News and Announcements New Home, New Design: Inspiration For A Fresh Start June 5, 2024 Written by Demi Marketing Coordinator Share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Share by email Creating interior designs for new homes is like painting a blank canvas. There are endless possibilities to express your style, but giving a space meaningful visual interest might feel a little overwhelming. Not to worry though. At Better Built Homes, we share our expertise in designing and decorating brand-new homes so that you can find harmony between function and style without the need for an interior decorator. While we specialise in constructing modern home designs, we also love igniting your creativity once you’ve moved into your new home. This A-Z guide on crafting interior design styles will have your wonderful new space ready in no time. Unleashing Creativity With Customised Home Designs From modern home designs to dreamy luxury homes, we’ve learnt a thing or two about building homes and furnishing them to the delight of our clients. Once you understand the space you’re working with, you’ll typically have better guidance on mastering your style. When finding your decorating style, these are the building elements you’ll most likely work with: Open-plan living: Open-plan living rooms remain popular today. These homes are designed for larger common spaces by removing walls and combining different rooms. You’ll want to find a cohesive style between your open-plan kitchen, living room, and dining room. Split levels: This is a building style with staggered floor levels. It typically consists of two short staircases to help address sloping blocks. You’ll want to keep interior design styles similar throughout the levels to maintain visual harmony. Plenty of natural light: Many of our clients want several big windows to embrace natural lighting. Lots of light means you’ll need to consider how it affects colour palettes and furniture placement. The Art Of Functional Beauty In Interior Design Functional design involves considering the practical use of things alongside aesthetics to create harmony with the uses of each room. For example, you may have dreamed of a mirrored-glass coffee table in your living room, but the hours you’ll spend cleaning off smudges might become a royal pain. We can learn from popular interior styles that explore the concept of functional design: Minimalist styles: This movement is built upon functional spaces. If something doesn’t have practical use, there’s no room for it in your home. Modernism: This style focuses on clean lines, simplicity, and functionality. Clutter is a big no-no. Scandinavian style: The philosophy of Scandinavian styles allows for decorative objects, but efficiency, comfort, and quality craftsmanship are still the priorities. Other design styles like maximalism have the “more is more” mindset and call you to decorate in excess. Truthfully, there is no wrong way to design your home. But it helps to keep practical use and quality in mind to avoid drowning your space in unnecessary clutter. Some ways you can incorporate practical design into your home include: Multifunctional furniture like a couch with hidden storage. Choose quality furniture that will stand the test of time. Make one room dual-purpose like an office/guest room or an office/living room. Create additional storage solutions, such as kitchen cabinetry, TV unit storage, or extra linen cupboards. Colour Your Home With Paints And Palettes Whether you have ideas for a modern farmhouse-style dining room, industrial-style kitchen, or an art deco-style bedroom — paint plays an enormous role in achieving any interior design scheme. The colour palette also influences the entire mood of the room. White walls may seem like the go-to option, but it isn’t the only one out there. A neutral colour palette can easily add pigment to the walls of your home in a subtle way. Earthy tones, for example, are particularly popular. They bring warmth into your space, especially if your home decor is made from natural materials and organic shapes. Bright colours, on the other hand, work best in moderation, with a single accent wall and one or two adjacent walls painted in more neutral tones. For our clients at Better Built Homes, incorporating deep colours like black or charcoal into media rooms is a common choice to get that cinematic feel. We also offer the option of one feature wall in our Better Luxury inclusions, providing clients with an opportunity to add a standout element to their space. Fixtures And Fittings You’ll be surprised by how much matching finishings and furnishings can complete a room. It always helps to keep your fixtures and fittings cohesive, like keeping the same colour scheme or material usage throughout. Be sure to keep this in mind throughout the build Fixtures and fittings refer to many items, including: Lighting fixtures Door handles Taps Cabinet hardware Built-in appliances Fireplaces Window treatments like curtains and blinds Ceiling fans Switches and outlets Decorative accents Personalising Spaces: Tips For New Homeowners Following the latest trends may seem like the best way to choose your interior design style. However, using traditional design principles with a modern twist will make all the difference in the long run. All in all, your home should feel like yours. A single interior design style is unlikely to match everything you’re looking for, so these top tips will help ensure your home stays true to your personal decorating style. Blend Styles Thoughtfully Read up on the popular interior design styles you’re interested in to better understand what you like. It’s recommended to firstly focus on timeless pieces such as lounges and dining sets, and then add current trending decor items like cushions, ornaments, rugs, or statement lighting. Harmonise these elements by selecting items that share common colours, materials, or textures to create a cohesive and stylish space that reflects your personal style. Go Thrift Shopping Another magnificent way to decorate your new home is to hunt for things at a vintage shop or op shops. Not only is it more affordable to thrift, but the quality you find is typically a lot higher than the mass-produced modern pieces at your home goods shop. Don’t Be Afraid to DIY Have you found the perfect dining table in the wrong colour? Painting old furniture will modernise it and make it match your new space. There are many resources on the internet and social media to inspire your creative side. DIY projects could easily become your favourite items. Focus on Accent Pieces Painting a wall isn’t the only way to make a statement or bring in some colour. Focus on the small details, like throw pillows with textured fabrics or a stylish piece of furniture. You can also introduce accent colours into your design scheme with decorative vases and statement rugs or by creating a gallery wall with various artworks and prints. Virtual Showcase: Exploring Interiors Online If you’d like to fully envision the interior design of your home, you’d benefit from a 3D Virtual House Tour. By picking one of our pre-designed house plans, you’ll have a concrete idea of how your house will look. You could also draw inspiration from our virtual walk-throughs. Our Fairlight 40, for example, is our American Farmhouse-styled home, and you can really see that with the interior selections. You could also go beyond the current styling in our homes and create a whole new style using your imagination if none quite suits you and your family. FAQs How do I plan an interior design for a new home? Dive into various interior design movements and explore the philosophies behind them. Pinterest is a great way to use inspiration to create mood boards and conceptualise what you’re after. As you narrow down your preferences, consider combining elements from different styles and following their design principles to maintain coherence throughout your space. How do you decorate a newly built house? Decorating your new house is always an exciting adventure. While the number of furniture options and design trends might seem overwhelming, a little planning goes a long way. By diving deeper into your chosen style and creating mood boards, you can make the process of selecting furniture much easier. This way, you’ll be well on your way to transforming your new build into a home that reflects your unique personality. What is the latest interior design trend? While mixing old and new has always been a popular approach, 2024 sees a surge in specific design styles. Japandi, a harmonious blend of Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian functionality, is taking centre stage. Think clean lines, natural textures, and pops of muted colours. The rustic charm of the Farmhouse/barn aesthetic is also gaining momentum. Think reclaimed wood, vintage accents, and a focus on natural materials to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Bringing Your Vision To Life As a new homeowner, it might feel sensible to hire an interior decorator. However, it’s much more enjoyable to create your own style. With these expert tips and ideas, we hope you enjoy decorating your new home as much as we loved building it.