home decor living room

How to transform a space without redecorating by @two.men.and.a.semi

Jo from popular blog @two.men.and.a.semi is renovating a 1930’s semi in Manchester, adding in as much natural texture, light and space as possible. 
We spoke to him about transforming his conservatory without the need to redecorate, using his edit of La Redoute occasional furniture and accessories.
 

Restyling a room 

When we think about renovating a room in our house it can feel like a massive task to redecorate hence why the average household only does it every five years. What is often overlooked is how restyling a room has the power to completely transform a space. 
Accessories and good styling can be a very cost-effective way to breathe new life into a tired room. For renters it also has the benefit of adding some personality to a space without changing the décor.
Selecting the right pieces is essential and La Redoute has a beautiful selection to choose from. For me it usually starts with statement piece, and I build it from there. To find your statement piece you can have a think about the vibe you want to achieve and search for something that matches or simply browse until something jumps out at you. 

Work around a statement piece 

For my conservatory makeover that signature piece was the La Redoute Noyeto walnut console table. I have an obsession with all things mid-century and the sleek and modern design screamed to me to be my starting point. This gave me a clear direction that I wanted rest of my accessories to complement the walnut tones and to be classic in design. Another reason for the console table is that it gives me a place to display more of my accessories to set the mood of the room. Having flat surfaces like a coffee table, side table or a console table gives you more area to style.

PXL_20211002_153433533_2.jpg

Choosing accessories / Pick your colour palette, then your accessories 

When picking the rest of your accessories have a colour palette in mind and select items from that family. That palette however does not need to be monosyllabic; it is good to add some contrast into the mix, so the eye doesn’t get bored. For my conservatory I picked items that had earthy tones to go with the walnut console table like Nagpur papier mache vase  and contrasted that with the brass Strakaza Dragonflies.

PXL_20211002_151001801.PORTRAIT_3.jpg

Adding texture / It’s all about texture 

Texture is also important and helps to warm up a space. Textiles are a fantastic way to bring some warmth to a room. The addition of rugs, curtains, throws and cushions can be stylish as well as functional and bring more of your personality to your home. Conservatories like the one I am styling are often seen as summer spaces and cold and uninviting in the winter months. To make sure we get all year round use of our conservatory I made sure to warm up the space using the luscious Malko oval wool rug and the Menorca linen curtains.

PXL_20211002_153433533_2.jpg
 

The importance of light

Mirrors can add some extra dimension to your room by making the space appear bigger and brighter. Mirrors come in all designs and shapes that can easily fit in with the style you are wanting to achieve. The Martela iron mirror that I have used ties in the black metal frames of the console table and bounces the light into the centre of the room. Lighting fixtures are an often forgotten tool to style with and create a beautiful and warm space to live in. 
Softer light can help you relax and wind down at the end of the day and there’s an abundance of beautiful lamps and light fittings to achieve that. I fell in love the So’Homeglass and mustard fringe pendent light as it hit all the main design features I was trying to get from the space. It has a retro curved design which fits with my mid-century aesthetic and also add further softness and texture with the fringe. 

PXL_20211002_151447616.PORTRAIT_3.jpg

Finishing touches

Take your time to put your pieces together. Move things around and step back regularly to see how it looks, you will know when it looks good. Adding natural elements like plants and flowers is another fantastic way to elevate a space and also gives you another opportunity to introduce new pieces in the form of plants pots and vases that go with your design. The beauty of using accessories to style your space is that you can add and remove to it as you see fit and as your style evolves.
 
We loved seeing how Jo styled his beautiful conservatory. The La Redoute hub has lots more inspiration head over now to see how Debs from Bang On Style made the most of her space.
 
Author Name
Elizabeth,
26/10/2021