Happy Friday everyone! The weekend is finally upon us, and what better reason is there to share some decor inspiration and tips! Let’s turn to photographer Per Gunnarsson’s interior shots to draw some decor inspiration, shall we?
Per Gunnarson is a Swedish freelance photographer currently based in Norway. Per photographs white and bright interiors with a warm touch, making them feel welcoming and very lived in, rather than deserted. I love the abundance of white in all these photographs, with highlights of wood, patterns, pops of color, and beautiful details. The accents of color and pattern creates a very fresh look and stand out among the white hues in a room. How cute is that bathroom, with strong black and white accents that are softened with the ultra feminine floral shower curtain! There are so many decorating tips I find here that we can pull from these photos and try in our own homes.
1. Clean palette: Don’t be afraid to paint your walls white or have white furniture. A simple palette with subtle patterns looks comfortable and inviting. And to cozy up your nook a little more, throw on a few colored and patterned pillows and some cushions onto your couch.
2. Edit! Look at your space and arrangement, consider what works and what doesn’t work, and start editing! Keep your space neat and tidy. Do you really need 3 throws in your living room cluttering up the space? How about all those candles and little accessories that you’ve had since college? Think about simplifying things, because less is more! Edit your space and organize your home by getting rid of the things you haven’t used in years. When in doubt, toss it – it’s taking up valuable space.
3. Create depth and contrast: Add some zing to your space by creating contrast between the elements and colors in the room. Try painting walls and doors a darker color if your furniture and cabinets are white. Bring in a mirror with dark borders to contrast with white walls, or add some darker accessories like rugs and tables to contrast with light furniture.
4. Fresh flowers never go out of style: Bring in plants and always keep fresh flowers on kitchen tables, living room tables, even in the bathroom and by a window. Flowers are always a good thing and add a sense of life to your space. So go to your local florist and see what grabs your attention, bring your blooms home and arrange them with care!
5. Open shelving: Displaying plates, bowls and cups neatly on open shelving in the kitchen is visually inspiring. Instead of thinking of ways to hide away appliances and cutlery in cupboards, think of how to display your collections creatively and tidy to fill open counter and shelf space.
7. Move things around: Maybe your couch in the living room would look better against another wall beside a lamp? Try adding an accent color throw on the bed to warm up the space, or on a couch in the living room, you can find some great ones at Ikea. Move the sofa, the chairs, and the rug around and find out what arrangement works best and makes the best use out of the space. Mix things up a bit by swapping out your prints for other ones, how about trying some new fabrics and artwork?
8. Clean, clean, clean! Especially if you love the all white look, chances are you’ll need to clean a lot more, and pretty often. Wash floors, walls, windows and cupboards. Good looking windows can be left bare for more light and an open bright space, so wash window frames to boost natural light and hang clean drapes if you prefer privacy.
9. Hanger help: Hanging is a great way to organize things, from coats to clothes to even jewelry. I organize my necklaces on a coat rack from Ikea based on style and color scheme. It keeps everything fresh, easy to access, and looking good. Also hang belts on hooks inside closet doors, keeping them always within reach.
10. Secret Storage: Store out-of-season clothes in other areas of your home and vacuum-pack bulky coats and sweaters to save space and keep closets neat and clutter-free. Use the area under your bed to hide trundle drawers to save space and for extra organization. Get creative and use not so secret areas for storage as part of the decor, but make sure it’s tidy and looks good! I love the look of the wood logs stored under the bench – it creates contrast to the space in the form of color and adds texture to the mix, creating visual interest.
11. Step out of the box: Use “unconventional” ways of using your furniture. Instead of a bedside table, why not use an old interesting chair to put a lamp on? It serves the same purpose, while you add your personal touch to your nook. Display decorative ceramics as art on your kitchen shelves, that can serve as functional and beautiful! How about creating a chalkboard wall in the kitchen to sketch on and get your creative juices flowing! Brainstorm!
There are a million and one extra tips for decorating your home, but the most important thing is to make it your own, fill it with the things you love, and remember to edit!
Do you have any tips you swear by and would like to share? I would love to hear them!
Psst.. I am hosting a giveaway with lovely shop The Little Deer, whom I’ve posted about here. So if you’d like to know more about it and take part in the giveaway, make sure you visit on Monday! You won’t want to miss this one!
(images: per gunnarsson)
Does anyone know where I could find knobs like those in the bathroom (the 3rd pic)? Anthropologie has a similar style, but they are too small (as well as have more metal then I’d like). These look like a fluffy dessert and I’d love to find them to use in my kitchen. Thanks!