The age of minimalism is well and truly over (insert applause here). The days of stark white on white boxes with no curtains or rugs has ended. Our homes are now filled with luxuriant textures, bold colours and boundary-pushing shapes.
The word ‘layering’ is something you might here your Interior Designer throw around a lot. It describes the most fundamental component in design, and is as simple as it sounds - creating layers with furniture, finishes, fixtures and objects. It adds interest, contrast and to an interior, and is so much fun to experiment with. It’s also the easiest way to add personality to a room, adding pieces from your life that tell your story.
It’s important to recognise how important layering is, no matter what style of home you have. The way in which you apply the choices in colour palette, finishes and style will be different if you have a contemporary house compared with a heritage home, but the concept is the same.
Layering is something to be taken in steps, from deciding on the finishes and materials all the way through to the accessories, and it’s worth taking your time to make sure you get it right. Each selection you make needs to speak to the next to ensure a cohesive space. It will be tough, as you may fall in love with an incredible light fixture that absolutely does not work with the space, and it will take discipline to make sure you override your emotions and select something appropriate. I often find that a particular selection wasn’t my first choice, when placed in context, actually is the perfect fit.
Once you have created your canvas of wall and floor finishes, I have outlined the order in which to create your layers.
window treatments
I like to start here because window treatments are not only costly, but they’re also often large swathes of colour and texture in a space. They’re also crucial for setting the right lighting level. I use sheers in every project because I like how they filter light gently, and soften the harsh lines of modern architecture. I generally opt for neutral colours without pattern, as window treatments are an expensive endeavour they need to transcend styles so they don’t date too quickly.
furniture
When considering your furniture, I always start with the sofa as it tends to be the biggest piece and often the most costly. My general rule of thumb is to select muted or neutral tones here too. Bold patterns or intense colour will quickly date - the current obsession with ‘Millennial Pink’ velvet sofas for example will be something that will look passé in the years to come.
lighting
Lighting is the jewellery of a space, so it’s a great way to add metallics to a space. Make sure you incorporate different lighting sources, including ceiling, pendant, wall, floor and table lamps to create a more comprehensive lighting scheme. There is so much beautiful lighting available with such sculptural qualities that they’re often works of art in their own right. It’s important to make sure you balance the practicalities, but also have fun.
art & wall decor
Art is so personal, emotive subjective that it cab be one of the more complicated parts of the process. It’s important to keep in mind how suitable a piece will be in your space. As much as you may love something, if it doesn't work in the space, it won’t be doing the piece justice. The biggest mistake I see people make is hanging pieces that aren’t the correct scale for the wall. If you’ve got a smaller piece it’s sometimes better to pull together a few pieces that speak to each other and hang them as a group in this instance. If you’ve already got some pieces that aren’t quite working, consider finding them a new home in another space, or re-framing them to give them new life.
accessories & books
Just like with fashion, it’s sometimes the accessories that make or break the outfit. Collecting groups of bowls, vases, candles, sculptures and trays together with books is a winning combination. Keeping in mind that even on a small scale the items need to speak to each other, whether it be in a similar colour palette expressed through different textures, or a common theme. For a coffee table you can afford to layer more objects and books together, but for a dining table keep it more minimal.
Books add personality and reveal a lot about the people who live there. They’re timeless and beautiful reminders - I purchase at least one each time I travel so I’m reminded of the experience. When displaying them on bookshelves, try colour blocking the spines for a more bold effect. Some books are meant to be displayed sometimes for their incredible cover as much as their content. These are perfect on a coffee table as an object in their own right.
Keep in your mind whilst you’re layering the words of Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.”
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