While we’re mostly all confined to our homes, dreaming of our next holiday, dinner party or day out, the urge to change your surroundings and redecorate your home can be strong! So we caught up with the head of our interior design team, Mathilde Rossi, to find out about the latest interior trends and how to recreate them in your home. Mathilde is responsible for bringing our finest chalets and apartments to life, creating cosy and luxurious atmosphere that our clients love. Her top tips are sure to bring a breath of fresh air into your favourite rooms in a simple and effective manner, and help you find a newfound appreciation for your home.
1. Paint a Wall
A great way to use up some leftover paint from a previous project and simple enough that it won’t disrupt your home life for more than a few days, painting one wall is a sure-fire way to brighten up a room and give it a new mood. “Right now the best colours to use are blue green or terracotta,” Mathilde explains. If you don’t have access to any paint you can also put up a hanging or tapestry to add a bit of colour and personality to your walls.
2. Change your Soft Furnishings According to the Season
The short days of winter are giving way to long evenings and blossoming trees, why not take advantage of the change of season and adapt the colours of your home? Mathilde recommends adding a simple but effective pop of colour with cushions, throws or even rugs to add character to a room. Wood, stone and neutral colours are the basic elements of Alpine Lodges' apartments and chalets, but by adding a few hints of colour, each residence becomes unique, like a work of art.
3. Redefine or Replace Secondary Light Sources
As the days get longer, it can be a great opportunity to experiment with light and see how much difference it can make to your living area. Mathilde likes to use ambient lighting in our chalets and apartments by incorporating several light sources; "There are many possibilities in terms of design to introduce a new light point" she says. If you already have floor lamps, why not try repositioning them to see how they can change the mood of a room? Otherwise, you can simply add a few candles that will immediately warm your interiors.
4. Add a Few Plants and Flowers
House plants are having a big moment right now, and adding a few plants to your bedroom, living room or bathroom can really bring a space to life. Whether it's small cacti lined up on a shelf, leaves flowing from ceiling to floor or just a few abundant bouquets, plants and flowers are the stars of our interiors. If you don’t have much to keep you occupied at the moment, why not invest in some foliage from your local supermarket or garden centre and learn how to care for it? Plants and the act of looking after them have been proven to benefit your mental health, as well as looking nice in your house. If you’ve never had a house plant before, try starting out with easy to care for varieties such as cactuses, succulents (like aloe), or leafy pothos. Pro tip: if you decide to repaint a wall a solid colour, place your green plants against it to make them stand out.
5. Change your Furniture Layout
This is quite a big job, but you'll feel like you live in a new home by the time it’s done! Mathilde recommends following some basic rules, such as Feng Shui or even just simple interior design principles, to maximise the space, light and practicality of your living areas. It’s a great way to refresh your living spaces without having to go anywhere, and even if you just move a couple of pieces - plus, it's a great opportunity to have a good sort out and minimise clutter!
A big thanks to Mathilde for providing us with some inspirational interior tips – we hope you’ve found them useful, too!
Now is a great time to search for a new home or holiday bolthole in the Alps; we are working from home and are available to offer you advice and talk you through our current properties for sale in les Trois Vallées, les Portes du Soleil and Espace Killy. We have lots of exciting projects that we can’t wait to share with you. Get in touch to find out more, or browse our current developments HERE.
