaller entranceways will make the area feel more spacious and expansive.

7. Reflect the Light

As well as using statement lighting features as part of your interior design, aim to reflect the light to prevent entryways from feeling dull or drab. Strategically placed mirrors will reflect the light and make any entryway feel brighter. Whether you have windows and door glazing that allow natural light to flow through or you’re relying solely on artificial light, use mirrors to maximise the feeling of brightness. With endless styles and sizes to choose from, it’s easy to find mirrors that complement any interior design, so you’ll have no problems incorporating a brightening mirror into your theme.

8. Add Definition

If your foyer is particularly large or part of an open plan space, it might not be well-defined. This can make it tricky to determine where the entryway ends and where your living space begins. However, effective interior design can add definition to the space and create a distinction between the different areas in your home.

Using different colours is one way to transition from an open-plan entryway to the living space, for example. Alternatively, add a rug to the floor to signify where the entryway ends or differentiate between the varying spaces by using wallpaper in the entryway and paint in the living area.

9. Make Staircases Spectacular

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Most entryways include a staircase of some kind, and this gives you a great opportunity to turn a standard feature into something truly spectacular. A dramatic curved staircase or a contemporary suspended staircase can give large entryways a touch of glamour, while tiled stair risers, stylish runners, or glass balustrades can transform a regular staircase into an eye-catching entryway.

Take Your Entryway to the Next Level

The entryway is one of the most important parts of your interior design, yet many people overlook the foyer or hallway design in favour of other areas, such as kitchens or living rooms. By using these top tips to enhance your entryway design, you can ensure that this critical part of your home is a core component of your interior and somewhere that exudes style.