I have gone through life thinking I was a bit of a minimalist. This has always been apparent in my wardrobe, filled to the brim with basics of all kinds (an attempt on capsule, albeit, with over 50 capsule items), and I always thought my interiors would go the same way. Having been brought up on cream carpets, bespoke matching furniture sets and Cath Kidston, a fascination for Elephant’s Breath seemed only too easy to forecast.
And then, a few months ago, I started picking up interiors magazines. This might seem like a weird choice of read for a twenty-something with only a rental to her name, but when you’ve already run through every fashion glossy on the shelf, it’s the interiors mags that are the most aesthetically tempting. Plus, as we at The Lifestyle Edit know, style isn’t just about wardrobe. I wanted to brush up.
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As with fashion editorial, what I always find more impressive – more exciting, even – is when there seems to be a lot going on on the page, and yet it totally makes sense. A stylist could put ten different items on a model, for example, but layered in that technical, fashion-editor way, the look makes sense. So too with the interiors editorial. There’s a certain magic to bringing a room together, that goes beyond colour co-ordination. Some of the favourite homes I have been in have been a museum of furnishings, curated and presented in a fashion that create a central theme. Yes, cream carpets and black granite are always going to work, just as a white shirt is never going to go out of style, but a home – I think – should always have something a little more. Enough will happen there for perfection to seem a somewhat false representation. Plus, it’s just more fun.
Of course, as with the way we actually dress vs. what we see on the page, there is a trickle down system. We don’t all have the editor’s eye. What is needed, is a way to interpret the trend and bring it to a level at which it makes sense in our everyday lives. And so, I bring you, the sofa mis-match.
Probably the easiest way to bring some play into your living space while also allowing you to exercise your interiors styling is to experiment with mismatched furnishings. There is something that looks quite well thought-through about a combination of colours, shape and materials in one living space, but equally avoids your interiors taking themselves too seriously. Plus, minimalism wasn’t to be see at the shows for this season – so why have it in your home?
To get an idea of how to execute this the right way, we knew we had to speak to a retailer that epitomised perfectly curated eclecticism. Enter: Anthropologie. This is what Zoe Hodson, their home buyer for Europe, let me in on.
“Mix and match sofas offer an accessible and flexible approach to a purchase which is often a major home investment,” she begins. “It means that pieces can be purchased gradually and also broken up and used in different parts of the house, which is huge a plus for anyone wants more freedom and less commitment. Those who are renting find this particularly favourable.”
Does she think this trend has anything to do with our recent penchant for bespoke, or unique pieces? “I believe that customers are consciously looking for something they can customise to their own space and style,” she offers. “We love the way our Souk modular comes in muted tones, for example, meaning you can be playful with mixing the various colours available and create your own look.”
For those who might be keen to maintain a cleaner aesthetic, whilst still touching on the trend, think about incorporating different materials, Zoe says. “For more contemporary style, a nice approach is to choose one colour and vary the textures and/or tones between pieces for a cosy modern look,” she finishes. “This can then be refreshed with cushions and throws whenever desired.” Interiors perfection.