As the winter chill sets in, we thought now would be the perfect time to chat to our interior designer, Rachel Maree, about the latest trends we should be looking out for to help create a refuge from the cold in our homes.

Invest in a quality rug
I always love a textured or colourful rug to add warmth and character to a room. They’re also great for defining specific areas in your home. I’m a big fan of colour, but if that’s not your style then choose a thick, textured rug with natural weaves or silk.
My key tip here is to make sure your rug is in proportion to the room – you want it to be the focal point, but be careful it doesn’t look like a fitted carpet or like it’s too small for the surrounding furniture.

Linen for texture and simplicity
Linen is a big trend this season – it works really well for drapery panels, bedding and headboards. There are loads of images around to help you replicate this look – check out the master suite in the latest Dale Alcock display I worked on – .

Cosy throws
A new throw for the lounge is a must-have this winter. You can snuggle on the couch with a cup of tea and a book. I love winter for those cosy-couch days. There are loads of styles out there at the moment. Here are a few of my favourites.





The colour blue
Did you know that blue palettes can have a calming effect? If you love expressing your personality through colour, then experiment with one feature wall in a pastel or royal blue. Or use . Or, if you’d prefer to keep it minimal, try adding blue in smaller doses with cushions, rugs, wall art, ceramic accessories and pillows.

Add warmth with moody lighting
Lighting is so, so important in a home and can totally transform a room. I love investing in feature lighting, such as floor lamps and pendant lighting. Pendant lighting is currently being used widely in boutique stores, wine bars and throughout Perth homes. These styles, which hang from ceiling cords or chains, create a layered lighting effect and are perfect for kitchens, bathrooms and breakfast bars.

And nothing beats a scented candle to warm up a cold winter’s eve – and patterned candle holders cast pretty shadows and can double up as a decorative piece on shelves or tables.

Feature art
Art is my very favourite! Sometimes I base an entire look around one piece of art I’ve seen. Winter is a great time to adventure down south to the amazing art galleries. There are also loads of great finds in Perth too – we get a lot of ours from .