If you’re planning a complete makeover or tweaking your current home, we have the top interior design trends for achieving a South European influenced style.

1. Tiles are a must!

The easiest way to incorporate Mediterranean house decor into your home is using tiles of all colours, patterns, shapes and sizes. Tiles can be for flooring, kitchen splash backs or fireplaces – so get creative!
For a sun-baked Moroccan look, focus on using terracotta tiles in shades of dusty orange.  Incorporating patterned mosaic tiles is a large component of this particular style, and are great for bordering floors and walls.

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2. On the walls

A natural, rustic texture is commonly seen on the interiors and exterior of buildings in Greece and Italy. A textured look in the home is achieved by layering paint and glaze on plaster or alternatively creating sand textured walls for visual depth. Remember that you’re creating a naturally textured wall, so don’t be too particular when throwing around paint and glaze.
Using tinted dry wall compound can simulate a plaster wall without the cost and effort. When redesigning walls and choosing a colour palette think of sky blues, bright yellows and aqua.

3. Inspired accessories

Mediterranean house decor traditionally incorporates materials such as burnished bronze and wrought iron into accessories. A wrought iron fireplace goes well with Moroccan-inspired rugs in shades of red and blue. By using blue floral patterned vases as flower vases or cooking utensil holders, it’s a key subtle way to incorporate the style. Complement vases with colourful patterned cushions and neutral throws.

For a more elegant, Luxe inspired look, use gold as the main accent colour.

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4. Italian highlights

Italian inspired interiors often incorporate dark wooden floorboards, over sized furniture and red and orange in colour schemes. Colours that mimic a Tuscan sunset such as warm reds and terracotta orange will embrace a European summer all year round.

Encapsulate Italian design in the living room by pairing red cushions with an orange patterned rug, and create a bold statement in the bedroom with Italian bed linen.

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5. Greek inspired

For a Greek twist on your style, think deep blues matched with bright turquoise in your furniture and statement pieces. Using whitewashed wood flooring throughout the house and covered with Moroccan style rugs in the bedrooms pays beautiful homage to the Greeks. A common design feature in Greek homes that are perched on the side of the sea are statement pillars and rustic exposed beams, so consider using these tastefully. In the bedroom, opt for large statement bedheads and bed frames.

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To make re-decorating easy, meet Grace Garrett, a designer and textile designer who embraces the Mediterranean style. Grace has been in the design industry for over 20 years and is one of the interior design online experts at Designbx.

The post Mediterranean house decor: Set sail to Europe appeared first on Designbx.

1. Keep it natural

Natural textiles are the easiest way to create a seaside vibe in your home. They not only provide a relaxing atmosphere but make the home feel cosy and warm, like these cushions from Coastal Living. Natural materials include: canvas, rattan, cotton, distressed wood, coral, stone and timber. Cane and wicker are great for replacing those boring old light bulbs. Or try artworks that have the same effect, such as our seawood artwork.

You don’t need to spend a fortune either. Your old timber furniture can be refreshed with a cerused finish. This enriches the grain of the timber, using a pigment grain filler, which can also be tinted to make your old furniture match your new style.

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2. Bring foliage inside

White and green foliage go together like peanut butter and jelly. Plants are the perfect addition to the creating a home seaside style. They can brighten up any space and bring life and colour into small living room designs. Potted plants such as palms, magnolias and white hydrangeas and cactuses can be the highlight of the room (and they are easy to keep alive). Alternately, you can opt for fake leave arrangements and no one will ever know. Try monstera leaves or palm leaves to complement coral and timber accessories and furniture. Perch your smaller plants on a floating timber shelf. 

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3. Unique wall hangings and features

Wall hangings are the new craze and can match just about any interior style. Apart from looking amazing, they create a cosy feel in the room. Sticking with the motif of natural materials, wall hangings are made from feathers, rope, cotton and fabrics. We offer a subtle pink unique wall hanging, that is perfect for a coastal home. Wooden oars are also a great idea for wall features as they stick with the coastal theme but can be personalised with some painting.

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4. Embrace retro and eclectic

Retro prints bring back the good old days when surfboards were simply a plank of timber. Black and white prints mix well with coastal colours such as teal, white, brown and navy. Try creating a arrangement of retro photos, vintage posters and coastal ornaments to make a feature piece in the room. 

If you want to hang photos yet still keep with the seaside theme, get creative and use rope to dangle your most cherished memories.

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5. Quirky furniture and statement pieces

Let’s go back to cerused finishes for timber. By tinting the pigment filler you can create brand new items of furniture that catch the eye. Try a teal colour for your coffee table and style it with a matching coastal print. You can also use hanging chairs with natural cushions, to create a statement and style it with large plants and wall hangings to create a secretive corner getaway.

Surfboards can also be unique features and can personalised to suit your style. They can also be mounted on the wall to make a great shelf. Match these ideas with funky mirrors that make the room feel larger and it’ll make interior decorating a breeze.

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For more style boards, tips, tricks and help in creating a home seaside style, we are here to help!

The post Bring back Summer with a home seaside style appeared first on Designbx.

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1. Top tip for coastal style

Keep colours minimal if bold (two is a wise number). Lighter tones rely on layering and texture for success.

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2. Traits

The coastal style features a range of texture, layers, natural fibres, scale (oversized versus trinkets), installation art, weatherboard, comfort, function, washed surfaces, stone and greenery. 

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3. Designers/Artists

Jenny Wolf, Ralph Lauren, Mamma Green Outdoor, India Hicks.

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4. Pantone Colours

5. Brands that fit

Coco Republic, St Barts Co., Bisque Interiors, Freedom Furniture, Molmic, Jardan, Mark Tuckey, Equator Homewares, Spence & Lyda, Whiteport, Dunlin, Globe West, Beachwood,  MCM House.

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6. A perfect day

Sandy feet playing on the deck and a summer breeze gusting through the home, spreading the smell of jasmine from the vines.  Fresh prawns, crusty local market bread, and a chilled wine spread across the table, to be enjoyed with your favourite subscription.

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7. Fragrance or tune

Cocolux Soy Candle-Wild Frangipani (Sand underfoot & sun).

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The coastal style lets you relive those fun and relaxing times at the beach. It’s truly a style that embraces Summer. From the luxurious Hamptons to classical nautical, the coastal style is chill and goes with whatever floats your boat!  

The post Coastal style guide appeared first on Designbx.

The best styles to embrace the summer season are modern interior design, coastal interior design, Scandinavian interior design, and boho interior design. So how do you incorporate these themes into your home to give that summer vibe?

1. Neutral coastal

Gone are the days of blue and white stripes! Summer is about those neutral and bright shades that soak up the sun rays and reflect the beautiful weather. This style is long lasting and can be adjusted to every season. Think high gloss furniture, princess and verdant blue, smooth metals, cadmium yellow and minimum grain wood. This style is inspired by the natural outdoors, so earthy tones and natural materials are a must. A simple yet effective design would include smooth metal furniture, wood flooring or accessories and glass objects; whether it be a mirror or a glass vase full of flowers. Start by revamping those old wooden photo frames with a DIY bleached timber look or begin your hunt for natural material baskets, accessories and furniture. To save you time, start with our coastal living style board.

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2. Bohemian

Long live this summer design style! Nothing speaks summer nights more than a vibrant pattern flown straight from Morocco. The tip for this style is to create a purposely ‘messy’ look. It’s all about mixing textures and patterns but not matching them, to somehow create a harmonious look. For base colours think china blue, sea pine and baton rouge, then combine these with an abundance of patterns and textures. Layering floor rugs is the best place to start as it is often the largest object in the room. You can then decide on the fabric and colours that you want for your cushions and furniture. Try hand-dyeing fabrics or opt for Ikat patterns. The best way to incorporate different materials and textures is with wall hangings. Find a macrame hanging that includes feathers, canvas, lace, ribbons and patterns or you could try one yourself. Make sure to still include mirrors to reflect the natural light and plenty of greenery whether it be plants or fake pot plants (no one will know). Start with our bohemian collection.

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3. Leather accents

Even though leather isn’t your best friend during hot sweaty weather, details around the home are summery, fresh and long-lasting. Try neutral and light shaded leather to furnish your home and brighten up the living space. When using leather furnishings it’s a good idea to avoid browns in your floor colour, instead opt for creams or paler shades. If you’re worried about your leather furnishings standing out like a sore thumb, lighten up the room with large, green leafed plants. Also add patterns in your cushions and rugs to take the focus away from the leather.

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4. Geometric

Bright and busy patterns are a great way to throw colour into the mix. Try geometric tiles, cushions, wall prints and pendants to revamp your abode into a place too cool for the heat. Become a pro at mixing patterns with the 60/30/10 approach. Stick to 60% of your favourite pattern, 30% of the secondary pattern and 10% of the third, as an accent. Try mixing up the scale of the patterns such as narrow stripes, bold geometric and floral prints, you shouldn’t mix the same scaled patterns in one room. Another top tip is to repeat patterns as a motif, for example an X pattern in the rug can be seen again in an X-base coffee table. Check out our boho sanctuary for more ideas.

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5. Tropic thunder

Lush greenery, rattan and tropical prints is all you need to give your home a summer vibe and keep it coming into the cooler months.  Leafy wallpaper patterns are on trend right now and look great spread across a large wall, whether it’s behind a bed head or across the living room wall. Complement the pattern with real (or fake) plants and natural baskets such as wicker, rattan and seagrass. If using a bold pattern in a large quantity, avoid making the room too busy, by sticking to neutral colours and minimal ornamentation.

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What are you waiting for? Summer is here and now you have all the tools you need to bring some summer vibes into your home.   

The post Styles that embrace Summer appeared first on Designbx.

We’ll even offer a few tips to make your home the perfect pirate haven. Yes, even the dirtiest, salt-caked seafarers had to spend a little time at home, and yee can be sure they went for a coastal theme.

So how did this day become such a worldwide hit? Well it certainly helps that it’s been used as a major fundraiser for Childhood Cancer Support (one of our favourite causes) but its beginnings were very humble.

When two lads decided to encourage each other to get fit, they started using pirate slang. Soon the in-joke spread so widely that the duo became known as ‘those pirate guys’. They soon hatched a scheme to make the day official, and with the help of Dave Barry, a comedian and columnist, the concept went viral.

Suddenly Facebook was turning its site into a pirate themed design, astronauts celebrated on the International Space Station, President Obama appeared with a costumed buccaneer and Krispy Kreme gave away doughnuts to anyone willing to speak like a pirate.

Living in a country girt by sea, we think it’s fair to take the theme a step further, especially when the Coastal style is already a big hit among Designbx fans.

1. Go oar out

We absolutely love Coastal/pirate themed wall art. It’s not only aesthetically charming but also unlocks the imagination, helping us dream of faraway continents and distant adventures. Anchors, oars and sea sculptures never lose their appeal. Timeless classics.

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2. Take to the high seas

If you want to see a kid stand in one position without moving for at least an hour, try a map design for wallpaper. Vintage wallpapers and oversized maps transport any imaginative person to a dream state. Beautiful, classic, hypnotic.

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3. Roll out the barrels

No self-respecting pirate wants to sit in a plush velvet chair, drinking from fine china. Roll out those barrels, and while you’re at it, empty the grog into some large recycled jars. Let’s get this pirate party started!

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4. A boatiful vintage look

While the more illustrative and decorative touches provide obvious ocean connotations, it’s the rustic finishes that provide a more subtle and beautiful coastal feel. Think: weather driftwood, rope-style woven rugs, glass bottle accessories and sea creature detailing.

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5. Create long-lasting pirate memories

Pirates have hearts too (usually black), so get creative with the presentation of your cherished memories. Nets and ropes are fun ways to mount your snapshots and sentimental items.

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6. Go coastal zen

Try this subtle touch of the coast with nautical elements incorporated, or just go with a coastal style. Coral and blue are tonal soul mates, and they work perfectly to project the theme. Provide a little pop with art prints, and a beautiful feature lamp on a rattan side table. Pinks, corals, blues and neutrals work fantastically to complete the perfect palette. Actually we might think twice about letting a dirty pirate into this room!

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So get ready to talk the talk, walk the peg-legged walk, and inject a little ocean spray into your interiors. And when it comes to International Talk Like A Pirate Day, give generously to not-for-profit organisation Childhood Cancer Support.

And remember the 4 A’s:

Ahoy! (Hello)
Aye (Yes, sir)
Avast! (Check it out)
Arrr! (Yep, I agree, I’m lovin’ it)

If you have a design related question or quandary, jump onto our Facebook page to ask one of our professional designers or book a free styling consultation!

The post Talk Like A Pirate Day – don’t just talk the talk, live the life! appeared first on Designbx.