How can I make my place more stylish?

[AvacadoChic]

I'm about to buy a flat which will hopefully complete in about a month. My existing place is nice but I don't think anyone would walk in and go 'wow'.

I recently went to a house party and the house was absolutely stunning. I don't know the owner well enough to ask her advice, but I'd love to be able to make my new place as beautiful as her house. I just don't know how to do it. I don't know what to buy or where to put it. I don't know how people look at a space and can see what would make it beautiful. I can make it tidy and functional, but I don't at all have the skills to make it stylish.

I did once try ChatGPT on a room but it got all the proportions wrong. The picture it gave me had a table, chairs and a sofa all comfortably in the room but they would have had to be miniature furniture to fit in like that.

Tell me, people of beautiful houses, how do you do it?

I recommend listening to The Great Indoors podcast, they haven't done an episode in a while but there's a big back catalogue talking you through every room, choosing colours etc.

Re furniture - a mix of old and new helps things to look homey. Charity shops, antique shops, Facebook marketplace etc can be a great source for tables, chairs, desks, art etc.

It depends on what 'stylish" means to you really. There are certain household items or trends that I would never have in my house yet others may love. A couple of things which instantly make a house unstylish in my opinion are massive corner sofas and massive TVs.

I would have another try with chatgpt. Provide dimensions of your room as well as a photo, tell it colours and styles you like. Its a good way way to see what the room will look like before spending money. You can ask it where to source items and decide then, if you want to buy new or secondhand. It has improved how I redecorate rooms and pull details I would never have considered.

What was it about the person's home you liked? What colours and styles are you drawn to? Think outside the box here: what restaurants do you enjoy spending time in - what's their aesthetic? Go to an art gallery - what pictures are you drawn to? Then consider what it is you like about them and use that as a starting point for design inspiration. Think about the emotional aspect of home too not just the physical: how do you want to feel when you walk into your living room? I want mine to feel cosy, convivial and like stimulating conversation can flourish in there so I have a warm, bright colour scheme, pools of warm light from multiple lamps, lots of books, art and ornaments and overstuffed armchairs facing each other. Others might want their living room to feel calming so go for a more minimalist decor in neutrals or monochrome etc. Figure out the kind of interiors you're drawn to and why and take it from there!

I think first of all you have to figure out your style. It's not just what you put in, it's what you leave out. And avoid clutter, that's never stylish.

(I don't think my home is very stylish, BTW - but it is cosy.)

Get on Pinterest or Houzz. Pin stuff you like. That will help you define your style. Apartment therapy blog is also good for small spaces.

I used chat gpt yesterday but added a photo with the spec that i wanted a cosy luxurious bedroom and this is what it came back with after adding mine . You do need to add pictures for it to work well though otherwise it’s just like pintrest where you can get inspiration .

Huh. I don’t know how I do it. I’ve always loved interior design and I have a degree in graphics. I can walk into a room and envision it done.
My own home has a Spanish influence - Urban Iberian my DD has called it. Wall sconces are from a market in Spain, paintings of rural Spain and one huge abstract one of Scotland but in bright oranges and blues, some ceramic pieces and iron candlesticks and sculpture.The throw cushions on the sofa I sourced from Redbubble which have printed tiles from the Alhambra in Granada.
So I’d start with an idea. For me it was Moorish Spain. I had a few unique pieces and I decided what colour to pull out of them; the cushions in the green/mustard/blue set the colour scheme. So I bought a green sofa and mustard yellow armchair. Painted the alcoves either side of the fireplace in the same green, and put the ceramics and sculpture on shelves. Rug is modern but looks like an old moorish one. It’s still very much a Victorian terrace but has a touch of something more interesting. So I’d say artwork and accessories can really change things. Don’t be too random about it but don’t get too hung up on one era/source. And add colour!

Thank you everyone, that's really helpful. You've given me a starting point, so I'm already considerably further on than I was this morning!

Pinterest has also got some lovely ideas. I re designed my kitchen and it's perfect for my taste.