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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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 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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How Home Accessories Really Can Make You Feel Happier

Multi-coloured glassware from Mocha

Can home accessories make us feel happier?

I don’t just mean simply because you like the colour, pattern or design of your homeware. But much deeper than that: could they actually change your mood?

In neuro-linguistic programming there is a concept known as ‘anchors’. These are stimuli that have an effect on our thoughts or emotions and can change our state of mind. This can be positive or negative and the source could be visual, auditory or tactile.

It happens to us all the time. Sometimes it’s subconscious, and we may not even be aware that it is happening.

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My Design Style With Igor From Happy Interior Blog

Interview with Igor Happy Interior Blog for Mocha blogIgor is a design and interior blogger – and passionate traveller – based in Munich, Germany. He writes  Happy Interior Blog, and features beautiful home accessories, travel pieces and everything you need for a happy home. It’s a blog that can’t help but put a smile on your face!

With his infectious upbeat style, Igor shares with us here some of his own design inspirations and styling tips.

Describe your interior style in 5 words or less.
Colourful, unpretentious, personal and happy!

What is inspiring you right now?
With the dawn of a new season I am largely inspired by nature. The first sun rays after weeks of grey skies, the first signs of awakening in parks and gardens, the colourful blooms on the market stands.

I feel inspired by the refreshing power of upcoming spring and want to embrace the season through little tweaks in my home decor, too.

Which designer or designers most inspire you – and why?
I do admire the ‘old classics’, the big names such as Eames, Wegner, Jacobsen. I admire them for their visionary approach to design, for envisaging and pairing the aesthetics of form and function.

I also love Alexander Girard for his playful designs. But I also admire younger designers and design labels such as Konstantin Grcic, a Munich based industrial designer, for his sharp eye and edgy approach to design.

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Decorating Inspiration From Retail Interiors

Decorating inspiration from retail interiors - Mocha Blog

A while ago, I was in Madrid for a short work trip. With a bit of spare time before my flight, I took the opportunity to explore some of the city centre.

I came across a beautiful store called Purificacion Garcia, which sells a mixture of fashion and home accessories. What I liked most about it was the interior; because it didn’t look much like a shop at all. It was more like walking through someone’s home – and a very stylish one at that!

It got me thinking how retail interiors can often be a great source of decorating inspiration. And I found so many design ideas there that you could use in your own home.

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7 Design and Decorating Links Worth Reading

3D origami featured on Design MilkIf you’re looking for decorating ideas for your home, or just a bit of design inspiration, there are some really creative interior blogs to discover around the web. I’ve compiled for you here a selection of some of the best blog posts I came across this week.

A Colour Scheme of Black, Grey and Tea Rose Pink

Will of Bright.Bazaar has a real knack for putting great colour combinations together in ways you may have never thought of. But that really work. This week, he showed how black, grey and slate can be combined beautifully as a colour scheme. The more industrial looking black and greys are softened by adding accents of soft tea rose pink. Creating a good balance and original colour palette.

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Secrets Of Interior Stylists: How To Display Your Collection

Bags on Bark Shelves - MochaWe collect objects that are beautiful, have meaning, stories or good memories associated with them. Or simply because they make us smile. Together as a group, with a common theme, they become a collection.

But there’s an art to displaying your collections.

Done correctly, a collection adds interest to your home, giving it personality. And keeps your interior from feeling too stark. Even if you usually prefer minimalist interiors, a well considered display will enhance your decor.

Done badly, however, and it can look rather like a cluttered mess.

Once you learn secrets of what makes a good display, you’ll be able to arrange your collection just like the stylists do. And with clever styling even every day objects can be turned into an art installation.

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How to Use Bookshelves to Maximize Storage Without Minimizing Your Living Space

Arrow Bookends - MochaWhat do you do if you have limited space in your home, but a large selection of books? How can you make your interior appear streamlined and spacious, without downsizing your beloved collection?

Books really give a room character. Being surrounded by your favourite books can be a source of optimism and delight, memories and emotions. And that’s even before taking them off the shelf!

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Decorating With White

White minimalist kitchen and tips on how to decorate with white

Bright and fresh, white is a perennial favourite for interiors and home accessories. But now, with the return of minimalism, white is re-emerging as a major interior design trend.

Nothing reflects light better than white. It makes rooms feel more airy and gives them a feeling of space. An ideal choice for more compact rooms, it opens them up and creates the illusion of a larger space.

White highlights everything around it and works as a great background on which to add colour and bright home accessories.

Exceptionally versatile, it can be used to create an array of interior styles including modern minimalist; a sophisticated antique look; beach theme; vintage or shabby chic style.

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