Wednesday, 19 January 2022

Trend Forecast: Décor Trends for 2022

As another year begins, and new years resolutions are made, many of us are looking to start the year off strong in a clean and fresh environment. The ‘new year, new you’ mentality often involves decluttering the things that no longer serve us, which includes outdated styles.

If one of your resolutions for the new year was to renovate, redecorate or revamp your living space, Luxo Living, Australia’s largest online boutique furniture store, has got you covered. Luxo Living offers impeccably made and affordable home styling pieces and furniture that will help you decorate your dream space this year!
In 2022, expect a rise in the ‘clean aesthetic’, which has been the latest style trend across various social media platforms. This includes white rooms, modern furniture and lots of cream statement pieces. In this article, founder of Luxo Living, Winston Tu, shares his trend predictions for anyone looking to make changes to their home in 2022.

Statement Stone Pieces 
Stone has made a massive comeback when it comes to furniture and décor. No longer is stone reserved for kitchens benches and home exteriors, now it’s filtering through into all types of furniture. If you’re after a statement coffee table to decorate, the Combee 80cm Sintered Stone Coffee Table (RRP $439) is the ultimate accent piece. The smooth sintered stone table top and the microfiber leather at the bottom both make huge statements, and work with all kinds of interior designs due to its creamy white colour. Whether your living room gives more of a traditional, industrial or modern vibe, it is bound to look great.
Light, Polished Wood 
As part of the clean look that many people will want to go for in 2022, light wood is expected to be a huge trend in furniture purchases this year. White, stone-washed wood will be very popular as many people opt for minimalist style and monochrome interiors. The Emelia 80cm Square Coffee Table (RRP $309) is the perfect mix of minimalist and statement, with its unique coffee table legs and lighter wood that will go with any coffee table books and decorations.
Boucle Fabric
The hottest trend of 2021, boucle fabric, is here to stay, and will likely be even more popular in 2022. The soft, cosy boucle fabric became the most-wanted furniture trend of 2021 as people spent more time in their homes, and looked to make their living spaces as relaxing as possible. As many of us continue to spend more time at home, boucle is the ultimate fabric to make your space cosy and relaxing. The Fausta Boucle Bed Frame with Arch Headboard (RRP $409) takes your bed and sleep routine to a whole new level. This fluffy white fabric can turn your bedroom into a haven, and the cream colour makes your room soft and timeless.
Decorative Bar Carts 
While bars and restaurants were off limits for most of 2020 and 2021, many of us brought the bars to our homes, and the bar cart trend took off. In 2022, we can expect a rise in bar carts as a statement piece in homes, used for beverages and decorations. From rustic rattan carts like the Gorvo Natural Rattan Bar Cart(RRP $259), to minimalist and mirrored carts, expect to see these everywhere. If you’re looking for a pop of colour, the Gorvo bar cartpacks even more aesthetic appeal with its combination of vintage and contemporary charm.
I'm in love with the coffee table and the bar cart from Luxo Living! These two are my favourite perfect statement pieces!

Till next time... which is your favourite piece?

Monday, 17 January 2022

Wallpapers and Colours that will Define Our Spaces in 2022

Creating a sanctuary at home is still key for interior design in 2022 as Australians adjust to a new year. While we are feeling more energised, amidst renewed freedoms, we continue to place enormous value on the way we live in our homes, embracing the pleasure that serenity and tranquillity can bring to our daily lives. Wallpaper remains a key complement to creating the perfect ambience, as colour and pattern continue to have a meaningful impact in our homes.

According to Paula Taylor, Trends and Design Expert at Superfresco Easy, design landscapes that are imbued with colours make us feel healthy, balanced, enthused. Think clarifying blues, rich purples and natural tans, colours that help us look toward a year ahead that’s brimming with optimism. Furthermore, in celebration of nature, self-care and reflection we are looking towards designs that bring calm, tranquility, authenticity and rejuvenation to the home. Enveloping softness is important alongside vibrant and deep colours that will help us to feel rejuvenated, with organic, sophisticated and nature inspired patterns remaining strong choices for Australians.

With walls providing the perfect blank canvas for expression, here we are considering the key wallpaper and colour trends that will define our homes in 2022.
Key Colour Trends
Reflective of our post-pandemic lives, in 2022 hues range from deep and tranquil to recharged and bold through to warm and cosy. Australians are increasingly seeking authenticity in their homes which they’re applying through the colour palette.

Deep and Tranquil
Think shades that are deep enough to add colour and depth yet light enough to remain refreshing and calm. Deep blues, olives and navy offer a sense of rebirth and rejuvenation, while instilling a feeling of calm. These shades are perfect for bedrooms, bathrooms and living areas where you want to relax and unwind.

Home is a place of comfort to unwind and relax at the end of a tough day, a well-chosen design can make a dramatic difference to a living space while offering a comfortable sanctuary to enjoy, according to Paula. With an interlacing trail of birds on fine blossom branches, dotted with butterflies, Superfresco Easy’s Songbird pattern in Duck Egg adds delicate femininity to an easy living colour palette. RRP: $77.38 per roll
Recharged and Bold
Hues that are energetic and fun are reminiscent of a bolder, more vibrant way of life that Australians are craving. Plum, deep oranges, browns and crisp reds all contribute to a stylish and brilliant living space.

To add depth and impress guests at the first opportunity use as a feature in the hallway or if you’re looking to add depth to a serene and peaceful bedroom pairing bold colours with more muted tones can enhance a visually soothing aesthetic.

Mood uplifting design choices that both calm and engage us is an important factor. Glamorous and refreshing, Superfresco Easy’s Midnight Garden in a bold collage style, features rich purple and dark pink tones. RRP: $77.38 per roll
Warm and Cosy
providing comfort and nostalgia, warm colours have a distinct authenticity and help to counteract the uncertainty of the last two years. Tans, ochre and creams assist in creating a calm and relaxed environment, and can be accented through furnishings, trimmings and plants.

Cosy hues provide a tasteful and timeless background that can also make your space feel more breathable and comfortable, Superfresco Easy’s Eternal wallpaper pattern creates the illusion of being in a tranquil forest. In beautiful warm browns, the tree design is lightly textured and embellished to add depth to the finish. RRP: $77.38 per roll
According to Paula, wallpaper patterns with an exterior finish such as stone are making a comeback. Projected as the new minimal, they have a welcome edge, with a consciousness towards natural materials and creating a cleaner environment in the home by bringing the outside in. Texturally interesting, they also make a fabulous backdrop to biophilic design elements such as lush greenery. Furthermore, designs that give a visual textured effect are a fantastic way of giving your space more depth,.

Wallpaper’s that have natural looking designs and textures with delicate and unobtrusive floras and faunas assist to create comforting spaces that allow you to relax and unwind. As the world begins to open up again, and we venture out, we will have an increasing need for our homes to be a safe and calm space. Superfresco Easy Shiplap Wood in Beige RRP $77.38. Superfresco Easy Adilah White, RRP $77.38
Once a major investment in a home’s look, wallpaper is now a design element that can be easily changed with the trends thanks to removable options, like Superfresco Easy. It’s ‘Paste the Wall’ technology allows homeowners and even renters alike to quickly put up wallpaper without the need for messy pasting tables and can be peeled off by hand without feat of ruining the wall beneath.

Superfresco Easy is available across Australia in Bunnings Warehouse and Independent Hardware Group stores, with prices starting at RRP $60 per roll. For more information visit www.superfrescoeasy.com.au.

Till next time... which is your favourite colour trend?

Tuesday, 11 January 2022

How to Achieve a Modern Renovation from the Outside In

Over the recent years, our perspectives on how we live in our homes and use our living space have changed. This shift has influenced home renovations which have risen to record highs with Australians spending over two billion dollars a month on renovations and additions in 2021! 

With a desire for more functional, agile and purposeful living spaces, that can accommodate the requirements of family time, working from home, schooling, recreational activities and entertainment, Australia has become a ‘renovation nation’. 

Shared below are some important points by Rebeka Morgan, Co-Founder of the renovation expert resource, BuildHer Collective, and partner of James Hardie in order to achieve your dream home.
Consider form and function
Before starting the renovation process, figure out the inspiration for the form and function of your home. What are the problems you are trying to solve with the renovation – is it more space, better joinery or connection to outside? Think about how you want the space to feel. Remember you are building a space of connection, a living space and a place to share with family and friends. The way you want it to feel will connect to the form of the home.

When searching for inspiration, start by collecting images from magazines and online platforms. James Hardie’s Modern Look Book is an easy-to-use resource and well worth clicking into. From here, collating the looks, feels, and materials from multiple sources will help you uncover your vision. The sophisticated mood board tool Style Sourcebook, which anyone can use for renovation projects, can help you research and plan your interior and exterior spaces, including furniture, paint and tiles as well as building materials such as fibre cement cladding by James Hardie.
Have a clear budget
A common mistake that people make when renovating is not having a clear budget and realistic expectations of what this can achieve. Start off with a solid foundation, as it will be difficult to rectify mistakes along the process. It is essential to understand and balance the cost of labour and materials, as it will make budgeting easier. The cost of materials is easier to quantify, but it is important to understand how complex and time consuming the labour component is. The James Hardie Home Renovation Guide is a fantastic go-to guide to help you complete your renovation.

For example, when selecting materials for your exterior, consider the types and sizes to be installed, the pre-work required, and the painting or finishing process. Premium fibre cement cladding such as Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding is easy to install and can be painted any colour. A key feature is the fine render-like texture embedded in the sealed fibre cement panels. It saves on labour costs and requires minimal maintenance, meaning it can be enjoyed for many years to come.
Define the look
More than ever, Australian homeowners are pushing the boundaries when it comes to the style of their homes. To get the modern look, focus on elements that make you feel pride and joy and spaces you would enjoy living in. Focus on what makes you feel that way – it could be big windows, timber floors, embedded textures or simple materials.

Exterior building materials have many roles to play. They need to be beautiful, long-lasting, keep out the elements, fit within budgets, work with our thermal requirements, as well as define our personal design style. Mixing cladding styles on a home façade has become a popular choice to create an architectural feel. The clean lines and contemporary finish can be easily achieved by combining a number of fibre cement exterior products to really enhance the exterior of your home. With its minimalist matte look, pair Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding with the clean vertical lines of Axon™ Cladding to create a modern designer look. 
Create a consistent interior and exterior look
The façade is your first impression of a home and can give instant street appeal. It is incredibly important to get the scale and materiality right here to make sure you are coming home to an inviting space that you want to be in.

Less is more when it comes to creating a modern exterior. Focus on clean lines, little ornamentation and pare back with only a few finishes that contrast well with one another. For example, an extension of a weatherboard home could use Linea™ Weatherboard or Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding for a minimalist look and striking silhouette. To bring through continuity, paint the three finishes in one colour.

To achieve a consistent look with internal and external spaces, try to carry elements between both areas such as textures, colours and materials. Minimise the number of materials used internally and add personality to the space with a few statement pieces that resonate with you.
Adding more than an addition
Adding a modern extension to a traditional home has become increasingly popular. An important consideration is to marry the old and new well. Focus on creating clear delineation between the existing building and new addition. Often this means a level change internally and a material change externally, to help experience the transition between spaces.

To create cantilevered upper levels, use premium fibre cement cladding such as Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding. Being durable and a lightweight alternative to bricks means it can establish more cost-effective floor space upstairs while simultaneously creating dynamic and shaded area downstairs. This lightweight design can enhance your indoor-outdoor alfresco lifestyle.

Whether you’re renovating to make room for a growing family or to get more out of your home, it’s important to plan in advance so that your renovation process is streamlined and you feel empowered to make the decisions that create the house of your dreams.
Find out how to achieve a modern renovation for your home at www.jameshardie.com.au.

Till next time... are you thinking of a home reno in 2022?

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