The Secret To A Luxurious Home

Luxurious bedroom with four poster bed

What makes a home feel luxurious?

I recently had a really interesting discussion with a friend on this very subject. And we realised that it isn’t just one obvious thing.

Sometimes, you walk into a place and it feels right – it just works. A home doesn’t have to be large or have expensive furnishings.

On the contrary, a house can be big, yet feel cavernous and cold. Or it can still look a cluttered mess, despite its size. Whereas a small space can have a luxury boutique hotel feel about it.

An interior filled with opulent furniture isn’t always a luxurious one. Sometimes, it can have the opposite effect. Have you ever walked into an ostentatiously decorated room that made you feel uncomfortable, and perhaps a little overwhelmed?

The secret is that there are several elements that can help give a home an air of luxury. And I thought I’d share with you how to make your home feel luxurious.

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Decorating With Mediterranean Blue

Mediterranean blue Mykonos Greece

Blue is a colour synonymous with the Mediterranean.

From deep cobalt, to sky blue, aqua and turquoise. It echoes the azure blue sky and sparkling waters of the sea.

It speaks of warm sunny days with the sun on your back. And it brings a feeling of calm and serenity.

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5 Smart Interior Design Ideas From An Attic Flat

Interior design ideas for small spaces from an attic flat

This flat in the attic of an old tenement house in Poland was designed as a live / work space for a couple who are both graphic designers.

Compact in size, and with a sloping ceiling, the flat could have felt small and cramped. But with smart use of space and interior design techniques, Sabina Królikowska of INSIDE home design has created a beautiful airy apartment which feels very spacious. And aspects that could have made it an awkward space are transformed into features which turn it into an extraordinary home.

The apartment is full of inspired decorating and interior design ideas. So I thought I would highlight some of them that you could use in your own home.

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New Trend Alert: Ancient Meets Modern

Ancient meets modern Verulamium - Mocha UK

There’s an exciting trend emerging. Except  that it’s not completely new. In fact, its origins are ancient.

Yes, we’re going right back in time. Beyond retro, vintage or antique. This is ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome – but with a modern twist.

It goes back to basics, with a return to natural materials and greater simplicity, mixed with contemporary elements.

And it’s capturing our imagination in every creative sphere.

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How To Find Your Interior Style (And Why It Matters)

minimalist living room with B&B Italia sofas by Antonio Citterio

Every day we are confronted with floods of different images and ideas about the latest interior trends.

Rather like going on a long shopping trip, it can become overwhelming to the point of confusion. So that you’re no longer sure what you even like anymore.

Do you truly love that particular decor? Or is it just you’ve seen so much of it, that you’ve been convinced you do?

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5 Ways To Bring Spring Into Your Home

Spring is in the air. Buds and blossoms are beginning to emerge on the trees, birds are singing and the days are getting longer. Those brighter, warmer and sunnier days will soon be back again!

So it’s time to clear away those winter cobwebs, and freshen up your home for the season ahead. Here are some ways you can bring spring into your home.

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Why Design Constraints Can Give You a More Creative Home

Fallingwater by architect Frank Lloyd Wright

What would your dream home look like?

Is it by the sea, in the mountains, or surrounded by a forest of trees?

Everyone has their own vision of a dream home. But one thing they usually all have in common is that they are spacious and everything fits in perfectly.

In reality, though, it may be the total opposite. Perhaps there are space constraints in your home that make it challenge to fit in all your furniture and belongings. Or it might have unusual features that are difficult to work with.

However, it is those very design constraints that can result in a more creative home.

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How to Declutter Your Home in Just 20 Minutes a Day

Bark Shelves from Mocha - How to Declutter Your Home

The new year is a great time to declutter. Have a fresh start, and get rid of all that junk that is slowly threatening to take over your home.

But easier said than done.

Sometimes the mere thought of decluttering can be quite overwhelming.

Have you ever felt that way? I know I have.

There’s a sense of it being such an enormous job that you don’t quite know where to begin.

So you don’t.

And everywhere you turn you are accosted by things. It can leave you feeling guilty, disorganised and drained – your energy literally sapped by all that clutter.

Yes, you know that once your home is organised there will be a great feeling of satisfaction. That there will be more space, order, and you’ll know where to find everything.

It’s just making that first start.

So here are seven easy steps to break down the task into small chunks. You’ll find it less daunting, and far more manageable.

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A Bench That Blends Seating With Nature

Saturnia grass bench by Philippe Nigro on Mocha UK

After talking all about biophilia and biophilic design last week, I was thrilled to discover this beautiful bench on Freshome.

The Saturnia Bench is a creative piece of furniture that combines seating with nature. Made of natural stone, a central island of lush green grass flows down its length. And it is bordered by squares and rectangles of differing sizes which serve as seats. It’s a great example of biophilic design.

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5 Hallway Decorating Mistakes That Ruin The First Impression

Your hallway is the first place your guests see when they enter your home.

It doesn’t have to look like a showhome. And you don’t have to decorate it in one particular style. You might choose a rustic, Scandi, industrial or a  Mediterranean look. But as you might have guessed, there are many ways to mess up.

Here are five of the most common decorating mistakes people make with their hallway design. But more importantly, some tips on how to avoid making them yourself.

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