If you’re planning (or dreaming) of renovating or restyling your home, pulling all your design ideas together to create a home that ticks all your boxes and is stylish to boot can seem impossible.

But thankfully, when you approach your project step-by-step, you can achieve your home design goals with minimal stress.

Whatever your tastes and preferences, getting the balance right in the key areas of your home is essential to creating a home that’s the envy of the neighbourhood. So, to help you understand the process and fine tune your design, Anchor Homes is sharing five tips to creating a home with serious style.

1. Find your inspiration

Before you dive in, be sure to spend time gathering ideas and inspiration to help guide your design. Whether you scour magazines, watch reality shows, visit display homes or all of the above, keep a record of the things you love in a notebook or folder that you can share with your designer and builder.

While it may not be possible or practical to replicate all the features on your wish list, your collection can be used to guide your design decisions to help you create a home that best matches your style.

2. Take care with colours

Your choice of colours really sets the tone and feel of your house, so this is one area that you need to get right. If you have an eye for design you may well be all over this, but if not, seek advice from a colour consultant or interior designer to make sure the end result is on the money.

Getting the balance right is key on both the inside and out and an expert can guide you towards the tones that work well together and the type of mood they create. They can also suggest ways to add interest and contrast effectively through fittings and features like cabinetry, flooring and furnishings.

3. Materials matter

Another way you can create a unique and striking look for your home is through your choice of materials. From your cladding to your stone bench colour, there are lots of options that bring their own sense of style and character.

For example, it can make a huge difference to your street appeal when you include a feature wall of spotted gum timber cladding in combination with attractive and hard-wearing Weathertex.

Inside, the addition of a Caesarstone island bench and tiled splashback can transform your kitchen from everyday to show-stopping.

4. Smart upgrades

If your budget allows, including some carefully selected upgrades can really give your home a sense of style that stands out from the ordinary. Choosing areas that have the greatest impact on the overall look, or on your enjoyment of the home, is the smart way to be sure you get value.

Including feature lighting in the bedrooms, kitchen and living zone is a relatively inexpensive way to add style and sophistication to your space. Another popular upgrade is to add a decking with bi-fold doors opening out — a surefire way to give your outdoor space an instant wow factor. Other ideas include luxury fixtures like brushed nickel tapware, tiles or floor coverings, and picture windows to maximise your view.

Even invest in smart bathroom tech for a space that screams contemporary style plus convenience.

5. Think long-term

When it comes to style, we all have unique tastes — and while you want your home to reflect this, it’s also important to think long-term. Certain elements can be easily updated, while others are difficult or expensive to change, so be mindful of this when making your choices.

Whether you’re planning on staying in your home for 20 years or five, it’s important to imagine your home from the perspective of a potential buyer if there’s a chance you may wish to sell down the track.

Find your style and love your reno

When you incorporate your own style into your new home design, the results can be show-stopping. So find your inspiration, your preferred colours and materials and work with your designer and builder to bring them to life!

Check out our collection of Renos & Builds for more tips and inspiration to bring your new home to life!