Natasha's ideas
5. Anchor your room A rug is the one thing I frequently note is missing from my clients’ homes, which means they’re usually high on my list of items to purchase as part of a restyle. Why? Because rugs help anchor a room, plus they’re a great way to add colour, texture and softness. Need to carve up a large, open-plan space into separate zones? A rug is your number-one tool.Rugs are also relatively inexpensive for the impact they create.
6. Stay in the frameThis contemporary living space is all long, low lines – from the modular sofa to the coffee table and wall-hung TV – and the long, low window seat is the perfect complement. Wood panelling frames the feature and ties it to the TV wall for a pulled-together look, while piles of cushions make it as appealing as the rest of the room’s seating.Ensure the foam you have cut for your seat pad is dense yet soft enough to be comfortable (it’s worth getting some samples) and that when you make the cover, the opening is on a long edge, making it easier to remove for washing.Find a carpenter to help you add a window seat to your home
4. Two-toned trendIf the bedroom of this Castlecrag home in Sydney is anything to go by, it looks like the two-toned trend has been turned on its side. In the latest manifestation of this window fashion, sheer curtains by No Chintz hang elegantly in contrasting vertical panels instead of horizontal ones.
5. Natural fibresMany new season window treatments have turned up the texture – fabrics show off their natural fibres, textiles are more tactile and prints display an added depth. But taking out the top gong in textured window treatments are cane blinds, which seem to be stepping back into the spotlight. Cane window coverings fell out of favour several decades ago. However, as this rustic cane creation by No Chintz proves, this is a welcome case of history repeating.Tip: Cane and highly textured natural fibres diffuse sound and improve interior acoustics.
8. Panel perfectionLayered fabric panels stylishly borrow aesthetics from both curtains and blinds, filling the void between the two. Here, alternating panels of the same fabric overlap and bring an added sense of depth to the bedroom of this New York townhouse, while filtering sunlight and providing privacy.A Complete Guide to Curtain Styles
10. Curtain callLikewise, it will come as no surprise that we still love layered window coverings. By doubling up with sheer curtains or blinds in the background and statement drapes or shades in the foreground, you can alternate between a light, breezy atmosphere or a bold, dramatic ambience. That additional layer of fabric also provides better sound and heat insulation, and lets you control how much light enters a room to reduce fading.Here, Warwick Fabrics’ striking Tempest drapes in ‘Charcoal’ take centre stage, while a light sheer peeks out from behind. The plush, heavy fabric also gives a nod to the geometric and metallic crazes that are currently in vogue.Tell usWhich new season window fashions have you embraced, or which old classics continue to endure in your home? Tell us in the Comments below and join the conversation.MoreFind shutter, blind and curtain professionals on Houzz
7. Black is the new… blackWhite and timber venetian blinds have hogged the limelight for decades, but darker shades are beginning to join them. In this 2017 renovation in Narrabundah, ACT, Chadwick Designs fitted these grand full-height windows with black external venetian blinds. As well as being capable of withstanding the weather, external venetians offer insulating and sun-blocking properties too. Sheer curtains adorn the windows’ interiors and, in keeping with the latest technology, both are motorised.
Size matters! Be generous with the size of your rug. Remember the on-the-rug rule for your living room: go bigger to ensure that at least two legs of every furniture piece in the living area are sitting on the rug. Make sure the rug extends at least 15 to 25 centimetres from either side of the sofa to create a balanced look. And remember, a rug is not wall-to-wall carpet – never lay a rug right up against the wall or window. Aim to leave at least 25 centimetres of visible floor around a rug.
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