Spring is here and that means we have a few more weeks of cooler weather before the summer heat really moves in, and with more than 50 per cent of Oman residents looking to re-decorate their home interiors this year, there’s no better time to re-design your home with both beauty and functionality in mind.
HGTV caught up with LA-born, Las Vegas-raised twin sisters Alana and Lex LeBlanc, who are co-stars on HGTV’s ‘Listed Sisters’, where they find fixer-uppers and turn them into dream homes. The duo gave us a double dose of design tips and advice on how to style your home for spring and enjoy it all summer long.
Big, bold and botanical
Lex, an interior designer by trade, who graduated from the New York School of Interior Design, says botanicals can easily transform rooms from humdrum to fresh and vibrant. Simple additions to rooms like indoor plants can easily add life and colour to any place. Easy to maintain plants that particularly thrive in air-conditioned or indoor environments include succulents, herbs, fiddle leaf fig trees and cascading plants. Or, for those more adventurous, botanical-themed textiles and wall coverings like quirky wallpaper can easily be turned into a feature wall and spruce up any space, giving it a tropical, vibrant feel. Pair these lively prints with muted hues like grey, brown or deep navy blue, to create a space that feels fun, yet sophisticated.
Subtle touches with Jewel tones
Design whiz Lex also recommends deep blue and green jewel tones on walls and kitchen cabinets this spring. From her take, these subtle colour touches are a sure way for people looking to turn average abodes into fantastic family homes – a notion her real estate mogul sister, Alana agrees with. These changes can also be done on a small budget, adding some much-needed life to lacklustre living rooms. Adding an essential splash of colour can brighten any space, taking homes from grim to gorgeous and turning dens from dowdy to desirable. Those not able to splash out on a whole new wall of paint can update cabinets, countertops, backsplashes or even appliances to create a more contemporary look. The addition of some ultra-chic furniture will help give the rooms the feel of a private retreat that you can enjoy all year round.
Add your own flair and style
Any house, to turn into a home, needs some sort of personal touches like family portraits, personal art or sentimental items, throughout. As mothers, a great way to incorporate a family’s style is to frame children’s artworks. It’s amazing to see how a simple finger painting piece can be transformed into a work of art that looks like it’s straight from an art gallery, all by simply adding a framed element. It doesn’t even need to be expensive, pick up some frames from homeware stores to showcase children’s artworks and you will be amazed by the effect it can create.
Function over trends
Spring is ideal weather for the outdoors; however, choosing the right outdoor furniture can help things during the brutal summer months. Functional furniture layout is very important. Adding shade elements will give the longevity of any outdoor terrace furniture just that extra bit of breadth to ward off the natural elements. Bright-white upholstery and wicker furnishings work well in tandem to create a sophisticated outdoor lounge for entertaining. Find a way to get some shade, like a large outdoor umbrella or a pergola, so you can enjoy the space any time of the day. LED rope lights can also make the outdoors inviting all night long. And always be sure you use outdoor furniture that can be cleaned easily.
Upgrades on any budget
Opening up a room by removing a wall or two allows for seamless living areas. But this isn’t always possible on every budget. Some simple and cost-effective ways to give your home a new lease of life in spring include simple additions like adding new window treatments or curtains – particularly in the main living areas and bedrooms – as this automatically provides a fresh take on furnishings and boosts the visual appeal. For bathrooms, you can’t always create a spacious and spa-like feel with twin vanities and chrome fixtures and marble surfaces. Instead, opt for candles to create mood lighting and dried flowers like lavender or myrtle that can add subtle aromatics to the room while adding a hint of colour.
For more style tips, catch Lex and Alana on HGTV’s Listed Sisters each Saturday at 21:45pm local Oman time on channel 357. HGTV is available on beIN; to subscribe, log on to: www.beIN.net/subscribe.
Find out how you can add a Middle Eastern touch to your house