Each season and festival brings a new opportunity to refresh your space with custom home decor. By matching your space with the season or occasion, you will create a stylish and timeless atmosphere. That’s where personalised tips and tricks come in, helping you effortlessly keep your home trendy all year round.
Manar Kamal, the founder and principal designer of the Manarette, has given her expert advice on how you can turn your house into a home with thematic and seasonal decors.
How to Decorate a New Home According to Seasons or Themes
Whether preparing for Eid, getting a Ramadan decor, or having Christmas on the door, custom home decor ideas always play a vital role.
Redecorating your home according to seasons and holiday themes can occasionally add a refreshing look to your living space.
Here are some items that you can use to decorate your new house in every new season, according to expert tips from Manar Kamal.
Spring and Summer
- Throws, Pillows and Blankets: Use light, airy fabrics in pastel or bright colours like linen or cotton.
- Curtains and Drapes: Choose lightweight, sheer curtains that let in natural light and create a breezy feel.
- Table Settings and Bedding: For table runners, placemats and napkins, use floral patterns, light colours and natural textures like rattan or jute.
- Seasonal Flowers and Greenery: Decorate with fresh flowers like tulips, daisies, or hydrangeas and use green plants to bring the outdoors in.
- Rotate Artwork or Wall Decor: Display artwork with nature themes, beach scenes or abstract pieces in bright colours.
- Change Area Rugs: Opt for lighter, flat-weave rugs in neutral or pastel shades to create an airy feel.
- Seasonal Scented Candles: Use candles with fresh, floral, or citrus scents to invigorate the space. This is also one of the expert tips for sensory home decor.
- Update Accessories: Add light-coloured, textured accessories like woven baskets, glass vases, and ceramic pieces.
Fall and Winter
- Throws, Pillows and Blankets: Choose cosy materials like wool, velvet, or faux fur in warm, rich tones like burgundy, navy, or deep greens.
- Curtains and Drapes: Swap for heavier drapes in darker colours or thicker fabrics to add warmth and cosiness.
- Table Settings and Bedding: For a festive and warm table setting, incorporate plaid, deep colours, or metallic accents.
- Seasonal Flowers and Greenery: Use dried flowers, branches, or arrangements with pinecones, berries and evergreens.
- Rotate Artwork or Wall Decor: Switch to artwork featuring autumn landscapes, winter scenes or cosy, warm-hued abstracts.
- Change Area Rugs: Bring in thicker, plush rugs in darker colours or rich patterns for added warmth and comfort.
- Seasonal Scented Candles: Switch to warm, spicy, or woodsy scents like cinnamon, vanilla or pine to create a cosy atmosphere.
- Update Accessories: Incorporate metallic accents, wooden decor or velvet accessories to add richness and warmth.
How to Use Custom and Thematic Decor for Your Home
1. Focus on Key Areas
Highlight a few spots—You can concentrate on your thematic decorations in specific areas. For instance, you can decorate the mantel, coffee table, or dining table, such as an iftar table.
Rather than spreading them throughout the entire home, this creates focal points without cluttering the space.
2. Use a Consistent Color Palette
Choose coordinating colour schemes that complement your existing decor. This ensures that your seasonal or thematic decorations enhance rather than clash with your space.
3. Incorporate Subtle Elements
You can use small accents, such as subtle touches like thematic pillow covers, seasonal dishware or a decorative wreath. It brings in the theme without going overboard.
Moreover, incorporate seasonal items that blend seamlessly with your current style. For instance, add a few autumn leaves to an existing vase of flowers.
4. Switch Between Decor Items
Keep your decorations fresh by rotating them with the seasons. For example, replace a spring floral arrangement with a fall centrepiece. Other than that, you can swap out summer-themed art for winter scenes.
5. Layer and Mix Textures
With different textures, you can make the custom home decor fit the theme. For example, adding a plaid throw over a leather chair adds depth and interest without overwhelming the room.
6. Balance Thematic and Neutral Decor
Pair thematic decorations with neutral or classic pieces to balance the look. For instance, combine a few themed holiday decorations with your regular decor rather than completely replacing everything.
7. Keep it Simple and Incorporate Natural Elements
Choose a few impactful pieces rather than filling the room with too many small decorations. A single statement piece, like a large seasonal wreath or a thematic centrepiece. It can be more effective than several smaller items.
How to Personalize Your Home
A home with your personalised interior design gives you a strong sense of ownership, comfort and belonging. You will feel more connected to your space because it reflects your mood and personality.
That’s why custom decor is key to creating a home that’s uniquely yours, offering both style and personal touch.
Here’s how you can add a personalised touch to decorate your home:
- Display your collections like vintage cameras, artwork, travel souvenirs, books, etc.
- Incorporate family pictures decor in your living space
- Hang artwork you love, whether it’s your creations, pieces by local artists, or prints that resonate with you.
- Update furniture with your choice of paint, upholstery, or hardware.
- Choose a colour palette that resonates with you. Whether you love bold, vibrant colours or soft, muted tones, let your personality guide your choices in wall paint, furniture and accessories.
- Incorporate monogrammed or custom-made textiles, like pillows, blankets or towels, to add a personal touch to your decor.
- Mix modern pieces with vintage finds or combine industrial elements with bohemian decor.
- Create your own wall art, pottery, or decor items. Handmade pieces add a personal touch and tell a story.
- Display items that have personal meaning, like a map of your hometown, framed love letters or objects that remind you of special memories.
- If you have hobbies like painting, photography, or woodworking, incorporate them into your custom home decor. Display your work, or use your skills to create custom decor items.
DIY Custom Home Decor Ideas to Add Personalized Touch
With some simple tips, you can add a personal touch to your home decor through the below ways.
DIY Painted Furniture
Revamp an old piece of furniture with paint.
- Choose a bold color that stands out or a soft hue that blends with your decor.
- Add stencils or patterns for extra flair.
- For personalisation, customise the furniture to your exact style and color preferences.
Customized Wall Art
Create abstract paintings, watercolour prints or typography art. Use colors and quotes that are meaningful to you. Your artwork will reflect your taste, making it a unique and personal addition to your space.
Handmade Throw Pillows
Sew or customise throw pillows using fabric that you love. You can
- Add embellishments like buttons, embroidery or appliqués.
- Choose fabrics and designs that match your personality, whether it’s bold patterns or soft, neutral tones.
Photo Gallery Wall
Create a gallery wall using your favorite photos.
- Use a mix of frames or create a cohesive look with matching frames.
- Choose custom home decor and arrange these pictures to tell your story.
Practical Tips to Avoid Mistakes for an Awesome Home Style
Here are some points to remember as they will help you avoid mistakes when interior designing your home:
- Choose furniture that resonates with colour. Don’t overmatch, as it will lose the attraction.
- Make sure you carefully measure the room before choosing the furniture. Your living space should be open.
- Lights play an important part. Ensure choosing the right type of lighting for different rooms to create a cosy and comfortable atmosphere.
- Use timeless pieces instead of trendy ones. This will keep your home’s appearance in an evergreen mood.
- Don’t use too many home decor ideas and items in one place.
Decorating a home is not just a chore but a way of showcasing your personality and character through your living space. However, channelling your inner interior designer is not everyone’s cup of tea. That’s where these home decor ideas come into play and become helpful.
Manar Kamal is the founder and principal designer of the Dubai-based interior design atelier Manarette – previously known as M.A. Interiors.
She received her bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from one of the most prestigious design programs in the region at the American University of Sharjah. Manar began her career in the world of PR for four years, before pursuing her true calling. Her experience in PR provided her with invaluable skills in client servicing and luxury brand management, which she currently utilizes to grow her own brand.
As a designer, Manar is a free spirit with a taste for the finer things in life. Her style exudes modern luxury and showcases her ability to develop concepts and breathe life into them through experimentation with material, color, and light. She cannot be defined, with a unique approach to design that results in contemporary, bold, and diverse luxury spaces.
