How the pandemic has affected home decor choices
By Gillian McShane, Interior & Colour Consultant at The Colour Hub
Has the pandemic affected how people are decorating their homes? I would have to say, most definitely, yes. While it is true to say that there is no shortage of beautiful and innovative designs out there, it often takes people time to embrace the new ideas and introduce them into their own homes.
For years, we have been bombarded by property developers and estate agents, constantly telling us that the main quality a home had to have was to appear larger than it was, brighter than it was and that it should appeal to the masses. This was drilled into people for so long that it became hard for them to step away from that idea. I always like to say to someone, who is unsure about letting their own tastes influence their interiors, to consider the following; If you can’t express yourself in your own home, then, where can you? It’s a very simple idea but it’s not always easy for someone to do.
Then along comes this awful pandemic. Suddenly, we must stay home for extended periods, literally staring at the same four walls, twenty-four hours a day, for months on end. Before we know it, we are looking to make a few changes. The simple neutral schemes that we used to love coming home to, all bright and airy as they were, are just not cutting it anymore. Maybe we didn’t have time to consider our surroundings before. Now we have more time to think about our homes as we spend more time in them. Now we have the time to do something about it.
We hear the words “I need a change!” “I need something new to look at!” from our customers. This is like music to our ears here in Templeogue Décor. We could and we generally do, talk about colour all day long. We have always had a beautiful range of brands and colours in our store and available online for our customers nationwide and, yes, some customers chose more daring ones. However, if you compare the colours we were mixing in the pre-lockdown world to the colours we are mixing now, you can clearly see a move towards deep hues and darker colours. We rarely have a customer who wants to paint the whole house the same colour anymore. Added to that, wallpaper is another design element that we have seen take off since the pandemic began. Texture and pattern are an easy way to add more interest to a space without the need for a major overhaul. Most of the wallpapers that we carry, are paste the wall, which makes it far easier to put up and takedown. Some customers are even having a go at it themselves. For some, it is exciting trying out a new skill, for others, it is something they never thought they would be doing again. Quite a few grandchildren’s rooms now have a lovely wallpapered feature wall, thanks to a creative granny or grandad.
It is obvious but true, we are all missing going out to our favourite restaurant or hangout spot. It’s not just the food and the chance to catch up over a social drink that we miss either. Food tastes better, drinks go down smoother and the company seems more enjoyable if the space is pleasing to the eye. So, if we can’t go to that trendy new bar or restaurant, then the trendy new interior must come to us and that is exactly what people are doing. And they are doing it by making much bolder choices in paint colours, overall colour schemes and wall coverings. People are less likely to hesitate when it comes to making a brave choice in their homes now and we all look forward to that day when we can welcome our friends back into our homes, to see what we’ve all been up to during these ‘stay at home’ months.
