Tag Archives: Freedom

How to create the perfect home office

2020 has resulted in many people working from home or creating a home office space they never had before. If you are struggling to feel motivated in your home office or feel like it is lacking in organisation and functionality, then we have the perfect blogpost for you. There are many aspects that go into creating the perfect home office such as storage, furniture, inspirational décor and a functional system. Today we are sharing all our top tips for creating the perfect home office that you enjoy settling into each day.

 

Storage Is Key

Storage is a key concern for most people throughout the entire house, but even more so in the home office. The home office is a space where clutter can build up very quickly through paperwork, stationery supplies, books and day to day items. It is essential to choose furniture items and storage solutions that amplify your space and allow everything to be neatly tucked away and organised. We recommend heading into Howard’s Storage World to see all the innovative storage solutions they have on offer. A filing cabinet or chest of drawers with drawer dividers is perfect for storing paperwork and office supplies. Drawer dividers are essential for a home office as they ensure small stationery items stay in place and avoid drawers becoming one big mess. You can also try stacking a few decorative A4 boxes on shelves or the top of the desk to store important files that cannot be scanned into the computer. Use wicker baskets to house unsightly items such as spare chargers, power adapters and hard drives. That way the space still looks styled and neat, whilst also being functional and organised.

Inspiring Décor

A key design aspect that is often overlooked in a home office is adding inspiring décor. The home office is often a space you spend prolonged periods of time in, so it is essential you have items in there that make you feel inspired and motivated. Try hanging artwork on the walls that reflect your personal style and the style of the home. We recommend going for bright, bold, abstract prints if you’d like to feel inspired and motivated or more muted, line drawing prints if you’d prefer a calm and tranquil space. Be sure to add inspiring coffee table books to shelves and bookcases that you can pick up every time you need a break or a jolt of inspiration. We love the inspiring range of interiors, home and lifestyle related books from Provincial Home Living. The home office should include personal touches to avoid it becoming too ‘business-like’ and sterile. We recommend adding framed photos of loved ones, decorative vases with fresh flowers and your favourite scented candle. Don’t forget to breathe life into the room by adding a few plants such as a fiddle leaf fig or a hanging,

 

Functional and Stylish Furniture

When choosing furniture for your home office it needs to tick two boxes – Functional and Stylish. There are plenty of ergonomic options available that mean you don’t have to skimp on style to have a functioning office set up. Check out Freedom’s range of gorgeous, coloured office chairs in a range of fabrics and ‘design-it-yourself’ desk options! It is always essential to opt for desks that have storage included such as drawers or cupboards to avoid any build-up of clutter on top of the desk. Choose a bookcase or shelving unit that has simple, clean lines and allows you to keep office essentials tucked away and organised. If you have an open bookshelf, we recommend adding a few storage baskets or boxes to avoid the shelves looking cluttered and overcrowded. Alternatively opting for a bookcase that has cupboards for storing items and open shelving to display inspiring décor provides you the best of both worlds!

A System

Having a clear system in your home office will ensure it stays neat, tidy and organised. The most important system to avoid paper build up is scanning all documents onto your computer or hard drive, only keeping essential items in hard copy. Another great system is ensuring you tidy up your desk and have a place for everything at the end of the day. The best way to start the day is having a clean and tidy desk, so make sure your stationery, laptop and books have a specific place to be stored at the end of each day. To maintain a functional and organised office we recommend doing a tidy up and sort out every few months to ensure no clutter, documents or unnecessary items build up.

All our stores at Homemaker The Valley offer stylish and functional furniture items in a range of different design styles and price points. We suggest popping into your favourite stores and having a browse at what could work in your home office space. Think about the above points we have made from décor to storage to furniture and you will have the perfect home office in no time at all!

 

 

How To Make Your Bedroom The Perfect Sanctuary

The bedroom is one of our favourite rooms in the house. Not only do we sleep in this space, but we can read, talk, play, connect and relax in this room as well. The bedroom is the place we spend our days dreaming about as we long to cosy up under the covers and get some much-needed shut eye. With all that in mind, the bedroom often becomes the space that you forget about when decorating your home. As your guests rarely set foot in your bedroom, we often pay more attention to decorating our living spaces and ensuring these are perfect before diving into a bedroom design. Today we are going to be sharing some tips on creating the perfect bedroom sanctuary where you can relax, unwind and enjoy being in this tranquil space.

 

Invest In Quality Bedding

There are many home decorating areas you can cut back and save a few dollars on, but your bedding should definitely not be one of them. The difference high quality bedding has on your sleep is immeasurable. Not only does it feel luxurious and soft when you climb in at the end of a busy day, but it looks amazing too! Here at Homemaker The Valley we have some great stores such as the Sheridan Outlet and Adairs that stock a huge range of high quality pieces such as luxuriously soft quilt covers, 1000 thread count sheets, silk pillowcases and more! Switch up your bedding this weekend and we can assure you, you will notice the difference straight away!

Lighting Options

Having multiple lighting options in a bedroom is essential. Not only do you need bright overhead lights for getting dressed, cleaning or organising the space, but you also need to incorporate some task lighting. Bedside table lamps, wall sconces or floor lamps make a huge difference in a bedroom. They allow you to create a moody and tranquil environment before hopping into bed by emitting a soft light that is less harsh than bright ceiling lights. They also encourage reading before bed instead of sitting and scrolling through your mobile phone or laptop. Try adding a gorgeous bedside table lamp from Freedom, Oz Design Furniture or Early Settler to your bedroom to create a tranquil and calming atmosphere in your bedroom today.

Soft Furnishings

Cushions and throw rugs immediately make a space feel cosier and more welcoming. Add some fluffy cushions and soft throw blanket to your bed, ottoman or armchair to elevate the cosiness of the entire room. Opt for fabrics such as linen, faux fur or a knitted wool to ensure you can snuggle up and feel the warmth of a cosy texture. Soft furnishings are great to change up from season to season and you can switch up the colours depending on your mood or what is the latest trend. If you haven’t checked out the ‘cushion wall’ at Adairs then you need to head on into Homemaker The Valley this weekend to take your pick at every colour of the rainbow!

A Cosy Rug

There is nothing better than getting out of bed in the morning and planting your feet on a soft, cosy rug. Try adding a large, textured rug to your bedroom to elevate the warmth factor and create a cosy and comfortable atmosphere. Go for a large rug that can fit quite comfortably under your bed and beyond the end of the bed frame. Unlike high traffic areas such as the living or dining room, the bedroom is where you can go for a high pile, fluffy rug that creates a warm and comfortable environment. Head into Deco Rug this weekend to touch and feel their wide range of gorgeous rugs in an array of textures, patterns and colours.

A Great Bed

A great bed can make a huge difference to not only the quality of your sleep, but the entire look and feel of your bedroom too. By investing in a bed that not only looks amazing, but offers storage solutions as well, will elevate your bedroom to the next level. We love beds that have a fabric bedhead in a neutral tone form stores like Beds n Dreams, Forty Winks or Snooze. Look for beds that have built in storage such as large, spacious drawers or a gas lift bedframe. Having hidden storage in a bed frame allows you to hide any excess items or blankets away and creates a more streamlined, organised and tranquil environment in the bedroom.

Scent

Scent plays a huge role in how we feel and connect to a space. Our homes take on so many different scents from cooking, cleaning and general life that we need to ensure we take steps in creating a beautifully smelling space. To create a cosy atmosphere in the bedroom we recommend going for a warm scent such as a burnt caramel or sandalwood. If you would like your bedroom to have a more tranquil and fresh vibe then opt for a jasmine, peppermint or linen scent. Our top picks for adding scent into the bedroom are using a diffuser throughout the day and burning a candle in the evenings as you are preparing for bed. You can pick up a beautiful candle at an affordable price from plenty of our retailers such as Provincial home Living, TK Maxx, James Lane or Sheridan.

Bedside Table Storage

Seeing clutter in a bedroom can automatically make you feel anxious and uneasy. Selecting bedside tables that have built in storage such as a drawer or cupboard allows you to easily tidy up and keep your bedtime essentials organised. We recommend choosing a bedside table that has a drawer where you can keep some linen spray, a good book, essentials oils and some sleep spray to ensure you have everything you need for a peaceful night’s sleep within easy reach. The main goal of the bedroom is to relax, unwind and ensure we have the best seep possible. Having everything tucked away neatly in a bedside table will make a huge difference!

 

 

2020 Trends Forecast

2020 is officially here and we are welcoming it with open arms! There is nothing quite like the fresh start of a new year to add a pep to your step and have you feeling inspired about the future. Today we are focusing on all the design trends you will be seeing throughout the coming months at all of your favourite retailers at Homemaker The Valley. Some trends we have seen slowly entering our homes in 2019 and others are fresh, new and exciting! Be sure to follow our Instagram @homemakerthevalley to keep up to date with all the latest trends in real time!

 

Natural Materials

Natural materials have grown in popularity in 2019 and we have seen rattan and wicker pieces pop up in just about every retailer. Good news for the rattan lovers – it’s not going anywhere! In fact, we will be seeing even more natural elements such as timber and rattan coming through in large pieces that will stand the test of time such as entertainment units, bathroom vanities and more. Introducing natural elements into the home creates a warm and inviting atmosphere whilst adding texture and interest to a space. If you are yet to jump on the trend, try opting for a natural timber coffee table or a wicker occasional chair. Natural textures pair perfectly with neutral colours such as beiges or white and look great next to a plant or two. Oz Design Furniture, Freedom and Provincial Home Living have so many amazing pieces at the moment that you simply must touch and see in store!

 

Outdoor Entertaining Spaces

We are so lucky to have such beautiful weather and sunshine here in Brisbane, that we would be crazy not to utilise the outdoors for entertaining. Outdoor areas such as alfrescos, balconies and patios will no longer be an afterthought when decorating your home, they will be centre stage! We are seeing a huge trend of designing an outdoor space as its own entertaining oasis and ‘room’ in itself. Think huge outdoor rugs, a large dining table, multiple seating options and decorative festoon lights. Stores such as Remarkable Outdoor Living, Freedom and Early Settler have some gorgeous outdoor pieces this season including large hanging egg chairs, wicker love seats, durable fabric lounges and washable outdoor rugs. Go for colours such as greys or dark beiges paired with natural timbers. Don’t forget to add a pop of colour through bright outdoor cushions and green leafy plants.

 

Making Walls The Hero

Wall panelling has been a huge trend in late 2019 and we can see it rising to new heights throughout 2020. VJ and decorative panelling will be a massive trend for feature walls and bathrooms in either a statement colour or traditional white. Alongside wall panelling we will be seeing large scale artworks being used to create features and talking points throughout the home. Pair a gorgeous VJ panelled wall in a subtle colour with a statement artwork for an ultra-modern and contemporary look. Oz Design Furniture have the biggest and brightest statement artworks in prints such as blossoming peonies, dessert scenes and tropical palms. Try redecorating your walls in rooms such as the bedroom, dining room or entryway and you’ll be surprised at the difference it will make on the overall feel of the space and style of your home.

 

More Than Just Plants

Plants have been growing in popularity for the past couple of years and hit soaring status in 2019. Plants will be popular for years to come as they not only bring life and nature into a home, but also add a pop of colour. If you are looking for new ways to include a natural element in your home then think beyond just plants and move towards dried flowers, pampas grass or dried palm leaves to create a new feature in your home. This trend still allows you to have fun with nature but creates a more interesting and unexpected look. Freedom and Adairs have some absolutely gorgeous faux varieties of dried flowers, grasses and natives. Add a bunch to a decorative vase on your dining table, coffee table or entertainment unit for a focal point. You can also try adding a big, statement, dried palm frond or bunch of pampas grass to a terracotta pot that can be placed on the floor or a console table in your entryway. Another perk of this trend? There is no maintenance, upkeep or watering required!

 

Quality And Timeless Pieces

The past few years have seen the rise of affordable, yet poorly made products flooding the furniture and homewares markets. Consumers are starting to realise the pain of having to repurchase items when they break, wear too quickly or simply date as they were too ‘on-trend’. We see a key trend for 2020 and moving forward to the future of quality, classic and timeless pieces that you want to invest in. Stores such as Provincial Home Living and James Lane do this perfectly. They create pieces that have a nod to a certain trend and look contemporary but use classic shapes that will stand the test of time. Look for furniture and homewares pieces in colours you have seen to be popular throughout history and don’t be afraid to spend a bit more money on an item if you know deep down that you love it and can see it in your home for many years to come.

The Biggest Christmas Trends of 2019

Homemaker The Valley is in full Christmas cheer mode! The halls have been decked with garlands and trees, and the fairy lights are twinkling throughout. Every day we are seeing more and more retailers adorning their stores with new season Christmas decorations and filling them with the sound of carols. We have seen quite a few trends coming though for Christmas 2019 from pops of bright colours and whimsical creatures to traditional and nostalgic themes. Today we are sharing with you our top 4 favourites from retailers found at Homemaker The Valley!

Woodland Fairy-tale

One theme we are seeing popping up at various retailers is a ‘Woodland Fairy-tale’ theme. Think natural textures and tones mixed with adorable ornaments that will bring a smile to every child in the room (even the big kids too!). Adairs have some gorgeous little woodland creature tree decorations made of wool, dressed in sparkly tutus and gold Christmas hats. They also have some beautiful wooden trees that work well with a minimalist Christmas theme in varying sizes and shapes. The Woodland Fairtytale theme incorporates plenty of natural textures such as timber and wool, whilst keeping to a fairly neutral colour pallet of warm whites and browns mixed with soft blushes and greens. When decorating your Christmas dining table ensure you use textured wooden accents in pieces such as coasters or placemats. We also recommend hanging a few snowflake garlands around the room to create a whimsical atmosphere on Christmas Day. For the finishing touch, wrap your gifts in a natural brown paper with a beautiful glittering bow – voila!

Our favourite pieces for the Woodland Fairy-tale theme are this delicate golden tree centrepiece and this adorable Christmas tree decoration, both from Adairs.

Pop Of Blue

As the Christmas decorations started to pop up throughout the many retailers at Homemaker The Valley, we have started to notice one clear colour trend of the season – blue! From dark navy accents to bright blueberry tones, blue is a clear favourite this year for all. The strikingly dark navy seen throughout all of Freedom’s Christmas decorations this year creates a dramatic and sophisticated vibe to your home decorating. Try adding this colour in your tableware, napkins and decorations for a refined and polished Christmas theme. We love the fun navy-blue paper Christmas tree table decorations that you can pick up in store in varying sizes! This year, Provincial Home Living opted for a brighter blue in their decorating items that pairs well with white and natural green for a more traditional feel. They have an array of gorgeous homewares in varying shades of blue from duck egg to dark berry in items such as plates, bowls, napkins, placemats and much more! Provincial Home Living even have the option to match your wrapping paper and gift tags to your serviettes and placemats – genius! Our favourite is the blue and green tinsel berry wrap that will have all your gifts sitting pretty under your tree!

Sparkling Blush

A theme we are seeing running throughout many retailers this holiday season is ‘sparkling blush’. This theme incorporates soft pink tones mixed with glittering rose golds and brass accents. Freedom and Domayne have included these colours throughout all their Christmas decorations and have trees adorned in these beautiful tones in store. Rose gold, brass and classic gold are the perfect backdrop for displaying new and old Christmas ornaments, so stock up on a few baubles to enhance your tree. Sparkling blush is the perfect theme to decorate your Christmas dining table in this year too. Think textured gold placements, moody blush toned dinnerware with sparkling bonbons and glittering candles. Twinkling fairy lights are the perfect accessory to this theme, so add them to just about every surface you can to creative a festive atmosphere throughout your home. You can pick up battery powered fairy lights from a variety of retailers, which provide an easy way of decorating your dining table, mantle or entertainment unit in. To finish off the blush theme we absolutely love these dusty pink paper stars from Freedom that you can hang down your hallway, above your entry or on your staircase.

Classic and Charming

It wouldn’t be Christmas without a traditional theme that embraces nostalgia and makes us feel like we’re in a European winter wonderland. There are many of us that no matter what colours and trends are coming through each year, will stick to the traditional Christmas theme that matters most. Having a classic Christmas theme every year does not have to be boring, try adding one or two items from the current season that pair perfectly with ornaments you’ve had for years. We love these handmade Christmas tree decorations from Early Settler that look like you’ve had them in your collection since childhood! This blueberry wreath from Provincial Home Living is a classic piece that will bring a smile to your face each time you walk through your door this holiday season. A classic and charming Christmas theme should include a colour pallet of greens, reds, golds, whites and silvers. This theme will be seen from the Christmas Tree to the home décor to the dining table on Christmas day. Keep it traditional by adding some natural pine garlands, a few festive scented candles and twinkling fairy lights throughout the home.

Merry Christmas and Happy Decorating!

 

Refresh and Organise Your Home This Spring!

Spring is the season of cleaning, refreshing and organising your home. As the weather gets cooler and the days get longer, we find ourselves opening up the windows, dusting off the cobwebs and removing the winter layers of our humble abodes. With the upcoming season of entertaining upon us, it is time to get our homes in order and renew them accordingly. Below are our top tips for refreshing and organising your home this Spring.

Step 1 – The Spring Clean

In order to make our homes feel fresh and inviting for the holiday season ahead, they need to be spic and span. Spring is the perfect time of year to undertake all the tasks you have been putting off throughout Winter. The weather is warmer, and the days are longer, which means you can spend a day on the weekend outside in the sunshine, cleaning your exterior windows, blasting your alfresco area and ensuring your garden or pot plants are looking amazing.

Spring is also the perfect time of year to tick off the cleaning tasks in your home that you have been avoiding. Write down a list of everything you would like to achieve, then set aside one weekend to tick everything off in one go – time batching! Cleaning tasks we suggest for Spring are to dust skirting boards and architraves, clean light switches and doorknobs, dust ceiling fans and lights, remove marks from walls, clean fly screens, wash windows, remove and shake out rugs, wipe down all furniture and dust artwork and frames. You can also dive into a deep clean of your bathroom, kitchen and laundry including disinfecting all surfaces, cleaning the oven, defrosting the freezer and so on. Your home will feel amazing after and the process will give you renewed energy to see your space with fresh eyes and be thankful for the wonderful home you have!

 

Step 2 – Organising

Now that your home is sparkling and is the cleanest it has been in years, it’s time to get organised! The Marie Kondo movement was huge this time last year, but have you maintained the organisational systems you put in place and still follow the ‘only keep what sparks joy’ mindset? If not, don’t fear, we have a few simple tasks that you can undertake to get your home organised and working efficiently in no time! This step includes the fun part of popping in store and picking up all the beautiful and effective storage solutions!

The main areas of the home we need to focus on when re-organising are the kitchen, wardrobes and storage areas. These are the main sections of the home that tend to build up over time without anyone noticing.  Start with the kitchen and remove everything from the cupboards and assess if you have used it in the last 6 months, is it functional and is it necessary? Try cutting down on any items that tend to turn into collections over time such as mugs, glasses and serving ware – unless it is ridiculously sentimental, brings you joy or belongs to a lovely matching set, it has got to go. Wardrobes are another area of the home that burst at the seams and we ignore for the most part as they’re behind closed doors. The wardrobe has very similar organising principles to the kitchen – remove everything, keep what is essential as specified above, then organise. Sorting by clothing type, then by colour is the most efficient way to categorise and save you time when getting dressed. Pick up some gorgeous matching hangers from Howard’s Storage World to ensure it is visually pleasing.

The last aspect of the organisation transformation is the storage areas of the home such as linen cupboards, under the bed, storage cabinets and garages. This process will take a bit of time to sort through, but if you dedicate a few hours each weekend, it will become more organised in no time at all.

Once you have sorted out all your essentials you can then look for storage solutions to make everything look beautiful and function well. We recommend baskets, labelled boxes or plastic containers in varying sizes. Pop into Howard’s Storage World to see an abundance of storage solutions that will make everything work more effectively in your home! Be sure to check out Freedom, Tk Maxx and Oz Design for some beautiful baskets and furniture storage ideas too.

Step 3 – Preparing For The Upcoming Season

Summer in Australia not only includes summer holidays and outdoor entertaining, but Christmas and family time all rolled into one. Our homes need to be functioning at 100% to ensure we have a stress-free holiday season and get to enjoy the time spent with family and friends.

 

When organising your home in a Spring refresh you will inevitably come across your Christmas decorations and Summer entertaining supplies. We recommend taking everything out and making sure all items or decorations are in good condition, still work properly and they still bring you happiness. You will find that once you have simplified your Christmas decoration pile, you will have more joy when putting them up as December rolls around. This may even open up the opportunity to buy some gorgeous new decorations that bring a refreshed feel to your home this Christmas! Adairs and Freedom have some absolutely gorgeous Christmas decorations to adorn your home with this season!

 

Step 4 – Decorating For Spring

The last, and what we believe to be most enjoyable step, is decorating your home for Spring! As we have said goodbye to Winter, it is time to pack away any heavy blankets, excessively fluffy cushions and the pile of throw rugs from the living room sofa. Try adding a few brighter soft furnishings into your space with some on-trend colours such as a coral, sage green or blush pink. We are loving the lemon cushion pictured below from Freedom! No Spring refresh is complete without adding a beautiful bunch of flowers to your coffee table or kitchen counter. Café 63 have fresh flowers on offer every day and their seasonal bouquets are perfect for Spring!

With new furniture and homewares ranges popping up every few days, it is hard not to get excited about revitalising your home this Spring! Pop into any of the stores at Homemaker The Valley this Spring to see some gorgeous new ranges that will brighten your home and have you looking forward to the holiday season ahead!