Change your view with interior design

Tired of looking at the same four walls, the same furniture in the same space? At a loss what to do with what you've got, with budget restrictions stopping you from getting drastic with your home, Air BnB, lodge or rental property? Don't stress... The KUKU team are here to make it better for you with some marvellous ideas for a mini makeover!

Giving your property a fresh face isn't as hard as you may think, and it doesn't have to break the bank either. Sometimes it's as easy as using what you've got to create different perspectives and focal points, moving furniture around and playing with space. Decluttering is always a great way to start, opening up rooms by removing surplus items, whether it's pieces of furniture or décor items. Today's interior design is about clean, simple spaces with great flow.

Indeed, when it comes to home interior design, the old adage of less is more should always be your guide when it comes to revitalising things. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to get rid of things as items can often be repurposed. But sometimes you do need to be tough and ditch the 30-year-old Lazy Boy that the dog ate the arm off or say farewell to the kitsch 80's-style pseudo art deco wall unit with the matt black finish and faux gold inlay...

If you aren't someone who "sees" spaces easily or who can envisage how to make the best of what you've got, then relax. KUKU is here to help. Both Bianca and Jana are home interior design experts who are good at maximising the potential of any given space, whether it's a living room, bedroom, bathroom or outside terrace, stoep, pool deck or lapa. By coming out on a site visit they can advise on what's needed and make suggestions for how to improve things, pulling together a plan for your place in the sun.

Indeed, the dynamic due recently completed a home interior mini makeover for a rental property on Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate that demonstrates exactly what kind of difference a mini makeover can make.

INTERIOR DESIGN MAKE OVER - THE BRIEF:

The property's owners in Cape Town asked that we take their semi-furnished holiday home and give the interior design a more modern lodge feel. They elected not to repaint but asked Bianca and Jana to freshen up the walls with new artwork and create a more warm, inviting atmosphere.

Check out the "before" photos here:

WHAT WE DID...

The lounge area was given a lift with the repositioning of the couch, the addition of new scatter cushions, a statement artwork on the wall above it, stylish rug from Weylandts, a brand-new "modern" Morris armchair, Bamileke stools and indoor plants. A new "cluster" style coffee table was introduced.

The nooks above the TV were filled with Buhera baskets from Zimbabwe and in the dining area the dining table's clunky benches were replaced with stylish and exceedingly comfortable Phillipe Starck chairs. The benches were repurposed in two of the bedrooms as footers for the beds, as was a large jute rug that was moved from the living room to the master bedroom.

The three bedrooms were given a lift with the addition of backless mosquito nets, new scatter cushions and throws to lift the owners' own crisp, white bed linen and wall art. Bianca and Jana are currently working on adding new curtains and blinds to the windows and freshening up the outdoor entertainment area.

Check out the "after" photos here and visit Remax Properties Hoedspruit for more info on this beautiful property.

Some interior design ideas

Go for clean surfaces in your home interior and as much floor space as you can muster when decluttering. Then you can look at moving things around to create more interesting spaces and better flow. Try putting big pieces of furniture like beds and couches on different walls to see how this changes the aspect of a room. With open plan spaces, free-up your living and dining spaces by repositioning furniture and find ways to use "dead" space to its best advantage. Make sure to keep high traffic areas free of anything that can impede movement.

This can all be done with little to no expense. Combined with the decluttering and reimagining of living spaces, if you really want to make an enormous difference to your interior design and brighten up tired or dull-looking rooms, invest a bit of moolah into fresh paint on the walls, soft furnishings like scatter cushions, throws and rugs, curtains and blinds, strategic décor pieces and wall art. You'll be amazed at the difference that can be achieved.

New scatter cushions (also known as throw cushions) turn even the most boring of couches into an exciting place to curl up with a fab drink and whatever you're binge-watching (we recommend G&T and GoT!) Rugs are a great way to break up a monotonous floor or cover a multitude of sins and also create a warm, inviting and welcoming interior. This is how you spruce up your home interior design without breaking the bank.

Throws and blankets are perfect for both couches and beds - go for vibrant prints and colours to break up neutral tones and introduce eye candy into a room. Curtains and window treatments should always complement your interior design and décor and not overpower a room. You can go for light sheers or total block-out options, depending on how you want to handle light.



When it comes to interior design, décor and artwork, think "eyecatching" and "statement pieces". Keep it simple and effective is the rule of thumb. So a strategically placed painting or photo canvas on a large wall works well, as do multi-functional pieces like Bamileke stools and baskets. Two or three larger pieces often work better than a lot of smaller pieces and can help to lift tired home interiors.

Stay tuned to our blog and get more great design tips & tricks.