You may have noticed that minimalism isn’t really our thing either. For me, minimalism is cold and actually, I find it a little depressing. But to some, they love the uncluttered, clean lines and sleek style. My brother’s a minimalist, he hates ‘stuff’ – you know, all those accessories and knick knacks, which to me make a home what it is, but to him, it’s all just extra crap that he doesn’t need. And yes, he is HARD to buy presents for.

But the thing is, I’m not even sorry to all those that love a bit of beige, because do you know what? It really doesn’t matter what I think, what your next door neighbour thinks or what, heaven forbid, your mother thinks (more on that here).

Golden Feather Mirror | Gold Beetle Wall Decor | Hiding Hare Table Lamp

It’s YOUR home. Do whatever the hell you want with it, whatever makes YOU happy. I love colour, quirk, frivolity, and a touch of fabulous eccentricity. I have to have objects around me which evoke happy memories; sentimental items which have been passed down through generations, or even just a painting that reminds of a fabulous holiday. But that’s what makes ME smile – what makes YOU smile?

Our co-founder, Amelia’s tropical bathroom renovation

If you know what makes you smile, then fill your house with it. Be it colours, flowers, clean lines or even minimalism. Learn to recognise what it is you like. Yes, we can tell you what’s on trend at the moment, what colours are bang on the money or what ‘goes’ well with what. But if your home doesn’t quite feel ‘you’, then there isn’t enough things about it that make you smile.

So how do you find out what it is that makes you smile? How do you find what YOUR style is? Well, you have to actually stop and take notice of interiors. If you’re really aesthetic or design minded then you’ll do this naturally, but otherwise here’s a few tips to help you find your style:

Cherry Pink velvet Chair | Faiza Mirrored Tables | Beaten Gold Plant Pots | Velvet Leopard Jungle Cushion | All items available at Audenza

1. If you want to really get to grips with your style, it’s a good idea to start making a note of things you like as they crop up. Just jot down things in the notes section of your phone as you spot them and then whenever you’re next on Pinterest, have a browse for ideas that fit with whatever it is you’ve written down, so you can start to build up a moodboard. Don’t forget you can also create secret boards on Pinterest too, so only you can see them.  Naturally, if you spot something you like in a magazine, rip it out to refer back to. That might sound a bit over the top, but you’re never going to remember it otherwise!

2. Start with your own home- look around you. What do you love having around you? And importantly, what not? Are there things that you love in someone else’s home, but just couldn’t imagine living with yourself? If that’s the case, why is that? Is it just that you think you’d never be able to make it work in your own home, or is it that for instance, even though you like, ‘bright colours’, you wouldn’t want to live with them?

3. Naturally, Pinterest and Instagram are ideal for helping you define your style.  Look back through your Pinterest boards to see if there are any similarities. Start recognising the trends between them; colours, shapes, textures. For me, it’s kind of hard to tell what I like, because basically I like everything, all at once. Which is also kind of great, because it means I can have a really care free attitude to decorating. Clashing patterns? Sure. One thing I don’t like though- minimalism. Except, I’m starting to like the idea of a calm office. Not minimalist, obviously (let’s not get carried away), but perhaps the only white walls that I’d like in the house would be in the office. Again, I’ve only twigged that by really noticing what images and rooms I’m drawn to and feel a connection with.

4. Don’t forget to take notice when you’re about and about, visiting a hotel or cafe for instance, or basically, anywhere with a nice interior. What do you like and importantly, dislike?

To highlight the point that taste is merely a case of perception and personal opinion, I asked 2 of my favourite interiors bloggers & Instagrammers what makes them smile and to share a pic of their own home:

Image and quote: Kate Rogers, Online Interior Design and Event Styling, Over at Kates.  Follow Kate on Instagram here.

“What makes me smile is when you can really see peoples personality in their home! When I am decorating and buying things for my home, I never worry about whether they will go with a particular look or scheme. I figure as long as you fill your home with things you love then it will always come together!”

Image and quote: Olivia Silk, Interiors Blogger – Lust Living.  Follow Olivia on Instagram here.

“What makes me smile? At the moment I’m really into Hygge living, which is the Danish concept of living well and living simply. It’s all about creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the things and people around you so I’m trying to reflect that in my home lately, using soft textures for example my merino wool chunky knitted throw, sheepskin rugs and having an unnecessary amount of candles lit at all hours.”

You can apply this ‘does it make you smile?’ principle to decorating the whole house, but also to individual purchases. You can be as rational and logical as you like when trying to make a decision, but ultimately if it doesn’t make you smile then it won’t work long term, no matter how ‘functionional’ it is. You’ll come to begrudge it’s ugly presence soon enough and end up replacing it with something that makes you happy.

Us Audenza ladies don’t like anything in our house to be purely functional, in fact anything which doesn’t serve up a hefty dose of aesthetic pleasure is just down right offensive in our book. Which is why we cover boring lever arch folders in patterned paper,  spray paint pretty much anything that doesn’t move, and why we source and fill our home with beautiful objects that are not only functional, but seriously stunning too. And it’s why we started Audenza and this blog in the first place, to help and encourage others to do the same.

So tell me, what makes you smile?

Hollie x

Gold Luxe Round Drinks Trolley | Dripping Gold Concrete Effect Plant Pot | Pink Martini Glasses | Gold ‘Rock On!’ Hand | Monkey Bottle Holder

Greenery

Antique Metal Bar Cart | Pink Cocktail Glasses | Pink Martini Glasses | Artificial Trailing Spanish Moss | Rhubarb & Ginger Print

The trend for bringing the glories of the outdoors, inside with luscious potted plants gives us endless choice, whether real or faux, so they are a must for adding that essential warmth to a display that greenery brings. And will always be on trend with us ladies at Audenza for the softening effect green plants bring to our décor. Trailing plants are a great choice as they take up little space on the drinks trolley but soften the whole scene. If you have a tendency to kill indoor plants (as I have!) go for faux house plants, so no TLC required just beautiful lush greenery.

Height

Gold luxe Drinks Trolley | Gold Rock On Hand | Gold Beetle Wall Decor | | Pink Martini Glasses

To draw the eye into the scene you need height above your trolley, be it shelving, wall art, or even a gold elephant head! For most of us there is nothing worse than a blank wall, so be creative and pile on the glam. Not many homes have a gold elephant head or gold beetles on the wall, so if you want to be different, they’re the pieces for you! If you prefer to be a bit more subtle (well, by subtle, I mean less quirky), then why not hang a statement wall mirror to create a well-balanced alluring vignette.

Glam Glassware

Gold Round Drinks Stand | Rainbow Prosecco Flutes | Rainbow Wine Glasses | Gold Shell Planter | Gold Tulip Planters

We’ve all got a selection of glassware, but it’s not all decorative, so keep the boring stuff in the cupboard and only display your most visually appealing. There’s no space for plain glassware on the drinks trolley of your dreams, is there? It’s not about having everything out there to use, but being selective and creating an attractive scene. A stunning set of pink martini glasses, a gold prosecco bottle, a pink gin bottle – it all helps to create a glam image.

Neon

Antique Metal Bar Cart | Pink Disco Neon Light | Pink Cocktail Glasses | Lemon Yellow Vase

To get a bit of the cool bar vibe in there you can’t beat a neon light – no longer reserved for dodgy strip joints, these beauties are uber contemporary and oh-so-trendy.  Hang a neon light on the wall above, or place a small one on a shelf, such as this pink disco neon light – or both if you want to go wild! For an evening soirée, a neon light on your drinks trolley has to be the best way to add intimacy and vibrancy to a do that draws your guests in.

Jazzy Je Ne Sais Quoi

And last but not least, jazz it up – as in, do the unexpected so your drinks trolley is different from every other drinks trolley out there. So, for the final flourish, you need to add in something quirky and unexpected that brings a smile to your face and brightens up your day. A cheeky monkey bottle holder or a gold rock on hand – the choice is yours to make. The quirkier and more unexpected the better, for maximum impact.

A drinks trolley has endless possibilities for creating a stunning snapshot for glamorous living, and we all like to have a bit of glamour in our lives. Even if we don’t live glamorous lives – we can pretend can’t we, with this revival of the decadent era that shouts out drop-dead-gorgeous and entices us into another world? We’d love to know if you have any other tips or your own ideas for how to style a drinks trolley?

Have a fabulous weekend.

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Flamingo Floor Lamp | Aslan Lion Planter | Faux Sheepskin Chair | WOW Balloon Ornament | All items available from Audenza

Doesn’t the dark wall make the colour of this WOW ornament pop! Any deep jewel colours, such as emerald green or sapphire blue, would work particularly well. To tie the look together, we’ve added hints of pink, with our Faux Pink Medinilla Exotic Flowering Plant and Pink Flocked Marseillaise Bust. (To be honest, if we can squeeze in a bit of pink, we always will!)

Image Credit: @ellashausofcolour featuring our WOW Balloon Ornament

We love seeing customer photos that include your gorgeous pets and Nacho here is no exception – what a cutie! But anyway, back to the styling! This customer has created a sleek and ultra-modern room, with bold colour-blocking, crisp white walls, plenty of plants and even an on-trend neon heart.

Gold Console Table | Greek Key Mirror | Gold OMG Balloon Ornament & Wall Décor | All items available from Audenza

These balloon ornaments are incredibly versatile. We’ve styled them with a plethora of different textures and patterns. From the curled spikes of the Sea Urchin Ornament, the Grecian inspired Calix Blue Geometric Rug and the animal print of our Lumi The Snow Leopard Ornament, it all works together to create a very cohesive result. So don’t be hesitant, be bold and give it a go!

Image Credit: @upcycle_and_paint featuring our WOW Balloon Ornament & Wall Décor and Yellow Flocked Wall Shelves

Your home is your own space, so we love seeing customer’s homes where their personality shines through. This is a great example of this, as they’ve fearlessly embraced all things maximalist. It features a scalloped border, gothic mirror, botanical wallpaper, a leopard print chess piece and multiple glitter balls, because why not!

Image Credit: @upcycle_and_paint featuring our Gold OMG Balloon Ornament & Wall Décor

Our Gold OMG Balloon Ornament & Wall Décor  injects a dash a golden glamour and showcases how these ornaments can also be displayed on the wall. This customer’s gallery wall is vibrant and playful, with neon green photo frames, fun typography prints and a baby pink backdrop.

Aziza Console Table | Rhubarb & Gin Print | Patterned Occasional Chair | Gold OMG Balloon Ornament | All items available from Audenza

The metallic sheen from both these ornaments can catch the light and they look wonderful paired with other metallic pieces. Here we’ve created a warm colour palette of glittering golds and a variety of shades of pink to create a cosy, yet stylish, result.

So there we have it, our WOW Balloon Ornament & Wall Décor and Gold OMG Balloon Ornament & Wall Décor styled 6 stunning ways. This glorious assortment shows the versatility of these pieces. They can be either hung on a gallery wall or displayed on your dressing table, kitchen shelf, mantelpiece, or in fact, wherever you fancy really!

Also, if this has inspired you, please do share your Audenza purchases with us using the hashtag #AUDENZA and tagging us @audenzahome. We love to see them, and it also means that you will have a chance at winning a £50 voucher to spend at Audenza. Win – win!

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Image credits: @interiorcurve | Featuring our Ginkgo Leaf Table

To start you off we have the completely over the top and utterly fabulous home bar of Siobhan Hanna Murphy, runner up on the recent Interior Design Masters show.  Everything about Siobhan’s home is utterly drop-dead-gorgeous, so we had to start with this one.  Hollywood glamour and a deliciously pink confection all rolled into one. Of course, if you are not a pink lover this might be a bit much for you, but we absolutely love it.

Image credits: @sallydoessassy

Another home bar that reeks of old-world glamour.  With lashings of gold, paired with leopard print walls, chair and even the rug, this is a statement room that speaks of sultry after dark parties.

Design credit: Matt Architecture | Photography: Will Pryce

For the minimalist amongst you this is a great idea -a home bar within a cupboard.  What could be more clever?  Tuck it away during the day and then open up to reveal your very own party central.

Image credit: @theoldpiggery_

I think this another great idea for bringing some glamour into a small space.  The back is lined with gold leaf to create a shimmering luxurious backdrop to your home bar.

Image credit: @theelectricpenguin

This really is razzle-dazzle home bar!  You could party the night away and never run out of the booze.

Image credit: The Pink House

For a small-scale home bar this is hard to beat.  So sophisticated with the back lit glass shelving, and stylishly arranged in a cupboard in the corner of the room.  There but not there – just a beautiful display.

Image credit: @weeny_victorian_house_in_ware | Featuring our Pink Martini Glasses

This is another great idea for a small home bar.  An upcycled old sideboard that has been repurposed and repainted into a stylish drinks cabinet.

Image credit: @homeontheriverside | Featuring our Octopus Wine Bottle Holder

If you’re short on space, an open shelving unit can be a great way to create a home bar feel.  Line up some of your favourite bottles and glasses, add a few quirky accessories and you have a stylish display that doubles up as a home bar.

Image credit: @weeny_victorian_house_in_ware | Featuring our Pink Martini Glasses

Obviously, a garden home bar gives you a whole different scope again. This vibrant outdoor home bar is a dreamy addition to any garden.  A charismatic fun way to celebrate the joy of the outdoors and revel in some sunshine, hopefully.

Customer Photo Featuring our Marilyn Blush Velvet Armchair

A customer sent in this photo of her snug.  What an amazing space!  Never mind home bar, more like a trendy restaurant bar, complete with silver disco lights.

Image credit: @thefoodhun | Featuring our Luxe Round Drinks Trolley & Zebra Vase

A bar cart is a simple way to create some old-world glamour without too much input.  Great for styling, and a moveable liquid feast!

Image credit: @soph.at.home | Featuring our Lips Neon Box Light & Luxe Round Drinks Trolley

If you don’t want to go with the whole home bar set up, a neon light adds some fun and creates a focal point to draw you into the scene.

Image credit: @cotswoldmanorhouse | Featuring our Gold Elephant Head & Dripping Gold Concrete Plant Pot

A slick, chic home bar for those of you with the space to create your own relaxing party venue.

Image credit: @fayes_homestyle | Featuring our Timeless Gold Rim Gin Glasses

This cupboard is a green oasis during the day that opens up into a roomy home bar when the party starts.  Perfect for small spaces.

Shop Home Bar Accessories…

Shop home bar accessories

So, what do you think?  Have we got your creative juices flowing to come up with your own home bar ideas?! From palatial to a small shelf, there is a wealth of choice here, and they all have one thing in common, they are all fabulous.  Celebrate the joy of friends and family with your own home bar – it doesn’t even have to be alcoholic!

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Image credit: @down_at_dearsley_farm

A fabulous monochrome bathroom enlivened by splashes of colour and gold accessories.  The Gold Rock On Hand and Gold Peace Hand both bring a smile to your face as part of a glamorous gallery wall.

Image credit: @dannisgaff

Another gallery wall but this time a colourful and fun statement wall that is joyful and lively.

Image credit: @joneshousetohome

Don’t you just love the way love has been spelled out using our Gold Peace Hand Wall Décor?  An ingenious way to create some texture and make a loving statement.

Image credit: @lesley_m3

It doesn’t get more kitsch than a zebra in a bowler hat in a neon pink frame!  And just to calm him down and sooth the senses add Gold Peace Hand to spell out love.

Image credit: @itsonlytaken10years

This dark and moody sitting room is a treasure trove of quirkiness.  We love the Gold Peace Hand and Gold Rock On Hand showcased by the elaborate gilt frame.

Image credit: @theflatwiththehousecat

Another quirky and colourful gallery wall.  A Gold Peace Wall Hand is the perfect way to add a 3D effect to a wall display and create a more visually exciting arrangement.

What do you think to our round up of ideas for our Gold Rock On Hand and Gold Peace Hand Wall Décor?  Anything that brings a little bit of love and laughter into our homes and our wall displays has to be worth it.

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Flamingo Floor Lamp | Faux Sheepskin Chair | Lion Planter | Everything available from Audenza.com

Aim for at Least 4 Different Light Sources

When I say 4 different light sources I mean different types of lighting – ceiling lights, wall lights, table lamps, standard lamps and spotlights all have their part to play in illuminating a room, and creating atmospheric pools of light.  I always think lighting is like mirrors – you can’t have too many!  Dark painted rooms will always require more lighting sources, otherwise you will have gloomy corners that make a room feel dull and unloved.  And lighting should be at different heights, just like furniture, to give a balanced look to a room and create interest.

Palm Tree Floor Lamp

A Dimmer is Essential

If you have a central pendant light, put it on a dimmer switch so you can get a softer light and moodier atmosphere when required. Quite often a pendant light is more a style statement (on or off), than for the actual light so I think a dimmer is essential to create different light levels according to your mood or task.  I like to see my dinner when I’m eating, so I have the dining room pendant on full and then soften it down for the after dinner chat, pre Covid, of course!

Before Redecorating, Consider the Lighting

If you are redecorating consider your lighting options before going ahead, then any rewiring can be done first. Make sure you have plenty of wall sockets for table lamps in different areas of the room.  Do you want wall lights e.g either side of the fireplace?  What about shelving units and bookcases?  Down lighters can be wired in to illuminate them or LED strip lights behind each shelf to make a feature of them in the evening, otherwise they are liable to be a dark gloomy corner.  There is nothing worse than finishing a room and realizing you haven’t got the lighting right, so think long and hard about your lighting options before wielding the paintbrush!

Gold Sunburst Pendant Light

Brass Flamingo Table Lamp

Consider the Shade Colour & Lining

Think about what you want the light to achieve. Is it just for atmosphere and a warm glow, or is it task lighting whereby you want to be able to read or sew? For instance, darker lamp shades cast less light, whereas a pink shade, gives a really lovely warm light, and a light coloured lampshade will give a brighter light – obvious but sometimes we forget these things in the moment. Task lighting is essential if you want to read or sew, I have an Anglepoise floor lamp for my quilting which I wouldn’t be without as it’s high enough to angle down onto my work. Also bear in mind the lining colour of a lampshade.  White gives off quite a cool light (even with a warm white bulb in), whereas a gold metallic lining gives a very warm, soft glow.

Gold Snake Table Lamp

Bronze Palm Leaf Floor Lamp | Scalloped Velvet Chair | Everything available from Audenza.com

Create Ambience with Shadows

Think about the effect a light will have in the evening when it is lit up.  Our Antique Bronze Palm Leaf Floor Lamp casts amazing tropical patterns on the wall that are really quite stunning, and add a tropical vibe to your décor.  Similarly, a fretwork pattern on a lampshade will create patterns on the walls that just add that extra dimension to a scheme.

Gianna Neon Canvas Art 

Think Beyond Floor & Table Lights

You can add extra light sources in more unusual ways, like our Gianna LED Neon Canvas Art. It’s a great way to add an extra light source, and combine a piece of artwork into the mix. Neon lights add a quirky splash of light that makes you smile. Also, candle holders are great for adding a soft glow on a mantelpiece or sideboard and creating more atmosphere. Wall sconce candle holders are another option to create a glow and interest on the wall, whether as part of a gallery wall or a display in themselves. If you are worried about using real candles and naked flames, then there is always the option of Led candles that give a remarkably realistic flicker and glow.

Lemon Vase | Parrot Wall Sconces | Rhubarb & Gin Print | Everything available from Audenza.com

Check your Measurements

Check the height measurements of table lamps before you buy. It has to look visually right against the other furniture, so hold a tape measure up to where the lamp will come to in relation to everything else. You want objects to sit at different heights to create more visual interest.  If they are all on the same level it can look flat and uninteresting.

Have Fun!

Gisella Giraffe Floor Lamp

And finally when it comes to choosing decorative lighting, have fun – after all, we all want something to make us smile in our decor! In the grand scheme of things lamps, like cushions,  are one of the easiest thing to change, and are a fabulous way to create drama and adventure in your home – lit or unlit!

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Image credit: @lauraatnumbertwelve

So, for those of you out there, who like me are struggling, we bring you our top 10 gallery walls inspiration.  And even if you have nailed it, it’s always intriguing to see what others have done.  We have also included some tips on how to achieve the look from the owners of gallery walls that we love.

Image credit: @oakappledecor

Start from the middle and work outwards

We featured Rachael’s colourful house on our blog here, and her top tip is to start from the middle and work outwards;

“I try to use a variety of different sized frames on my walls – both portrait and landscape. I also collect smaller things to fill gaps such as plates or lights. I always get the frames up first and then I work on filling them. I tend to start from the middle and work outwards – sometimes having to buy some extra bits to fill the wall up. And if I’m using a variety of colours, I try to spread them evenly throughout the pieces.”

Rachael Haven, Artist | @rachaelhavenhanddesign

Image credit: @nest_twenty_eight

Select complimenting colours

Lucinda selects the art for her gallery walls based on complimenting colours;

“It normally takes me a long time to gather and curate the art for gallery walls, as I like to display each piece to compliment the next. I tend to do this based mostly on colour and to reflect the mood of the space that I’m putting the art in, so it varies drastically from room to room in my home!”

Lucinda Mitra, Interiors & Lifestyle Blogger | @nest_twenty_eight

Image credit: @kylamagrathinteriors

Vary the sizes of art

I think a gallery wall staircase is particularly difficult to achieve successfully but this one is really stunning.  The artwork reflects the monochrome colour scheme, and I like the one very large image surrounded by smaller prints.

Image credit: @littlebigbell

Image credit: @patirobins

Work on it gradually

We featured Sarah’s stunning gallery walls on our blog here, and her top top tip is to work on it gradually over time;

“I love a gallery wall, again I just go with it, I try and make sure the artwork has the same kind of vibe, I like to have lots of different size pieces, as well as different shapes so you can really mix it up and create something different. I always give myself plenty of time, putting a few pieces up and then leaving it for a while before adding to it, to assess what looks best where.”

Sarah, Interior Influencer | @nudeandthenovice

Image credit: @michellematangi

Image credit: @homewithaj

Tell a personal story

I absolutely love AJ’s gallery wall of photo’s, and also her thoughts on creating a gallery wall of memories;

“Be it with photos, typography, art or a mixture of all, I feel that gallery walls fill a space with stories and what’s a home without a story?

This is my living room wall and it will always make me feel at home. My mum’s living room wall has forever been filled to the brim with photos printed in colour, hung using miss-matched frames. She has so many they even take over her shelves and spill onto the floor! 

Whilst mine is minimal in comparison, I was sure to create a gallery wall that can grow, with my intention being to add more special moments to my wall year after year, just like my mum. 

Photos fill my space with positive energy, sparking such fun conversation when visitors come round and they always evoke memories of happy times. My favourite kind of stories live on this wall.”

AJ Odudu, TV Presenter | @homewithaj

Image credit: @flawsomehome

Image credit: @mindy_schroor

Gathering together these quotes I think the true essence of a successful gallery wall is for it to be curated slowly over time with things you love!  Having down sized dramatically a few years ago I have cupboards full of framed family photo’s going back 100 years that I am now going to attempt to make a gallery wall with up the stairs.  Slowly and thoughtfully!

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Image credit: @cherylkopearson50

We love to see how our customers style our products and our palm leaf floor lamp creates a stunning feature out of this alcove.   With the dark walls it could look a bit like a shadowy corner, but the lamp makes a stunning focal point, by day or night.  Glamorous lit or unlit!

Lola Velvet Armchair | Horn Leg Side Table | Tropical Rug | Palm Leaf Floor Lamp | Diamond Sunburst Mirror

A photo we have styled that showcases the palm lamp in an oasis of green.  Calm and tranquillity, with organic designs repeated throughout the scene, given a glamorous vibe with the gold furniture, enlivened with pops of colour.

I needed a finishing touch to my glam and feminine spare bedroom and the antique bronze palm leaf floor lamp is perfect, height to counteract the low level furniture, and golden palm fronds that replicate the design of the wallpaper – perfect.

The beauty of a floor lamp is the added height, which enhances a room scheme as you don’t want everything at the same height.  The eye needs to travel up and down for interest and tension.  Added to that the beauty of the graceful palm fronds and you have a winner.  And the shadows on a plain wall at night are a bonus, and really special!

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Image credit: @layered.home

In this lush green room with its tropical vibe and textural contrast, the ginkgo table really shines through the greenery for a splash of gold, with the ginkgo design being part of the overall theme.

Image credit: @comedowntothewoods

An individual and very colourful room with lots of quirky accessories for a real hit of eccentricity. The ginkgo table lends an air of elegance and brings sophistication to the scheme.

Image credit: @lou_a_watkins

A moody grey scheme with pops of pink and red to enliven it is given some brilliance and shine with the gold drinks trolley and gold table.

Image credit: Audenza. Gold Ginkgo Leaf Side Table | Gold Ginkgo Leaf Table Lamp | Gold Beetle | Blush Velvet Armchair | Pink Textured Rug | Brass Planter | Artificial Philo Plant

Simple, elegant and with a Japanese feel to the styling with the screen and gold ginkgo leaf table lamp.

Image credit: Audenza. Glam Gold Floor Lamp | Orange Cushion Cover | Gold Ginkgo Leaf Side Table | Ornate Leopard candle Holder | Snake Print

Another colourful, crazy room setting but the gold floor lamp and table help to pull the scheme together and give it some grounding.

Whatever your style, whatever your colour preference, there is usually a way to work something you love into your home.  Hopefully these 5 different room settings have given you plenty of inspiration for how this beautiful side table can be styled.  Do you have a favourite?

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I, being the try hard, trendy that I was, wore trousers that had a skirt built-in.  Jollied by my mothers assurances that it was about to become ALL the rage, I trotted into school that day with a smile on my face, confident that this look was about to propel me to seriously new levels of cool (I say new, meaning I was most definitely not cool to start with).  It took all of about 5 seconds on walking into the classroom for me to realise that I had made a grave mistake.

The key point about this quote, is that my version of ‘boring’, may well be very different to yours.

Well, my friends, that was my first lesson in trends.  Unless, you’re already cool, trying to start your own trend, with the hope of it catching on, is simply not going to happen.  You need someone cool (or in the case of the real world, a journo, a blogger, or someone with authority) to catch on to it and then you’ve got a chance at it taking off.

It took me a few years to recover from that non-uniform experience, not just in terms of emotional damage (!!) but also to realise that actually, I didn’t care what other people thought.  I spent most of my early teens dressing like everyone else, EXACTLY like everyone else.  To my mothers despair.  But it must have been a coming of age thing, because when I reached about 17 or 18, I actually stopped caring.  Of course, looking back on it now, I think, “What on earth was I thinking?”, but at the time, I was having fun and experimenting.  In fact, I used to like it when people in Leicester laughed at what I was wearing, it meant I had succeeded in looking different.

Now the point of this story (yes, I am getting to it!), is that exactly the same goes for your decor choices, folks. Design is so subjective and everyone has different tastes. Even one product can be taken and styled in a multitude of different settings to create a completely different look.  You don’t need to feel like you should follow trends. What’s actually important is finding what it is you love and basing your decor decisions around that. [You can read more here: How to Find Your Interiors Style.]

Image credit: @Patirobins | View her eclectic and moody house tour

And do you know what we find?  Anyone whose opinion we respect, or for that matter, care about, respects us for having the courage to step out and be different.  Our friends don’t always like what we wear, or what we have in our homes, but they respect us for doing it anyway.

If you’re going to try and style your home hoping that everyone else is going to come in, love it and then do something similar, then you can forget about it.  If you’re doing something different, then just embrace it and know that not everyone who walks in the door is going to like it.  But that’s OKAY.

How boring would life be if everyone looked the same, wore the same thing and styled their houses the same.  Urgh! I couldn’t think of anything worse.   So, if you feel confident enough to try something different, then fantastic, but try to remember my little story about the skirt and trouser combo.  You’ve got to go into it knowing that you might be on your own, but have the confidence in your own mind and creativity to stick with it anyway.

Hollie x

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