Happy Thursday, BDH. Mod R here, requesting Horde assistance.
I am moving house.
The new place is lovely, and I am very happy and grateful to have housing, but it has also been touched by the Fairy of Modern Rental Design (much less cooler than the Fish Fairy) and leeched of colour. Stark white walls, bright fluorescent lighting, black fittings, grey floors. Add windows that do not get direct sun and the usual English grey natural light, and you get the picture.
Very much a First World Mod problem, I am the first to admit. But the more I get to know myself and my ADHD, the more I realise how much my environment overstimulates me and makes me evil.
I haven’t decorated a home in more than a decade, and I ended up really hating what I did then, which was to work with the monochrome instead of against it. When I got rid of the bigger, greyer pieces, it was like my whole nervous system breathed a sigh of relief from tension I didn’t even know I was holding.
I do not want to get to that situation again.
Now I’m leaving all of that furniture behind and starting anew, with two limitations:
- I can only work with furniture, textiles, lighting, rugs, art, and renter-friendly tricks. The walls, floors, kitchen fittings, and permanent fixtures must remain as they are.
- More importantly, I have no measurable aesthetic sense. As in, I can appreciate it when I see it, but I have no idea how to get things that harmoniously “go” together.
My style is…pretty much everything they dig up at Pompeii? I’m not sure what to call that particular flavour of Mediterranean, but if I could live on an Ancient Rome set design, I would. Creams, terracotta, olive greens, pops of gold and sea blues.
My mission is to lighten and warm up the place by combining the two realities. “What if a spreadsheet became a home?” meets “You wake up on a sunny afternoon in Apulia. It’s 78 AD, and the olive harvest is plentiful.”
So I come to you, wise Horde.
Where do you look for inspiration and shop for home things? I’m in the UK, but please do not let geography stop you. The comment section has never respected borders before, and I see no reason for it to start now.
Is it Pinterest accounts? Design books by…? Instagram people? Specific blogs? YouTube channels? Secret witch covens that meet inside an ancient turtle and discuss where to buy good curtains?
Please advise, because I am currently losing a staring contest with a grey floor.
First? = )
Pin(trest) of First 😀
Yay!
Good luck with the new place! I spent 20 years moving around and always finding white walls. Bleh. When I bought my house a few years ago, I went with a blue-gray for the library, living room, and dining room (split level house).
When renting, I used art/pictures on the walls, colorful drapes and blankets/sheets to break up the white. Your color palate sounds nice and cohesive! I wish I could help with decorating ideas, but most of my things have come from garage sales, antique stores, thrift stores, and family.
Wayfair has some nice things with pops of color. They’re having a Memorial Day sale as of now, too. ; ) I do appreciate a good sale.
this ^
you gotta add those splashes of colour to make it lively and if plants are friendly to you, definitely some greens as well ^^
+1000 on adding color you love – prints, pillows, knicknacks – and plants (real or high-end fake)! Good luck feathering your new nest!
Mirrors can help with lighting. also a cheap update can be light bulbs! I find white light vs yellow makes a huge difference in how I feel. you can even try out a smart bulb where you can try out all sorts of colors.
I 2nd the smart bulbs! I like that you can also program them to go on or off, or even different color hues at certain times, so that helps. For example, bright white during the day when you may be working, and a warm cozy white in the evening when you want your mind to start relaxing.
Also, smart plugs help alleviate hassle from an inconvenient on switch on fancy lighting fixtures. You can put a smart plug on there and just use your phone or if you have an alexa or google home you can just tell it to turn it on and off instead of actually standing up. I find this most handy when I am ready to turn off the lights after reading in bed. I am already all cozy, and standing up disrupts my sleepy state!
I had a smart bulb next to my bed and it took me five months to realise that was what was interrupting my sleep. No idea how or why but I tracked my interrupted sleep to July 10th 2025 when I installed the bulb. Now it’s gone I am finally getting more than a couple of hours a night. So not in the bedroom. I cross checked my Amazon delivery with my smart watch sleep record and there it was.
I grew up with white walls and they are my favorite, mostly because they are the best for showcasing artwork. There are things that allow you to hang artwork without damaging walls, whether photos or posters or paintings or textiles. If you have things to hang, I’d look into it.
I painted (had someone else do it because I don’t do it well) my walls off-white because yes, artwork. Plus my brain hates living in too much colour even though I love it. Experts suggest saving pictures of things you like and grab colours and shapes from that.
Not sure if this is something you’re looking for, but a web search on “modern take on Rome interiors”, then having a look at the images and I found this site.
Obviously it can be quite fancy but could help you with colours.
https://www.decorilla.com/online-decorating/modern-mediterranean-interior-design/
Best of luck decorating and you can find a lot of great stuff at charity and second hand stores.
Yay so fun!! More guidance on starting to design a room but I highly recommend Caroline Winkler’s videos on YT. https://youtu.be/tonzvI7RnEA
Also I would just type Mediterranean home design in IG search and see what pops up and adventure from there! Best of luck to you 🙂
+ 1
I came to recommend Caroline’s YT
+1 for Caroline!
+1 for Caroline as well. Her early videos were about working with a rental space if I recall.
I want to say there is a YT channel called Apartment Therapy that could be a good reference as well.
Also recommend Caroline. Her early videos were about working with a rental space if I recall.
I want to say there is a YT channel called Apartment Therapy that could be a good reference as well.
+1 YES to watching Caroline Winkler’s YouTube channel. Her renter friendly finds and designs done for her subscribers have been a great resource for me.
https://theancienthome.com/collections/roman-bowl?srsltid=AfmBOoruKs06Rkj32EP6AQ7LCxSiSDv29OOEYsOx8Y8HfyEVTUYeYGMP
Late to the party, I know, renovating 17 homes taught me a lot about this.
I suggest looking for a large piece of wall art that has a lot of the colors you love, and hang it in your living room. Pull colors from the wall art for things like rugs, throw pillows, afghans, vases, lamps, potholders, hand towels, kitchen decor, etc. If you are buying upholstered furniture, pull the upholstery colors from the wall art as well. The wall art will tie your color scheme together and make it feel unified.
If you go this route, you can pretty much ignore the black, white, and gray (especially if you can cover up the gray floors with lots of rugs!).
+1 totally agree
Large area rugs are your friend for that gray floor. I have actually found ones at Aldi. Keep an eye out for discount stores! Aldi, Lidl, etc.
Second 😀
Color is important, but so is variable height! I love (fake or real) potted plants for this. A neutral sofa with a colorful footstool or poof? Corner freestanding shelves so you don’t get in a rut of “mash all the furniture against a wall”?
Most important of all, lamps and lighting that suit your taste. Mix large floor lamps with table lamps, and get yourself lots of smart plugs to manage them. Don’t be afraid to add lamps to the kitchen or switch out bulbs if the lighting is harsh.
Good luck making your new place feel like home!
Congrats! Can you hang tapestries? I like a good tapestry as an alternative to wallpaper. And then you could do a simpler rug which could be a dark color to hide any stains or just daily wear and tear?
Type in the style you like and go on Amazon. They have everything! If Amazon ain’t got it I don’t need it 😆😆it’s amazing what you can find with just a broad search term.
And if you see it on Amazon, consider looking for it or something similar locally. It is better for the environment and your local community.
+100
Pick a warm color you love as the balance to the grey, something that reminds you of ancient marble. Don’t worry about matching because both are neutral. Layer anything you can in those ancient tones especially if they have different textures. Have fun with covering sofas and chairs with throws and cushions in those colors and designs. Start small and be patient with choices. When you’re ready, choose a beautiful vibrant third color for accent touches. Good luck. Be patient with process. There is no wrong style to individual happiness.
Ok – I’ve now read the post, and congrats on your new home!!!
Being decoratively challenged, I’m also interested in the Horde’s replies. As someone who once painted an entire kitchen lime green, I now start with the Benjamin Moore palettes -you can search their site for “Terra Cotta palette” for color inspo.
Oooooooo
Congratulations!! I don’t know if you have pets or other small creatures (kids), but if you do, you may want to look into washable rugs. There are lots of designs, certainly in the palette you are looking for. They are not as plush, but the peace of mind I have knowing my rug can be washed is wonderful. Ruggable is the company I use.
It honestly sounds like you know what you are looking for… trust yourself, and if you love something, get it! As you have more things, them you will want to be able to return, in case it doesn’t for with what you have. You are at the beginning, still pick something that really speaks to you and to from there!
Returning items is something I used to feel guilty about. What do you mean you bought 4 choices to see how things look and sent 3 back?! You can DO that?! You can, and it’s expected. No defect or lying needed. Game changer mentally for me to try something in the space since I too am a “know it when I see it” person.
Yep – it was cool until it wasn’t.
Lime green kitchen. Was this in the ‘70s? I’ve seen the appliances back then…
As long as u didn’t pair the lime green with plum, it isn’t so bad. Ask me how I found out my late mother-in-law was colorblind…
Seconding Michelle’s reply…if you have a cat, LL Bean Waterhog mats are the way to go. Surprisingly the mat acts as a nice indestructible scratch pad
And those rugs last forever, cats or no. The ones I bought in the late 90’s are still holding strong. You do need to be vigilant about vacuuming the cat hair out regularly, because water is not the only thing they hold tight.
+1
I found the easiest way to sweep a carpet was with a broom with about 2-inch rubber bristles. The best part? Little or no static electricity.
I learned to use Pinterest to search for a mood or type of room setting (i.e. 19th century men’s library) and see what comes up. I’ve also requested “peacock colors” and see where that gets me. Lately I’ve been looking at removeable peel and stick wallpaper, now that I have a color scheme for my living room. Options for websites include sites for decorating school dorm rooms, Wayfair, and Amazon.
Have a blast!
By all means search for color inspiration on paint company websites, but beware! You may not notice it in the fine print, but the color you see onscreen can be somewhat different from the actual paint color. We once selected what we thought was a lovely terracotta shade from a website, and the actual paint came out bright pumpkin orange! The shop did help us adjust the color till we were happy with it, but we had to endure the lecture on how all screens handle color somewhat differently.
At least it was lime green. I’ve seen avocado green kitchens. That was an experience you can’t unsee.
My grandmother (aesthetic sense is clearly genetic) had an avocado kitchen. She said it matched the Pepto Bismol pink bathroom.
Reader, it did not.
Oh my gosh! 🤦♀️🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Worse yet, back in the last century, aka 1970s AD, my sister-in-law had a Peptol Bismol kitchen and an avovado bathroom! I like the idea of washable rugs. There are some excellant laser printed oriental style ones on Amazon, many with bright, sunny and possible Pompeian colors. Good luck, Mod R, the Horde is with you!
My mother decorated our family bathroom in Pepto pink and black. Accent pieces were pink, black, and gold plaster fishes blowing pink bubbles hanging on the walls. I loathe Mid-century Modern.
When I was a kid in the 1960’s, my parents bought a house and redecorated. The living room had a gold rug, one wall avocado green, one wall burnt orange, and two walls in a geometric wallpaper combining gold, avocado green, and burnt orange! It was the ‘IN’ style at the time!!! 😳
Yikes!!!!! Don’t do THAT Mod R!!!!!
I do have one suggestion though: if you’re looking for ‘ancient’-looking wall art I’ve seen nice reproductions (usually small pieces cast in cement but made to look like stone carvings) in various museum gift shops.
They also have very nice posters, throws, fabrics, photos, framed art, etc. You could probably find reasonably priced items depending on the museum, and it would help support them.
Good luck…I’m sure it will be fabulous! 😁
Totally agree with searching out treasures from museum shops. Also, use lots of textiles. If you are restricted from painting the walls you could consider softening the white by hanging fabric or textiles on the walls- my niece recently hung a silk scarf she loves on the wall and it looks fabulous
Hahaha! In the 70’s our kitchen was renovated. My mom picked a wallboard that had avocado, orange and yellow flowers on it! We also had a muted golden dishwasher. Glad that color scheme has gone by the wayside!
Good luck with the decorating. I personally would ask a friend, whose style you like for help.
Ha! My sister worked for a county police intake facility for juvenile delinquents. They painted their intake rooms pepto pink because psychologically it was know to calm people down. She said it definitely worked to calm the kids way down. Weird.
I would suggest you get some artificial plants if the light isn’t good. Ikea always seems to have good ones, and not very expensive either.
The avocado green was one choice, the other was harvest gold; when apartment hunting during that time those were the only choices you had along with whatever had been the owners choice of shag carpeting. Trust me, you don’t want to see those shag carpet colors in bright sunlight.
Especially ORANGE shag!
My Dad bought a house with lime green shag carpet. He kept it because he was too lazy to change it.
It was something you never want to see.
Before my parents got divorced the house they bought in the early 80’s had a family room with brown shag carpet with orange netting hanging from the ceiling with large glass balls in it and large paper balls around the light fittings that came back into style in Ikea a couple of years ago.
The kitchen was the outside of an avocado green.
I don’t like grey or bleh beige myself but in someways it was better than any of the above.
My parents had netting w the large glass balls when we were young. Also shag carpet, which was a not-lovely brown, although perhaps that was better than the alternatives. Does anyone know what those glass ball were supposed to b? I’d forgotten all about that!
I think they’re meant to be floats for fishing nets, hence the netting.
I think they might be inspired by Barberella, the mid-century space-age symmetric vibe-focusing objects? Or, they’re sea ball things 😅
I once looked at a house for sale. Peeked in the living room window while waiting on the door to be opened. Orange shag carpet on the floor… AND WALLS!!! Decided right then that I had seen enough.
I remember avocado and harvest gold kitchens. I once looked at an apartment from the same time period that had turquoise kitchen appliances – the thought of that at 6 AM was terrifying! Not to mention that my supervisor’s boss lived next door – NO!
our first apartment had harvest gold appliances and green shag carpet!
Hah, growing up my Dad’s house had the classic forest green or harvest gold carpets, with the two alternating on the basement steps (not to mention the mustard yellow appliances with matching corded phone & the large sunflower print wallpaper in the kitchen… things not to miss about the 70s!)
Segue; I had a friend who outfitted every surface of his station wagon (later named the “shag’n’wagon”) with purple shag carpet & enormous fluffy dice 😱🤢.
I don’t think the ‘wagon ever worked as intended lol
The purple shag reminds me of Andrea’s revenge on Raphael in Gunmetal Magic.
When the plates and even the toilet paper holder get purple shag…watch out world Andrea is on the loose! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Oh God yes — the 70s was an ongoing visual disaster. Our kitchen was harvest gold when I was a kid, and my wallpaper had orange flowers the size of a dinner plate on one wall, and bright yellow paint everywhere else.
I’d go to Pinterest for design ideas. I know it’s no longer cool, but when I want to describe a setting, it’s where I go. There is a LOT of stuff on there since it’s an older site.
I moved into a kitchen with mud brown wallpaper and the owner had sort of crinkled it by hand for texture. It just looked wrinkled. So gross.
I married during the burnt orange & avocado green years. Received crockpots in each color. First rental married home had an all avocado kitchen. Shudder.
My folks did an ‘accent’ wall next to kitchen that was a wall paper of fuzzy burnt orange fleur d li’s (sp?) against a smooth champagne gold background. The kitchen appliances were harvest gold.
I’m laughing at all the comments about the color disaster that was the late 1960s and into the 1970s. I remember the shag carpet in all the shades of the technicolor rainbow. Oh. My. Gosh.
Anyone who wants to go “retro” in their kitchen, don’t do what people did back in the day. You don’t want to be remembered for the color weird choices.
No wonder Andrea got all that purple shag so cheap to “decorate” Raphael’s house. I wouldn’t want to be caught with all that shag carpet. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Hanging textiles is a great way of adding large blocks of color to a white wall (without paint.)
Look for a fabric that conveys the mood you’re aiming for, and buy as much of it as you can. It can be used as a tapestry and / or backdrop.
+1
Totally agree. Rugs, small blankets, even a pretty tablecloth can add bright color to a wall, and you can change them out seasonally. Easier to store than framed pictures, and easier emotionally to get rid of it if it doesn’t work.
Mod R, the best place to start looking is your closet to find your style. Do you like scarves? Sweaters? Jeans? You might like colors but what do you really default to will be in your closet. Find an inspirational piece, i.e. a scarf, a picture, a book cover that draws you in and feeds your soul. Use this piece to coordinate your choices. You’ll feel better.
Book cover, you say 🤔
Drezmurs EVERYWHERE!
Totally agree on the inspirational piece approach, but I would use a different type of inspiring piece – like maybe a tablecloth or a big print? If you get it in colours you like, you can get a room that looks quite coordinated by matching to it.
E.g. painting of olive trees under a blue sky, sky blue curtains, olive-ish coloured something else (side table, coasters or etc)
E.g 2 lemon and leaves print table cloth, yellow kettle on the side, photos in green frames on the wall
Thank you, this really makes sense to my brain, which has no visual sense at all.
Agree, and then just pick things that kinda go together in the color scheme. pick the biggest item for your living room first. Start with couch. And maybe it’s got an olive tint to it. So some kind of pattern of olive and gold cushions would work on that couch. And then find window drapes that have a similar color in them. But like maybe your drapes also have a green stripe too, so you can match that green and find a blanket in that color. And then look for the rag that has all of those colors woven into it and some grey.
Pick furniture that you like but has clean lines (those tend to be timeless). And try to enjoy the hunt. It’s a process. It’ll take time. And it’s ok to have it only half way there for a while. You need to truly love the things in your place. So don’t settle for iffy things if you don’t love them.
My wife likes to drag me to open houses, especially for new build communities to see what the interior designers are doing currently.
Dawn just suggested the lazy version of this below, which was to snoop on AirBnB photos – both winners.
1. Not sure if you have a green thumb but plants can help tone down the sterility of your space
2. ADHD vs. clutter on flat surfaces. Minimal pieces (no more than 5 or so) that please ME in colors I love have been the balance that I need.
3. Some of the removable graphic “wraps” may help. Maybe do the island and leave the kitchen cabinets?
4. I like textile wall pieces and macrame plant hangers. The function is good while adding both color, shape, and texture to my space. Some round framed cross stitch or embordered work can change a space. Works well with a small wall space.
5. If your space is very square and geometric lean into curves in your choice of furniture. It can give a space the “soft” balance your space may currently lack.
6. I love pottery pieces as art, especially Native American pieces, but I bet their are plenty of Roman reproduction pieces that could work in your space. That could blend your color palate with your art.
7. A lovely retro shaped new tea pot in an ocean blue…
All great points, taking notes 📝
I used Excel and put together pictures of what I liked and saw it worked together first. The pics could be from any store.
ModR, I sympathize. I am very much a minimalist when it comes to furnishings, and conservative by nature, but grey, white and black would make me seriously depressed.
I’m sure others will have suggestions for social media, but you can get some inspiration by looking at VRBO/AirBnB photos, or photos from house/apartment real estate postings (if I remember that’s estate agents in Britspeak).
Good luck!
That’s genius!
Some of the best design ideas I’ve been given:
1. If most items in the space are square add another shape. If things are round add squares. Etc.
If mostly square; It could be a round or triangular rug, a crystal piece, artwork. Play with how much you add.
2. A color wheel is your friend. I always go to the exact opposite of the color on my wall to select a significant piece. I never stay in the same color palate. I will not use gray or beige. A personal choice as neither color makes me happy.
3. Say you like a light orange creamy color, but not quite. Ask the paint guy to squirt a little more orange to make a beautiful beachy salmon. Or whatever color floats your boat. Paint guys here will do that with smaller cans of paint and let you see what it looks like at home.
4. Lighter fabric drapes. If your sunlight is limited, do not hang the lacy curtains for privacy. They just block light.
5. Faux paint or hang some cheaply priced wood trim on the edge of the wall to ceiling. It will make your room look larger.
6. Organize. And organize again. Although that was your favorite tshirt until the great spaghetti accident of 5 years ago, recycle and replace.
I watch a lot of HGTV here. Love love love the Property Brothers when they rehab a home. Drew and Johnathan Scott. They have a lot of really good ideas.
Large plants, lamps for mood lighting, large art glass, super colorful rug and large wall art placed at eye level. A variety of soft textures furnishing and curtains if allowed.
First, change all the lighting to warm LEDs. When building that aesthetic with the grey stone color and black, they lways go with the cold, white bright LED. That will help ALOT. For the cabinets? I would look into window films if possible – or something similar that doesn’t use glue. You may have to periodically reapply but it will break up the black. They also have decals for tile (like for showers and bath) that will stick to backsplash and similar surfaces – again, opt for the static ones not the glue ones. If you really want to go wild, buy a projector for one of the walls, and use it to pick your scene- white / grey walls be waiting for that. As for colors? Pick a three color theme and just roll with it. I just went on a safari so all my stuff has been army green, khaki and cream…. And I’ve been working that for non safari clothes because it’s so versatile. So if it’s cream,Terra cotta, and pale yellow (or olive), just base everything of those dominant colors and go to town. Good luck.
I have a projector already! Win.
3 colours – got it. That seems like it will stop the haphazard “well I like this item, and that item, but why are they so messy together” magpieying.
For the cabinets, look for “wall peel” – it’s basically contact paper post it notes. There is a whole world of possibilities. I know you said you didn’t want to change the cabinets, but I bet you could find a whole Tuscany scene for your kitchen.
Don’t fight the magpie! I honestly read your post and felt a sense of kinship. I also don’t know how to pull a room together or how to harmonize colors, furniture, stuff to create a vibe. BUT after living in my house for 8-9 years, I’ve started getting compliments of like “oh I love this room,” “your house is so cute” and it’s just full of stuff I have magpie-d over the years.
Sure it might not look like a designer ad, but it sure looks like me and I love everything in my house (well mostly, some are still “we got this for free and I don’t want to spend $$ on a new one).” So it does come together when you magpie! Plus I’d rather be surrounded by stuff I like than stuff that’s okay, but doesn’t make me happy. Just a thought! (Although not very helpful aesthetic design advice hahaha.)
My inner magpie creates visual chaos that becomes overwhelming 😀
The magpie must be tamed!
Our family has constant issues with magpie vs clutter! The eternal battle of “put that away” vs “but I’m still using it and I’ll forget to finish if I put it away”…
I loved my grandparents’ storage solution of making big walk-in bookshelf/closets with wall-mounted interior bookshelves behind the clothes-rail across one end of each bedroom, simply by adding floor-to-ceiling sliding doors (which in my future-house vision would also use the doors as an art-display space). This might be too much modification for a rental as you’d have to attach the floor/ceiling tracks somehow, but you could potentially do something similar with standing screens? Then “necessary” clutter (like in-progress projects, or open shelving) could be left in place without being a distraction at other times. Might be cheaper to make your own, depending – last time I tried to buy one it was a ridiculous amount of money for what was essentially a sheet of painted ply with feet…
I was going to suggest a projector as well, that way you can test out colours that you like before spending any money. I gather some TVs also come with an art-display setting, for all your faux-window to Italy needs 😀
I thought it was ‘inner goblin’, but I like the magpie analogy ! 😊
https://www.amazon.com.au/Goblin-Mode-Embrace-Imperfection-Thrive-ebook
I get you – magpie is too easy to do!
What works for me is what somebody told me long ago: go into your room, start with your 2 or 3 dominant colors, and do things from largest to smallest. As you get smaller, you can get louder and more divergent from your color/ pattern/whatever.
So first in your case you’ve got floor and walls already grey, and that’s actually good because a neutral is useful for the biggest stuff.
Then nmpick out the next biggest things – your couch, rug, curtains, maybe? – and make it a contrast, so maybe cream for the couch and olive green for the others (or vice versa!). These are your highlights on your canvas of grey. (Have the rug and curtains match, kind of, and the couch contrast because the couch lies visually in the middle of the other two.) You could honestly go ahead and buy these and put them in the space and see what they look like.
Then work down again: small tables, large art, big lamp, etc. They can get brighter, and they can also pull in colors from the others – zoom in on each one of these and see it as part of a smaller setup: your couch is cream, so the pillows are thehighlights on a canvas of cream – maybe they’re the blue and gold now? With an olive blanket thrown in to pull in that color? Similarly, the rug is olive, so maybe do a table in a grayish brown, then its own black and gold lamp on top?
Then you can drop down one more level if you want: stand there and look at the room. You said your can’t design, but you know when it’s right. Excuse me, that means you can design, it’s just slower! Put a black book on the table and step back. Look ok? No? Oh, try blue. Huh, maybe lighter? Throw a washcloth on and see if it fits in size and shape. No something missing – ok, try both gold AND blue because you’re feeling maximalist today. Or that doesn’t fit at all, ok, so maybe just try something crazy like a bright red cup and see what you think. If it works, then go find something small and bright red to live there! Or don’t. It doesn’t matter. If it works, keep it – if it doesn’t, either complain a lot or move on! If you start big to small, then you’ve established the expensive and hard to change stuff first, it’ll look ok from the beginning, and you can dial in the details as you figure them out. Half the fun of living in a space is that you can change it over time.
Enjoy!!!
Thank you so much!
PS – Really hope you’ll share what you decide on! So cool to think about.
+1
+1000 on the led light levels. We rent and they “modernized” our apt with new led lights that are institutionized bright and also show every speck of dirt. Thankfully also all of them came with the ability to change the warmest and brightness setting. The kitchen is still too bright so we are going to try a decal sticker over the light.
Also the Grey isnt to bad if you take the advice lots of people are leaving because you aren’t trying to match a wood color or as some pointed out with orange or lime. Think of it as a background to add to.
Totally agree on the LED lights. Apparently they’re now available in florescent-size, but you probably need to check with the management if they require new hardware or are compatible with what you have. It will also save you money on your electric bill (if you’re responsible for that).
Best wishes on your move!
My aesthetic sense is zero but I totally agree on the LED lights. The bathroom light bar over my sink had to be replaced and building maintenance put in a new one. My first reaction on walking in was that my retinas were bleeding. Fortunately I piped up and said I didn’t think could deal with it long term and was told, oh the tone can be changed but figured the brightest setting was best for a bathroom. A few minutes tweaking switches I didn’t even realized existed and the light was much, much warmer but still bright enough. So if the fixture lights are terrible, never hurts to at least ask if they can be adjusted.
Mediterranean inspired curtains, rugs and pillows would already help a lot.
Ikea has lots of good and cheap stuff. Get something like this + pots in your color.
https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/fejka-artificial-potted-plant-in-outdoor-bamboo-40610607/
I second Ikea (website or irl) for ideas.
We rent but I absolutely cannot live without fairy lights round my rooms, or in my bedroom around the top of the 4-poster (from Ikea) a b*gg*r to build but we love it! An brutal but take it off regularly cos too long on the wall it goes hard and pull the paint/paper off (ask me how I know😆)
Check your rental agreement with how much you can do too….. ours is pretty strict so adding ‘rental solutions’ to searches out there show stuff that is not permanent/easily removable.
Enjoy your new gaff
Find art and decor that say, “sunny afternoon in Apulia, 78 AD, plentiful olive harvest” to you and go for it! Pick the things you love and make you happy. It is YOUR space. And remember that Ripper Cushions go with ALL decor styles…!
As long as you don’t mind fringe, get a woven blanket with a mediterranean landscape. For the size they are much less expensive than a print or tapestry and they are lightweight enough you can use the command hooks that stick to the walls and hang it with a super lightweight rod like you would a shower curtain.
Just search Mediterranean woven throw blanket.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/4478373452/mediterranean-village-woven-blanket?ls=s&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=Mediterranean+throw+blanket&ref=sr_gallery-1-5&organic_search_click=1&pro=1&frs=1&content_source=eda5d6be-f806-4a88-8319-3090a94e154e%253ALTdaacdd7894e6edec9cff583ed2281556654fac09&logging_key=eda5d6be-f806-4a88-8319-3090a94e154e%3ALTdaacdd7894e6edec9cff583ed2281556654fac09
Oh that’s so pretty!
I have a throw with a lovely design on my wall as art and I smile every time I see it. Feels peaceful to me so I didn’t want it all crumpled up so you can’t see the rather intricate design. Some designer would probably cringe but I don’t care! While some throws are light, others require hollow wall anchors (which the magic of the internet assures me is the British phrase for toggle bolts).
Good luck!
What a great site, Emily. Thank you.
I’m like you, ModR. But I’ve discovered the brilliance of washable rugs (in my kitchen) and Indian light cotton fabrics, French tablecloths, and pillows! Good luck!
Estate sales
Don’t think we have those in the UK…correct me, British Horde!
I think they’re called a house clearance in the UK, or something like that?
We do, but unless you are lucky enough to find one selling your colours you might do better at a Car Boot Sale. These are not always literally out of the boots of cars, but the idea is that someone with a large space lets people sell their preloved things for a nominal fee, land owner rakes in the seller fees, sellers theoretically rake in sales and punters get bargains. It is worth getting there early to have the best choice.
Also, you can find things on Vinted.
So I am going to be weird but I love the grey floors and white cabinets. But I have quilts of many colors all over my house, colorful serving spoons and cookware, an entertainment center that is bright blue with a colorful tile top, artwork all over the place. And that is mixed with the antique furniture.
And the boring walls, floors, etc mean the eclectic taste in other things is not overwhelming.
Hi ModR! I am the same way with monochrome as it tanks my mental health. I bet there is a version of a Facebook Market place over there where you can find stuff that brightens up the new place. Are there any seasonal markets or craft fairs near you?
Hello, Pinterest is a good place to start getting ideas, also maybe you can go to your closest The Range and just have a nice walk around there. Good luck 🙂
My husband and I are both engineers and do not have the gift of this type of design. We eventually gave up and hired an interior designer for a couple grand to tell us what color to paint the walls and pick out some furniture etc that works. It looks so much more cohesive and nice than anything I could have put together. Good luck!
I love a bit of Interior Design Master, this one had Mediterranean vibes https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002ct27/interior-design-masters-with-alan-carr-series-6-episode-8?seriesId=m0007mmw-structural-5-m0029tns
Paint if you can! Warm tones like dusty sage, warm white, ochre, terracotta. Low-slung sofas in camel, rust, terracotta or warm neutrals. A rattan or wicker chair. Throw pillows and blankets with pops of terracotta, cobalt, warm gold, cream. Color layering is your friend! Natural linen curtains. Jute rugs, chunky cotton throws, oversized art. Books! I’d also suggest removable contact paper to cover really dark cabinets if they bother you (maybe just the top row?).. Some places let you temporarily replace light fixtures, so you could put up some brass, wrought iron lights, or wicker fixtures.
On YouTube I would suggest Alexandra Gater for apartment transformations. For more help with color, Farrow and Ball have a Mediterranean-inspired palette. There’s also apartmenttherapy.com.
There are so many more options for renters out there than there were a few years ago, and a wide range of price points for everyone. Good luck with it!
Yes!! Alexandra Gater has fun transformations that are generally quite rental friendly. http://www.youtube.com/alexandragater
Look through the video archives and you should be able to find something that aligns with your aesthetic.
Pinterest for ideas (I’m like you can’t handle the modern grey.)
Etsy, Amazon for buying.
My husband and I also love the Pompeii style we will eventually build a house inspired by it with the mosaic and all.
I don’t have advice for where to shop, but a trick my sister taught me (artistic soul that she was) is how to make the room not only harmonious to itself, but in a palette you love. You cruise around everywhere with your eyes open for a main piece, a focal piece, just one. It can be a picture, a throw blanket, whatever. The rule is you must love it and the colors it has. Then, you use any and all of the colors in that piece, even going so far as to take it with you when you shop (which I had to do because I haven’t got a good eye for color matching when not side-by-side). If you buy pillows for the couch, if you buy a rug (which could be the focal/main piece btw), use any of the colors in the main focal piece. Planters in one of the colors or rugs or pillows or whatever, even little figurines or a mug set. By using any or all of the colors in the main piece, you have a variety and an overall color palette, but they all work together like you know what you’re doing. Lots of color possibilities, and they all work well and harmoniously. With your gray/neutral background, to change it up entirely, simply change the couch cover, pillows, throw blankets, etc to one of the other colors in your main focal piece, and you’ve changed the feel of the room and left the harmony in place.
Yes to starting with one piece you love — a rug, a couch, a comfy chair — and building the space around that item.
I use paint sample cards to match the colors; I get the one to match the “big piece” and then pick one or two others that complement it. I then carry the color chips in a sandwich bag in my purse so I can match to the colors as I’m out and about shopping.
Image searches on the internet are super helpful to see what you like and, more importantly, what you don’t!
Some rental agreements let you paint the walls as long as you paint them back to the original color before you leave. If you plan to stay for awhile, it might be worth considering adding some color that way.
Congratulations on your new home! And also, I feel for you – it’s always a lot of work to move, regardless of how much help you have.
What I’d suggest for some quick and quirky color, is to take some photos of the neighborhood, get them printed onto canvases, and hang them on your walls. I move a lot and this always helps me feel more at home in a new place.
The easiest things to change are pillows, bedding and throws. If your stores work like the US, there are new colors and combos you see everywhere and it makes life easier if you work with one of those than end up on a quest. I’d look at any stuff you have and would like to display and find accent colors that tie in.
Good morning, Mod R! It’s rare I get to see all my special interests collide, but you have achieved this. Alexandra Gater would be the person I’d recommend to start with: she has a series on her Youtube Channel called Studio Fix that shows how to decorate small spaces in renter and DIY friendly ways but still keep them cozy and custom. She also does virtual makeover consultations if you want to go that route, and has a published book on finding your own design style available on Amazon and probably via local retails as well since she’s Canadian. 🙂 I’ll put all her links below, but I love watching her content and have found it very helpful for myself and friends/family in a similar situation to yours! Best of luck.
Her website: alexandragater.com
Studio Fix playlist: https://www.youtube.com/show/VLPLP9Bv0pAWm5kqE1SJupUiirZfp051nGN9?sbp=KgtUOGlWS2lXWDVfQUAB
Her book: https://a.co/d/01MtO6di
Two words: Italian vintage
This webstore happens to be based in my home country (they ship worldwide). I’m sure the UK also has similar shops or sellers.
https://barlume.fi/?srsltid=AfmBOoooMbVOdKcB4ye_XUGmii-zPle0vBVS9ceJYZvclBQC8ofG0NbE
Start with a throw or picture you love. Look at the colours in that and choose other pieces that use those shades. Go slow only adding what really appeals.
I recently bought a new home and gave away or trashed all my old stuff because, old. My new house is only 5 years old and previous owner left all walls white. So first I took a spare blank of vinyl flooring to a paint center and held it up to various paint swatches. Picked out a handful of colors that I liked and bought small sample jars of each color in the finish I wanted. They now have small temporary sheets of paper(?) that you can paint the sample colors on, remove the backing, and then hang on the walls and move around so you can see how the colors look at different times of day. Once I selected the colors on various walls, I took the original paint swatches with me when I went furniture shopping. I have bought some stuff online, but first set of furniture and accessories were based on those colors. I still haven’t finished every room because I’m taking my time, but this new place is looking much better than my old place.
Have fun decorating. Take your time.
And if you’re artsy-craftsy, watch Nerdforge on Facebook, and she’s probably on YouTube. I can’t do anything like what she does, but she’s still cool to watch to help with thinking outside the box.
I tend to do thrift shopping, and find artwork and textiles that speaks to me. When you’re moving into an apartment with a monochrome style palette,, it’s easy to add colors without worrying about them clashing. You can do each room in a different color or style depending on what you use the rooms for. Bedrooms of course I’d like to keep soothing with blues and grays because that’s what I find less stimulating. Kitchens I like to do reds, dining rooms I like oranges, and then living room rooms I use whatever speaks to me at the time. One thing about the living room or lounge, I usually have a sofa that I can just buy different colors of covers for, or different pillowcases for throw pillows, or I purchase different throw blankets of various warmth and colors or prints.I do have a few pieces that I set up wherever I go, like family portraits or thebig poster that’s framed that my husband bought when we got married of Bugs Bunny and Taz Easy Rider style, 😂
Homeplace (uk version of home goods) may have something you like. It is quirky and the stock changes often so if you don’t like anything, wait a couple weeks and try again. Habitat has some lovely bedding sometimes. And yes, Amazon.
For process: buy a couch you love. Make sure it is comfortable. If you don’t find one you love, buy one that is ok but that you can decorate with lovely throws and pillows. Build around that and don’t be too quick to buy. Mediterranean needs plants and plants are known to be calming and happy.
Here is the thing all designers say: Matchy-matchy is boring. You need pieces you individually love for the majority and then you can have blander ones for the rest. Paint is a girl’s best friend. Paint bargain store furniture and if you don’t like it you can paint it again.
Rugs: Are hard to tell online. Find a place that does free returns and comes back to pick up the rug. Resign yourself into going through a couple before keeping one. Maybe you will be pleasantly surprised by the first one and maybe not. For rugs you want pattern (covers up inevitable stains). Don’t worry about matching the pattern to anything else. Match the feel. Not sure where you get rugs in the UK but in the US you can buy them from the big hardware stores online.
Also, be aware that some carpet stores will take normal carpet and bind the edges to your preferred dimensions. It is one way to cover an entire floor (more or less) that stays within rental agreements.
Use command strips to hand up pictures in mats (but not necessarily frames as they are heavy).
Pick a color for the kitchen and buy some canisters and trivets that work with it.
Second to avoid matchy-matchy. Colors can be *close* to each other, but they’re more interesting if they’re slightly different. So try different shades of olive green, for example. Or put a rust colored throw with a textile that has a rusty red… they “speak” to each other but aren’t an exact match.
I so understand your issue. I can’t plan colours to save my life. So I cheat. Benjamin Moore does a great job of matching colour palettes. Also Sarah Renae Clark has beautiful palettes made for colouring but they would work for house decor too. Try googling her name and the colour grey to see what fun combos come up. Then buy blankets placemats cushions in the accent colours. I would pick dark furniture that matches your cupboards to serve as neutral background. Lastly I have a friend who has an amazing eye for interior design so I always vet through her before I grab bold colours. Have fun and try to enjoy
mod r I have a “rag” rug (6×9) made with Indian sari’s and it is is lovely bright.
I got it from Etsy years ago but you could search online for what’s available there of course. then you buy it in your preferred “tones” so you can get your pillows with blues, greens and plants with terracotta etc.
Mod R,
You already have a lot of advice to sort. But, I’m going to go ahead and challantly add to the rabbit hole we find us in today 🙂
1. I sympathize. That would depress me, also. I recently moved and while they didn’t paint everything renter white they did paint everything vanilla. Warmer but bleak. I’m working on it slowly- but I find as I get older I’m less patient with waiting to have a comfortable home. I want it now! (Veruca Salt)
2. You already have great advice. 3 main colors. Choose what you like. Change lightbulbs (so true!) So my question is – what are you bringing from your old home? Are you moving your magpie collection and hoping to tone down the ADHD desire to have it all on display? You don’t mention how many bookshelves or if you need new. Something to consider.Surely you are not starting entirely from scratch.
3. Move.
Put your stuff away.
Change the lightbulbs and hang curtains.
Add the 3 colors to your space and decide if you like them. (I have chosen the wrong shade!)
Enjoy
I actually am starting everything from scratch 😅 Is that bad?
I am bringing no furniture, art, or other decor with me. Unless you consider ironing boards and air fryers as utilitarian art pieces.
No bookcases?!?!? *gasp*
None that I am taking with me 🙂
Wow, that’s a true fresh start! My advice is be slow to buy. Start with necessities and bigger items. Look for things you love, but if you can’t find it, buy cheap (used?) and functional with the goal of replacing with something you love later. For better light try mirrors and reflective surfaces, but watch out for too fragmented light, which I find anti-calming. Good luck!
Fabric and decorated shower curtains can cover the blah walls. Yes, I said decorated shower curtains. They aren’t expensive and they come in great designs. Famous paintings, beautiful landscapes, etc. You can make an accent wall with one or two of them, maybe with a tapestry blanket somewhere else.
Check if you are allowed to paint. Some apartments will let you paint if you repaint before leaving. Even one wall can bring life to a room. If not, hanging fabric can give you your Pompeian atmosphere.
If you like it, you can haunt thrift stores for ceramics. Especially Majolica, that is very colorful. A large bowl on your dining table can add color to the room.
Alternately, add color by getting a large floor vase and filling it with silk flowers. If you can find a wholesaler to buy them from, silk flowers aren’t expensive. You’ll have to design your own flower arrangement, but I think you have that creativity.
Good luck with your decoration. Starting over is hard.
Shower curtains also r a quick and inexpensive choice for window curtains, at least to start.
I hear hanging plates on walls again is now chic instead of Grannycore. How about some Mediterranean patterned plates massed on one wall for a big punch of pattern and color? The majolica would 100% work and you could slowly collect pieces in your preferred palette—or thrift some single regular plates in different patterns. It’s always nice to have something inexpensive but specific you’re after when antiquing or thrifting. Keeps you from coming home with something that “seemed like a good idea at the time” but won’t fit anywhere!
OMG! That is my worst nightmare! What happened to all your books and swag?
I’ve had nightmares about house fires and losing all my “stuff.” I know it’s just stuff but it’s stuff I’ve collected over 50+ years! Some books are out of print! Oy!
On the other hand, starting from scratch means you choose everything! No guilt for not displaying art made by a friend a bizzillion years ago.
So, discuss places you feel super comfortable. A room at the museum, a restaurant, a friends- what makes it right for you? Enjoy the journey!
I had laugh at the title. I am reading Donna Grant’s Skye Druids series and the evil beings live in The Grey. I am sure the Horde will have lots of suggestions for you to overcome your battle in The Grey. 😁 Welcome to your new adventure.
From some of the YouTube shorts that pop up for me, one thing I can recommend is that painter’s tape is your friend. Apply stick-and-peel *over* the painter’s tape.
https://youtube.com/shorts/J6f9KVbrDTQ?si=bsSUuW2F9oXx8pVI
I like and have used peel and stick wallpaper. I like spoonflower as they allow you to buy samples – which you can also use to test if whatever type of walls and paint you have will actually allow it to be peeled off when the time comes. Place it near the floor or in an out of the way corner for testing – once you know it works with out harming your walls, then use the other samples in the area/lighting you want to fix up. Their Mediterranean style collextion https://www.spoonflower.com/en/inspiration/collections/riviera
Those are gorgeous, I love all the lemons!
Target has wall murals that you can stick on the wall and peel off if you don’t like them or if you get bored or if you move. Don’t know if you have Target where you are?
https://www.bhg.com/return-of-tuscan-style-homes-11787406
I tend to look for ideas in Better Homes and Gardens. The houses sometimes look overly put together for me but it is a good source for things that compliment each other and neat little touches
I’d suggest checking out Maria Killam. She’s a Canadian designer who specializes in color and is a prolific blogger/youtuber. She’s addressed the scourge of black and gray frequently.
The tl;dr is lots of natural materials (eg jute or seagrass rugs to break up the gray floors) and plants! And pick a couch in your favorite color, not a neutral.
Everyone above has great ideas. I have one too. If you or you know someone who knits, crochet, and/or quilts, you can create your own blankets, bath rugs, hangings, or whatever else using fabric or yarn in the colors that you like.
I’ve been on a crochet tear lately working on blankets. I use acrylic, variegated yarn since I like the variation the colors give me while working on the blanket. Plus, the yarn makes the blanket one of a kind.
I do the same with bathmats. I use 100% cotton yarn for those.
Decorating is all in what you want in your new space. You can go tonal, with different colors in the same color family (paint strips help with that), go crazy and have a Jackson Pollick theme. I have an eye for color and what would go where. I am not a professional decorator. Over time, I learned what I like and go with it. 😊
If it is color confidence you lack go find your favorite poster/scarf/book cover/throw pillow/etc. Pick three colors from that item. You now have colors picked by an expert to go together and that you find appealing.
I watch Clutterbug on YouTube. She addresses organization for an ADHD mind. Starting fresh, you would first determine how you flow through your space. Ikea is your friend for many foundational items.
You already know the colors you like, so a neutral colored sofa like grey or tan with pillows and a throw in the color you like. Choose a favorite chair in that color scheme. If room for another chair, another neutral color that is a shade darker than the sofa or a cream.
I think Esty has seamstresses that will make slipcovers for IKEA sofas when they don’t get the color quite right.
For artwork think of how it makes you feel when you see it. Choose a few pieces that make you feel what you want to feel in that space.
I hear what you say about Romanesque, but I’m afraid that the first thing that comes to mind is terra-cotta, and that ain’t colorful. How about a few mock-Persian/Afghan throw rugs? If you go that route, make sure you get good pads – they are dangerously slick on hard floors.
Decorating, bah. Just do what feels right to you. I like colorful things, so I would get loud color upholstery and cushions. Get things you like that speak to you, the heck with everyone else. For black cabinets, if you can’t paint, maybe put some posters on them Curtains you like and some rugs. I miss our burnt orange fiberglass 1970s Sears curtains, our 1790 house was 70s with early 1800s furniture and wallpaper with some 40s and 50s thrown in. I really miss our 1920s monster cast iron sink. The house burned down in 1989 or we would still be there with oru 70s 1800s ‘decor’ You can’t go home again, like they say, so my advice is to wing it and be happy.
Right, so my style is like ….junk drawer chic, so probably not what you’re looking for, but I explored really vibrant (dirt hiding) rugs and I ended up with this one: https://www.wayfair.com/rugs/pdp/latitude-run-weisman-abstract-redblue-area-rug-w005932263.html and another by the same company for a couple rooms in my house. They are super fun and since they have like a thousand colors, any other accessories you get tend to match. I have tried to fill my house with things I love ( so many books, art my kids made, stuff I’ve picked up from thrift shops). I don’t worry about it coming together –I just want it to make me feel happy. Good luck with your new space and with your move!
I love this artist based in Scotland, as well as prints of her art you can get lampshades, cushions and other home items. The colours and detail are amazing!
https://www.dawnmaciocia.com/?srsltid=AfmBOop63n-s_3aNT3ukWcgkl1Dr6ikVm7_v0y6yhszkmE49bSSHpGuU
I follow an interior designer on instagram who has some really good videos on how to use colour and furniture to make your rooms look the way you want them to. Her page is here: https://www.instagram.com/juliejones_designs/
I was going to say this too! She has a website as well that has a quiz to help identify your style and it includes some links to example products (https://juliejonesdesigns.com/quiz/).
One of the things I like about her content on the socials is that you can see how layout and color is used to make a cohesive space.
I am surprised that you can’t paint the walls. I think rentals in the US are usually allowed to paint (possibly with color approval by management agent). Maybe I’m wrong.
As to interior design, I generally don’t look for inspiration. I find pieces that I like, and that’s enough. Cf. Diamond Fire, Catalina not knowing if Arrosa’s pieces go together. They go together because they are an expression of her personality, and her personality is strong and integrated. Same with Nevada’s bouquet.
For purchases, one of the best places in the US is a discontinued/overstock store, e.g. Home Goods. You won’t find suites of unified furnishings, but you’ll find a constantly-changing varied stock at low prices. Used furniture stores and estate/yard sales (“boot sales” maybe?) are also good places to find individual pieces that speak to you.
Over the years I have lived in a number of places and mostly rented without being able to change much; my first choice is always plants, plants and more plants. I basically turn every room into a jungle.
For furniture I have rarely been able to afford new but have the ability to cover or reupholster when needed.
Other note; had heat wave it was too hot to do anything. Think 90’s in Maine the last couple of days, so read “Maggie’s story” and only comment. I hate clift hangers; George Martin almost totally cured me of buying series as came out.
I like having neutral walls & floors. But I put up a bunch of plants, art, &, rugs that are very colorful. Currently the sofa cover is teal. 🙂
Oh if you can’t hang things on the walls per your contract: shelves for plants & knick knacks/sculptures & indoor room dividers that could have a mural or possibly hang art on would be another way to incorporate color & texture.
I’ve moved around almost every year since I turned 18. The biggest thing I’ve noticed when in places with lots of Grey is to warm up your lighting. Make sure all your light bulbs are warm tone bulbs not blue daylight bulbs because that will make the Grey feel more cold and unforgiving.
My style is very eclectic and homey with lots of color. But to make sure things go together I keep my woods all the same (dark wood) and use highly saturated colors. Even if you don’t have a set color palette using the same saturation creates a through line and harmony. Like pastels and light oak. As for your style you already know what you’d like Mediterranean and warm colors. So now you just need to find stores that sell things in that esthetic. Pintrist can help also just googling and finding physical locations where you can go and touch things can really help.
If you (like myself) have collected a wide assortment of arts and trinkets and memorabilia but struggle to display them, think about palettes, which will help you take advantage of the existing neutrality in the space.
Sort things by color
Each shelf/ surface/area is assigned a color or set of colors… you can find ideas for combinations online or even from art or gardens you like.
You probably need at least three items of a color to make it look like a part of the palette and not just an accident, but think about proportion if it doesn’t look right.
Once an area has a palette it becomes a starting point for picking out items you need.
If you go to far, toss in some neutral items. Good luck!
You can never have too many throw pillows 🙂
https://www.etsy.com/market/vintage_rug_pillows
I’m in the uk too. Are you watching interior design challenge? I’m sure that kitchen was featured last week! They have plenty of ideas, not sure how many of them are feasible though
So you have a clean slate! I agree pick three colors you love and buy interesting curtains/shades, rugs, pillows and art. Buy more lamps, so you add light. Plants always add to a living space. If you buy at reasonable prices, if you don’t like it, try again. Make a new nest for yourself and settle in!
So… whenever I have to decorate for an event or space, I lean into what people near me -mostly my sister- with an eye for design have to offer but as a young girl I like having fun with this area I’m not confident with (style, graphic harmony) and if you feel like it… a couple sims youtubers have used the game to plan their redecorations or wardrobe changes (for example Deligracy, Clare Siobhan…) which means learn what works with low stakes and 0 money invested, for this I recommend you look for free custom content searching your parameters like Mediterranean, earthy pallette, etc
Otherwise: think that you have the ash background from Pompei and inject warm as in potted plants, cushions ranging red to Expresso, framed fresco prints, maybe a bust, a column lamp, amber lightning,definitely invest in candles and incense to add into the atmosphere, use music to add into it, maybe linen curtains in warm ivory, bronze accents perhaps… good luck!
PS: A couple years back when I was teaching English, Sims was very useful… I promise you might learn by gaming.
As someone who very much lives in the beige, grey, and black and white, I’m not sure how helpful I can be, but my advise is this: For furniture you want to blend into the background (like some shelves, or more utility focused pieces like a shoe rack or a bench), go with light neutrals. For anything you actually want to consciously see, use bright, saturated colors (for instance, my wardrobe and shelves are a boring beige wood; my bedsheets on the other hand are various saturated shades of blue. I love sleep, but I don’t care about my clothes). Also, if you group pieces with similar or the same color together, it feels more like a complete area (my desk, desk chair, computer, headset and monitors are all black, for instance, differentiating them from (you guessed it) more beige shelves). If you focus on one or two ‘feature’ colors for an area/room, you’re at less of a risk of things clashing.
Hi Mod R ! First, how exciting for you ! I wish you all the best in this new place and hope you can build your dream home !
Now… A good home decor takes time. I know, boring !! But taste can’t be always IKEA purchased. Convenience means fast, and you never build anything beautiful if it’s convenient. Good home decor comes with patience, hunting, and just a tiny bit of luck !
I build pinterest boards with aesthetics I vibe with (mediterranean YUUUH) and then I hunt for pieces that come as close as possible to my vision. I go to thrift places, I go to garage sales, I go to flea markets, and I HUNT (my budget is always : the lower, the better)
When you can, don’t be afraid to negotiate !
ALSO. Facebook marketplace is your new best friend. Look for things that you like, don’t be afraid to like and save items that are out of budget so you can build the algorithm you deserve 🙂 ! In terms of home decor, vinted is also very cool (Idk if it’s available in the UK I’ll admit)
And also ; if it makes you happy, that means it’s doing its job. Every house does NOT have to look like an ad !
From France, with love !
Of course you need a good balance of everything : wood, wool, soft cushions and some metal as well, don’t be afraid to mix it up to your taste and have faith in yourself !!! (If I don’t make any sense, I’m sorry)
I’d suggest finding a friend who’s willing to help. Then go to a fabric store (you can do this on your own if you like) and just go hog wild choosing colors and patterns that appeal to you, and you don’t have to decide “appeal to me on what, exactly?” Just things you like. Ask for the smallest possible “sample” amount of each, so you walk out with a swath of fabrics that represent all the colors and patterns you naturally gravitate to. Give those to your friend as a kind of visual aid, and ask for help finding items that are similar. (You could do this with a color wheel too, but you’d miss out on patterns and textures.)
Being from the UK myself online is great but I also like to wander around flea markets as you can find the most random brilliant things. I’m in London so there’s quite a few but a car boot sale could work as well.
If you have a chance to tour houses that are for sale they stage beautifully.
Also watching shows like house hunters or house hunter international. Travel shows in general often give me ideas about what looks good together. Air bnb often has pics if the inside if places for rent. World market stores have good color mix ideas. Any high end store can give you eye candy on decorating ideas to adapt. Magazines on decorating are usually to expensive to copy but will give you ideas on what splashes of color go with what. Walk around your space with color filters and look at specific places. That might help. It worked for me:)
Houzz app has some great pictures to get inspired. Also add plants if you can. Greenery always adds warmth and helps with air quality. I’m sure whatever you do will be lovely.
+1. I had to decorate a big contemporary open space “salon” in Switzerland from scratch – which was NOT my style – and Houzz.com was a great help!
To get started: I looked at Houzz, Pinterest, and even bought a few old-fashioned Architectural Digest and design magazines (train stations still have them). I printed/cut out pictures of rooms I liked. Then I kept the pics close as I shopped, for reference. That helped me figure out what kind of couch, blinds, bookshelves, dining sets, fabrics and overall vibes I liked without getting too overwhelmed.
Wood furniture really warmed up our space. A big wood bookshelf, wooden coffee table and side tables, etc.
A designer friend recommended a neutral-colored couch – told me to make it fun with throws and pillows. She said we’d get sick of a bright one too soon. Worked for us!
Good good luck –
+1
This is US but if you are looking for clever design in furniture for a very reasonable price, I always go to Target. There is lots of sleek midcentury furniture for really great prices. I found. Round white table with two bright yellow chairs and an oval warm wood dining table with sleek chairs covered by blue fabric. Also some great blue fabric barstools. So think pops of fun color in upholstered furniture, pillows. Curtains rather than shades for the softness. Big shelving with lots of books and accents that mean something to you. Pick maybe three or four colors you really love and try to stick to them.
I would potentially look into some style quizzes, so you get a idea of the furniture style you like, and then can associate that with your color scheme and it narrows your scope down.
I follow Julie Jones on Facebook and I liked her style quiz if that helps.
https://juliejonesdesigns.com/quiz/
Maria Killam https://mariakillam.com/category/decorating-advice/
Her blog is great!
Clearly, you need to hire a harmonizer.
Where are the Primes when you need them 😂
I’m the exact same as you. I’ve never been much of a decorator, but I’ve picked up a few things here and there. My suggestion is to go with jewel tones, like an emerald couch or a sapphire rug. Those colors play nicely with the gray and black.
Since these colors are loud, you would need to use them in moderation. When looking at an area of your apt, think in 3s. A color “triangle” comes across as harmonious. For example, in the living room, you could have a sapphire rug, sapphire pillows on a gray couch, and a painting with sapphire featured semi-prominently. You could them layer some lighter colors in, like having a clear light green vase with white/yellow daisies on a side table. Another example would be in the bathroom: amethyst rug, curtain, and soap dispenser, paired with gold and white accents.
I moved to my first own apartment in last November. I used Ikea’s room planner a lot, since I needed to play tetris with all the furniture and plants I had to fit in. But it’s also a good tool to visualize different furniture arrangements and also some colors (are they accurate on the screen compared to the real life ones, not really, but does the job).
Personally I don’t think I have much of ‘style’ but I know what I like. So I would say go with your gut, if you like it, it doesn’t matter if it ‘fits’ with something. (very helpful lol) The colors you like sound actually pretty good together imo. Different rooms can also have different styles/colors, so if you want all colors but feel they are too much together, break them into different part of the home.
Since you can’t paint the walls (which is so sad) big pieces of furniture and textiles can really bring in color to the room. Also art on the walls.
If you find piece of furniture that you like the shape/style but not necessarily the color, think can you alter it somehow. Like I wanted a dark blue armchair, but couldn’t find one in the right shape, shade or in budget. So I bought one I liked the shape of (and it was in budget as secondhand piece), which had removable covers (thank you Ikea), dyed those covers dark blue plus changed the legs to prettier wooden ones, and now I have the perfect chair. ^^
Honestly, I will out myself as Nordic and just say that most of my stuff is from Ikea (new or secondhand), and few things from hardware store I happen to work at (all the temptations and inspirations, a blessing and a curse). I’m generally bit too picky and like to plan ahead to have real success with general secondhand stores.
We live on a lake in the mid-Michigan and so I’ve embraced a cottage-core, beachy aesthetic. Hobby Lobby is an amazing source of throw pillows, accents, rugs, etc. We went with gray and blue walls, so everything is pops of color against that – navy blue and goldenrod, turquoise or coral, driftwood and quasi-geometric textures. Having that theme in mind has been very helpful!
I love to look through home magazines at the library. I page through them and stop occasionally.
I wear a lot of gray and black by choice and those lovely Mediterranean colors you mentioned can clash. Looking at frescoes from Pompeii, the reds and blues would be harmonious with the gray and black. Olive green and terracotta would depend on the shade.
Try covering up the gray floors with colorful rugs.
Based on my apartment living experiences.
Fabric wall hangings are a great way to go. (Think tapestry style).
Also go for smaller area rugs, not larger ones.
The combination of tapestry/fabric style hangins and smaller area rugs allows you to change color schemes and rearrange much more easily to suit both the space and your current moods.
Not to mention both are relatively cheap (esp. small rugs vs. larger).
If you know someone who is handy with fabrics/sewing you can pick up lots of bolt ends from fabric stores cheaply and create some pretty artistic designs.
You can also use fabric for table runners, table cloths, furniture backings/hangings (over back of chairs, sofas, etc.) to create nice spaces.
As far as lighting, the above can work hand-in-hand if you have programmable/color tuneable LED lighting (if you’re into LED lights). You can do a lot with accenting by simply tinting the lights to change the entire mood of a space.
If you don’t/can’t do LED lights, select lamps which have easily changeable shades. You can pick up shades cheaply from thrift stores and tint, dye, or paint them to totally fit your desired space.
Ikea’s home decor section. Pick up a couple pieces that you like (browse their website beforehand) and see how that fits. (Also, I’m a big fan of their cork trivets. Natural materials are very calming to me.) You could also look into doing your own mosaics!
I am stylistically challenged and live in antique house (for USA, c. 1780). Back when the original GW was around. I think this is great reason for Mod R to isekai portal into Gertrude Hunt. What would Dina create? 😎
Congrats on the move!
How do you feel about something like this? https://www.etsy.com/listing/4318367747/orange-medallion-tapestry-tablecloth
and this for the sofa https://www.etsy.com/listing/4466981474/non-slip-linen-sofa-cover-thick-3-seater
I am also decoratively challenged, so with out apartment I actually went with sunny yellow walls and beige/white furniture and just change textiles (pillowcases, throws, covers) whenever I feel like something new.
Great ideas and I love those tablecloths!
BTW, charity shops are great places to find some accents for cheap. Especialy glass.
Also car boot sales migh be full of surprises. Happy hunting!
At one point, I practically lived in my office at work: white walls, grey furniture, depressed me out of my mind. I bought the largest size blue sheer curtains I could find and attached them to the walls with push pins. Color on the walls, no painting, and push pin holes are tiny and easy to fix when you move out. Plus, sheer curtains are cheaper than other types of wall art. (Blue is apparently my happy color for being in my office, not so much when the entire house is blue…)
Good luck!
Look at apartmenttherapy com. lots of inspiration for apartments or small homes, lots of solutions for renters dilemmas.
If you are not sure where to start in decorating, start with a picture you love, even if you are leaning it against the wall. or fabric you love and build your color scheme from there. Using those colors as a reference, start from there, like someone else said keep it down to 3 colors you see in your fabric/picture. Works beautifully. My bathroom started from a shower curtain, my bedroom from a duvet cover, my living space from a painting.
Congratulations on your new home! One product we used to create a warmer texture was called Airstone. It took time and p*tience to apply, but can be used to create accent walls or around things like fireplaces. The end result was really worth it.
https://www.airstone.com/
So, the easiest thing to do, is go through magazines. Take pictures of the rooms you like. It’ sounds like you have colors you are drawn to, you could even google the colors in rooms. Adding cold to very generic background is very doable. On the other hand, an old army wife trick is to soak sheets in starch. You hang them on the wall like wallpaper, you have to hang them on the shower bar for a couple of hours so they aren’t dripping wet, then put them on the walls. But that can get busy fast.
My best friend lives in the UK and she has an Instagram account that she does inspiring people with home styling, decor and design ideas. She always lets you know about good bargains she finds at places like B&Q and Home Bargains etc. Her Instagram is katiecurates_
Thank you!
I visited a traveling Pompeii exhibition and marveled at the murals/frescos that they made on the plaster walls. If you could find some large prints or posters of such murals and use the flat black surfaces as frames it might help. Also I was impressed by the “fireplaces” that they used in the wealthy homes; a large stone set in a metal base that was carried from room to room. I think a coffee table that echos that would be effective But your biggest problem is the light. Fluorescent lights only emit a few wavelengths and the effect is cold. You need a bright full spectrum source ( or two) to mimic the Tuscan sun and set it as high up as you can since shadows matter too.
Hello! I worked with interior designers many (many) years ago, when I tended to move from apartment to apartment and some tips they gave me are:
1. Keep the big pieces of furniture neutral. Tan/beige couches, table, chairs, etc. Make sure they are comfortable pieces that make you happy. Comfort first, style second.
2. Blend the main color of your rental property colors (it looks like your are black and grey) with colors you like (warm tones) through patterns of throw pillows, rugs, and curtains. For example, you might have a throw pillow that has grey, warm blue, cream, and terra cotta, next to a solid grey pillow and a solid cream one. Then you can have a throw that has blue, cream, and olive green. Finding items that have both the colors you like and one or two of the colors you can’t change, will help the space feel like it’s more yours.
3. Bring in artwork that makes you happy. Thrift stores in the US are great places to find artwork that is reasonably priced. I also shop at local university student art shows for unique pieces. Not sure if they have the equivilant in England. 🙂
4. Consider peel-able wallpapers. I haven’t tried this, but I’ve seen others do it and if you are handy, it can look really nice.
5. Bring in plants – real if you can, but fake are OK if you don’t have great light or a green thumb. You can put them in pots that have the colors you like and textures that remind you have the Mediterianan.
Hope all this helps and congrats on your new place!!
I love this post and I hope to steal ideas 😬
A couple folks have mentioned picking one piece to start with – I agree 100%. A rug is a great starting place, it will have complimentary colors that you can use. Peel & stick wallpaper too. A great, inexpensive way to add blocks of color to a wall you can’t paint is to put fabric on frames (like an art canvas). Or maybe a print of a mosaic you love. Not a digital picture here, you need a physical object to color match. Once you have the physical object, take it to a paint store and color match swatches. That’s your palette. In general I like neutrals, one major accent color, and lots of smaller accents, but I’m a bit of a color maximalist.
One important note on color – in general color trends are around the base tones. Right now the trend is a yellow/brown base. Think back to the teals and pinks of the late 90s – that’s a blue base. Colors will harmonize if they have the same undertones, but a bluey pink looks off with a brownish green. I love small yellow accents. They make everything around them better.
I’ve always done better decorating when I’ve given myself time to think and collect. So personally I would start with the need-to-have furniture and then slowly play, not trying to buy everything quickly.
Didn’t read all the other comments, so hope this isn’t repetitive. But if you want more sunlight, then try positioning mirrors on the walls in ways that reflect light from windows. Instead of stopping at “wall” your eyes are tricked into thinking “window”, too. Helps the place feel roomier.
Walk through IKEA, looking at all the brightly colored and patterned rugs and curtains and throw pillows and bedding. Buy more than you need. Move them around your apartment until it works.
I go to thrift stores and just get what I like. I’m old so I am at the point if I like, I am going to be the one looking at it all the time, so I get what makes me happy. My home probably would not be one on Pinterest, but it makes me happy and at the end of the day, that’s what really matters. From peacock decor to honey bee decor to any shade of pink.
This is going to be a bit long but please hang in there because I’m really good at this. Because I’m AuADHD, my home needs to be calm a soothing too, so I get it and modern interiors are anything but soothing.
You’ve stated your pallet.
Creams, terracotta, olive greens, pops of gold and sea blues. So here’s how to make it a reality.
1. Buy yourself a good D ring notebook, a box of sheet protectors and dividers that fit the sheet protectors (they are wider than normal protectors.) Mark the sheet protectors by ROOM.
2. Before you buy anything, do a lot of browsing on line and print. As you browse websites, magazines, etc. PRINT, the images you like, or tear out the magazine page and put them inside the sheet protectors and sort them by ROOM. You say you like Mediterranean so focus on magazines, websites, travel brochures, anything that gives you images you find pleasing, even if it’s the color of the water off the coast of Corfu. Colors, textures, furniture shapes, fabric patterns are what your looking for. Your goal is to fill the notebook full of images of things you want for your home, BY ROOM. Hopefully, there will be colors that will flow throughout your home, but not all of them, because each room will have it’s own use, and personality.
For Example, cream, and terracotta flows throughout my home. I have hardwood floors and every rug has those colors in it, as well as some shade of blue. All the rugs are muted, none of the match exactly but they “speak” to each other in that they can occupy the same space and look like they belong together. As you walk through my home, the rugs flow like a river, connecting all the spaces because their similar colors.
So the point isn’t necessarily to exactly match colors but have them not argue with each other.
3. Once you find things you like how they look together, then you start shopping. Keep your notebook with you as you shop, whether online or in person, to help you stay consistent and focused.
4. Have a budget for each space if that’s an issue.
5. I’m a firm believer in beginning with your bedroom first. Rest is important and having a restful sleep space is paramount. I’m assuming, because this isn’t your first home, you have a functioning home, it’s just not soothing and peaceful because of how it’s fundamentally designed. If your renting, you can’t do the press on wall paper but if your cabinets are metal, you can buy magnetic sheets and glue artwork to them or the press on wall paper and put that on the front of your cabinets to lighten them up. Bed sheets made wonderful window treatments. And thrift stores are your very best friend. Happy Hunting.
You have my permission to DM if you want more info, have questions, etc.
Please let us know how it goes. ❤️
So helpful!
I always painted one wall in every place we ever moved into (army family) and then painted it back before moving out. I liked having a feature wall that was my color.
Just came back from a visit to Copenhagen and Malmö. Suggest you check out some Danish and Swedish home decor ideas. They go for colourful, cozy yet elegant, and just a touch whimsical. Not sure what sites to look at, but there is a major store called Illum Bolighus in Copenhagen that sells home decor items and they might be a good start.
Maybe someone has already said this.
Look at the latest episode of Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr.
They are dealing with that issue of a pretty horrendous black kitchen in a rental. There are lots of design faux pas but some of the schemes have really good ideas, mostly doing wonders with paint and a bit of plywood.
Look at fabric from Laurel Burch to staple on wooden frames. Some of the colorways may be brighter than you want, but they are so pretty. The Mermaids collection is amazing!
Congratulations on your new place!
Kate Watson-Smyth (UK) used to have a free blog, but much of her content is now paywalled on Substack. She has published books too – details at https://madaboutthehouse.com/ – so will be readily available from UK public libraries.
I’d particularly recommend ‘Home. The Way We Live Now’. It’s a spiral-bound split format book (so best read on paper, not a as a kindle book) with lots of design solutions, and, it’s particular focus on small homes, working from home and rentals. I’m used to teaching neurodiverse students, and I think that this format is very practical: information-rich, yet ADHD-friendly. But YMMV.
She is very good at explaining ‘why’ things work to design ignoramuses like me in a way that is engaging and with a light touch. Her aesthetic is layered, with colour. I don’t share her exact taste, but found her very helpful in developing my own understanding of what I like. She also does not assume large budgets.
As to (UK) sources of stuff…in addition to suggestions in the book above, as has been mentioned, Amazon can be good. In addition:
– I always liked poking around in charity and secondhand shops, but pickings are a lot thinner nowadays. I had better luck with Emmaus (https://emmaus.org.uk/your-local-emmaus/?region=all) – you might be near one? Otherwise a lot of Council Tips (household waste recycle centres) have something like an Emmaus attached, where they sell secondhand furniture. We didn’t have a car, but they did reasonable home delivery for us;
– My own choice is not to buy upholstered furniture like sofas secondhand*, but I would buy wooden furniture. I’d get it home, clean it with sugarsoap and either paint it white (other colours are available, obviously) with a chalk paint (examples can be found in B&Q or online), or, lightly sand it and use Osmo products to seal or to colour and seal. Osmo stuff (bought online) is very expensive but excellent;
-ASDA Home have some great stuff at a good price. I’ve gotten 100% cotton curtains from them. The bedding/linens can be good too. Last time I looked they had some very colourful and quirky bath mats and towels – just the thing to brighten up a rental. They don’t carry everything in their shops, so best to look on their website;
– For lights, I did a deep dive researching options recently, and was amazed at how many options there now are. For rentals, usb-powered lights are great for those areas where there are no sockets and a few people told me about Pooky Lighting. I thought that some of their stuff was ok, but it was a bit more than I wanted to spend! But I was very pleasantly surprised at next.co.uk: loads of different styles and options at a range of price points;
– I’ve been known to buy white cushions covers/sofa or chair covers/curtains and dye them. I’ve used Dylon and just followed the instructions (nb works best on natural or high natural content fabrics) in the washing machine. But there’s always the risk of a streaky/patchy result (I got away with it, but I should note the risk!);
– Emmaus that I mentioned above provides jobs for former addicts/alcoholics etc. So in a similar vein, I wanted to mention https://finecellwork.co.uk/, who provide paid, professional, high-quality craft opportunities to people in prison with the aim of rehabilitation. I have no personal links with either organisation, but I admire what they do;
– Rugs, I have no particular rug recommendations. Personally, I prefer wool or other natural materials for rugs for health reasons – but they are so expensive! A tip I picked up about 20 years ago is go to carpet shops – in some of them (probably small high street ones), you can get a piece of colourful carpet cut to the exact size you want and then pay to have it ‘whipped’ at the edges – voila! Your own unique rug. And it often works out cheaper than buying a rug of similar quality. Some carpet places routinely whip carpet remnants too – that can be helpful.
* For anyone wanting to clean sofas/upholstery (or anything else, actually), I really rate the recipe and method that Nancy Birtwhistle (former Great British Bake Off winner) uses. She has various ‘green’ cleaning books and puts most of her tips online.
I hope that that helps!
So a lot of companies post colour comparisons. So for instance a specific blue matches this colour fixtures etc. I’ve attached an image of one of them from BEHR paint from Home Depot. You may not have that there. But the colour ideas are great. file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/78/08/92242611-8D11-4700-B1EE-07E3AFB5DAE8/Behr%20Spa%20Blue%20A%20Complete%20Color%20Review.png
Some resources that you might find helpful:
https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/living-room-with-gray-vinyl-flooring
https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/how-to-make-your-gray-sofa-look-better
https://mariakillam.com/blog/
Congratulations and Enjoy. Couple of thoughts.
A digital photo frame – you can load all your favourites and leave it to cycle through or have it on whatever you are in the mood for and change whenever. Should save on space/clutter.
Experiment with a cushion or 2 – buy or make (and they are easy/cheap to make – promise. Just a couple of straight lines). Can have a big impact and if you like it, you can build on it. If not, you’ll have learnt what doesn’t work for you/what to avoid without too much time/effort/expense.
If you are a crotcheter have a look at janiecrow.com
Her rugs and shawls are amazing in a room
Or how about Japanese inspired wall hangings
I made one of Susan briscoes sashiko wall panels. They are pre stenciled and very simple to stitch. Her webshop is in the UK susanbriscoe.com
Bebebold.eu has a beautiful range of Japanese textiles for draping/wall hangings
Good luck with the project
Mod R, Grey is such a great neutral, as are the white walls and black fittings. This means you can decorate however you like. I would a) invest in a color wheel, b) look at Pinterest, Instagram, magazines etc and decide what style you are, not what’s on trend or what the flavor of the month is. The color wheel for example might show you the navy blue of your duvet and then pretty lime green for your boudoir pillows and curtains. (Just an example, but I love jewel tones.) If you go with Pink shower curtain, then your towels could be a shade of green, navy whatever. Make this apartment yours with area rug of your color and fabrics in the prints and shades you want. Remember, it is better to have quality instead of quantity so splurge on those ticket items that should last a while which is why you definitely want the color you can live with. Go for it!
Ha-Ha – I love decorating. First – I think you have pegged your color scheme creams; olives; gold; touches of blue but maybe take a spin by a paint store and collect samples to take home and see in your apartment lighting? There are probably 10 shades of olive alone. Find the colors that will work and won’t work for you and your space by seeing if they make you smile when you look at them. Then head to Ikea – great linens, soft home stuff; kitchen accessories etc. plus their prices are so reasonable. If you don’t spend a lot on something and then don’t find it is perfect for you there is less angst about donating so someone who will love it can find it. Have fun!
I’m a big fan of masking or painters tape and cardboard to layout things before I buy them…. AKA a couch with dimensions of such and such… A table that is this high, etc… I don’t have great depth perception and absolutely suck a visualizing what’s too big or small…. I have been known to paint or wrap things to simulate how something would look or feel in the space… It has saved me a ton of time returning things and headaches from not being able to return stuff… Yeah, it does take a little longer, but I find I am happier with the end result… I wish you joy in your new dwelling :-).