Home furnishings and decorating doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavor, as even small and inexpensive items can turn your abode into an attractive, warm and comfortable one. Angela Beitz caught up with Thomas Lundgren, CEO of The One, to find some easy yet effective ways to update your home over the coming winter months.
What are the main trends for fall/winter this year?
The world is more polarized than ever, and every region has its own level of sophistication, depending on where they are in the circle of life. But a general trend is a desire for more individuality and a search for meaning in a material world. We want luxury but what is also relevant today is generosity of spirit. On a more fashionable note, the dominant colours for this season are copper/bronze, nude hues, blues and monochromes and in terms of textures there’s a lot of skin on skin, lizard, ostrich and crocodile but also distressed and washed out materials.
What sort of accessories are you seeing coming through?
There is, finally, a slow awakening to the fact that lighting is key to creating both the look and the mood of your home. Lighting will transform the look of a room completely.
What are some inexpensive ways to update your home?
Changing your cushions and throws won’t cost you an arm and a leg, but will have great impact. Replacing small occasional products like mirrors, side tables and rugs will make a bigger difference. Small changes make a huge difference, and it’s fun to rearrange your rooms and update them seasonally.
What advice would you give to people who are looking at completely updating their homes?
Your home is a reflection of who you are, and where you are in life at this moment (i.e. single, married, parents or childless, financial status etc.). If you think about that and what you want to express, then you can find a strategy on how to achieve it. You need to know what you want and need before you can start your home makeover.
What are some common mistakes that people make when decorating?
They worry too much about what other people will think rather than asking themselves whether the look reflects the personalities of the people living there. You need to be comfortable and feel yourself in your own home.
What sorts of pieces make a good feature for your home?
Unusual pieces that tell a unique story about your family, heritage, travels, interests etc.
What are things that you should splurge on and what should you save on?
Splurge on quality home fragrances such as scented candles, diffusers and room sprays. Find your favourite aroma (like you would choose your perfume) and stick to it, so it becomes the signature fragrance of your home. Save by choosing quality over quantity; buy one high quality piece that you absolutely love, instead of lots of cheap knickknacks that you will get bored of and won’t even last.
More inspiration
Lene Ronfeldt, BoConcept’s Collection Manager travels around the world to collect ideas to create BoConcept’s new trends. We pick her brain for some inspiration for the new season.
What are your tips for trends this season?
I love classic designs bought into a more contemporary and updated world, earthy hues used as a rather neutral backdrop and the stronger colours in the accessories collection are used to bring everything to life.
What sort of accessories are you seeing coming through?
We are seeing a lot of colours, prints and funny details. Rugs have a vintage look or a characteristic colourful pattern. Lamps have twisted details and more personality. Vases and bowls are more sculptural than earlier and it is allowed to mix a lot more. It is just about finding your own style.
Any advice for decorating?
Start cutting out pictures from magazines and make a mood board. When you have a lot of pictures and you start to look at it as a whole, then you know what style, colours and materials you are looking for. Spend your money on textiles and lighting. This is where you really get some personality into the room.
How should you personalise your home?
You need to ask yourself: how do you imagine everyday life here? Do you imagine reading a lot? Then value a big comfy sofa or armchair. If you plan on using it for an office, then the right desk, chair and storage is a good feature.
How often should you update your homewares?
Always keep old antiques or anything with a worn-out look, and keep beautiful glass vases in different shapes and colours. Throw away everything that doesn’t have a greater meaning to you.
The One, Tourist Club Area, Abu Dhabi Mall (02 644 8100), Sheikh Zayed 1st St, Khalidiya www.theoneplanet.com. BoConcept, Sheikh Zayed 1st St, Mohammad Butti Al Hamed Building (02 639 6545) www.boconcept.ae.
