Furnishing and decorating a new house from scratch is a tricky business, especially when the place is rented out and therefore a) you haven't really designed the space according to your needs, and b) you are not allowed to make drastic changes.
It takes time and money, as well as loads of positive energy, good taste and research. It has taken me about 6 months to reach a point where I feel happy about it and find it pleasant to live in. With house decoration, there are so many different options to choose from; the most important is to find what YOU like and what suits YOU; it is a very personal issue and we shouldn't imitate or copy based on what our friends have or would like to see. Because it is you who will be living in this space.
I will be presenting a series of innovative ideas in different spaces of the house. Most of the ideas involve do-it-yourself tasks and low-budget ideas with only a couple of expensive items added in. Today's post is around the living room, which is the first room you will face after a long day's work and settle down to rest or spend time with friends.
The space was medium-sized, with good natural lighting and warm paint on the wall. I wanted this room to be cosy, warm, lively and reflect my personality and life experiences. The furniture are mostly from Ikea, which I assembled myself; this can be time-consuming but I find it energising and constructive. The process took a lot of time as I was adding items gradually and checking how they settle in the space and whether they make me feel comfortable and centered.
I really like vibrant colours and wasn't afraid of using them against the pale colour of the wall. The predominant colours I chose were purple and red. Small or bigger items of decoration are from my past life, my trips, my parent's house and several shops across Athens.
I am a big fan of staying connected with the past and I enjoy mixing styles from different decades, or even centuries. For example, I found this piece of plaster-made sculpture of Alexander the Great in my parent's house, which I decorated with a pair of old Miu-miu sunglasses. I placed it on top of my book shelves and next to it I hang a piece of pop art painting. You will be amazed at how many cool staff you can find in your parents' or even grand-parents' house; don't be afraid to dig deep.
Since vintage is very fashionable lately and because I like a bit of a royalty touch, I bought this baroque-style sitting which may be one of the most expensive small items I own in the house. Sometimes it is worth spending a bit more. I placed it in front of the window blinds.
It takes time and money, as well as loads of positive energy, good taste and research. It has taken me about 6 months to reach a point where I feel happy about it and find it pleasant to live in. With house decoration, there are so many different options to choose from; the most important is to find what YOU like and what suits YOU; it is a very personal issue and we shouldn't imitate or copy based on what our friends have or would like to see. Because it is you who will be living in this space.
I will be presenting a series of innovative ideas in different spaces of the house. Most of the ideas involve do-it-yourself tasks and low-budget ideas with only a couple of expensive items added in. Today's post is around the living room, which is the first room you will face after a long day's work and settle down to rest or spend time with friends.
The space was medium-sized, with good natural lighting and warm paint on the wall. I wanted this room to be cosy, warm, lively and reflect my personality and life experiences. The furniture are mostly from Ikea, which I assembled myself; this can be time-consuming but I find it energising and constructive. The process took a lot of time as I was adding items gradually and checking how they settle in the space and whether they make me feel comfortable and centered.
I really like vibrant colours and wasn't afraid of using them against the pale colour of the wall. The predominant colours I chose were purple and red. Small or bigger items of decoration are from my past life, my trips, my parent's house and several shops across Athens.
I am a big fan of staying connected with the past and I enjoy mixing styles from different decades, or even centuries. For example, I found this piece of plaster-made sculpture of Alexander the Great in my parent's house, which I decorated with a pair of old Miu-miu sunglasses. I placed it on top of my book shelves and next to it I hang a piece of pop art painting. You will be amazed at how many cool staff you can find in your parents' or even grand-parents' house; don't be afraid to dig deep.
Since vintage is very fashionable lately and because I like a bit of a royalty touch, I bought this baroque-style sitting which may be one of the most expensive small items I own in the house. Sometimes it is worth spending a bit more. I placed it in front of the window blinds.
