It’s your space, so do it up the way you want

There is undoubtedly a place between the norm, good reason and what is expected.

However, in the world of interior décor, it pays to turn things on their head, so to speak, and do something surprising with your space, furniture and accessories.

Let’s face it; in a bid to make our living spaces look acceptable to family and friends, we often compromise and decorate using what we think are the right colours and buy furniture from what is considered the go-to shop.

While the majority is always assumed to be right, interior décor, like fashion, should be a form of self-expression, self being the operative word.

To fully make your living space your own, dare to be different to whatever degree you can and take decorating risks such as:

TRY NEW COLOURS

Have a go at the colour chart and experiment with colours you have never, ever tried: metallic, neutral and masculine blues are in vogue and can transform many a room into a marvel.

Case in point; navy blue can be used to make a home office look cool but stylish, the blue would look especially great if mixed with one wall of brilliant white.

To further “push the envelope”, why not accessorise with quintessentially African items like carved wooden masks mounted on one of the blue walls in a random manner.

Be bold and re-upholster your traditional office swivel chair with African mud cloth. As for your desk, use simple black desk accessories and a black wire basket as your dustbin.

DITCH THE CURTAINS

Yes, that’s right: ditch the curtains and try different window treatments like tinted glass for your living room windows. This would work especially well if you have a great view.

Another place to try a different window treatment type is the bathroom; instead of using ordinary patterned clear glass, get coloured stainless glass for the windows.

They would look especially good against wrought iron shelves and a large, wrought iron framed mirror.

LEARN TO PLAY

Unleash your inner child and bring toys back into your life; stuffed animals made from African print can add a bit of Kenyan jazz to a book case.

Beaded giraffes or elephants can be used as centerpieces on your dining or coffee table. Hand-made dolls collected from different countries can add a bit of whimsy to a simple day bed.

If you are the creative type and are always doodling ideas in little notebooks, ditch the paper and paint your corridors with chalkboard paint where you can draw and write to your heart’s content.

USE OLD STUFF

Please note that this is not the same as hoarding old stuff that you really do not need, no. Keep the things that can be re-purposed and used in new and creative ways.

An old ladder can be used as a shelf, an old window can be used as a place to frame many small pictures, an old coffee table can be filled with foam, upholstered, and turned into the loveliest of ottomans.

Old rubber tyres can be washed, stuffed and used as kiddie seats – the list is endless. While many homeowners think that it is cheap and very unnecessary to “recycle” old household items, re-purposing is often inexpensive and what’s more, it is an ecologically friendly activity.

BREAK THE RULES

Who says that you need a traditional five-seater set in your living room to accommodate guests? Break the ordinary décor conventions and make your space work for you.

Instead of cramming your small living room with large chairs, settle for one couch and store extra seating in the form of foldable chairs that you can put away and only pull out when the occasion demands it.

Who says that you cannot use one of your extra kitchen cupboards as a home-office? Dare to follow your own creative instinct and try to use your space in new and creative ways – of course as long as your landlord does not object to it.

BE YOURSELF

Add a dash of your own personality to every room. If there is a quote you like, get a decal of it and place it where you would like it be seen.

If you love nothing better than relaxing Mombasa-style and your balcony allows for it, get yourself a swinging wicker chair, or even a hammock.

The bottom line is, be creative and most of all, true to yourself. It is your home anyway, right?