Style Like A Pro: The bed

Layering colours and textures

My lack of discipline boarders on the pathological.  There, I said it.  This is a fact verified by my local Crossfit gym (sorry guys, I promise I’ll see you soon) and my local wine shop (sorry guys, I promise I’ll stop bothering you…one day).  But in the broad litany of self imposed rules that get regularly broken, there is one that remains like a shining beacon of sanctimonious smugness.

I make my bed.  Everyday.  Ok fine, 363 days a year.  The other 2 days are those in which I feel too mean spirited to dislodge my peacefully slumbering cat.  Every morning I not only make the bed, I style and plump and fluff as though a photoshoot were about to happen.  For me, this sets the tone for the day and my mindset.  No matter what potential bin fires to threaten my zen, at least I’ve made the bed #adulting.  If afore mentioned bin fires escalate to full blown crises, there’s always the luxury and embracing comfort that is crawling into a beautiful bed after a crap day….with wine.  And chocolate.  And the Cat.  I digress.

So, how do you style your own insta worthy boudoir?  Here’s how:

You’ll need:

2 European pillows

4 Standard pillows (2 will be “sleeping” pillows)

1 doona (more on doona’s later)

1 plain sheet set and doona cover set 

2 Euro pillow cases 

1 or 2 scatter cushions 

1 throw or quilt/comforter

Sounds like a lot but once it’s all in place it certainly won’t look like that.  Choose high loft/high profile options as you want billowy goodness.  Buy the best quality you can afford, unfortunately the tantalisingly cheap bedding isn’t great.  And that’s not me being a bougie stylist either.  Both from a function and design perspective they perform terribly…and terrible performance in the bedroom should always be avoided.

Choosing colours:

Mixing and matching colours can be hit and miss, even for us pros.  To ensure a hit, pick out a few colours from an artwork or if you’re using a doona cover with patterns, select 1 colour from the pattern and use it for the sheets and another colour or 2 for the scatter cushions, euro pillow cases and throw.  Voila, design cohesion.

Texture:

You don’t have to use lots of colours, or any in fact.  Simple white or monochrome is still super fabulous but bring it to life with a combo of textures.  Think, smooth cotton sheets, chunky knit throws and tactile velvet.

Assembly:

First up? The sheet set which is is pretty straight forward. 

Second, the doona and throws.  I usually go one of two ways here.  If I’m using a throw, I’ll lay the doona on the bed, position the throw towards the end (but not all the way) then fold the top of the doona back to the foot of the bed (over the throw) and then back again to the top of the now folded doona…kinda like a “Z”.  If I’m using a quilt or comforter, I will lay that down on the bed first and fold to the top about 1/3 down, then fold the doona two or three times and lay that at the foot of the bed (you can fold this in a way so when you get into bed, you can just grab the top and pull up rather than going to the hassle of unfolding then laying it back on the bed….basically, another Z fold).

Finally:

The pillows.  The standard pillows you use for the basic pillow cases in your sheet set are your “sleeping” pillows (if you use some fancy ergonomic bamboo pillow as seen on TV? Put that in the wardrobe….nobody got time for that).  You want to hide the sleeping pillows a little bit as they tend to get a bit messed up.  My go-to pillow combo is euros sitting fluffed and upright up the back, the “sleeping pillows” then the decorative standard pillows (rocking the pillow cases that came with your doona set) up front and showing off.  Either stack the standard pillows on top of each other or prop them up like a filing cabinet.  I NEVER have pillows sitting on the doona, they sit on the sheets.  Dunno why but to me, it looks a bit boring and you loose some of that puff we’re trying to infuse in the final look.  Give the scatter cushion/s a puff up and place in the centre in front of your pillow stack.  if using down cushion inserts don’t forget the chop…it can be quite satisfying on a Monday morning…

And you’re done!  I know it sounds like a lot of bother but really, after the first couple of makes, the bed sorta starts making it myself.  For me, this entire process at home in the morning takes maybe 5 minutes?  No lie.

The doona:  Further on doonas as they’re important.  The high loft doonas are the best with goose and duck down considered the gold standard….and they’re lovely.  But, unless you’re sure the down is ethically sourced avoid them.  You don’t even wanna know what happens to the poor feathery guys supplying the filler and who wants to sleep under all that bad karma?  I love micro fibre down guilts.  They’re luxe, puffy, warm AND cruelty free.  If you have a “hot” partner, a good solution is using 2 doonas with different warmth ratings.  Put each in a different cover and use one in place of a throw. or comforter  This is also a great solution for summer when you don’t need the warmth but still want that high loft effect.

The haters: For reals.  Lots of people get mystifyingly fussy about using lots of pillows on beds (and couches). Sadly, the shade is likely to come from a source surprisingly close to home by way of your significant other.  “Why do we need so many pillows, we only have one head, wah wah wah.”  Whatevs.  I say do your thing until they can pack the dishwasher properly…

Happy styling, Peeps!

Dave xx

The Art Of Giving, Made Easy

Beautiful gifting, made easy.

It’s something we all love and appreciate.  Yet somewhere along the way this societal ritual has become a bit lack lustre.  I’m talking about gift giving.

Before I continue, I will confess that I too have been found guilty on many occasions of hurriedly grabbing a gift card from the servo on the way to a birthday dinner.  Justifying it as “but this way they can get what they want”.  No. Not really. It’s lazy and vaguely disrespectful. There, I said it and I’m sure with some soul searching you’ll agree too.

A beautifully wrapped gift is one of life’s el-primo delights.  So much so that there’s a gazillion you tube videos unwrapping and unboxing luxury packages that we devour by proxy in a strange voyeuristic ritual to scratch an itch via an empty facsimile of the real experience.  And it doesn’t really seem to matter what the actual gift is, it’s the excitement and delight of finding out that’s the fun.  Not mention that little warm glow you get knowing someone cares enough about you to go the trouble and effort to wrap it, just for you.  You could literally gift me a used vacuum bag and I’d love it a much as a Louis Vuitton wallet if it was wrapped to perfection....the former gift idea is not recommended, however.  The latter, yes please. Hint hint.

All that said, I don’t think not caring is the issue  This crazy busy, non-stop digital world is the prime suspect.  We just have so much on our minds, so many things to do that thinking about what to get, buying it, wrapping it and finding the time to give it in person is one thing too many on the daily to-do list.  Sadly just getting it done is the name of the game in the 21st Century and gift giving is not immune.  Of course you can buy stuff online and select “gift wrap” and move on with your life but you never know just what the final product will look like.

When designing the products for my online store, the packaging was considered at the same time.  It was important for me to offer that beautiful experience as an integral part of the product experience whether it was a gift or not.  Every product comes beautifully packaged and ready to gift - as is.  But for me, it wasn’t enough for the product to be beautifully presented only to be let down by the harsh utilitarian reality that is postage.  Because let’s face it, we still need to buy something quickly online and ship it direct to the receiver. But why should the “gifting” experience be sacrificed?  This is why my experience begins with the actual postage box.  From start to finish, I wanted a luxurious, exciting experience. From the customer feedback I’ve received? Mission accomplished!

Next time you need to show someone you care (and yes, you should include yourself in that category), swing by my website and take a look.  With an option for handwritten messages at checkout, trust that my OCD vis-à-vis presentation has your back and your gift receiver will be delighted and forever full of gratitude…Plus, you’ve just up upped the stakes for your own birthday.  What? There’s nothing wrong with taking out a bit of gifting insurance…

I’m currently working on site functionality to offer physical gift cards boxed and shipped, but for now, digital gift cards are available and a perfect option for those someones in your life who have everything.  Digital gift vouchers can be used for any product in the store….or, wait for it…DESIGN SERVICE!!  Mmmm hmmmm, that’s right.  Your gift can be put towards a design consult meaning you also gain bragging rights for your love one’s new and stunningly beautiful lounge room…But remember it’s not about you (but really, it is).

If you know someone in your life who could do with a little help in the gifting department, share this blog with them as a gentle hint.

Until next time peeps, happy gifting!

Dave xx

Style Like A Pro: The coffee table

A well styled coffee table is a marvellous thing.  And an absolute essential in the interior decorating caper.  We’ve all seen those stunning coffee tables in magazines, maximalist masterpieces literally groaning with a rich bounty of gorgeous little things.

But wait, there’s no room for anything else…like my wine.  Extremely limited studies show* that if you have to sit and hold onto your glass whilst binge watching Netflix you drink 2-3 times more.

* me.  at home.  alone.  don’t judge.

The good news is, it’s pretty easy to combine beautiful style AND functionality in this area.  And I really don’t get to say that often.  Here’s how to create your dream coffee table:

1) Layout:  When I’m putting together a vignette (fancy designer term for putting stuff on a table), I usually will start with the shape of the coffee table itself.  If it’s square, I layout items to fill a square foot print.  Rectangle table, a rectangle foot print.  Round?  Anything goes!  I usually then pick a large book and build from there.  Adding a decorative tray, magazines and a trinket box (more on this later) leaving gaps for other items like candles and vases….It’s like a glamorous game of tetras…

2) Height:  Height is very important.  Whilst a mix of high and low items is essential, anything too high and it will just get in the way of conversation or (most importantly) the TV.  I generally won’t go much higher than 30-40 centimetres, including floral arrangements.  To achieve different heights, a really simple way is adding another coffee table book or magazine to the pile.

3) Layering:  Now you have your general layout, what ties it all together is the sprinkling objet d’art or layering.  Little glass bowls full of sweets, small sculptures, a scented candle (a must in my household) and of course a vase of flowers or a small plant can be nestled in around things.  There’s really no rule here, just be prepared to have a play to see what works.  If you get really stuck, grouping items into 3’s is a go-to design rule.

I mentioned a trinket box earlier?  A decorative box is essential for a coffee table.  You’ve spent all this time creating a masterpiece only to have your significant other dump car keys and a fist full of change slap bang in the middle of your fabulous styling moment.  A decorative box is the answer to store all those ugly bits and bobs associated with real life along with the inevitable wood pile of remote controls we all seem to have these days.

Still a bit unsure?  All of my homewares have been selected to work within this very framework, so creating your own coffee table masterpiece is super easy.  Of course, if you need some advice I’m always here to help!  Now, get to styling and remember to tag me on insta (_dmpcreative) or use the hashtag #dmpcreativeinteriors so I can check out and share your handy work!

Happy styling Peeps!

Dave xx