How to Have a Little More Fun With Your Decor

It’s easy to go for tried and tested decor, but giving your home an offbeat twist can be more fun. If you’re new to adventurous interiors, you can dip a toe in the water by focusing on little details that pack a punch.

Play with scale. We get so used to seeing neat arrangements of accessories — a tasteful trio of table lamps or a midsize vase and a smaller votive candle — that we think that’s how it must be done. Play around with pieces in an unexpected scale — such as this oversize flower arrangement on a small side table — and you will find yourself with all sorts of new possibilities.

You can take this playfulness onto other surfaces, such as mantelpieces, shelving and dining tables too.


Go for quirky shelving. Who says shelving has to be horizontal? These unusual box shelves are designed to be mounted at an angle. There are many offbeat and beautiful designs available these days as an alternative to the standard bookcase — so dare to be different.

Browse shelves in the Shop section


Mount your favorite pieces. A feature wall doesn’t have to be just about wallpaper. This homeowner has gone one step further by mounting a collection of vintage radios on the wall.

Create your own 3D feature wall from old cameras, musical instruments, hats — just make it something you’re committed to collecting and that you will actually enjoy looking at day after day.


Turn clothing into art. A beautiful vintage tea dress, a pretty kimono or a tailored suit can be turned into art. It’s a wonderful way to add interest to an alcove.


Choose cheeky wallpaper. Add some fun to your hallway and set the tone with some Bond Girls wallpaper, or pick a risqué burlesque design. Alternatively, wallpaper designed for kids can look effective in a grown-up context. Fancy hot-air balloons or foxes in the hallway? Why not?


Mix traditional and retro. Playful design is often about an unexpected juxtaposition. Disco balls are not, of course, authentic decor for a medieval priory with a beamed ceiling, but quirky finishing touches like this will set your home apart. When you’re tired of them, just take them down.


Carry it through to artwork. Urban art looks great in a traditional period home, particularly above an elegant fireplace like this, which accentuates its subversive edge. Likewise, mixing traditional oil paintings or old masters into an ultracontemporary scheme will make them stand out.

See more on modern art in traditional homes


Banish the white ceiling. Many homes have white ceilings to keep from overpowering the flooring, walls and accessories. But what if you decide to make the ceiling the star of the show? Ornate tiles offer a big dose of the unexpected when paired with a plain white floor and walls.

Heads-Up Hues: 10 Bold Ceiling Colors


Get nostalgic with Legos. Bring a bit of your childhood back through Lego bricks. Here they jazz up a dividing wall. Surely incorporating toys into your interior is the ultimate in playfulness?

See a home designed for Lego play

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