The term ‘Mid-Century’ refers to the design style that was dominant throughout the 1940’s to 1960’s. It is an iconic decorating style that furniture and homewares take inspiration from still to this day. In 2023 we are seeing this design style having a resurgence and gaining popularity once more, so what better time to dive into the details of what Mid-Century Modern style incorporates!

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The Furniture

Mid-Century modern style has a focus on functionality first and foremost when it comes to furniture pieces. It makes sense given the period of time in history as it represented the focus on maintaining a strong family unit and spending time in the home. The mid-century style of furniture is often referred to as a ‘rebellion’ against the much frillier and ornate pieces seen throughout previous generations. Most furniture pieces such as buffets, console tables, dining tables and more were made from timber in variations such as teak, rosewood and walnut. The richness of these timbers paired well with the colour palette of the time, which we will get into further below. When designing a space in mid-century modern style it is important that all timber furniture pieces complement each other and there are no clashing shades or tones. Throughout this era, we also saw the rise of some classic furniture styles that are still popular today such as the Eames chair, egg chair and wishbone dining chair.

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The Colours

The colour palette for Mid-century modern style is one of the most iconic throughout design history. There was an emphasis on bold tones with depth and muddiness to create an overall brave, yet practical look. The main colours used in paint, wallpaper, soft furnishings and home décor pieces were deep brown, burnt orange, pale yellow, muddy green and striking crimson. This palette reflected the highlight on functionality and practicality as it steered away from any whites or cool greys and leant into colours seen more in nature. Colour is one of the main design elements of Mid-century modern style and it was used in unexpected and bold ways. Bright colours were seen in items such as sofas, wall paint, rugs, wallpaper and kitchen cabinetry to name a few. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The Shapes & Textures

The true testament of a great interior design style is when glancing at a space or a piece of furniture, you automatically know it is Mid-Century modern style. This style has distinct features in the shapes, textures, patterns and colours used to create a bold and unforgettable look. Bright and fun choices were made in finishes such as vinyl flooring, shag pile carpet, cabinetry and benchtops. Bold and geometric patterns also reigned supreme and were used in wallpaper, rugs and home décor pieces. Another key element of mid-century modern style is the use of clean lines, curved edges and large rounded shapes in the furniture. We have seen furniture items such as sofas and armchairs leaning into this style in recent years and believe it is gaining in popularity.

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Incorporating The Style Today

As Mid-century modern style is becoming more popular through home design, furniture and décor pieces in 2023 it is important to learn how to incorporate this style into your home in a modern way if you wish to embrace this classic look. We recommend picking and choosing key pieces in a space that lean into the style such as a buffet, a dining suite or bedside tables. Freedom and Nick Scali have some great pieces that have a nod to mid-century modern style that would work perfectly. Try adding bold colours and geometric shapes in soft furnishings such as bed linen, cushions and throw rugs to lean into this look in a fun and easy way. The key to nailing this style in a modern and contemporary way is to select key pieces and aspects of your space and not go overboard. Remember to stick to rich timbers, functional furniture, curved shapes and bold colours and you will be on your way to mid-century style in no time!

With a new year comes a fresh start for getting on top of your home organisation solutions and systems. By putting in place effective systems at the beginning of the year ensures you not only start off on the right foot but have a better chance at maintaining them throughout the year as things get busier and busier. Below are our top tips, hacks and areas of the home to streamline your organisation solutions and take things to the next level!

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Ensure Everything Has A Home

The number one rule to keeping an organised and clutter-free home is to ensure every item has a ‘home’. This may require some dedication to set up, but once created, will be a weight off your shoulders. We recommend categorising all like-minded items together and ensuring they are in a zone of the house that makes sense for their purpose. In areas such as wardrobes, playrooms and living rooms where clutter can build up easily, we suggest grabbing some beautiful baskets from stores like Freedom, Adairs or TK Maxx to collate each category. To encourage the entire household to get involved, we recommend adding sticker or swing tag labels to zones, so every member of the family knows where things are to be put back once used.

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The Pantry

The pantry is a highly used space in the home that cops the brunt of every mealtime, snack time and grocery shopping expedition. Here at Homemaker The Valley we have a few simple hacks that will help you transform, maintain and streamline your pantry to avoid an overstuffed and unorganised feel. Firstly, measure the pantry shelves and purchase some baskets or containers for each category you require to help organise. For example, cooking, snacks, drinks or baking, then categorise accordingly. We also love having a ‘backstock’ basket where you can place any overflow items as this allows for easy refills and checking of stock before the grocery shop. We love decanting pantry staples such as cereals, flour, nuts and baking supplies for a streamlined look. When decanting, a great hack is to stick a simple Dymo label on the underside of the container with the expiry date, so you can keep on top of when things are to be used by. Head into Howard’s Storage World this weekend to check out their amazing range of pantry containers to transform your space!

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The Wardrobe

Wardrobes are a space in the home that we suggest having either a seasonal or half-yearly clear out to avoid clutter build up. If there are items in your wardrobe that have not seen the light of day in over 12 months, then we suggest either donating or selling them to create more breathing room. We love using matching, felt hangers for all hanging clothes as they allow for a streamlined look and are perfect for space saving. If you fold your clothes, we suggest using the rolling technique and adding drawer dividers to your drawers to keep things neat and tidy. Lastly, any seasonal items such as swimwear or knitwear can be easily stored in baskets at the top of your wardrobe for a functional and space saving hack.

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Create A Drop-Zone

We all lead such busy lives that our living spaces can become the dumping ground for incoming items that do not have a home and as a result create a cluttered and messy look. Once you have categorised and found a ‘home’ for all your everyday items in your spaces as mentioned above, it is essential to create a ‘drop-zone’ for any incoming items that are new. This can include things like bills, homework, borrowed items, gifts or letters that do not yet have a home. We suggest creating a drop zone that is away from the kitchen and living area in a space such as the entryway, home office or garage. Create a ‘drop zone’ by using either a basket, container or in-tray and labelling it with each member of the family’s name. To ensure clutter doesn’t build up within this space, we recommend setting aside five minutes each week to go through, action and find a home for the items that have been dropped in the last week.

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Add Dates To Your Calendar

Lastly, to ensure your home remains streamlined and organised throughout the year we recommend locking in key dates early for maintaining these spaces. Just like a birthday, anniversary or event, add your ‘home organisation maintenance’ days to your calendar every month or quarter. It could be as simple as a Sunday afternoon every month, or a half day booked in at the start of each season. Home organisation and storage solutions work best when they are properly maintained and kept on top of to ensure your home stays streamlined and organised for you and your family.

Here at Homemaker The Valley we have a wide range of retailers that stock an array of different design styles and we can be spoilt for choice with what to purchase. When designing and decorating your home, it can be tricky to mix furniture pieces in a cohesive and balanced way. On one hand you don’t want the space to feel ‘matchy-matchy’ whilst on the other hand you want to avoid a ‘mismatched’ feel. Today we are sharing with you our top tips for creating a layered look and ensuring your home feels balanced, yet interesting.

Choose Complementing Interior Design Styles

We love blending different design styles to create a personalised and curated look. There are a handful of interior design styles that work really well together and some you should steer clear of. Our favourite styles that we know blend well together are coastal and Hamptons as they contain a similar colour palette, whilst having contrasting shapes and textures. Try heading into stores like One World Collection for all your Hamptons needs and Freedom for the perfect range of coastal furniture. Another great option is to pair mid-century style with industrial as they use similarly rich timber tones and contrasting colours. We recommend avoiding completely opposite design styles such as pairing Hamptons with Industrial or Mid-Century with Provincial.

Don’t Be Afraid Of Mixing Timbers

A common mistake we see when decorating is using matching timber for every piece of furniture within a space. We understand it can be tricky to know which timbers work well together and the easy option is to select the matching set, but there are a few simple tips that ensure you nail the mixed timber look. Our biggest tip when mixing timber colours in your home is to ensure they have the same undertone. This undertone is easy to spot as most timbers either have a yellow, grey, orange, or red undertone. If you stick to the same timber tone throughout your furniture pieces will blend well together and complement each other perfectly. The other key aspect is to ensure you have either half or one third in one timber tone, with the remaining in another timber tone. This ensures that you don’t have any pieces that look like the odd one out. Try selecting your larger furniture pieces in walnut, for example and pairing them with smaller items such as a floor lamp, frames of artwork and side tables in an oak.

Pick Your Statement Pieces

When decorating any room in your home it is important to choose a few statement pieces throughout and pair back on the remainder. When there are too many statement pieces in one room the space can feel overpowering, and the wow factors often gets lost as they try to compete with each other. For example, if you have a large, colourful artwork we recommend keeping the patterns and textures of the remaining items in the room simple. Or if you have chosen a statement bedhead, then opt for subtle tones in your bedlinen and cushions. If you are after a statement piece for your living room or bedroom, then head to stores like Early Settler or Oz Design Furniture.

Ensure There Is Balance

Much like our tips on mixing timbers, it is important to have a balance of similar style furniture when mixing and matching. For example, a space feels more cohesive when there is for example a floor lamp, coffee table and side table in an industrial style and the remaining pieces in a contemporary style. Ensure you don’t have one single piece in a differing style as it will be obvious and look out of place in the room. Freedom does a great job of showcasing different interior design styles within their store. Don’t be afraid to ask the friendly staff for assistance with pairing one furniture piece with another to ensure they work perfectly together.

Colour Palette Cohesion

When mixing a few different furniture styles, it can be calmer and create a more unified look to keep the colour palette quite simple. This allows the shapes and textures of the furniture pieces to be the focal point and allows the eyes to rest and appreciate the styles. Spaces can appear crowded and over stimulating if the furniture shapes are mixed and there are too many colours introduced in one space. Try keeping your furniture neutral and adding subtle pops of colour through cushions, vases and artwork.

If you would like some more assistance with blending furniture styles within your home, then book in for your free styling session with our resident stylist. Eliza can share advice on what would work with your existing pieces and how to create more cohesion within the home.

Who doesn’t love an excuse for a party? Here at Homemaker The Valley we love entertaining and inviting our loved ones into our homes to create memories and eat delicious food. Springtime is one of our favourite times of the year to entertain as the days are getting warmer, the sun is shining, and the air has that beautiful freshness to it in the evenings. Today we are sharing with you our favourite trends for entertaining at home this season and how to incorporate them for your next event!

Host a Cocktail Or Mocktail Afternoon

A cocktail or Mocktail making session is the perfect way to bring in the new season and gather all your loved ones around for a fun filled afternoon. The key to making this fun and interactive is for each person or couple to make a cocktail or mocktail recipe of their choosing. You can even judge them if you want to get competitive! We love Kitchen Warehouse’s range of Mr Consistent products that are perfect for creating a failsafe beverage that is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Have fun with the afternoon by using a variety of gorgeous glassware and cut up different fruits, herbs, and sprigs to be used as garnishes.

Decorate With Bright Colours

Bright colours are making a huge comeback in the interior decorating and design world, so get ready to embrace them in your home too! Entertaining at home can be a great place to experiment with colour and go bold with your decorations, napery, and tableware pieces. We are seeing beautiful ranges of brightly coloured tableware sets with fun lemon motifs, blue and white strips and Italian riviera inspired prints. As your dining table or alfresco settings are usually a nice neutral or timber tone, this creates the perfect backdrop to go bold when decorating. We love using a bright tablecloth or table runner in blue, pink, or green and using a complimenting colour for your placemats and napkins. Have fun with your table centre piece by mixing and matching a variety of brightly coloured vases with greenery to finish off the look. Check out Provincial Home Living and Freedom’s range of beautiful pieces that would be perfect for your next soiree.

Keep Your Food Simple

When entertaining at home it is tempting to go overboard and show off every skill you have when it comes to cooking and baking. This is often met with regret the next day as you find yourself spending majority of the time in the kitchen and are left with a huge clean up at the end. This is why we recommend keeping the food as simple as possible when it comes to Spring entertaining (Save the roasts for Winter or Christmas). A grazing platter is perfect as you can prep the layout and items the morning of the event and simply add your cheeses and meats before guests arrive. We love decorating our grazing platters with sprigs of herbs such as rosemary or a few little flowers hand-picked from the garden. Salads are a great option for food at a Spring get together as you can asks guests to bring their favourite one and it makes it a more collaborative affair. They also pair perfectly with a BBQ and make for a super easy and relaxed vibe for the perfect afternoon in the sunshine.

Host A Cuisine Specific Soirée

Here at Homemaker The Valley we love a themed party as it allows us any excuse to go all out with decorations, food and even an outfit! When planning your next soirée, we recommend starting by choosing a fun cuisine such as Italian, Mexican, or Greek and creating the event around this. As the days and nights are warming up, be sure to choose some fresh starters and salads and keep your mains and desserts quite light. When creating your tablescape we suggest avoiding a cliché look and instead drawing inspiration from the colours typical of these countries and creating an ‘atmosphere’ instead. For example, if you are hosting a Greek themed lunch, we love a blue and white striped linen tablecloth with either a bougainvillaea vine (thorns removed) or lemons and greenery lining the centre of the table. For a rustic Italian affair, be sure to use some terracotta ramekin dishes, natural timber serving boards and olive branches when decorating your tablescape. Our retailers have so many options for home decorating pieces that would be perfect for your next gathering. We recommend heading into stores such as Kitchen Warehouse, Provincial Home Living and TK Maxx for a great range on offer.

The Provincial design style has always been a popular style to decorate with throughout the years, but in today’s post we are sharing how you can modernise this classic way of decorating. When taking this classic design style and adapting it to a modern interior, there are certain elements that stay focal and others that are take a backseat. Today we are sharing with you a brief history on the design style and how you can incorporate this beautiful and classic way of decorating into your modern interior today.

The History

The Provincial design style started in the late 17th and early 18th century in the south of France as local makers began imitating pieces coming out of Paris and adapting them in their own way. The style grew in popularity hugely after World War I as people wanted to incorporate an elevated, yet earthy and rustic feel to their homes. The style can sometimes be referred to as ‘French Country’ due to its history and roots stemming from the area of France where it began. The design style blends both an elegant and sophisticated look with handmade and rustic pieces to create an overall ‘homely’ feel.

The Key Elements

Like any design style, there are certain key elements that are essential when creating and executing the look. With a Provincial design style, it is important to have a mixture of natural wooden materials to create an earthy and artisanal feel. Rustic and imperfect timbers are preferred in furniture pieces such as dining tables and coffee tables, the arms and legs of chairs, lighting, and decorative accessories. Our gorgeous retailers Provincial Home Living and James Lane do some beautiful furniture pieces that suit this design style perfectly so be sure to head in store to check them out. Another key element is ornate detailing that can be seen in Provincial style furniture pieces and more specifically the cabriole leg where the upper leg curves out before curving in at the bottom. Feature flooring is also a huge element of this interior design style with timber floors in a chevron or herringbone lay being the most popular.

The Colour palette

As the Provincial design style began in the French countryside the use of natural colours and tones are evident throughout. The overall colour palette includes warm tones of beige, brown, linen and flax, blended together to create an inviting and relaxed feel. The colour palette allows for the rustic timbers to do the talking and gives focus to craftsmanship and statement elements of the furniture pieces. Colour is added in subtle ways in shades of powder blue, sage green, or warm terracotta through the use of decorative accessories and soft furnishings. Contrast can be created through accent elements of charcoal and black in items such as the leg of a chair, the base of a lamp or the frame of an artwork. When choosing your metals, we recommend opting for a more rustic feel with tarnished gold or bronze accents in doorknobs, mirror frames and candlestick holders.

A Modern Take

The Provincial design style is a classic and traditional look, but we can take key elements from this and incorporate them seamlessly with a contemporary interior to create an overall stylised look. When creating a modern provincial design style it is important to keep the colour palette as close to traditional as possible; think warm neutral tones with pops of subtle, washed out colour. The furniture and decorative accessories are where you can have fun with blending two styles together. We love the look of a rustic farmhouse table paired with a more modern style dining chair and simple contemporary rug. Try pairing a table from Provincial Home Living with modern dining chairs from Nick Scali or Domayne. We also love using a rustic timber console table paired with a sleek round mirror and beautiful large table lamp to create a statement in your entryway. The key to making the Provincial design style blend with the contemporary style is to keep a simple colour palette and ensure you include natural, rustic timbers and ornate detailing with sleek, yet simple modern pieces.

If you’d like some help creating a modern provincial look in your home, you can click here to book in for your complimentary styling session with our resident stylist, Eliza. Just click the link about or head to the ‘styling inspiration’ menu on our website to find a time that works for you!

We all know the thrill of finding that perfect item and learning it’s on sale. You leave the store with such a buzz knowing you’ve scored yourself a bargain you’ll want to tell all your friends about. Well, if you multiply that feeling by ten, you’ve got yourself a shop at TK Maxx! It’s the one-stop shop to find all those big brands you love at small prices. Stocking a variety of styles in fashion, homewares, beauty, and lifestyle products, it truly is a treasure trove of goodies just waiting to be discovered. Take a scroll as we detail all the reasons we love to shop at TK Maxx that we know you will too!

1. The Best For Basics

If you’re looking for a one-stop shop for all your home and interior needs, TK Maxx is it! Stocking a wide variety of homewares essentials at the best prices you’ll be in awe at all goodies you get to deck out your home. High-quality bedding, classy crockery and chic kitchenware are just some of the trendy home necessities you can find in store. Just because their essentials doesn’t mean they can’t be stylish, right? Whether you’ve just scored your first home, are downsizing or renovating, stocking up your house with all the best basics is easy with a quick shop at Tk Maxx.

2. Storage Saviours

We’re all about making our home look pretty, but at the end of the day, functionality is our top priority. Keeping our storage space practical, yet stylish is a struggle most of us know. Well, Tk Maxx has your storage saviours in spades! To keep everything tidy, yet chic in your space, we recommend choosing from their variety of stylish baskets and crates! They’re perfect for tucking away all the bits and bobs from around the house while still adding to your aesthetic. Whether you opt for an industrial-style metal crate or a boho-chic macramé basket, there’s something for every type of home in store!

3. High-End Arm Candy

Did someone say big brand handbags? If you’re anything like us, you know a good handbag can make or break an outfit. For all our budget-savvy, style-conscious shoppers out there, a trip to the handbag section is a must. With many beloved labels to be found on the shelves of TK Maxx, you’re guaranteed to find a beauty for an absolute steal. Everything from a classic work tote bag to fun going out crossbody bags can be found in store today.

4. Pamper Essentials

As the cooler months continue, our beauty routines are taking a turn for the luxurious! Long soaks in a soothing bubble bath, a new candle in your favourite scent or even hydrating skincare to combat those dry winter mornings are just a few ways to bring a little bit of decadence into your everyday life. Tk Maxx has some of the best beauty brands from across the globe that are perfect for giving yourself a bit of pampering. Go ahead, treat yourself. You deserve it!

5. Getaway Gear

It seems you can’t scroll through Instagram these days without seeing someone having a fabulous time on holiday. If the travel itch is getting as intense for you as it is for us, some brand-new travel gear is in order. Whether you’re off on a grand adventure, a school holidays jaunt or just a couple’s weekends away, TK Maxx has got everything you might need in store. We’re not just talking about a variety of high-quality suitcases but also cosmetic bags, travel bottles, international plugs, and neck pillows perfect for long-haul travel. The best news? Score yourself a bargain at TK Maxx and you’ve got more to spend on your getaway!

Is your bedroom looking bland, uninspiring and in need of a refresh? Have you had the same furniture for years and are finding that it is starting to look a little lifeless? Then today’s blogpost is the perfect one for you! Today we are discussing some simple and easy ways you can inject life back into your bedroom and create a more elevated and styled space. We have so many great examples of furniture, homewares and soft furnishings bedroom displays at our beautiful retailers here at Homemaker The Valley, so be sure to head in store soon!

Tip 1 – Upgrade your bed linen

When was the last time you treated yourself to some fresh new sheets? Or splurged on a fluffy new pillow and doona insert? We spend so much of our lives sleeping that it is important to invest in this area to make it comfortable, relaxing, and luxurious for you. When selecting some new sheets be sure to opt for a higher thread count as this ensures the linen is of a superior quality, feels softer and should last you a long time. Check out stores such as the Sheridan Outlet and Adairs for some beautiful and luxurious bedding options. Play it safe and choose a neutral colour scheme of white, black and grey for a ‘hotel at home’ feel or go for this season’s most popular tones of terracotta, blush pink or sage green for an injection of colour!

Tip 2 – Declutter & Sort Your Bedside Tables

Bedside tables are one of the main zones in the home that accumulate and attract clutter. Whether it be books, technology accessories, candles, notepads, water bottles, receipts, or anything else you like to store on top of or inside your bedside table, they become messy quickly! We always recommend choosing a bedside table that has built-in storage with either drawers or a cupboard to allow you to store items within and not on top. We suggest decluttering and sorting through the drawers each season to ensure no clutter accumulates over time. If you are after a beautiful new set of bedside tables, Freedom and Oz Design Furniture have some great options to suit any design style. Simply decorate with a gorgeous lamp, a frame photo, your favourite book, and a home scent for a minimal, yet stylish look.

Tip 3 – Create a Hotel Vibe

There is something so special and luxurious about spending a night away at a hotel. You can create a similar vibe at home by switching up a few items and adding in some finishing touches to elevate your space. Once you have upgraded your bedding as suggested in Tip 1, be sure to physically make your bed every day. Getting into a made-up bed at the end of a busy day is so much more satisfying than an untidy one. Spritz your linen with a beautiful scent such as sandalwood or jasmine and light a candle to set the mood for the space. To create the ultimate hotel bedroom design, we recommend investing in some sheer curtains, a soft rug, and a comfortable occasional chair to finish off the space and create the hotel look at home.

Tip 4 – Cosy It Up With A Rug

Rugs are the finishing touch for every bedroom and allow the design to be taken to the next level. Rugs work to not only add softness and warmth to a space but work to ground the room and bring the furniture pieces together. We love choosing a soft rug in the bedroom to create a cosy vibe underfoot. Head into Deco Rug and The Rug Establishment to check out their beautiful range of styles and textures to suit any design style. When placing a rug in a bedroom it should sit approximately halfway under the bed and extend beyond the foot of the bed. We love using a 230cm x 160cm sized rug in a bedroom with a queen bed as it usually fits perfectly within the proportions of most standard bedrooms.

Tip 5 – Choose A Fresh New Colour Palette

If you have had the same colour scheme in your room for what feels like years, then it might be time to upgrade your soft furnishings and decorative accessories in order to feel inspired by the space again. The bedroom can often be a room that gets forgotten in the home as we spend so much time focusing on the interiors in communal rooms such as the living room or dining room. Updating your colour palette in the bedroom can be as simple as purchasing some new cushions and a fun new quilt cover from Adairs. Pair these soft furnishings with a few beautiful new decorative pieces such as vases, books, lamps or plant pots from stores such as Freedom or Domayne.

If you have had the same colour scheme in your room for what feels like years, then it might be time to upgrade your soft furnishings and decorative accessories in order to feel inspired by the space again. The bedroom can often be a room that gets forgotten in the home as we spend so much time focusing on the interiors in communal rooms such as the living room or dining room. Updating your colour palette in the bedroom can be as simple as purchasing some new cushions and a fun new quilt cover from Adairs. Pair these soft furnishings with a few beautiful new decorative pieces such as vases, books, lamps or plant pots from stores such as Freedom or Domayne.

In 2022 a lot of us have the luxury of working from home due to the increased flexibility and adaptability of workplaces over the past couple of years. Working from home has its perks and benefits, but it can also have some downfalls if you haven’t created a functional and organised sanctuary that inspires you and allows you to feel productive throughout the workday. Here at Homemaker The Valley we have a wide range of retailers that can assist with finding you the perfect furniture and home organisation pieces to create a beautiful home office for you. Below are our top things to consider and keep in mind when designing your work from home space.

Organisation Is Key

Organisation is recommended in all areas of the home, but it is essential in the home office space. To ensure you know where all your files, stationery and electronics are and to allow for easy accessibility, a few systems need to be put in place. We recommend choosing a desk that has at least two drawers to allow you to store your stationery and notepads within easy reach. A drawer unit or filing cabinet is also important for filing away those important paper copies of not only work documents, but kid’s school papers, home related paperwork, car insurance and technology and appliance manuals. Having all the paper storage in the home in a dedicated section of the home office ensures things stay organised and encourages family members to put things back in their designated areas. To avoid the desktop becoming cramped and messy, we recommend investing in a desk organiser that can hold pens, a calculator, stapler, tape, business cards and any tech you reach for throughout the day. Next time you visit Homemaker The Valley we suggest heading into Howard’s Storage World where you will find so many amazing and innovative products that make keeping an organised home office a breeze.

Keep It Inspiring

Although home offices are predominantly used for tasks such as work, schoolwork, and life admin, it is important to still create an inspiring space. We are firm believers that when your environment is beautiful and inspiring it entices you to be in the space and encourages a more effective workflow. Make sure to add some colour to your home office through items such as a bold artwork piece from Oz Design Furniture to adorn one of the walls. Or add a few decorative vignettes throughout the space on open shelving, the top of your desk or a filing cabinet. Pair items such as a colourful vase, greenery and a beautiful smelling candle with a framed family photo that brings you joy. We recommend keeping the home office as light and bright as possible and avoid using too many dark colours. Stick to a neutral colour palette with pops of your favourite colour such as turquoise blue, sunshine yellow or forest green. Smell can also play a role in how a space makes you feel, so be sure to light a calming candle in a fresh scent that can encourage tranquillity and productivity.

Choose Beautiful, Yet Functional Furniture

There are a few key pieces of furniture you require in a home office to ensure it is a functional space. The desk is the first and main furniture item that needs to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing as it is the centrepiece for the space and where the magic happens! When selecting a desk, ensure you allow for a large enough desktop area to house not only your laptop, but a desk organiser, table lamp, notepads, other tech items and enough space to not feel cramped and cluttered. We love either a beautiful, crisp white desk or a rich timber tone found in stores such as Domayne, Adairs and Freedom. As mentioned above, we recommend including a drawer unit or storage unit in your home office to allow for organisation and storage of office supplies and paperwork. We love straying away from traditional ‘office’ furniture for this area as you can use a buffet or chest of drawers for this purpose, and they are often more gorgeous and unique! Choose a great quality storage unit from stores such as Oz Design Furniture or Early Settler that have unique elements like brass knobs, timber fretwork or statement legs. We recommend browsing through our beautiful stores and seeing what furniture pieces could work in your home office to make it feel like not only a functional, but inspiring room of the house.

If you find the perfect piece for your home office at one of our retailers, be sure to share it with us on Instagram! You can tag us in your stories or feed posts @homemaker_the_valley. We look forward to seeing you in the centre soon!

Artwork in the home allows you to create wow factor, add colour and texture and inspire talking points amongst your spaces. We love using artwork throughout the entire home such as the bedrooms, living areas, entryways, hallway, bathrooms, and kitchen. Artwork can often be the finishing touch to a room and allows spaces to feel complete and styled to perfection. It can also be a great starting point when designing a space as you can draw inspiration from the colours, forms and textures found in your art pieces. Here at Homemaker The Valley we have an array of amazing retailers that offer beautiful artworks that will elevate any space in your home. Today we will be talking you through our favourite types of artworks and where to place them in the different rooms and spaces in your home.

Artwork In The Living & Dining Rooms

The living and dining rooms are some of our favourite places to go bold with artwork and make a statement. As these areas are often the largest rooms of the house, they allow you to go larger in terms of size and impact. A common mistake in the living and dining room can be choosing artwork that is too small and therefore gets lost in the space. We love hanging a beautiful, framed canvas artwork above the sofa on the main wall of the living room to lift the eye gaze up. A rule of thumb is to hang artwork with the bottom of the frame sitting approximately 20-25cm above the top of the sofa. Large landscape pieces work well here, or 2 medium size portrait artworks. For the dining room, we love selecting 2 or 3 medium size square or portrait artworks and evenly spacing them on one large wall. If you have a buffet or storage cabinet in the dining room, make sure to place a beautiful artwork or 2 above this.

Artwork In The Kitchen & Bathroom

The kitchen and bathroom are great spaces to have fun with artwork and choose something quirky and interesting to bring life to the space. Wall space in the kitchen and bathroom can be quite minimal, so it is best to opt for small art pieces that fill a gap or blank wall. We love hanging a fun artwork above the WC in an A4 or A3 sizAdairs have some gorgeous, framed canvas artworks in store at the moment that are perfect for bringing life and colour into your kitchen.

Artwork In The Bedrooms

When designing a bedroom, where possible we always recommend placing your bed on a wall that does not have any windows or other fixtures. This allows you to have a blank canvas to hang some gorgeous artwork above the bed and create a focal point for the room. According to Feng Shui, grouping items in sets of two in the bedroom is considered to provide good energy and good luck. As such, we love placing two portrait artworks above the bed that complement each other nicely. To encourage a calming space, we recommend choosing artwork in soft and muted tones to promote a sense of relaxation and tranquillity. Next time you are at Homemaker The Valley, head into Oz Design Furniture, James Lane and Freedom to view their beautiful range of artworks that are perfect for the bedroom.

Artwork In The Common Areas

We love using artwork throughout the home and creating interest and flow throughout each space. Hallways and stairwells can often be a forgotten area of the home when it comes to decorating, but we believe they are the perfect spaces for beautiful artwork or framed family photos. We love creating beautiful family gallery walls with matching frames in either a black or oak timber and printing photos in sepia or black and white for a seamless effect. For a gallery feel, it is essential to have a border of what space between the photo and the frame to create a sophisticated look. Head into target=”_blank”>Howard’s Storage World Frame Today and chat to our friendly staff about creating the perfect gallery wall in your home. Stairwells can be a great place to create wow factor and use artwork to bring colour and vibrancy to a space. As you rarely have to take into consideration many furniture or homewares items in a stairwell, you can choose a bright colour or texture that becomes the main focal point of the space.