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Friday, November 20, 2020

Inspirational demonstrations of carefully selected materials, patterns, and proportions to elevate the quality of your living room.

Without a decorative feature to divert attention and distract the eye, the dark and reflective sheen of a television is made more prominent — often to the detriment of a carefully crafted décor. It is for this reason that interior designers typically regard the feature wall as an indispensable component of a modern seating lounge. Feature walls can be taken beyond the conventional expectation of having an unadorned panel backing the television — as we will demonstrate with a selection of exemplar feature walls — a bland space can be elevated to luxurious heights with a degree of consideration applied to the selection of materials, patterns, and proportions.

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Wonder Wall

Interior design by: SQFT Space Design Management

Novel patterns attract the naïve eye, and a feature wall emblazoned with intricate motifs is capable of imbuing even the most Spartan of spaces with discernable complexity. The reflective flanks of this seating lounge’s feature wall are subtly etched with an eclectic combination of ornate patterns, while a monochromatic array of rectangular panels in white and ebonised wood are held in frames above the television. The result simultaneously draws the eye up to the extent of the double-height walls and pulls attention from the television screen by obscuring it among the abundant details of the dark background.

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Vertical Vibes

Interior design by: The Roof Studio

Standing in relative complexity against the monotone walls of the pictured living room, The Roof Studio takes advantage of the extra-height provided by the raised ceiling to incorporate a generous vertical stretch of warm wood tones. Although relatively sizable in its proportions when compared to the rest of the space, the feature wall is subtly diminished in size and prominence, with individual cuts of wood deliberately aligned to pull the gaze upwards before skewing partway up the wall to mimic the path of incoming sunlight.

Interior design by: The Roof Studio Tips: Despite being presented in stringent lines, the homogeneous cuts of wood on the feature wall are presented to mimic and accentuate the passage of sunlight into this living room.

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Material Mode

Interior design by: Yong Studio

In a seating lounge of conventional height, a horizontally aligned feature wall is a practical choice for preserving the proportions of a space and instead drawing attention to the length of the layout. But without any measure of visual contrast, even neatly proportioned panels left plain would result in a bland décor. Using the television as a contrasting element, the pictured living room presents a dramatically veined pane of grey marble as the feature wall, providing the space with complexity in texture and shade for the eye.

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Shape Shift

Interior design by: Jashen Interior

Feature walls conventionally call for the use of intricate patterns both engineered and organic, but even the simplest of motifs have far-reaching effects. Given a compact space to work with, the simplistic feature wall of the pictured seating lounge is incorporated by Jashen Interior Design as an extension of the decorative wall occupying the length of the open layout. The extended canvas serves as a backdrop for an ingeniously designed sequence of slats and elongated rectangles marking the transition between conjoined areas, with the geometric motif expressed in simplicity across the length of the open layout for artistic appeal.

Interior design by: Jashen Interior  

Friday, November 20, 2020

Entice guests into the embrace of your living room with contrasting colour, textures, and styles.

The urge to combine and hybridise everything could be explained by our innate urge to seek out novel stimuli and construct unique experiences — and the same could be said of how interior styles tend to be expressed in this era. While adhering to the tenants of a particular school of aesthetics may appeal to individuals aiming for authenticity, the proponents of uniqueness instead seek to craft spaces without equal. In this decorative guide, we take a look at various ways of tastefully combining normally disparate colours, textures, and styles to create a unique living space that you can truly call your own.

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Colour Play

Interior design by: S/Lab 10

An overt difference in luminosity and colour immediately captures attention. If you want to direct attention towards a piece of furniture that you are particularly fond of, the eye of an observer can be directed with a selection of upholstery in contrasting hues for prominence. Interior designers S/Lab 10 demonstrate the visually compelling effects of colour contrast by introducing a lone turquoise armchair against the pale wood background of the pictured living room, combining two opposing slices of the colour wheel to simultaneously comfort and attract the eye.

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Textured Touch

Interior design by: SQFT Space Design Management

While colour contrast is overt and clearly discernible from a distance, the application of contrasting textures is a subtler way of directing attention that invokes imaginings of tactile sensations and invites an exploratory touch. A completely uniform furniture arrangement assumes all people are the same, but some are drawn to plush and overstuffed seats as others are attracted by solid and sleek surfaces.

SQFT Space Design provides a range of seating options — in addition to an assortment of smooth and fuzzy surfaces — distributed around a monochromatic living room to attract and occupy different personalities at once.

Interior design by: SQFT Space Design Management

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Eclectic Mix

Interior design by: Living Space Creative Design

If you have grown comfortable with mixing and matching colours and textures, the next challenge to take on would be the blending of styles. Beyond the juxtaposition of colour and texture, the blending of contrasting decorative styles allows room for creative impulses and typically results in a unique arrangement — such as that presented in the pictured seating lounge. The interior designers, Living Space Creative Design, demonstrate an intriguingly eclectic décor that sits astride the past and the future, while combining contrasting colours, textures, and decorative features from the Eastern and Western hemispheres.

Interior design by: Living Space Creative Design Tips: Everyone is unique and manifesting your own preferences in your selection of furniture and finishes would result in a truly unique living room arrangement. Interior design by: Living Space Creative Design

Friday, November 20, 2020

Inspiration is fleeting, which is why we packed a hefty dose of imagery featuring 30 delectable bedrooms to inspire. For this particular dose of inspiration, we took a look at some of the most memorable sleeping quarters we have encountered in order to distill the characteristics that make for visually striking and soul-warming bedrooms.

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This bedroom is coloured in the palette of our time and features a practical combination of entertainment centre and work station. Interior design by: Turn Design

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A black bedstead and a monolithic formation of darkly stained wood make this bedroom distinctly masculine. Interior design by: Sky Creation

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Space for a walk-in wardrobe is carved out by way of glass curtain walls, enveloping the bedstead in a translucent scheathe of modern design. Interior design by: JCS Design Project

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The bedroom is made an alluring distraction from the home office with a thickly tufted carpet and an abundance of plush fabrics decorating the walls. Interior design by: Surface R

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With this bed platform boldly thrust against the sliding balcony doors, the dark wood and reflective metal accents are unified by a generous supply of sunlight. Interior design by: Nu Infinity

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A splash of bold colour and an array of differing textures provide this neutral coloured bedroom with multiple points of attention. Interior design by: IA Interior Design

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A palette largely consisting of wood tones is complemented in classical fashion with accents in white and gold. Interior design by: ST Concepts

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An array of stark, modern lines is simultaneously softened by the reliance on neutral shades and defined with a tentative homage to monochrome. Interior design by: Nu Infinity

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Another example of bold shades used to divert attention is demonstrated in this neutral coloured bedroom. Interior design by: Design Integra

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The sharp lines of modern convention serve as a suitably subtle background for an array of classical details such as the faint Chevron lines mimicking the veins of autumn leaves on the feature wall. Interior design by: SQFT Space Design Management

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A generous panel of stone and a long stretch of capitonné upholstery elevate this neutral coloured space to luxurious heights. Interior design by: Homlux Interior Furnishing

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A frame of modern lines and a largely monochromatic palette sets the stage for attention to fall on the intriguing bedstead. Interior design by: FIX Design Solutions

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This enigmatic bedroom demonstrates a rare blend of tropical materials, modern lines, and shimmering accents. Interior design by: Latitude Design

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This compact bedroom is rendered spacious with a reliance on the neutral palette and sharp lines of modern design. Interior design by: Mode Interior Style

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The ambience of a log cabin is injected into this modern bedroom with an envelope of wood grains.  Interior design by: Mode Interior Style

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With only a limited set of shades and textures, the bed platform and feature wall are presented as the primary points of focus in this space. Interior design by: Architrio

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A variation of the previous bedroom is constructed with a smoother variety of textures for differentiation and a similar set of neutral shades for unification. Interior design by: Architrio

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The allure of simplicity is demonstrated with this bedroom's array of uncomplicated lines and subtle textures. Interior design by: Surface R

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An homage to chaos is formed with the combined effects of the carpet's waves, the haphazard dots on the bedspread, and a colourised bird's-eye view of an iconic New York city street. Interior design by: GDY Design & Construction

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The colour turquoise immediately evokes imagery of cloudless skies in the countryside, and when paired with glistening metal accents, the result is a uniquely luxurious yet provincial décor. Interior design by: Metrics Global

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The use of turquoise in this bedroom's accents serves to soften the cold and hard lines of marbled stone panels in the background.  Interior design by: GDY Design & Construction

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When blended with a generous sprinkling of white accents and wood flooring, the use of turquoise speaks of spacious natural expanses. Interior design by: Homlux Interior Furnishing

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Geometric motifs serve to embellish neutral spaces without detracting from the deliberate simplicity of the décor. Interior design by: PDI Design

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If the simplicity is of lower priority than impressive decoration, a stretch of Damask wall-covering will serve to draw attentions – especially within a frame of simplistic and modern lines. Interior design by: Q1 Interior Concept

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Straight lines make an ideal backdrop for classical accents but the inverse appears to be just as true – as demonstrated with the wooden parquet flooring laid in a repeating herringbone pattern that serves as a background for this bedroom's array of modern lines. Interior design by: IA Interior Design

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As demonstrated in this bedroom, even a monochromatic décor can be made luxurious with differing textures, classical accompaniments, and linear motifs. Interior design by: Casa Indah Design

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The all-white background of this bedroom lies at the extreme end of simplicity, but the introduction of silky grey fabrics and metallic accents paradoxically draws the space into the realm of the luxurious. Interior design by: Regal Violet

Friday, November 20, 2020

Few parts of the conventional modern home feature high ceilings in the default plans, but the existence of a double-height ceiling in your living room is a rare opportunity to decorate boldly along the vertical axis with extra-long curtains and feature walls. If you're fortunate to have in your possession a canvas as generous as a living room with an extra high ceiling, here are some examples of what can be achieved in these spaces.

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Immaculate Simplicity

Interior design by: Regal Violet

A dependance on the lighter side of the neutral palette expands the perceived space, as demonstrated by Regal Violet in this seating area. Utilising only grey fabrics to complement a background of white furnishings and finishes, the designers of the pictured seating lounge have managed to retain the voluminous quality of this space – with the grey elements drawing attention to the generous length of windows and to the centre of the seating arrangement.

Interior design by: Regal Violet

The prevalence of white and grey prepares the naïve eye for the glorious bursts of yellow light that become apparent from the centre of the lounge.

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Monochromatic Modernity

Rendered with glossy black curves across the white finishes, this seating lounge is designed by Deseo Creativo to speak of the modern notion of elegance in simplicity. The monochromatic background of this home sets the eye up for the scant streaks of blue, while the simplistic palette creates a striking contrast against the ornate chandelier and the seamless expanse of marbled stone on the floor.

Interior design by: Deseo Creativo

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Tropical Luxury

Interior design by: DMZ Consultancy

The designers of the pictured seating lounge, DMZ Consultancy, craft a space suited for the tropics by relying on the lighter side of the neutral palette and an assortment of natural materials. The neutral palette saturates this living room in seamless stretches of stone on the floor and walls while wood decks the ceiling. Coupled with the exquisite view and splashes of greenery on the interior, the result is simultaneously luxurious and uplifting.

Interior design by: DMZ Consultancy

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Sunny Vibes

Interior design by: Homlux Interior Furnishing

In spaces gifted with generous windows such as this seating lounge with an extra-height ceiling, the choice of interior colour could be heavily swayed by the quality of view. Given that the wooden patio on the outside lies in full sunlight during the day, the practical use of louvres on the windows removes the need for extra-long curtains and enables the ingress of sunlight to complement the yellowish décor of interior.

Interior design by: Homlux Interior Furnishing

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If you've settled on your approach to decorating the living room, here are some of our thoughts on lighting up the whole ensemble.

Friday, November 20, 2020

From the sea snail shells found along the ancient Phoenician coastlines of Tyre to the togas of Roman senators, and on to as recent a time as Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, the colour purple has been associated with mystery, power, royalty – and the height of bravery in the case of the Purple Heart. Despite the connotations, spaces painted in purple are relatively rare to come by – especially in this age of neutral-coloured interiors and compact spaces. But the results are undeniably awe-inspiring whether purple is applied as an accent or as a base colour. To illustrate the sensuous effects of purple – and perhaps to inspire you to try something different in the bedroom – we bring your attention to a selection of bedrooms brought to deeply soothing and enigmatic levels with the mere addition of violet-coloured light or materials.

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Beguiling Accent

Interior design by: Turn Design

Perhaps the very first and easiest thing to try when experimenting with purple, or any other bold shade, is to inject the colour with the aid of a lighting fixture. Utilising ultraviolet bulbs intended for water purification systems would not be recommended for health reasons – ultraviolet light of the UVB variety is a germ killer and equivalent to sunlight in terms of the damage it can cause – but "black-lights", UVA bulbs, or even regular bulbs tinted purple will provide a harmless wash of violet-coloured light. This equivalent of dipping one's toe into unfamiliar waters enables slight adjustments – leading to possible results such as the pictured bedroom decorated by Turn Design. The purple glow here serves as a tentative accent for the neutral-coloured space, delivered to the sunlit side of the bed via a pair of bedside lamps.

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Absolute Saturation

Interior design by: Space In Design

If the alluring quality of purple illumination has won you over, you may find yourself surprised by the delightful effects of a predominantly white room fully saturated in violet light. As demonstrated by Space In Design with the pictured bedroom, the architectural finishes of the walls and ceiling have been deliberately left featureless and white in order to extend the reach of purple light. The result is that all the plain white surfaces are rendered intriguing with a fluorescent sheen, while slivers of white and yellow illumination are used to segment the background and provide the space with a measure of visual depth.

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Prominent Display

Interior design by: Jashen Interior

If you are looking for more control over the introduction of bold shades like purple in the bedroom, consider utilising fabrics dyed in your prefered shade of violet instead of attempting to fine-tune the highly variable effects of lighting. As demonstrated by Jashen Interior in the pictured bedroom, the introduction of purple is done through carpeting and drapery in light and dark shades, securing the colour's place in the white space regardless of the quality of light. The net effect of this combination is one of mutual support – the white background brings attention to the purple accents while the various shades of violet lend the crisp white space a contour of uplifting opulence.

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Background Flavour

Interior design by: Surface R

With some comfort in its balanced use, one could take the saturation of purple to the maximum by applying various shades of violet in architectural finishes. The result of painting both the walls and the decorative headboard in the same shade of purple is a cohesive background that is instantly soothing to the eye, as in the pictured bedroom designed by Surface R, while the contrasting of dark wood flooring and a sprinkling of neutral coloured planes against the purple background creates a space that simultaneously speaks of fun-loving vibes and regal poise.

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Click here to read about decorating various spaces in white.

Friday, November 20, 2020

In the words of the American author Annie Dillard: "There is a muscular energy in sunlight corresponding to the spiritual energy of wind."—and since nothing paints a space quite like natural light does, we rounded up the most inspiring washrooms from recent memory to help you find ways of incorporating a generous window into your bathroom.

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Augmented Shadows

Interior design by: Bo Design

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[gallery size="medium" ids="58660,58658,58657,58656,58653,58652" orderby="rand"]

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Violet Tone

Interior design by: ID Industries

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Sky Blue

Interior design by: Space In Design

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[gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="58547,58546"]

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[gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="58691,58692"]

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Sea Green

Interior design by: A Piece of Art Interior design by: A Piece of Art

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Interior design by: SQFT Space Design Management

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Sunny Yellow

Interior design by: Gusto Design & Build Interior design by: Gusto Design & Build

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Interior design by: Hoe & Yin Design Studio

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Golden Tangerine

Interior design by: Design Integra

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Interior design by: SNG Conceptwerke

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Pristine White

[gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="58699,58700"]

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Interior design by: Regal Violet

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Interior design by: PSQ

Friday, November 20, 2020

All of us desire a good night's sleep. Here's where choosing the right mattress can help ensure a serene slumber all night long. When you're getting a new bed, it's crucial to invest in a high quality mattress. As we spend a third of lives sleeping, a suitable mattress will help you sleep better and thus improve your physical, mental and emotional well-being. Here are some tips to arm yourself with when you go shopping for a new mattress. 1 Test for comfort and support Make sure that the surface is both comfortable and supportive of your spine and posture. This means your spine should be in its natural curvature while you lie down flat on the bed. Have someone put his or her hand behind the small of your back. If the person's hand can move easily in the back without any gaps, the mattress is suitable for your posture. If there is a gap in between, the mattress is too hard and not supporting your back properly. If the person cannot get his or hand under your back, the mattress is too soft which causes your back to round up. Also lie on your side and stomach and examine if it's comfortable for you. Always take your time when shopping for a new mattress. 2 Find a mattress that suits your sleep style How do you sleep? Some of us like sleeping on the back, some can only fall asleep when they are turned to one side and there are others who sleep soundly on their stomach. Your sleeping style is an essential factor when choosing the right kind of mattress. For side sleepers: Get a soft or plush sleeping surface. With extra cushioning, you can prevent pressure-induced discomfort in your shoulders and hips. Plush mattresses offer extra comfort and plush support without the need for additional pillowtop padding. For back sleepers: Opt for firm or extra firm mattresses as these help to support your back. Firm mattresses generally have a flatter top with no additional padding. Some of them also come with a firm edge support. For stomach sleepers: Go for a slightly firmer surface so that your spine is properly aligned. For those who with a combination of sleep styles: You may want to select something that is neither too firm nor too soft so it gives you the flexibility to support your different positions. 3 Consider your sleeping partner Movements and motion transfers are something to consider if you share your bed with another person. You definitely don't want a mattress that bounces and shakes each time your partner roll to the side or gets up from the bed. Memory foam mattress can help to isolate movements to one side of the bed. You can also go for a hybrid of springs and foam as they usually come with transitional foam that alleviates motion. Check out our Top 5 Mattress Brands in 2018 post for more ideas.

Friday, November 20, 2020

Some of us bring our work home with us — but without a proper desk to work on, all those files and documents will seem out of place on the dining table. For those in need of some inspiration for a home office, we assembled some of the finest studies we have seen here for your perusal.

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A study doesn't necessarily require a significant investment in furniture but with some additional space afforded for a sliding partition, a quiet place of work can be guaranteed. Interior design by: Design Base   Doubling up on spaces is a valid approach to take when faced with a shortage of space. As pictured here, a viable solution is to combine the study with a generous walk-in wardrobe for intimacy. Interior design by: Jashen Interior   The epitome of home offices, the kind all aspiring executives pine for, is pictured here. Encased in glass and saturated in white, this box simultaneously provides an overwatch position and solitude. Interior design by: Regal Violet   While being relegated to the corner of this bedroom, the wash of violet light marks out the larger area as belonging to the study. Interior design by: Design Base   Faced with a shortage of space in this bedroom, the study is instead made to project from the centre of the space, with a stand of shelves providing a form of containment for the bed. Interior design by: Design Base   With an entire room to dedicate, this study is decorated with a certain degree of freedom that is uncommon for these normally compact spaces. Interior design by: A Piece of Art   This pictured study occupies a surprisingly small footprint on a staircase landing, turning a potentially unused space into a functioning workspace. Interior design by: Nu Infinity   Just as with regular work, schoolwork tends to overflow into time spent at home, which necessitates a desk to work on. In this shared bedroom, the workspace is squeezed into a sunlit space beneath a bunk. Interior design by: GDY Design & Construction   This pictured study demonstrates the ultimate space-saving design for work surfaces, with a minimalist and monochromatic surface unfolded from a wall of cabinets. Interior design by: Sunpizz Kitchen & Home   There's a certain comfort to be had in sleeping between partitions, and this study serves to provide a work surface as well as sheltering the bed in a safe berth. Interior design by: Sky Creation   Monochrome is used here to disguise the presence of a desk in and among the formation of bookshelves lining the wall. Interior design by: Nice-Style Refurbishment   Another variation of shared spaces could see a secondary lounge turned into part of a study, as pictured here. Interior design by: Jashen Interior   Outside of individual rooms, there often is a hallway or a stairway landing that can provide sufficient space for a fully equipped study. Interior design by: Casa Indah Design   In compact bedrooms, the study surface often projects from the wall to be counted as an extension of bedside surfaces. Interior design by: Design Base   In this child's bedroom, the study berth projects from the wall in monochromatic fashion to serve double duty as a decorative feature. Interior design by: Casa Indah Design

Friday, November 20, 2020

Antithetical yet complementary: modern classic style is a delicate balance struck between timeless features of tradition and the uncomplicated lines of modern design.

Rare materials transported across great distances, and decorated with finely handcrafted details at incalculable cost – these were the standards of luxury during the immeasurable periods of time that preceded modern mass manufacturing. But as new republics arose from the ashes of old empires, the arrival of the steam engine brought a paradigm shift that led to a global redistribution of wealth and authority – and consequently changed what was considered attractive.

Tip: Shelves and displays composed from the straight lines of modern design represent an appropriately unobtrusive backdrop for objects of classical antiquity – especially when lit from within hidden recesses. The resulting thematic and visual contrasts of these arrangements make for striking presentations on multiple levels.

On the rising wave of machine-aided manufacturing, designs for everything from clothing to transportation began to sway towards dependable simplicity and reproducibility, while shying away from the ornate and opulent. Modernism eventually gave rise to minimalism, which sought to strip everything down to its most practical and functional form, but some characteristics of classical luxury endured to the present day – romanticised and emulated either in desperation for emotional expression or admiration for classical antiquity.

This is the very definition of the modern classic decorative style – a union of traditional and modern sensibilities expressed in the choice of furniture and materials to achieve a décor that is simultaneously elegant, timeless, and comforting. Hue Interiors illustrates the definition of modern classic style with the pictured home, which combines modern characteristics – such as a reliance on straight lines and a neutral colour palette consisting largely of grey, white, cream, and beige – with traditional details such as the capitonné upholstered headboard for the bed, wainscoting to vertical surfaces, Damask wall-coverings, and a herringbone pattern in wood on the floor.

While the classically inspired components of the pictured décor are intentionally obvious, the modern sensibilities expressed here are less so. Aside from the neutral palette, other more subtle characteristics of modern style are expressed in the manner of composition – namely: the application of symmetry, visual balance, and a stringent emphasis on using clean lines to serve as a backdrop for the array of classical details.

As Hue Interior demonstrates, the composition of the bedroom in symmetry, the use of neutral shades, in addition to both classical and modern elements presented in harmonious balance help to render the bedroom comforting and unobtrusive – making an ideal backdrop for intricate details drawn from traditional influence. The reliance on straight lines, as portrayed by the bedroom’s fixtures and fittings, provides the very minimum of distinction between objects without detracting from the visual splendour of the classical details.

Tip: Perhaps due to the paradoxical differences between modernity and classicism, the blending of characteristics from these two decorative styles creates an atmosphere that is at once mystifying and comforting.

In addition to the lush textures and fine details occupying the walls – which already imply a more prosperous and upwardly mobile ambiance on their own – the positioning of ornate furniture, paintings, or sculptures, under the flattering glow of a feature light create additional elements of luxurious elegance against a clean and uncluttered background of straight lines and neutral shades.

Tip: As demonstrated in the pictured home, there is no ideal proportion of modernity to classicism set in stone – as the decorative palette can be inverted for contrast between spaces.

Friday, November 20, 2020

We've looked at kitchen countertop materials to describe various materials and how they may be suited to different personalities – but until now, we have not attempted to apply that same perspective to decorative styles. While decorative styles are probably as varied as people, we have been seeing some similar personalities gravitating towards particular aesthetic styles – which we will attempt to describe here for the benefit of anyone who might be in the midst of finding themselves and their preferred decorative style.

There are innumerable methods for analysing personality, but perhaps the most stringently tested theoretical framework would be that of the Big Five personality traits (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism) – which will be the theory we adopt here in order to generally associate a particular decorative style with a dominant personality trait.

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Openness

One of the first Big Five personality traits to be discussed is usually an individual's "openness to experience" – which roughly translates to a person's imagination and bravery to venture into uncharted waters. A person who is considered high in "openness" is regarded as being receptive to variety – easily gravitating towards learning, art, or other creative pursuits; while a person low in "openness" will display a preference for routine and representational works of art such as classical sculptures rather than abstract or interpretive designs.

It takes a certain kind of bravery to seek out and incorporate unconventional features — such as the pictured loft space, made accessible with the addition of an industrial attic (loft) ladder. Interior design by: Nice-Style Refurbishment

Historically accurate decorative styles such as faithful classicism may not be ideal for highly open individuals, who tend to prefer more varied, esoteric, or eccentric blends of styles to reflect their unique tastes. An open person would seek to forge a unique décor wherever possible – perhaps even going as far as rearranging entire floor plans to achieve something different. On the flipside, a less open person may gravitate toward styles that are more commonly represented in today's homes – or even a style representing something from childhood – while adhering to the convention of the day as much as possible.

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Conscientiousness

Describing how people react to expectations of society at large, a person high in conscientiousness is more likely to consider rules both written and unspoken – such as is required when attempting to pay tribute to classical aesthetics. A highly conscientious person considers the experience of guests and visitors more than their own comfort, and will likely seek out a familiar décor – such as a variation of modern contemporary or classical modern style – to achieve a comforting ambience for the benefit of others while aiming for the hallmarks of luxury.

A conscientious homeowner seeks to enforce implicit aesthetic rules rather than break them. Designer: Design Integra

A less conscientious individual may be seen as unpredictable and impulsive – and the right decorative style in this case is more a matter of personal preference than anything else.  A person low in conscientiousness will likely gravitate towards a unique décor to represent their singular personalities, rather than adhering to convention for the satisfaction of guests.

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Extraversion

The dichotomy of extraversion and introversion is perhaps the most popular of facets in personality research – a person is considered extroverted when they display an innate attraction for social activity, while an introvert is one who values alone-time over a stint of hanging out.

The home of an extravert will more than likely present bold shades favoured by exuberant personalities. Interior design by: Surface R

Extroverts plan their home around social events, considering factors like the placement of extra seating and opting for bold colours rather than relying on a neutral palette. Introverts, on the other hand, will prefer to design for personal comfort and use softer colours in the creation of solitary spaces such as the study or the bedroom.

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Agreeableness

A person is considered agreeable when they display a high sensitivity for the feelings of others – and their decorative choices might closer reflect the norms of modern styling, while less agreeable individuals may be seen as being more concerned with their own avenues of self-expression.

Individuals high in agreeableness will tend to prioritise the familiarity of the neutral palette and twentieth-century designs over self-expression. Interior design by: Alpex Design

The most intriguing and awe-inspiring decorative styles are to be found in the homes of less agreeable individuals – while one can expect something more contemporary, less esoteric, and with greater mass-appeal in the home of an agreeable person.

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Neuroticism

As a measure of emotional stability and how well a person copes with stress, the trait of neuroticism is not as well associated with any particular decorative style as any of the four previously described personality traits – but some conclusions can still be drawn. For instance, a highly neurotic person with a stressful career may have no use or appreciation for a study — the mere sight of a workstation may elicit feelings of frustration in the home.

A carefree personality, low in neuroticism, lets stress roll right off and wouldn't be the least bit disturbed by clutter or asymmetry. Interior design by: Pins Studio

Neuroticism also informs how one deals with clutter in the home, a person who is more inclined to keep spaces clean, and is also less willing to cope with the stress of a mess, will likely be on the lookout for storage options – while the messier and less neurotic among us may not have even considered cleaning up at all.