insideKENT Magazine Issue 36 - March 2015 | Page 96
INTERIORS
INTERIORS
AROUND THE WORLD
BY LISAMARIE LAMB
Now that there is a hint of spring to everything – the dark days are pretty much behind us and the sun is
ever-more present – many of us will be thinking of doing the big spring clean. Sprucing up the house after
the winter period is therapeutic, and it can really make a difference to your mood and happiness too.
But what about making that annual spring clean into something more? Is it time you had a complete
interior makeover? If you’re up for the challenge and want to make your home into something new and
exciting, there are plenty of designs to choose from. Below are some from around the world that are
gorgeous to look at, practical to live in, and perfectly possible to accomplish no matter where you live.
Oriental
For the ultimate in calm and tranquillity, Orientalstyle interior design could certainly be the way
to go. After all, in today’s high octane, fast-paced
world, it would be wonderful to come home to
a little haven of peace, wouldn’t it?
Oriental themes are inspired by nature, so you
will often find scenic landscapes in the home,
and, to fit the theme, these are usually painted
onto walls as a mural. The colours should be
kept fairly neutral, with nothing unbalanced to
catch the eye – at least on the backdrop. When
it comes to accenting the wall, or adding a hint
of colour to the room, a little here and there works
wonders – think cherry blossom pink or bright
red. Black is another great colour to pair with the
creams and off whites of the main theme – black
picture frames, windowsills, or a splash of art
could all work well.
Balance is the keyword with Oriental-inspired
interior design, and this can be achieved in a
number of ways, from creating room partitions
to adding glass walls. It all depends on how much
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you want to do, and what your budget is. Car fully
e
placed hanging lanterns are just one way to
achieve balance in a room, but there are many
more.
Finally, water is cool and calming, and is an
integral part of Oriental design. It may not be
possible to have a large water feature in your
home, but they come in all shapes and sizes,
and you should be able to find one that suits you
and your style.