Design tips for your new apartment
Whether you’ve just taken the leap and have purchased your brand new dream apartment, are moving into a new abode or just looking for a refresh, creating a well-designed space that becomes your sanctuary is essential.
There is no specific formula to create the ideal interior design for your apartment, however we’ve sought the advice of a professional to provide you with tips to help ensure success.
Paula Dunford from Mod Pod Design (picture above) has over 10 years experience in the interior design and building design sectors and says a simplistic and elegant approach to interior design is best.
Paula has recently furnished multiple displays in Robina and shares her professional advice to inspire you to stylishly maximise space in your apartment through the perfect combination of furniture and homewares.
1. Stay low
To make your apartment feel as large and airy as possible, look to visually increase the height of your space. Paula recommends keeping the large pieces of furniture, for example the couch, long and low. High backed couches will create a more compact feeling, so make sure the proportions of your couch are respectful to the height of the room.
It is a similar case with your entertainment unit. Cabinets with a long, low profile and plenty of storage will provide a sleek and tidy look for your new apartment.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australians spend an average of one whole month watching television per year and, in most cases, the television is the focal point of the room, so it is important to make this a functional space that exudes style.
2. Keep it neutral
Bold is not always better and in the case of your apartment, Paula recommends keeping to a neutral colour scheme. She points out that bold colours tend to clutter a room, so for that fresh, clean environment, stick to neutrals.
She advises keeping to subtle and monochromatic schemes, drawing your colours from a single base hue and using lighter and darker shades and tones to build on this colour. By using different shades of one colour, you avoid creating a sense of clutter in your home.
To incorporate your individual flair in your new place, introduce pastels into your colour scheme. Paula recommends keeping them soft, so they do not dominate the room.
Remember to keep it neutral, because after a long, busy day, you will want to come home to your calm and natural apartment.
3. It’s all about textures
If everything in the room looks too similar, it will be easy to glaze over, so to make your new home pop, add a little texture.
Paula suggests keeping your textures to a similar neutral palette and introducing layers into your fabrics as opposed to different colours to spice up the room, while keeping the breezy, natural theme.
Why add texture instead of colour? Textures control how we feel about a room when we walk into it. A rough texture is more likely to make a space feel warm and familiar, while smooth textures send out a sleek vibe.
Textures add different weight to different objects and the distance between them can determine how subtle the differentiation is. For example, if you would like a rough object to really stand out, place a smooth object close by.
4. Take it outside
The Gold Coast has more than 300 days of sunshine per year, so if you are lucky enough to have an apartment in this beautiful city, take advantage and use your outdoor space.
Paula recommends continuing the flow from inside the apartment through to the outdoors, keeping a common theme and using the exterior space as much as possible, particularly to create the feeling of an extended dining and lounge area.
This will keep your home airy and fresh, allow you to enjoy the best of indoor-outdoor living and maximise space in your apartment. Remember to stay with neutral colour palettes when selecting your low-set alfresco furniture and, as always, keep it simple.
5. Smart storage
Keep your new home simple and clutter free by choosing essential furniture with storage options, Paula says.
Think of underbed and sofa storage and furnishings with drawers, lids and hidden alcoves, which are all attainable at a reasonable price from stores such as IKEA to keep your new apartment simple, stylish and of course maximise space.
Paula recommends soft, upholstered bed head mounts on the wall as opposed to a chunky frame to create more space within the bedroom for your treasured possessions.
She suggests investing in vacuum suction bags for your out of season clothes, which you can slide under your bed for easy access when the weather changes.
Remember, simplicity and elegance is key. Don’t over think it and enjoy your new home!
For more design tips from Paula, visit Mod Pod Design’s website, to see Paula’s design tips in action, be sure to check out our display homes open daily at Botanique Terrace Homes on Cheltenham Drive in Robina.
