Hello, I’m Anna
I’m the founder of interiors brand Melody Maison. My brand was born out of my love of interior spaces and design. Here on my blog I share my thoughts on all things interiors.
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5 Easy ways to update your home for spring
When March comes around, we all start to get that spring cleaning feeling!
With the new season, we often want to get organised and give our interiors a refresh. Are you getting ready to give your home a much-needed makeover? Don’t worry if you’re being budget conscious this year, you don’t need to break the bank to transform your space!
Here are five easy and budget friendly ways you can update your home:
1. Get Reflective
One of the quickest ways to update your home is by introducing a new mirror.
Not only do mirrors create a larger feeling room, but they also reflect light making any room look brighter and more inviting. Place mirrors in darker corners to maximise space and brighten the mood of any room
Hang wall mirrors above fireplaces, console tables or sideboards to fill up empty wall spaces. While larger, full length mirrors look fabulous leant against walls in a bedroom or dressing room and will instantly make a space look far larger.
The mirror you choose will ultimately depend on your personal style and chosen interior theme. Browse Melody Maison’s full range for all options.
2. A Fresh Lick
A fresh coat of paint is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to spruce up any space! It will instantly reinvigorate bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms—you name it!
If you’re looking for something more dramatic, consider an accent wall to add dimension to any room. While for a more fun look, play around with colourful painted shapes, like circles or arches.
Repaint your skirting, dado and picture rails in contrasting colours to your walls for a different look. Farrow & Ball have a wide variety of high quality paint colours available.
3. Accessorise your space
Replacing your home accessories is an easy way to transform the look of your home without having to commit to a larger renovation project.
Simple, small homeware peices like vases, ornaments and trinket jars will add a decorative touch to any table, shelf or sideboard space. If you are adding multiple decor pieces to one space, make sure they are of different heights, as this is more visually appealing.
A quick way to update your home are with wall accessories, they quickly fill up space and will instantly entertain the eye. Items like wall clocks, framed prints and wall sconces will add a unique touch to your wall space and quickly fill up that empty space.
While candle holders and photograph frames are a simple yet stylish way to add a touch of decor to a side table or coffee table area.
4. Go Green
Plants are an inexpensive way to bring life into any room. Not only do they purify air naturally, but they also give off calming vibes while adding colour and texture throughout the space.
Larger trees like fig trees or wide leaf plants like a monstera, can quickly fill up space in a room and are a great decor choice for empty corners. Smaller plants are fabulous accessories for shelves, windowsills or console tables.
Place your plants in bold plant pots, on quirky plant stands or in baskets that match your personal decor theme, to add a different dimension to your home.
5. Start Rearranging
Have you ever heard that furniture rearranging can be good for the soul? Well it’s true! The ancient arts of Feng Shui and Vastu Shastra are well known globally and their principles have been followed for hundreds of years.
Though these concepts are far more in depth than just moving around your furniture, you can implement these ideas to quickly change how your home feels. You’ll be surprised how much of an impact this small change can make without having to spend a dime.
So there you have it—five simple and affordable ways to update your home! Whether you decide on mirrors, paint or plants, the possibilities are endless when it comes to making your house feel like a home.
Happy decorating!
Anna xx
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5 interior design trends for 2023
As we move into 2023, interior design trends are beginning to shift and evolve. Many of the most popular trends for this year revolve around creating a comfortable living space that’s visually striking and aesthetically appealing.
As an interior’s brand owner, I understand how important it is to get ahead of the latest design trends and how easy it can be to update a space, with just a few key changes.
I’ve picked five of the predicted top interior design trends for 2023 to help you get a head start on this year’s upcoming trends.
1. Earth Tones
Incorporating earthy or neutral tones into your decor is a great way to bring a cosy atmosphere to any room. Shades of brown, green, and grey can give off a calming vibe that’s perfect for creating an inviting space.
You can also add pops of colour with plants or bright accents such as throw pillows or art pieces.
Natural materials are the easiest way to incorporate this trend, choose items made of stone, wood and fabrics like linen or cotton to quickly incorporate this trend into your home. Products like this Woven Bamboo Wall Shelf or this Beige Linen Cottage Wall Light are quick and easy ways to add some earthy tones to your home.
2. Heritage
Heritage style interiors are back in trend due to the rise of thrifting, with people turning to flea markets and vintage stores for their furniture and home decor. We first saw this trend begin to translate into the mainstream due to the popularity of wall panelling and farmhouse sinks over the past year.
The great thing about the Heritage trend is that it is a classic interior style that will not date, it’s already vintage!
Traditional elements like reeded glass, scalloped edges and baroque detailing are simple ways you can begin to incorporate this trend into your home. Choose products like this White Reeded Glass Wall Cabinet, this Large Round Gold Scalloped Wall Mirror or this Large Ornate White Wall/Leaner Mirror to quickly jump on this trend.
3. Statement Glass
Statement glass is an eye-catching trend that’s perfect for making a bold statement in your home. Statement glass pieces can be used as wall art, table decor or as standalone decor pieces . They can be crafted from anything from regular glass to stained glass and range in colour and texture depending on the look you’re going for.
A simple way to include statement glass in your home is through a mirror. For lovers of colour this Green & Pink Glass Art Deco Fan Wall Mirror is the right choice. While fans of geometric style will love this Large Black Smoked Glass Geometric Mirror.
4. Silver Accents
While gold will never go out of style, silver accents are predicted to be 2023’s biggest metal trend. Silver is easy to incorporate into any home and the polished look can blend into any established interior style.
Think about updating your drawer knobs, curtain tie backs or wall hooks, these small changes can instantly update your space to fit with this trend, without breaking the bank. Melody Maison’s range of drawer knobs span a wide variety of designs with silver finishes.
5. Dopamine
Dopamine interiors are simply using colour, patterns and texture to help make you feel happier. Described as a form of interior escapism in the face of an uncertain global climate, this way of decorating your home focuses on mood lifting changes such as paint, furniture and accessories with a colourful and whimsical element.
A colour palette of bright yellows, pinks and blues is key to nailing this trend. Products featuring funny phrases or cute animals are ideal for dopamine interiors. While bold patterns such as animal prints, stripes or checks are commonly used in dopamine spaces.
Choose items like these Set Of 3 Gold Elephants Head Wall Hooks or this Art Deco Ceramic Monochrome Storage Jar to help you jump on this interior trend.
These are my current 5 favourite 2023 design trends!
Have you already updated your home to reflect these? Are you planning on jumping on these trends?
Leave a comment and let me know!
View more 2023 trend items:
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Birds, colour scheme, floral home, Gold, gorgeous home, home decor, interiors, luxe home, Quirky Accessories, wallpaper
How to Nail the Top Interiors Trends of 2018 (part 1)
Sorry Ive been away from the blog for a while, but Im back with some of my fave style trends and passions that are still rocking the interiors world in 2018. If you have ever viewed my own home on my instagram account You will know my tastes are varied and many. From the palest and the prettiest of decors to the darkest and quirkiest of styles, but the one thing I cant resist is a new trend, yup tend to like um all, just cant resist a bandwagon! Ill be jumping right on it, and adding it somewhere in my home. Whether its a colour or a thing, l’m usually right at the front of the queue to try it. Heres some of my favourites right now:
1 Critter chic
Adding unusual and exotic birds and animalia to your decor has been around for a little while now, but the trend is growing, and new animals are becoming must haves all the time. Yes it has extended beyond the flamingo (still love them) to include any creature from an octopus to a leopard, and the high street brands are well and truly on board now, so Its easy to pick up yourself a piece of cute or quirky that will challenge the high end brands offerings for on-trend style .
Gorgeous swan wall hook from Melody Maison Drooool – This one may bankrupt you! – From the luscious House of Hackney So whether its a wall mounted beast, a divine swan, or a table top mantis (yep I own one of those!) make like David Bellamy (if you are under 35, you will probably need to google this name!) and give the animal kingdom a whirl. Heres a few more of my favourites, reasonably priced pieces
How cute is this parrot vase from Asda And from the dark side, I love this octopus dish from Rockett St George 2. The luxe look
And most especially all things gold and shiny and a little bit rock star! – Gold has taken a back seat to silvers and chromes since the 80s, when anyone who had a posh Nana , she would almost certainly have had gold taps, and it was practically compulsory to take all your friends to look at said taps to impress them. But no more, silver is being budged out, and gold is not just for the posh Nana’s! Im currently in the process of changing my silver kitchen door handles and taps to the gold side, and you don’t need to be midas to make this happen, handles from 3 quid on eBay, and full swan neck taps like this one from high street bathroom stores are priced the same as silver – amen to that I say.
Ooooo for gold in the kitchen , this gold tap from the aptly named Gold Tap store! A retro bar cart from Graham and green is the epitome of the luxe trend And its not just the taps, even if you just want a piece of the gold stuff, try a pen pot or a mirror, or for all out luxe, the must-have bar cart. And it sits well with so may colours, perfect with pink and white as an undertone, or great against a strong dark colour to shout ‘wow’ at all who pass. So make like an 80’s Nana and give gold a go, I defy you not to fall in love.
…is it me you’re looking for?…. you little bit of luscious-ness from Melody Maison And what about a gorgeous gold side table from Windsor Browne 3. Whopping Wallpapers
Yet another revival from the past I hear you cry, yep think 60’s and 70’s here though, for the current trend of flamboyant designs, so think oversized palms, or roses bigger than your head for a true 2018 look. If you are brave enough, do the whole room, trust me it works. Or maybe start with the loo, or the bathroom, as small rooms carry large and blousey prints so well. I have a moulin rouge style oversized print in my downstairs loo and coupled with a matching theatrical pelmet and gold accents, it looks the biz.
Its Ellie Cashman for designser rose wallpaper with a huge print option, so you can have a rose the size of your entire wall if you wish This wallpaper direct paper is my chosen one for my new office, Im going full on luxe in there, and this fits the theme beautifully If you don’t want to tackle the whole room, but would love to give it a go, try lining the back of a bookcase, or framing a piece like a big picture on your wall. Heres a few of my current faves, and ones I find most inspiring. Yep, its go large or go home with these beauties, which ones your fave?
oh, and before i go, my aforementioned downstairs loo …..
I’m back next with part 2 of the top 2018 trends I love, as theres simply too many to cover in one go (eek!) so I hope to see you there!
Anna x
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Antiques, home decor, interiors, maximalism, pottery, Quirky Accessories, shabby chic, vintage accessories, vintage shopping, Women in business
How to master the art of ‘maximalism arranging’
You know by now Im a self certified collector (some call it hoarder, I prefer collector!)
From the charity shop finds, to the beautiful bits I acquire whilst sourcing product for Melody Maison and WindsorBrowne , my house is fairly full to the brim, so what do I do with them?
Well, i love ‘arranging’ – so filling a surface with a collection, and arranging them, just like flowers, only with objects. My taste is vast. From the ever-so-pretty to the downright quirky (and everything in between)
So how do you start arranging , and what should you do to stop it looking like a jumble sale stall! Heres my top tips, from how to begin your hoard (I mean collection!) where to buy, and to how to assemble it
One of quirky windsor browne style mantel piece collections – Hare from Dunelm My Number 1 tip is :
Mix it up! – By all means pick a style, or a colour palette, but don’t shop for everything in one place. Visit car boot sales, eBay, charity shops (some of my most amazing finds are from these sort of places, and you get a double glow from owning something wonderful, but that only cost a few pounds , sometimes pence!) Then visit the vintage fairs, antiques markets and your favourite On-line and high street retailers as well as unusual boutique home wares shops so your collections are diverse and an interesting talking point ( I love telling stories of my nik-nak finds to anyone who will listen, from the beautiful mirror I found in a skip, to the jug I paid a £1 for that was worth £50!
Pretty bits n bobs in my dining room Tip number 2 :
Always buy with your heart, choose things that speak to you – usually with the words “if you don’t buy me today I wont be here tomorrow, and then you will be sad!” Never buy just because you think the shape or colour is the missing thing, rather than just loving it yourself. I have bought plenty like this, and now I’ve learned to stop and think, ‘can I look at this every day for years and still love it?’ if the answer is Yes, great, you know what to do!
There’s pretty much one of everything here! – Rabbit from Anthropologie Tip number 3
Don’t be frightened of mixing colours and styles. If you are choosing with your heart then it will usually work. And if it doesn’t , start a new collection elsewhere! Interior design rules typically says choose no more than 3 colours, and stage things in groups of descending sizes….blah, blah, blah. When choosing colour, I say pick 3, pick 7, pick 9, as long as they all speak to each other, or reference something else in the room, like a flower in a rug, or a design on a cushion, go for it . This is not show home arranging this is maximalism!
Simple colours & variety make my kitchen window have personality, but it’s still clean looking . Squirrel from Partylite Tip number 4
So you’ve got past the colour thing, now what about themes. Themes are great for this sort of arranging, but don’t get carried away, a shelf with 42 teapots, or 64 cat ornaments may seem cute, but also might may make you look a bit crazy! so don’t go all one thing in one space (animal clutter is great btw, big fan, just remember to break it up around the house!) So for instance at the moment Ive got a thing for ornamental rocking and wooden horses, yes I have 3 mixed in with this arrangement, but the other 5 I own are scattered on other surfaces .
Pretty shabby chic collection Tip number 4
Don’t do too much symmetry. I too can appreciate the show home look with a candelabra at either end, and 2 of everything all symmetrically arranged in descending sizes in between, but the maximalism look requires mashing it up. Put 2 of the same thing at either end, it works, but equally it may look just as good right next to each other
Tip number 5
Now , what to pick? Don’t be frightened to break ‘rules’ Pictures and mirrors aren’t just for walls, they look great lent up at the back of an arrangement. And vases aren’t just for flowers, fill them with feathers, or fairy lights or smaller collectables if its see-through. Yes throw away that rule book!
Some very pretty clutter! Tip number 6:
I like to move it, move it….and move it again! Once you are happy with the positioning or say 2 or 3 larger or important pieces, work all the other items around those, but it may take time. I sometimes move a surface around at least 5 or 6 times…and then I do it again! sometimes on a weekly basis till I’m happy or to allow a new treasure to be inserted somewhere (and to be totally honest, I am a professional ‘faffer’ so I’m never going to be entirely happy , so one day every few months I will probably move it all around again!)
Tip number 7:
Finally, tip 7 is the maximalist big one – Invest in an ostrich feather duster! Sadly (i think tragically) the reason most people are averse to ‘ornamenting’ is the dust. I get it, it drives you crazy, but not only are ostrich feathers super delicate and light, so you can swish and poke them everywhere without risking breaking everything, they are also statically charged, so they will take the dust away with them , not just move it around.
So why not have a go, start by bringing a few of your favourite things together, and see what transpires. And if you are including any Melody Maison Or Windsor Browne gems in there, don’t forget to email me at customer services with pics, as we love to include customer pics on our inspiration pages
Till next time
Anna x

About Me
I’m Anna, the founder of interiors brand Melody Maison.