How to Bring the Aussie Spirit Into Your Space
It starts with a simple question: what is it about Australia that you love? Perhaps it’s the outdoors, your sporting nature, your passion for wild animals, our heritage, or even the wonderfully wacky people that makeup this great country. Whatever it is, there is a way to take that idea, twist it, shape it and incorporate it into your home, and all it takes is a few smart decorating tricks and ideas.
Us Aussies love our sport, and quite often our motto is 'the bigger, the better.' Sadly, this doesn't always blend well with urban backyards – until now, that is. First things first: You set up a slice of your backyard to function as a seating area for barbecues and picnics. Then, with a few clever touches, you suddenly find that it doubles as a miniature cricket pitch. Your lunchtime barbecues with the family quickly turn into all-day matches, your kids have somewhere to run around with their friends, and best of all, you've made the most of your space by putting the fun into functional.
If your design tastes tend to err on the traditional side, you may want to consider incorporating the colours of our flag – red, white and blue – into your décor, instead of bolder combinations like green and gold. Through traditional, the red/white/blue combo can be quite stunning, especially if you find the right balance – and that isn't hard considering the options with this colour combination are endless. For example, you can pair a dark maroon red with navy blue, mix bright cherry red with cobalt blue, or simply opt for low-key accents via accessories like cushions and lamps. Bonus: This colour combo will give your room a nautical-chic twist also.
Nothing says Australia quite like the image of sand and surf, but short of building a miniature beach in your backyard, you are going to have to be imaginative to evoke that famous Bondi blue in your house. However, a surfboard isn't a bad place to start. If you're already a surfer, you're done; you've picked the perfect pastime for adding panache to your place. If you're not, you can likely find a second-hand surfboard online. Then, it is simply a matter of finding the right nook. Adding it to your backyard is great if you want to give your garden an authentically beach-ready touch, while propping it up in your living area will give your home a laidback appeal.
Australia is full of wonderful people doing wonderful things, and you don't have to do much to incorporate that concept into your décor. Florence Broadhurst was an Australian designer whose iconic prints have become well known within the Australian design community. Fiercely bright and bold, they are guaranteed to bring flavour to your living space – whether you opt for her signature wallpaper designs, a gorgeous upholstered reading chair, a head-turning rug, or a combination of any and all of the aforementioned.
Australia is full of vibrant places – from Penrith to Perth, from Byron Bay to Brunswick – and there is no easier way to bring your love of Australia into your home than through artwork that represents these locations. If you have travelled far and wide, you can find artwork that lists out random locales, but if you prefer to keep it personal to you, you can create your own custom-made artwork. One idea might be to itemise the various places you have lived, while another idea might be to record all the favourite places you have visited; the choice is yours. If you are looking for simple style ideas that elevate a room from basic to bold, you just found your number one pick.
If your modus operandi is simply to say it loud and say it proud, it couldn't get simpler. Wear your love for Australia on your decorating sleeve and add a wall map to your home. A bright-lights structure such as this is certainly a bold touch that isn't for the faint of heart, but a colourful wall map or hand-painted artwork would do the trick just as well.
With the World Cup in full swing, the other colours of Australia – green and gold – are on the mind. Although the uniforms of our soccer team might be a little brash for an interior, there are shades of green and gold that will instantly evoke a luxurious and opulent nod in your home. If you're incorporating the Aussie spirit into your home with these colours, it is probably best to think of gold in its traditional sense, instead of the sunny yellow we have come to know and love. Combined with a darker shade of green – think of eucalyptus trees instead of the green grass of a football stadium – you'll quickly find you have created a plush and relaxing space.
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