Anyone can furnish a flat or house with the basics to create a functional, organized home that provides every practical comfort; however, it is something else entirely to fashion a living space that shows a touch of the inhabitants’ personality, giving visitors a feeling of those people and saying something about them. It doesn’t necessarily take a lot of money or time to create a personal touch, but it can require a little thought. If a living space seems like just another matchbox flat or suburban terrace, then maybe what it needs is a personal touch to liven it up and make it feel that little bit different.
Of course, different people will have different tastes, so designs and options will vary from person to person. Some may want to opt for a classic period feel with touches of individuality or contemporary design, whereas others may want to go mad with bright colors and simple, bold shapes. There is no right or wrong when it comes to taste, and what might be one person’s nightmare is another person’s dream pad. There is also the homemade look, which has been made fashionable recently by the rising trend in arts and crafts: patchwork quilts are making a comeback, as well as knitted blankets and homemade trinkets, such as wreaths, table napkins, tablecloths and embroidery. Any soft furnishings can be easily embellished by touches of DIY craft, and some individuals will love the way they can add to their home using traditional skills such as these.
There are plenty of ways to create personal touches to an apartment or house, even if space or budgets are limited. Wall hanging space is a really key way of embellishing what could otherwise be a very plain room, and adding picture hooks or a runner from which to hang art around the room can make the world of difference. It is also possible to group different sized pictures quirkily together at differing heights to add interest, or to hang pictures from floor to ceiling. Alternatively, choosing one or two favorite family photos and then having them enlarged to cover a significant wall space can look great and really liven up a room.
Customizing items of furniture is another good way to add a homely touch to otherwise conventional or plain looking rooms. There are numerous ways this can be done, for example by sanding down and then painting items of wooden furniture, or by stenciling or printing onto existing pieces – chairs, tables, etc. Spray paints create a quick and striking finish, and playing around with a color theme or contrasting colors can produce great effects.
Having one or two iconic pieces of furniture in each room, for example some stylish leather sofas, can really provide a focus point, which can then be used as inspiration for other embellishments. Creating a theme for each room is an easy way to become inspired. The theme could be as simple as a beach theme or a relaxation theme, or it could be based around an existing object, such as a decorative vase or wooden chest. That way, the item can be beautifully displayed in the room that it inspired and will tie everything together.
There is no limit to how personal a space can be made and there are many ways to make a space unique and individual. A little time spent getting the basics right will really pay off in the long run, and little tweaks can always be added here and there to finally create a dream living space.