Design tips from Josh & Jenna

On Sunday Iain & Kylie and the kids had the opportunity to attend a design workshop hosted by The Block's Josh & Jenna. Aside from getting a pic taken with the couple (aren't they cute?) Kylie also took a few notes from the day. Here's some of what the design guru's had to say.

• Do a floorplan of the room you plan to decorate (can use free online software such as SmartDraw).
• Ask yourself, what’s the purpose of the room? A room to relax and unwind or be inspired and motivated?
• Choose your style. Create a mood board of the style you like from magazines and take with you shopping! This helps greatly and will reduce any random purchases that won’t work in the overall style you’re creating.
• Use occasional chairs and place them facing towards the main sofa, this creates a more social and intimate space.
• Use pendant lights to create warmth and purpose in a room and they create striking features.
• Keep larger purchase items, ie. Sofa and dining table neutral colours that you can work around. You will find you’ll hold onto them for longer.
• Have a focal point in the room and then all other things in the room need to compliment that piece. ie. wall papered wall or multicoloured bedspread (not both).
• Soften your rooms with rugs, feature lighting, soft throws, vases.
• Scandinavian and homemade style is in, this can be introduced inexpensively with cushions, art etc.
• Be bold with colour but keep it in the accessories so it can be updated inexpensively.
• Don’t over clutter, love the space your in without being overwhelmed.
• TV’s should not be your focal point in a loungeroom.
• Practical and comfortable can still be beautiful, sit on the furniture you’re going to purchase!
• Add soft furnshings to soften hard surfaces such as timber and steel.
• Timber doesn’t have to match.
• Blank walls? Use art, mirrors, photo collage, mix up the frames to create a more dramatic and artistic look.
• Small space, low ceilings. Use narrow furniture to give the illusion of more space and low lying furniture.

More information about Josh and Jenna go to www.bickerdesignco.com.au