HOW TO DEFINE YOUR HOME DESIGN STYLE WITH CONFIDENCE
From colour to texture to what’s beneath the surface, here’s how to create a home that looks great and works for your lifestyle.
2 min
Whether you’re building from scratch or renovating, locking in a cohesive design style can be one of the trickiest – and most rewarding – parts of the process. It’s not just about looks; it’s about making choices that suit your lifestyle, climate, and long-term comfort.
New resources from building experts, including a detailed style guide by CSR with inspiration from brands such as Bradford, Hebel, Monier, Cemintel, and PGH, are helping homeowners better understand the connection between materials, performance, and aesthetics.
Here are five key elements to consider when defining your home’s style and getting it right from the start.
1. Start with Style
Understanding your overall aesthetic—whether it’s Classic, Coastal, barnhouse, Industrial, or something in between—makes every other decision easier. It affects everything from the roofline to your cladding choice. For example, a Contemporary home often features clean lines and subtle contrasts, while an Industrial style leans toward bold materials and darker colours.
2. Make Colour Count
The right colour palette doesn’t just change how a home looks – it transforms how it feels. Neutral tones like soft greys and crisp whites work well in breezy, coastal designs, while dark charcoals and blacks add drama to modern or industrial exteriors. Rich browns and terracotta tones are gaining traction too, particularly for homes that aim to blend into natural surroundings.
3. Layer in Texture
Texture is one of the most underrated tools in exterior design. Think rough brick next to smooth cladding, or timber detailing beside rendered walls. Using materials with different surfaces can highlight key architectural features and add interest to otherwise flat façades. It’s also an easy way to bring character to newer builds.
4. Don’t Overlook the Invisible
Good design doesn’t stop at what you can see. The hidden layers – insulation, wall wraps, roof sarking – are critical in how liveable and energy-efficient your home is. These are choices that are often hard to change later, so it pays to get them right from the outset.
5. Think Beyond the Walls
Landscaping is more than just a finishing touch. The right mix of plants, materials and pathways can enhance your home’s style and create a seamless indoor-outdoor connection. Match fencing and garden materials to your architectural choices for a polished, intentional feel – and make sure your outdoor areas are as functional as they are beautiful.
From elevated skincare to handcrafted home pieces, this year’s most thoughtful gifts go beyond the expected.
A haven for hedge-fund titans and Hollywood grandees, Greenwich is one of the world’s most expensive residential enclaves, where eye-watering prices meet unapologetic grandeur.
From elevated skincare to handcrafted home pieces, this year’s most thoughtful gifts go beyond the expected.
3 minMother’s Day has quietly evolved. It’s no longer about last-minute flowers or safe department store buys. Instead, there’s a noticeable shift towards gifts that feel considered, personal and, increasingly, lasting.
This year’s edit leans into that idea, bringing together pieces that balance design, purpose and a sense of story.
At the more elevated end of beauty, Australian-founded skincare label Bon Elliot offers a future-facing approach grounded in dermatology.
Its Hydrating Performance Serum, priced at $220, is designed to support the skin’s natural balance, working across the microbiome, barrier and repair response for a more refined, luminous finish.
It’s the kind of gift that feels indulgent, but also quietly practical.
For something less expected, there’s a playful turn in the form of Tinned Candle’s handcrafted pieces.
Inspired by tinned fish, the Atlanta-based studio has created candles that are as much design objects as they are functional.
Importantly, they smell nothing like sardines, leaning instead into ocean breeze or champagne notes, depending on the piece . It’s a small, clever way to bring personality into a space.
There’s also a growing appetite for gifts that give something back.
Coral adoption programs offer a more meaningful alternative, allowing you to adopt a coral in your mother’s name while supporting fragile marine ecosystems under threat from climate change.
It’s less about the object and more about the gesture, which, in many ways, feels more aligned with the moment.
Homewares continue to hold their place, particularly when craftsmanship is at the centre.
Tanora’s collection, handcrafted in Madagascar, blends traditional techniques with a modern coastal aesthetic, spanning everything from woven totes to placemats and cushions.
These are pieces that don’t just decorate a home, they add texture and narrative to it.
For something more personal, Australian lingerie label Cloud Blvd offers soft, wearable luxury in the form of robes and camisoles.
With options designed for comfort as much as elegance, they strike that rare balance between everyday use and quiet indulgence.
And for the mother who loves to host, Mesa Collections delivers a playful yet polished take on the table.
Think colourful linens, sculptural silverware and small details that turn a simple meal into something more considered.
What ties all of this together is a shift in mindset.
The best gifts this Mother’s Day aren’t necessarily the most expensive or the most obvious. They’re the ones that show thought, whether that’s through design, craftsmanship or meaning.
Which, if you think about it, is exactly the point.
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