CHOOSING FURNITURE FOR YOUR HOME

There is only one rule to follow when collecting furniture, both old and new. Make sure you love it! It's OK to have a home full of hand-me-downs or student furniture when you're starting out, but there's nothing like the joy of a beautiful room, thoughtfully decorated with your favourite things. Distinctly you, your home should be a comfort-filled timeline of your life, and an expression of your personality.

Imagine the pieces in your room as a family. Each item, from large functional pieces of furniture, down to decorative knick knacks and scatter cushions is important. Together they make up the whole. Your challenge is to pull them all together without causing visual chaos. With a little thought and planning you can create a home that pleases the heart, the mind and the eye.

Taking stock of your furniture

Before you begin transforming any room, do an inventory. Anything that isn't beautiful, valuable or totally necessary needs to go. What you are left with is the base from which you can create your oasis.

Renewing old furniture

Antique and vintage furniture is often valued for its lived in, less than perfect qualities so resist the urge to do anything to its structure or facade before you've had a piece appraised by at least two antiques professionals. You'll also find they can provide you with valuable information on what products to use should you decide on an overhaul. Professional advice is a must as you can irreparably damage (and reduce the value of) your heirloom with a bad reno job.

There are loads of ways you can breathe new life into an old piece, the most obvious being a good sanding and coat of lacquer, varnish, oil or paint. If you're unsure, and don't want to risk it, your best bet is to have a professional do the job. Sometimes the real beauty of a piece is in its flaws so celebrate and highlight these with smart decorating.

Combining old and new

So, how do you mix the old and the new without coming off like you live in a student share house?

In your dining room, there's no rule stating you must have uniform chairs around a matching table. Old timber dining chairs re-upholstered with bright, contrasting fabrics - perhaps florals, checks and stripes - look exciting and individual when placed around a simple dining table. A bedroom decorated with minimalistic modern fixtures feels warm and inviting with the addition of an ornately carved antique bed head, blanket box and side tables. Old china washbasins full of fresh fruit or flowers and a collection of 1930s glass vases alongside a modern sterling silver clock! Now you're getting the idea.

Modern furniture designs, which can appear cold in isolation, benefit from the softness and warmth of older pieces, while antiques stand out and make a statement against sleek, glossy modern beauties.

When looking to combine the old and the new, stay focused on what you want to achieve.

Choosing new furniture

New furniture should be seen as an investment, so if you can, wait until you can afford something you'll really love, now and in the future. When visiting a showroom, don't be swayed by the 'story' that's been put together, look at individual pieces. A couch that may be used by the retailer in an African themed setting, may suit your rustic older pieces beautifully. It's also worth considering giving extended life to old, stained but otherwise comfortable couches and chairs with well considered re-upholstering. In this case, a total facelift is warranted and can transform old into new, possibly saving you a motza in the process.

Colours are easy to get wrong so take as many pieces of reference material as you can when you're hunting for furniture. A piece of lacquered timber that matches your antique china cabinet, paint swatches that match the walls, colour perfect photos of the timber floor, all will help you find a couch, rug, collection of glassware or mirror to complement the story of your room.

Allow yourself to become an artist in your own home. Taking the time to consider your living space, your history, your present and your future can lead you to the creation of something truly beautiful.