Finishing Touches
It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of interior design and if you’re a regular reader of this journal, you probably are too! There are a million and one different ways to express your personality and unique taste through interior design, some more expensive than others. But, sometimes the biggest impact can come from the smallest of details…
Having spent a lot of time inside some cool properties through a career in real estate, as well as plenty of browsing on Pinterest, I’ve found that one of the aspects of interior design that can often be overlooked is the finishing details. Those little details like door knobs, light switches, cupboard handles and light fittings can be some of the best ways to create a consistent and thoughtful vibe throughout your home, or even make a bold design statement.
If your home is a beautifully wrapped present, these finishing details are the bow on top! So, if you’ve been feeling like your home is missing something, hopefully this might inspire you to lean into the details and utilize these practical parts of a property as a powerful aesthetic tool…
Door Knobs…
Every house needs em! But have you ever thought about this heavily used, deeply practical aspect of the home as a possible design statement? It might sound simple, and it is, but door knobs can be a great place to create a common design thread throughout your property and have fun with colour, shape and texture. It’s like dressing your door up!
From matte, to shiny and wooden to brass, the possibilities are endless and like most interior finishing details, they can be as expensive or as cost effective as you want. Depending on your own personal aesthetic, you can certainly DIY a funky door knob too! Here are some ideas to get you started…
The Statement Colour: Not for the faint hearted, a statement colour on your door knobs can bring so much fun and personality into your home and be the perfect connecting thread between spaces. If you’re already working with a particular colour palette, selecting a shade that will pop and tie your aesthetic together can be the cherry on top of a beautifully designed home.
The Vintage Treasure: If you’re under any time constraints, this option might not be the one for you. But, if you love to hunt around for vintage treasures and display them in your home, why not express that through your door knobs. Antique stores, TradeMe and Facebook Marketplace are just a few of the spots you can peruse for bulk vintage door knobs, the perfect way to bring some unique charm to your interior.
The Timeless Metallic: Not all of us are looking to make a design statement with a door knob, maybe for you it’s more about creating a consistent vibe that ties your spaces together. It doesn’t get much more timeless and elegant than a metallic door knob, whether that’s a polished chrome or brushed brass, choosing a consistent metal that appears in other areas like the bathroom/kitchen taps can be the perfect finishing touch.
Cupboard Handles…
If door knobs are the main event, cupboard handles are the supporting act! With plenty of similarities in terms of cost, ability to DIY and the range of shapes, colours and sizes to choose from, cupboard handles are another area where you can express your own personal style or create a consistent design thread in your home. Updating the handles on kitchen/bathroom cabinets and wardrobe doors can bring so much new life into a space, they’re definitely an area where you can get some bang for your buck!
Depending on how many cupboards/cabinets you have to work with, you can definitely use this practical element of interior design to have a bit of fun. Just make sure you find handles that fit the existing holes, or you’re looking at a much bigger job! Here are some ideas to get you started…
The Statement Shape/Colour: As cupboard handles tend to be smaller than a door knob, and therefore less of a statement, this is definitely an area where you can have a bit of fun and even opt for a specific vibe for each space. If your aesthetic is on the more maximalist side, incorporating a fun shape or bold colour can give such a unique and considered look to your space, especially if you have included similar shapes/colours in other areas of your home.
The Unique Texture: When installing wardrobes in our current home, we actually opted for some gorgeous leather tab handles, which I absolutely love. Bringing a unique material or texture into a space can add so much depth and open up possibilities to tie that material into furniture and smaller details like cushions.
The Sleek Modern: Depending on the style of your home, keeping things more simple might be the best way to allow other aspects of your interior to shine. If this is the case, selecting a simple and sleek handle that ties into existing metals used in your home can be the perfect way to create that consistent thread that makes a home feel truly considered and special!
Light Switches & Outlet Covers…
Have you ever taken a look around your home to see if all the light switches match? I can’t tell you how many properties I’ve been into where there are 2 or even 3 variations of light switch designs; little signs of past eras and owners.
Light switches and power outlets are details that may seem insignificant, and in the grand scheme of things they are very small details in your home. But like all finishing touches, they can be a great tool to create a consistent thread throughout your home.
You can definitely spend a lot of money on gorgeous light switch covers, and there are plenty out there! But, this is also a great opportunity for some DIY, start hunting online for light switch covers and you’ll be surprised just how many are out there. Just make sure you find ones that are the same dimensions as your existing covers and check out one of the many tutorial videos for how to switch them over.
Pro tip: if you have time to hunt around online, there are some incredible vintage switch covers out there!
Light Fittings…
Light fittings are another area of design where you can spend a fortune or save a lot of money, it’s all about knowing where to look. Whether it’s a bedroom, living room or dining space, light fittings can change the way you feel about a space, especially in the evening as mood lighting and the shadows your lights cast become an art form of their own!
Having fun with statement light fittings in key spaces like the dining and living areas is a great way to inject some personality into your home. But equally, finding a consistent colour, shape or material in the light fittings used throughout your property is another excellent way to create consistency and a cohesive vibe.
Lighting is an area where you can definitely achieve a considered aesthetic without breaking the bank. We work with several home stagers who often bring in super simple rice paper lantern style shades that never fail to bring a space together. Even the simplest of options can make a huge difference. Grouping several different sized light shades together in a cluster can also be a cool way to create some visual interest, and of course the occasional pop of colour never goes amiss! You can also find some gorgeous vintage glass and ceramic light shades at antique stores or even your local op shop for a fraction of the price.