Today, our homes represent a powerful projection of our identities. As the Evening Standard explains, “The demand for a home that’s as stylish as you are, and the idea that every brand is a lifestyle package, has given rise to new opportunities for design labels, blurring the lines between fashion apparel and interiors even further.’’

Harper’s Bazaar points out that “The worlds of fashion and interior design have never been total strangers; there have long been tangible links between the catwalk and what people are doing in their homes”.

Fashion designers are known to have impeccable taste when it comes to dressing their models and creating couture collections, and it feels like a natural progression of this ideal for fashion houses is to pivot to interior design. The results, it must be said, are mixed, but when they get it right, the fusing of high fashion and home design can be striking.

Just as how we dress our bodies, how we dress our homes is an expression of ourselves, and if you’re looking to bring high fashion into your home interior design, here’s how to do just that.

DESIGNER HOME COLLECTIONS 

More and more high end fashion houses are branching out into homeware, matching their sartorial aesthetic to their premium home lines.  

It makes sense that homeware is an attractive proposition and a natural next step for fashion-focused designers. The consumer appetite for homeware collections has grown exponentially, especially since the pandemic changed the way we see our homes and the devotion we put into making them look beautiful.  

Fashion brands like Dolce & Gabbana, who announced their first ever home decor collection, ‘Dolce & Gabbana Casa’ earlier this year, have realised that they can sell a lifestyle that reaches further than purses, handbags and shoes. 

That said, not many of us can afford to spend big bucks on a candle that costs over £500 or a lampshade that stretches into the thousands. The answer? Pore over designer collections and recreate them in a more affordable way. We’re currently swooning over the Casa furniture collection from Dolce & Gabbana, which offers a “chic collection of colorful curios”. 

The explosion of colours and eye-catching motifs provides inspiration that can be applied to the home, even on a budget. Consider finding similar bold prints and fabrics and upholstering the furniture you already have with them. Or, mimic the more vibrant visual features seen in the collection by adding a similarly intricate and explosive pattern to a wall in your home that’s begun to look tired.

Read: 5 IDEAL ways to give your old furniture a modern makeover

LISTEN TO THE GREAT DESIGNERS 

Fashion is a way of expressing who we are before we say a word – a visual marker of our outlook, our views and our disposition. 

Your home’s unique style can say just as much about you as your wardrobe, and if you’re looking to channel your interior design style succinctly and clearly, it might be worth heeding the words of some of the world’s most influential fashionistas. 

As Vivienne Westwood famously said, “Buy less, choose well” whilst Gianni Versace cautioned “Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you’’. 

But Stefano Gabbana perhaps put it best when he said plainly, “Be honest. Just be yourself.” And although these words of wisdom were intended primarily for your clothing choices, they could certainly be interpreted as guiding principles of home design seen through the lens of high fashion, too.

Putting your own stamp of individuality on your home, as opposed to uninspired, identikit high street trends, is vital if you’re going to achieve that haute couture look domestically.

Read: 5 IDEAL ways to bring some personality to your rental home

CREATE AN INSPIRATION BANK 

Inspiration bank, mood board, vision board, ideas jam…call it what you like, but if you’re to design your house in the curated, clearly defined narrative of a high fashion show, then you’re going to need to gather your ideas and visualise them as a single entity. 

Go out and actively seek inspiration, from the worlds of both fashion and interior design. London’s Fashion & Textile Museum and the Fashion & Space Gallery are great places to start, with both showcasing the interaction between the two industries. The world famous Victoria & Albert Museum, which houses almost 3 million objects in the field of art and design, will also provide inspiration and ideas about these interconnected worlds.

Of course, there are more modern channels of inspiration, too, from fashion and interiors magazines to the infinite length, breadth and depth of the internet. 

Once you’ve collated these disparate elements into a selection of images that summarise your interior design vision, create a visual ‘inspiration bank’ that you can refer back to, time and time again, keeping you focused on that synergistic, unified aesthetic for your home.

STATEMENT PIECES & ACCESSORIES

As Gachoucha Kretz from HEC Paris told Vogue Business, designers like “Alexander McQueen, Versace and Valentino” will “create things that stand out” and are perceived as “independent” and “bold”. The good news? This ethos is reassuringly affordable when applied to the modern home. 

When it comes to fashion, it seems that accessories represent the perfect opportunity to define and distinguish ourselves, to stand out, and to create our own unique style in a way that clothes alone can’t.

First things first, if you see a home accessory that you absolutely love and are drawn to straight away, then trust your instincts and buy it. After all, we said these little trinkets were a defining feature of your overall style. However, if you’re only after an accessory because it’s ‘on trend’, then remember those wise words from Versace that we mentioned earlier, and think twice before buying.

A few statement pieces can work wonders, too, at lifting the aesthetic value of a room and channelling that sense of haute couture. We’ve written a few top tips on pieces that bring that sense of high fashion and luxury here; do check it out.

ASPIRATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Rebecca Robins, global chief learning and culture officer at Interbrand, told Vogue Business that “Luxury products and experiences are predicated on the emotional. They don’t represent a need, but an aspiration.” 

As Forbes reiterates “aspiration is essential to luxury marketing and more importantly, an essential part of our human DNA. Since the beginning of time, people have conferred special meaning to objects.”

Most of us can’t afford designer items for our home, but we can bestow meaning and affection onto objects we unearth via the most prudent of means. All it takes is a little endeavour; consider scouring the local flea market, thrift store or charity shop, finding pieces that are aspirational in their individuality, sure, but also in their affordability. 

After all, high fashion is increasingly turning to thrift to demonstrate a greener, leaner potential, particularly in the face of increased criticism concerning fashion’s impact on the environment. Why don’t you do the same and shop second hand? In doing, you may well unearth a piece that is both timeless and unique.

THE BOTTOM LINE

High-end fashion isn’t just limited to our closets anymore; it also has a role to play in shaping how we dress our homes, too. Whilst the temptation might be to interpret ‘high end’ as meaning new investments in the latest trends, increasingly, the upper echelons of the industry are focusing on upcycling, repurposing and finding new meaning in something old. Perhaps the best way to use the ethos of high fashion at home is to do the same.

A kid’s bedroom is like their own little kingdom –  a place to play, learn and even dream. Whilst, of course, their space needs to cater to the functional aspects of a bedroom, it also needs to look good. But even more than that, a kid’s room needs to encourage their growing personality and sense of individuality. Indeed, a kid’s room is a place that should be uniquely their own. 

The guys at childrensbedshome.com, who know a thing or two about children’s bedrooms, suggest sagely that ‘’Every boy or girl spends a large portion of his days in his bedroom. For this very reason, furnishing your children’s bedroom with a bed for kids in the best way is very important to ensure happiness and comfort for your children.’’  

And so it goes. Everyone has their own preferences, sure, and every child’s space is going to end up looking different. But how to make sure that their room is a place where they feel the most comfortable? We’re here to explore that very question today.

A PARENT’S ROLE 

As reported by the Independent “parents will spend more than £5,300 decorating their child’s nursery and bedrooms before they turn 10”. Moreover, they reveal that “parents redecorating their children’s rooms at least once every two years – parting with £900 each time – a further £4,500 will be spent before their 10th birthday”. That’s a lot of money.

No one wants to repaint every other month, but those changing tastes do admittedly change awfully fast. When it comes to designing your kid’s bedroom, it can be a tricky balancing act; you want the room to reflect the child’s changing tastes but still have longevity. 

When creating a space for your child, remember that kids see the world very differently to us grownups. As such, creating a space that encourages play, learning and fun is, and always will be, the ideal way to go. 

THE KID’S ROLE

It’s essential to get your kids involved in the decorating of their room, allowing them to put their own stamp and sense of individuality on it. You, as a parent, are responsible for making sure that your kid doesn’t forget about vital parts of decorating a room like getting proper furniture. You’re supposed to take care of functionality, after all. You need to let your child decide on other things on their own.

That’s the only way to make sure they’re going to feel good there. A person’s own room should be a place where they can be comfortable and a place where they can express themselves. That’s why it’s so important that you’re not too controlling when it comes to how your kid’s room looks. It needs to be their decision. And hey, along the way, you might teach them some valuable lessons about autonomy, budgeting and responsible decision making.

THE RIGHT COLOUR

While it’s important to get your kids input on the colour of the room, there are certain colours you want to avoid. According to colour experts, the shade of your child’s room can actually have an impact on their behaviour. Colours like green and blue have a calming effect, while shades of yellow and orange promote confidence, motivation and concentration. 

Or, instead of committing to a striking shade for all the walls, why not just paint one feature wall in a vibrant hue or add some striking bedroom mural wallpaper to a single wall, meaning you won’t have to do the whole room again when tastes change.

Alternatively, keep the walls a neutral colour and add colourful rugs, lampshades and soft furnishings to bring that vibrancy.

MAKE SURE EVERYTHING HAS A HOME

Kids’ bedrooms get messy. Fact. To make their bedroom comfortable, all of their toys are going to need a home, and savvy storage solutions should be deployed in your kid’s bedroom; there’s all that space under the bed you can make use of, particularly if you use vacuum clothing storage bags, which can be shrunk to eliminate any air from inside. The foot of the bed is also a prime location for storage, so perhaps consider a beautiful trunk at the end of the bed for all of their toys.

THEME IT 

Your child is going to remember the bedroom they grew up in, so it’s only natural to want to go all out. Why not pick a theme related to their favourite toy or type of toy and just run with it? Bear in mind that children’s tates change quickly, so this way of decorating may end up costing you. But what’s money when it comes to your child’s happiness, right?

THE BOTTOM LINE

When it comes to personal spaces, especially the personal space of a kid coming of age, it needs to be a space where they can express themselves freely and comfortably. Even if you don’t like how your child wants their room to look you need to keep in mind that it’s supposed to be their unique space, and you probably should let them be creative with it. That’s the best way to make them feel safe there.

The modern garden serves a surprising number of functions. A convivial place to while away the hours with family members away from the pressures of the home, sure, but in the right hands, a garden can be so much more than that; an area that can nourish the soul and, if you’re a keen homegrower, the body, too. 

What’s more, over the past 18 months, our gardens have also become safe spaces to meet friends, giving many who were locked down and lonely a chance to engage with the outside world. Gardens also represent a chance for homeowners to give back to nature when cultivated conscientiously. 

Oh, and gardens can even be an extension of the home, too, offering space for a home office or storage in increasingly compact domestic spaces.

With eyes and minds looking forward to a post-pandemic world, the garden space looks likely to resume its normal duties as a place of sociability, first and foremost. If you’re to get yours ready to receive family, friends and neighbours more regularly, then there are changes you can make and items you can add to really ramp up that warm welcome.

Whether it’s a fun or functional space you’re going for, the success of your garden depends so much on its design. A beautiful outdoor space has synergy, flow and features, all of which contribute to a space where people want to spend time. With that in mind, here are 5 garden design ideas to make the IDEAL sociable outdoor space.

CONSIDER A SWIMMING POOL

Sometimes, it’s useful to think of the ideal garden as a balance of the four sacred elements; of earth, fire, water and air. Pay attention to each, and you’ll harness a space of synergy and sociability. 

Firstly, let’s consider water features, an integral component of any great garden. Sure, you could gather around the garden pond with friends, staring into the weeds, but if it’s a sociable garden you’re after, then have you considered the addition of a swimming pool?

Though it might seem frivolous at first, it’s not actually as far-fetched as it sounds; a swimming pool can actually be a valuable investment, both for you as a person and for your property as a whole. Spending extra money on a pool can increase the value of your property significantly – to the tune of £10’000, according to Stylist – while giving you more maximum enjoyment from your garden and an excuse to keep fit.

There’s a lot to think about when building a pool – it’s not just about choosing a shape. The best advice is to plan accordingly, find a professional, consider the cost of building a swimming pool and look at whether the styles match your needs and taste. After that, just be prepared to become everyone’s favourite person when the sun is shining!

INSTALL A FIREPIT, STATEMENT GRILL OR WOOD FIRED PIZZA OVEN

We mentioned drawing inspiration from the sacred elements, and you should also consider fire when designing a garden intended for sociability. After all, what draws people in more aptly than the flickering of flames? Some of the best conversations occur when friends stare enigmatically into a fire, don’t you think?

While you might think of a fire pit as being an expensive addition to your space, it’s an investment if you’re going to be spending a lot of time in the garden this year. What’s more, they’re not actually all that expensive, with mini pits selling for as little as £25. Aside from the functional provision of heat, they’re also a great party focal point and conversation starter. Alternatively, you could simply dig a hole in the ground, line it with bricks, and voila!

Or, should you be a dab hand in the kitchen, why not install a pizza oven in your back garden, bringing together the sociable elements of food and fire succinctly? Check out our tips on how to build your own pizza oven in your garden for more on that.

CREATE SEATING GROUPS

It should go without saying that when sociability is concerned, seating should be the focus of every outdoor space.

However tempting it is to simply add as many seats as possible to accommodate family and friends, we recommend that you take a more considered approach. Instead, focus on creating a few different seating areas that serve to draw the focus to different areas of the garden, channelling the ‘chill out zones’ of Ibiza, perhaps.

To achieve this, the first thing you need to do is select a contact point. When it comes to outdoor spaces, the contact point is usually an outdoor dining table, water feature or that wood fired pizza oven we mentioned. That said, if you don’t want to occupy that amount of square footage, use an outdoor rug to provide that focal point and balance the space.

Once you have your contact point in place, all you need to do is arrange the furniture around it so that each piece meets the central point. You also want to make sure that no furniture leaves anyone sitting with their back to the rest of the patio. A pair of wooden garden benches placed in an L-shape is ideal for this, helping to accommodate sociability and encourage mingling, all without having to block off the seated group from the wider garden space.

DON’T FORGET THE OUTDOOR LIGHTING

Consider this the ‘air’ element. When dusk falls, you don’t want friends retreating inside or, worse, home because visibility outdoors is impaired! To avoid this, it’s essential that you have the right lighting in place so that you can continue to use your garden long into the night (with an apology made to the neighbours, of course). Fine light loops, lanterns, or candles allow you to create a cozy atmosphere when the sun sets, and are suggestive of a magical, sometimes mystical ambience.

Nowadays, there is a wide range of weather-resistant light sources you can use outdoors. A tip is to light up trees and shrubs around your garden to create a nice welcoming ambiance.

Read: 6 IDEAL outdoor lighting tips

THOSE FINER TOUCHES  

Once you’ve got all the furniture and feel satisfied, you can start decorating and textiles are the perfect option to start this process. Hang up thin curtains, if possible, and lay colourful, garden appropriate pillows and blankets on your chairs or sofas as it instantly gives the outdoor space a cosier feel. 

Green plants and potted plants (the earth element, right there) are also something that can give your garden that little extra wow factor. If the place has any vertical space, such as a tall fence, climbers or sprawlers, you can get several climbing plants. Placing potted plants is also a good idea to hide any existing flaws in the garden, as well as adding visual intrigue at different eye levels.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The garden is traditionally a space where sociability thrives, but over the last 18 months, this hasn’t been so possible. Looking forward to the future, we hope you’ve found some inspiration on making your outdoor space as welcoming as possible.

Many of us chose the location of our home – and therefore, our lives – based on its vicinity to work or how it fits our working lifestyle. Whether the property grants an easy commute to the office, or expands our job opportunities, is often the key consideration when signing a rental agreement or making that big property purchase.

Sadly, not so many consider the needs of our children when searching for a new city or town to call home. But we’re here to do just that today; if you’re thinking of moving and are on the search for a new city, here are 7 important things to consider.

SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS 

The most important consideration first – schools. When searching for a new city for your family to call home, it’s a wise idea to look at catchment areas of primary and secondary schools, and to consider the quality of educational institutions in the area to ensure that they’re suited to your child’s unique needs.

Similar to a product or service, schools can also have reviews on their website, from both parents and students. Finding the best secondary school in UK doesn’t have to involve visiting them all in person (that, of course, would take you a lifetime) but rather, assessing their status online via reviews.

Alternatively, you can also supplement what you read online about a certain school from their Ofsted reports. You can also take a look at their exam results and performance data, all of which tell you about a school’s teaching quality. 

Perhaps your child needs extra help at school? This is when a face-to-face visit might be more appropriate, as establishing an interpersonal connection between school staff and individual pupils is so important in such instances.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES & CLUBS 

Consider the extracurricular activities provided by any schools you’re considering, too. After all, the value of school doesn’t only lie in the classroom; life skills can be learnt, too, in after school programmes and clubs.

Well-performing schools understand that these activities can help supplement the learning of your children and promote personal development. Book clubs, debate teams, internships, sports teams and so much more will help your children develop their interests and possible professions for the future. Accordingly, make sure your child’s new school offers as wide a range of extracurricular activity as possible.

LOOK TO THE FUTURE, NOT JUST THE NOW

Sure, village life with the kids might feel idyllic when they are little – but what about when they’re older? Though the old saying suggests that a ‘happy wife’ equals a ‘happy life’, we think that ‘happy teens, full beans’ might be more appropriate. And nope, we couldn’t think of a better rhyme than that.

So, when considering a new home for your family, don’t only focus on their current needs, but also think about how their wants and desires will change over time. Perhaps a town or city with amenities and activities abundant might suit your family better later down the line?

DOES THE NEW LOCATION SUIT YOUR KID’S LIFESTYLE? 

Are your children outdoorsy types who love the countryside? Or do they love water sports? Or, perhaps your children are older, and developing a penchant for high-end restaurants and places with a thriving nightlife? It’s important to be happy in your home due to what lies not only within its walls but also within walking distance; do check how well your children’s immediate leisure interests will be catered for when you’re narrowing down your shortlist of potential properties.

LIBRARIES 

Despite the endless possibilities that the internet provides (or maybe, because of them), libraries can still play an integral part in every child’s life. As Libraries Connected explain, “Libraries are an open door for every child to uncounted opportunities – to have fun, to learn, to discover and to share. They are fundamental to reading, learning, to exploring their identity, and to participating in a society that increasingly values knowledge and depends upon being able to find and use information.”

As such, it’s important that you check that the new city or town that you’re considering has a library, which you can do right here, on the UK’s Public Library Directory.

TRAFFIC & POLLUTION 

Though efficient transport links are a massive bonus, high levels of traffic noise certainly aren’t. Rather than using your ears to assess if your intended new neighbourhood suffers from traffic noise (levels diverge massively according to the time of day, so it’s not a reliable way to check), you can use the ‘England Noise Viewer’ service from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which lets you enter your postcode to check noise levels in the area.

Similarly, you can check the pollution levels of the area you’re considering moving to, by using the Government’s Air Information Resource. Again, simply enter your postcode and see both today’s levels and a forecast for future levels, on a scale of 1-10. 

INVOLVE YOUR CHILDREN IN THE MOVING PROCESS

Last but not least, it’s important that you include your children in the decision making process when considering a new place for your family to live. Whilst they’re certainly not going to actually make the final decision, it’s important to have them believe their opinion matters on where you might move to. 

Draw up a shortlist of possible locations, with pros and cons listed, and gather the family around the table to discuss. Involving everyone in the process at this stage can help bring the family closer together, and will make the move all the more harmonious when it finally happens.