81HOME LIFE

THOSE FINISHINGAs our focus goes from outdoors to indoors, Jo Caruana chats to interior designer Greta Apap Bologna about how soft furnishings and decorative items could really add that extra special touch to your home.

I’m sure I’m not alone in admiring the ‘showroom look’. You know the one I mean – homes with no clutter and clear surfaces, or showrooms that invite us in to admire their sheer, untainted perfection.

But while these sorts of spaces look great and seem inviting to begin with, there’s definitely an element of personality and cosiness that’s glaringly missing – the holiday treasures that remind you of in-jokes, the collection of family photos that make you smile and the soft furnishings that invite you to sink into them and put your feet up.

So, with all that in mind, how should we successfully bridge the gap between crisp and simple, while still injecting our personal tastes, styles and touches into our homes?

“Soft furnishings and decorative items play a vital role in turning a house into a home,” says well-known interior designer Greta Apap Bologna. “They contribute a huge percentage towards a room’s final feel.

“Often when budgets are tight, we tend to focus on more structural elements and ignore the finishing touches, but it’s important not to hold back at this stage – it really will make all the difference.”

Greta explains that the term ‘soft furnish-ings’ doesn’t just encompass curtains and blinds, but also includes everything from your sofa and cushions, to your carpets and rugs.

" Soft furnishings and decorative items play a vital role in turning a house into a home... They contribute a huge percentage towards a room’s final feel." Greta Apap Bologna

touches

>

83HOME LIFE

“Each of these items contributes a lot to comfort,” she says. “They help you play around with texture and add depth. For in-stance, a fluffy cushion adds a more tactile touch to a leather sofa, while a shag pile carpet adds softness to even the hardest marble floor. Of course things need to look good, but they have to feel great too.”

If you want to bring your soft furnishings bang up-to-date, then you could consider incorporating deep purples or blues, both of which are very in this season. “Obvi-ously you don’t need to drench your whole room in either colour,” Greta explains, “but you could find ways of using items in these hues as an accentuating feature.

“Prints are also very in, though I know they can seem daunting and most people prefer to opt for something plain and neutral. My advice would be to use pat-terns as accents too – such as choosing a bold, one-off armchair or a few statement cushions. This way you can add interest and fun, without committing too much, as

you’ll still have flexibility to change if you don’t like the items after a few years.

“As for this year, large-scale, graphic prints are very much the order of the season.”

The paramount rule to follow is to think practically and long-term. “You may fall in love with a beautiful velvet fabric, but you have to bear in mind that that sort of texture will work at certain times but not at others. It will probably look too heavy for summer, which means you’ll have to switch to lighter curtains when the season changes.

“As for practicality, you definitely need to assess the foot traffic your room should expect. Will it be a special occasion room, or somewhere that’s always busy with friends, children and pets? If it’s the latter, you need to use fabrics that launder easily and can be wiped effortlessly while hold-ing their shape. I would suggest technical fabrics – which have come a long way

" you definitely need to assess the foot traffic your room should expect. Will it be a special occasion room, or somewhere that’s always busy with friends, children and pets?" Greta Apap Bologna

>

HOME LIFE 84

in the last 15 years or so. These include microfibre and faux leather, which are very strong and durable.

“Meanwhile, you will also need to think about the amount of sunlight that streams into your room, as it can cause delicate fabrics (such as silk) to fade. Unfortunately it cannot just be about what you love; it has to work too.”

Finally, Greta explains that decorative items have an important role in every home, even if you prefer a simpler, less cluttered look. “Personal items are so important,” she says. “Whenever I am doing a room up for clients, I like to add some quirky touches that will make them smile – such as things linked to particular memories, experiences or travels.

“Do edit them to ensure they’re not ‘too much’, and find ways of allowing them to work well together, without looking too cluttered. I tend to like a few focal items that are scattered around to complete the effect I want to achieve and tie everything in together. I also believe that less is more, you don’t have to use the whole set of matching vases or knick-knacks for example. See what lends itself best and be selective.

“Lastly, a little tip, I like to group things in odd numbers as opposed to even ones. I genuinely think that three is the magic number when it comes to making things look good!” ∞