Inspiration and Tips Archives - Page 3 of 3

Posted on October 26, 2015October 26, 2015 by Moody Monday Media

4 Tips for organising your home office

The home office is more popular these days than it has ever been, thanks to flexible working practices and more people starting their own businesses from home.

At Moody Monday, we’re all for owning and having control of your space. Say goodbye to the days of chaos and messy desks, it’s time to make this the week of the organised home office. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Declutter, declutter, declutter

If you’re not throwing things out on a regular basis, it’s very likely that you’re keeping more stuff than you really need. Like we do with our wardrobes and other rooms in the home, it is important to declutter your home office regularly to keep on top of things. Scan important items, remove old magazines, paperwork you’ve dealt with, excess folders and the like. The saying “Less is more” is definitely true for the home office, you can concentrate on only what is truly relevant.

Images via Anthony Pepe and Home Designing

Invest in a good organisational system

I have a soft spot for making sure everything has a home. Books, stationery, folders, office supplies, post it notes, you name them. It’s undeniable that we all have different preferences about how particular we are about these things, however some level of organisation is helpful for remembering where things are and bringing a sense of calm and order into your office space.

Make sure you have adequate storage to prevent your desk from becoming messy and untameable. If your home office has evolved over the years, it’s most likely needing a full evaluation to be sure the space is still working well for you. You can either plan this out yourself or hire the services of an interior designer to help you out.

Image via Intelligent Genie

Choose your desk and chair wisely

In most corporate offices, there is much emphasis placed on ergonomics. It’s usually in the company policies to ensure that employees have the right environment and equipment to do their work efficiently and are also well informed about this. Why not have the same level of care and attention in your home office? Be sure to get a chair which provides all the support your body needs and the desk is at the right height and is well suited to your needs. If unsure about what to do, contact a specialist home office furniture company.

Image via Neat and Tidy

Personalise with something you love

Whether it’s a family photo, an inspirational quote, your favourite flowers, it’s good to have some positive visual reminders. They can help you to be thankful for the things you’re grateful for and are also pretty handy for those days when you need that extra bit of motivation. . We all know it is important to have the right mind-set to be productive at work.

Your home office should be an expression of who you are and the design style of your home. Be free to show your personality and style with the use of colour, texture and unique accessories in the design of your home office.

Image via Ultralinx and Style Me Pretty

Your home office doesn’t have to be the usual desk and chair setting in a separate corner of your home, explore the possibility of using what you already have at home to your best advantage. A few weeks ago, we looked at how you can use the space under your suitcase from a previous blog post or it could even be by your bedside, there are loads of options to explore.

Whatever you do, keep your home office organised.

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Moody Monday Media

Chair of your choice

Chairs have been the focus of so many designers across the world. There is a vast variety of designs, styles and textures. Here are just a handful of some unique designs we found. Enjoy!

Sources (clockwise from top left) : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Which one is your favourite? Let us know.

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Moody Monday Media

Cosy Living Room Ideas

The living room is usually the hub of family activity and interaction in the home. Most of us are constantly looking for ways to make ours cosy and inviting. Today, we share with you some of our favourite cosy living room ideas.

The luxurious velvet used on the armchair and ottomans naturally add a luxurious and cosy feel to this contemporary living room.

Source: Luxury Living Group

Soft greys and blacks create a polished and sophisticated look in this monochromatic scheme. The rug is a perfect anchor for creating a clearly defined living room space.

Source: Home Designing

Area rugs like this give a room that instant cosy update. They are perfect for sinking one’s feet in on those cold nights. The grey fluffy look makes it stand out from the brown furniture adding texture to the room’s look.

Source: Homify

More a home theatre than a living room, we love the striking red colour scheme. Red and brown work harmoniously well.

Source: Zillow

Nothing screams cosy as much as a lovely fireplace. This extra long fireplace makes a big statement in this living room. Teamed with dark hues and wooden logs as additional furniture, it is safe to say this will be a well-used family room.

Source: Dwell

The vibrant blue colour scheme naturally creates a calm and serene atmosphere in this lounge. The contrasting armchair certainly adds a welcome unexpected touch of glam.

Source: House to Home

We think you can never have too many scatter cushions. This simple living room has an inviting sofa against a neutral and minimalist backdrop making it perfect for those long hours of family fun and conversation.

Source: Dwell

Posted on October 14, 2015October 14, 2015 by Moody Monday Media

Autumn Style Inspiration – Designer’s Picks

We’ve scoured the shops for what’s in this month. We love these colder months, it’s the perfect time to layer up, snuggle up with a cuppa and enjoy the simplicity and beauty of indoor living.

Blue Sofa, Lux Deco | Pendant shade, Naomi Paul | Mug, Lux Deco

Desk lamp, Heal’s | Wire basket, Amara | Cashmere throw, Heal’s

Brass vase, Cox and Cox | Cosy Planters, Knit Curver

For where to buy items, see links included. Enjoy getting your home ready for the new season.

Posted on October 12, 2015October 12, 2015 by Moody Monday Media

How to create a relaxing bathroom

Long days in the office, countless trips to kids’ clubs and activities, endless hours scrolling through our phones, we 21st century humans are probably the busiest lot ever in the history of time. Thankfully the majority of us have been blessed with a great asset in our homes which we tend to under-utilise – The bathroom. This precious room can take us from all that chaos, hustle and bustle right into a temporary state of calmness, renewal and rejuvenation if we care to use it well.

Especially as we approach the colder months, we can enjoy more time at home and escape into a little world of serenity every now and again. What is important in making your bathroom more relaxing is to focus on treating all of your senses to some delight. Read on for some of our tips.

See a beautiful view

Soft whites, greys and earthy tones work very well to create a simple and visually appealing scheme in the bathroom. Harsh overhead lighting doesn’t do much when you’re trying to relax, use dimmable lighting to alter the ambience. White candles are also a favorite for adding a crisp, luxurious feel.

Sources 1 | 2 | 3

Add an extra touch of cosiness

The last thing you want when you enter your bathroom is to be hit with icy coolness. A towel warmer will keep that bathroom nice and toasty, ready for you even before you step into the bath tub. Good quality bath towels and bath mats are a must have. Finish off with a cosy fluffy robe to enjoy some extra hours of warmth and comfort as you lounge around the house.

Sources 1 | 2

Good tunes for your ears

The set is all ready. Don’t let it be spoiled by noisy neighbours or noise-loving family members. Shut windows, doors and anything else that can keep the noise out as you settle in to relax. Get some soothing music on and escape into a world of your own.

Smell the goodness

Nothing beats a nicely scented bathroom, it adds something soothing to the whole bathing experience. Essential oils, bath bombs, rose petals, you name them. Fresh flowers like roses and lavender are a perfect addition for that extra beautiful aroma. No wonder spas use this trick all the time.

Sources 1 | 2

Tickle your taste buds

Except you’re not one for eating and drinking in the bathroom, a glass of wine can be just the thing to calm you down even further. You’ll soon be booking these special bath times into your diary before you know it.

Can we tempt you to see your bathroom a little differently today?

Posted on August 12, 2015August 12, 2015 by Moody Monday Media

Tiipoi – A little taste of India

Giving us the opportunity to understand and engage in other cultures through design is something that many successful lifestyle brands continue to do. It can be argued that the overall experience is as equally important as the product or service provided. Today, we’ll share a little about a brand which recently caught our attention – Tiipoi.

Founded in 2013 by Spandana Gopal, this is a lifestyle brand dedicated to showcasing the Indian culture and design ethos, where nothing is wasted in a simple yet profound manner. Good materials combined with practical and thoughtful design form the foundation of what every Tiipoi product represents.

Just imagine a dining experience with this contemporary tableware range on offer. An instant journey to the sub-continent is almost unavoidable.

The timeless design and beauty of these two sets shine through. The set of platters below also come in both copper and brass variations, absolute stunners!

“Rather than say, I am creating contemporary Indian design, which I may or may not be doing, I am going back and looking at where Indian design already exists in the everyday. To me, good design is invisible to the eye – it’s taken for granted because it’s so effective”. Spandana Gopal, PORT Magazine

We at Moody Monday love to share great design when we see it. To see more of their work, visit their website.

All images sourced from tiipoi.com

Posted on June 29, 2015June 28, 2015 by Moody Monday Media

Adding Texture with Plants

Another unique way of adding texture to your interior design, is through the use of plants and flowers. The foliage in these all-white interiors add texture and a splash of colour. By providing additional visual interest, the plants help soften the crisp, clean lines and prevent these spaces from looking sterile.

The wall colours and furniture in these rooms provide the perfect backdrop for using indoor plants to add extra character and style. With varying heights and shades, they also show how good placement can be to create a very cosy feel especially for those who can’t get enough of them.

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Clearly, a few plants can liven a space but why not make a bold statement with a vertical garden. With the perfect assortment of textures, sizes and shades, they show how plants can easily offer a unique texture of their own and fill a room with exuberant life.

blog-3

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Moody Monday Media

3 Office Designs to Love

We’re really great fans of creative office spaces, as we think they help enhance innovativeness and get people thinking outside of the box. For this reason, we’ve decided to feature our top 3 creative office interiors. Without further ado, here they are below:

1. Groupon’s office in Chicago stands out by making use of colours and modern design to their working space. We particularly like the shades of green and orange they’ve used to brighten up the space:

2. Edelman, a multinational public relations company also adds bright colours and modern design elements to its office space, and we particularly love the use of colours and natural materials, in creating a relaxed and upbeat atmosphere:

3. Autodesk an engineering and entertainment software company is making the most of the natural light in their office interior. The use of clear and tinted glass walls that create the feel of a large, open space, while still dividing the areas and providing calm and cosy spaces for their employees:

Posted on June 1, 2015May 15, 2015 by Moody Monday Media

Using Pattern & Light In and Around Dining Areas

Exquisite dining – in your own home. Who’s to say you need to head downtown for a memorable, fine dining experience? While we will not be making dinner menu suggestions, we would like to give you a few tips on how to arrange your dining area to create an elegant and luxurious atmosphere.

Low hanging light solutions over the dinner table really bring the area into emphasis, and we find them to be a great way of enhancing the dining experience. They also add a flare modernism to the space. Our favourite ones look like this:

Pattern at the dinner table: to add a subtle yet outstanding note to your dining area, we recommend using high quality design place mats and coasters. These will serve a double purpose, protecting the surface of your dining table, and adding a dash of personality and an accent note to the table:

If you would like to see our entire collection of tableware accessories, they are available on our website: coasters and placemats.

After-dinner relaxing

For the after-dinner lounging area, we prefer low intensity lighting and even candle light, depending on the context and guests you’re entertaining. This will help create a relaxed and intimate atmosphere. Add a glass of wine, and you are bound to be a fabulous evening in. Here are a few examples:

Comfortable, visual textures as patterns: According to designer Abigail Ahern “soft furnishings are the five-minute face-lifts of the decorating world, instantly perking up your room with an array of different textures”. You can sue these either as stand-alone statement pieces, or bundled up to create contrast and play, using different visual textures. Recommended materials are silks and cotton, and our own collection offers luxurious cushions in daring patters and texture, ideal for adding a subtle yet outstanding note to your dining area:

From top to bottom, cushions suggested are:

Black Keys cotton cushion, black & white
The Dance cotton cushion, Turquoise blue
Modulate with Feeling cotton cushion, black & white
O What Sweet Delights silk cushion, purple

Posted on September 12, 2014December 5, 2014 by Eliza

Colour Advice, Episode 1: The Dynamic Coral

Here in the studio, we appreciate what a fine art it can be dealing with colours (I mean, we should know this right? As we hand-blend our own especially for our designs). To make your life easier and in unleashing your creative juices, here we have collaborated with a colour specialist Karen Finlayson of Colour Elements in providing you with some specialist colour advice. In this first colour instalment, we have a special colour in the spotlight called Coral.

In a similar way to a parent not recognising a favourite child it would be unthinkable for me to name a favourite colour. Yet I hold coral very dear to my heart simply because it is constantly giving and demands very little in return. It is one of the few colours that can go well with most interiors, instantly adding a dynamic energy to any room. The depth and brightness of coral will make it more, or less, appropriate for interiors depending on their own features and added in small amounts, through pattern or an accessory, coral has an uplifting effect on any interior.

Add a coral accessory or drop a soft coral cushion into a summer room decorated with washed out, dreamy pale colours and feel the energy brighten immediately. Coral is not a bright colour that pushes itself into your consciousness but once you’re aware of its presence you will never want to be without it.

– Karen Finlayson, Colour Specialist at Colour Elements –

There is always that repressed stylist and designer in all of us; you know what you like and not sure quite how you can incorporate that in your interiors or how it would turn out if combined with other colours. I certainly hope that it’s been a worthwhile read for you. Let us know what you think by posting your comments through our facebook or twitter!