If you ever saw the 90s’ Clarissa Explains It All, you’ll know the true definition of quirky room styling. While today’s ‘quirky’ might mix a vintage desk with bold acrylic accessories, hers is… well this:
It’s the epitome of a non-theme and hard to take in when we’re now so in love with simple styling and the vast majority of items at The White Company.
Could this kind of room exist today? Of course, but if you’re anything like me and have a default décor setting of clean lines and complementary colours, it’s going to push the boundaries. Essential requirements:
- Mix your colours, then mix them again
- When doing so, ignore all of your instincts and think ‘clash’
- Know when to stop mixing by sticking to a colour family like only primary or pastels
- Start by picking your larger items, which may well have more character and cost far less at salvage yards and vintage furniture shops, then add your accessories
- Customise (and don’t worry about staying in the lines) – try combining two colours with a crackle paint or using wallpaper/wrapping paper/old maps to give furniture a new look
- When it comes to accessories, go ALL OUT with plastic, novelty items and the kind of stuff that often goes in the sale. Flamingo fairy lights and giant inflatable pizza slices, this is your time…
Here’s how I’d do it, working with a primary colour palette. It was actually really lovely to do a virtual home shop with very few limitations, and not having to worry about clashing colours or styles. I loved being able to include the Henry Holland armchair, which haunts me every time I hit Habitat but will never fit in our house, and the half moon side table from The Range.
How would you make crazy ’90s sitcom styling work in your home in 2016?
Lovely items from:
Jimi Hendrix plant pot, Joy; Vintage style metal desk, notonthehighstreet.co.uk; Button crochet cushion cover, La Redoute; Personalised vinyl record clock, notonthehighstreet.co.uk; Macadam green metal folding chair, Habitat; Abel armchair by House of Holland, Habitat; Monochrome stripe and dotty wallpapers, Graham and Brown; Mango wood headboard, Maisons Du Monde; Geometric print duvet, La Redoute; Copper cloud shelf, Urban Outfitters; Mashita Eiderdown, La Redoute; Half moon side table, The Range; Rattan mirror, notonthehighstreet.com; Hello lamp; Urban Outfitters.
The Decorator 