33 beautiful room ideas to inspire and inform your next home makeover

Situated on the sandy expanse of Florida’s coast, the white shaker-style cabinetry in this kitchen captures the light and bright beauty of its idyllic location. Similarly, the marble benchtop and splashback mimics the shifting shades of blue in the sea. Designed by Beth Webb of Beth Webb Interiors, luxurious materials mix with tactile touches. “The space is a play of plaster, limestone and marble, and though the overall palette appears monochromatic, there are myriad variations on white,” says Beth. It’s elegant and welcoming, even for furry friends as the family’s dogs are catered to with a half-door leading to the pantry.

Sinuous curves are winding their way back into fashion as this Gold Coast home, by interior designer Dominee Gessner of The Open Home and Tidal Constructions, proves. It took three months to craft the crescent-shaped island clad in Super White Dolomite marble tiles and eight men to lug in the CDK Stone benchtop. As far as open plan room ideas go, this one is excellent as the curved edge of the island feels less obtrusive in the open space. “People will walk around the island and run their hand around it. It’s one of those things that they just want to touch,” says Dominee.

Apparently, the muse for this glamorous beachfront home in Vancouver was the Kennedy family’s Massachusetts compound. Like Jackie Kennedy Onassis herself, the home is an elegant and timeless combination of modern and traditional style. And it really has the wind in its sails, thanks to what its designer, Kelly Deck of Kelly Deck Design, calls its “sultry blue cabinetry”, with its trad profile, benchtops with classic bull-nose edging, brass pulls and La Cornue rangehood. For a similar blue, try Dulux Sea Drifter.

White Shaker joinery, a VJ lining-board ceiling and glass-fronted cabinets bring an alluring Hamptons ambience to this hard-working butler’s pantry in the NSW Southern Highlands. The rustic air is accentuated by the custom ladder, by Reid Brothers, which ensures the top cabinets never lie idle. This space is as functional as it is beautiful, perfectly befitting the owner, who is the granddaughter of beloved Australian cook and writer, Margaret Fulton. Many of Margaret’s own cookware is displayed in the glass-fronted cabinetry.

With floral wallpaper, ceramic floor tiles, VJ-groove joinery and lashings of marble, interior designer Greg Natale used English country houses as his muse in this reworking of a guest cottage in Barwon Heads, Victoria. To ground the flurry of pattern and colour, he used a soft sage paint colour on the joinery and cream with the Smeg retro cooker. Both became the backdrop for the Ralph Lauren ‘Pillar Point’ wallpaper. The rich purple veins of the Calacatta viola splashback and benchtop boldly contrast with the Verde Guatemala Flauto fluted basin and the floor tiles, adding a twist to a country classic.

Après-ski, after a taxing day on the piste, has never looked more appealing. This open-plan kitchen and dining area, in a Mount Hotham chalet remodelled by Katie Sargent Design, is firmly focussed around a generous dining table, custom made in collaboration with Christopher Blank. The light tone of the oak is beautifully complemented by the cane seat and backrest of the ‘Hoffmann no. 811’ dining chairs in Black Stain, from Huset. Comfortable and cosy banquette seating comes in the form of a custom sofa fabricated by Harbro Furniture. The only missing ingredient? A hot toddy, delivered stat!

We all love a nice banquette but this laid-back iteration in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs elevates things to a whole new level. Designed by Kate Nixon, it’s a custom modular sofa, which forms the centrepiece in a breakfast nook with impeccable entertaining credentials, not the built-in piece you would often see in this context. Teamed with a ‘Waves’ dining table and ‘Syrah’ chairs from Casa Blanco, it effortlessly serves up serious style under a wonderfully wispy and organic ‘Gingko’ chandelier from Vakkerlight. The Hay Wire artwork, from Boyd Blue, with its neutral hues and freeform abstract pattern, grounds the space.

“For small-scale decorating, buy interesting bits and pieces as you see them… and don’t be afraid to inject some colour” – Sally, homeowner

Like a burst of sunshine, this brilliant yellow room in a farmhouse near Toowoomba, Qld, is a perfect example of colour drenching. Bold and intrepid designers Melanie Parker and Elizabeth Flekser of Ivy + Piper, created a dramatic and cossetting effect. This sunflower yellow – Dulux Sunburst – creates a sense of joy and happiness as soon as you enter. Emerald green and rose red accents are the perfect counterpoint, bringing an added depth to a cheerful room. Crisp white, too, adds a spritz of freshness.

A celebration of Appalachians Americana, this 19th-century Shaker farmhouse, in Pine Plains, upstate New York, has been re-imagined by designer Ariel Okin in her signature style of “traditional with a twist”. The hand-crafted dining chairs, in the distinctive style of Ian Ingersoll, the rebirthed antique dining table with turned legs and the tongue-in-groove pitched ceiling are pure country, while the architraves are accentuated in a rich, fresh-as-a-mountain lake blue – for similar, try the aptly named for this backwoods home, Dulux Canoe Blue. The striped woven rug unifies these textures, patterns and colours.

“I wanted a modern-style Edwardian conservatory,” says the owner of this renovated 1920s home in Sydney’s east, “a space that feels like an outdoor room, but allows you to use it all year round.” And renovating one-stop shop Modify readily obliged with this luminous, light-filled space that looks to the future while being a nod to the past. The custom-made table by Original Finish, the Thonet Le Corbusier bentwood chairs in crisp white and glazing on three sides make life here a breeze.

Melinda Hartwright used colour and cane to elevate the ordinary in this weekender on the NSW South Coast. Dulux Pale Green Tea on the island is the beautiful accompaniment to mint Teranova subway tiles on the splashback. “It could be quite a formal kitchen, but things like the coloured subway tiles and the rattan panels make it much more beach house-y,” says Melinda.

“The owners wanted a traditional interior that was both relaxed and stately” – Kelly Deck, interior designer

Interior designer Kelly Deck of Kelly Deck Design drew her inspiration from images of the French countryside and the southern US when she designed this tranquil family home in Vancouver, Canada. This generous living area spills out into the garden through banks of French doors. The sisal rugs, stacked-stone fireplace and lofty pyramid ceiling bring a breezy insouciance to the space, while the room’s generous proportions and ample seating lend grandeur.

Brimming with boot-scootin’ charm, this 19th-century Shaker farmhouse, in upstate New York, is as homely as apple pie. Designer Ariel Okin anchored the living room with a wingback armchair and a rolled-arm RH sofa, then layered in gingham and check textiles to ensure the cavernous space felt cosy from day one. The showstopper is the lofty bookshelf tucked under the pitched ceiling, which lends instant colour – both literally and figuratively.

This room brings the tropics home in a most beguiling way. De Gournay ‘Island Garden’ hand-painted wallpaper, by Brisbane interior designer Anna Spiro, sets the tone in the living room of her own city apartment. Sea, sand and sky – including tropical fish, coral, surf and palm trees – transport her instantly to her beloved Stradbroke Island, while also evoking happy memories of holidays on the Great Barrier Reef. In true Anna fashion, the wallpaper is boldly highlighted by sunny yellow architraves and a whimsical Matilda Goad & Co woven lamp base.

“Pinks, yellows, greens and blues are a common theme, helping the house feel light and bright” – Emily, homeowner

This family room in a Sydney Federation home is a fabulous celebration of colour and pattern, all liberally dabbed over a crisp white canvas. Anna Spiro Textiles ‘Grandma’s Quilt’ fabric on the sofa, together with cushions in Anna Spiro Textiles ‘Marigold Solid’ and Jab Anstoetz ‘Chennai’ floral fabrics, beautifully complement the Coote & Co ‘Pineapple’ lamps in melon-hued Vanderhurd ‘Flower Cut Out’ fabric. The result is a happy room that’s bursting with personality, expressed in colour on colour and pattern on pattern. “The colours are very uplifting, and I love anything pretty,” says the owner.

The former home of The Block judge Darren Palmer in Bondi reveals the allure of warm pink. The living area features a melon ‘Bonnie’ chair and sandy-hued ‘Roland’ sofa, both from Few & Far. “It’s intentionally minimalistic, with sandy pink tones,” says Darren. A collection of nesting side tables and coffee tables, all from Few & Far, offer stylish living room ideas worth stealing.

Don’t let the playful palette fool you – this bathroom is filled with clever design decisions and inspired room ideas. The bathroom, in designer Amy Spargo’s Mornington Peninsula home, is a joy to use. The Shaker-style vanity offers ample storage, while its green hue is highlighted by the Sanderson ‘Rubus’ wallpaper above the dado. The custom timber mirror creates the final flourish.

Powder rooms are where designers really let their creative juices flow, as is the case for this room, which is the work of The Block alumni Kyal and Kara Demmrich of Kyal & Kara. Picking up on that flowing theme is this freeform mirror, aptly called the ‘Rockpool’ by Middle of Nowhere, which provides a focal point in this little beauty. The ‘Duomo Piccolo Stem’ wall sconce from Nightworks Studio complements the handsome tapware, while the moody palette of the Nood Co ‘Trough’ basin in Clay and ‘Oxid Textured’ tiles in Lava from Beaumont Tiles gives it a fabulous after-five aura.

“Light and bright, green and white, with touches of brass and outdoor elements, are my recipe for a beautiful bathroom” – Kristy Giumelli, homeowner

This indoor-outdoor ensuite in Queensland’s Noosa Waters makes bath time the ultimate indulgence – and lots of fun. Homeowner Kristy Giumelli of Kristy Giumelli Design worked with Invilla Architecture and took advantage of the temperate climate by placing the round freestanding ‘Rotondo’ bath from Builders Discount Warehouse and brass showerhead outside in the lush garden.

This enchanting ensuite, by KWD, lathers up the luxe, thanks to carefully curated finishes and deft design touches. Lavish servings of limestone from KWD&Co deliver warmth and elegance to the bathroom. And its intimate connection to a secluded garden makes it even more special. The lucky owner can luxuriate in the freestanding bath with the door wide open on warmer days, while the sheer floor-to-ceiling ‘Kyoto Ricepaper’ fabric curtain from Lynch’s Window Fashions ensures privacy while also filtering the light entering the room. The wall-mounted vanity adds to the airy ambience.

A bedroom with a balcony – what better morning wake-up than views of bucolic rolling hills? Designer Ali Griffiths has painstakingly restored all the fabulous original features in her weatherboard bungalow in the Byron Bay hinterland, painting cornices, mouldings, picture rails and architraves in crisp Dulux Antique White USA for a dewy-fresh feel. They sit comfortably alongside solid timber furniture by Mark Tuckey, including the ‘Platform’ bed in recycled Oregon timber and layered in Citta linen. An artwork by local artist Matthew Sansom forms a charming vignette above a Thonet chair.

This guest room by Melinda Hartwright Interiors might make visitors never want to leave. The green patterned Schumacher ‘Abaco’ wallpaper and the green accents, together with the leafy bedheads, in Lisa Fine Textiles ‘Pasha’ fabric, invoke instant calm in a restful retreat. The white and green palette brings the freshness and warmth of a spring day.

This laundry, doubling as a mudroom, is the creation of The Block alumni Kyal and Kara Demmrich of Kyal & Kara. The Cosentino ‘Sensa Vancouver’ benchtop and the ‘Tetra Pavilion’ splashback tiles in Cinnamon Stick from Beaumont Tiles are accentuated by copper-hued tapware and chocolate joinery.

Say sayonara to wash-day drudgery with this Mornington Peninsula laundry, which trebles as a butler’s pantry and mudroom. KWD opted for chequered stone floor tiles, echoing the Porter’s Paints Newport Blue on the joinery. Brodware hardware adds a traditional touch.

Set in a charming Cotswolds village, this four-bedroom family home underwent a complete renovation in 2023 by Aussie expat interior designer Lisa Burdus. After stripping to its shell, she layered it with “rich, patterned wallpapers and a vibrant palette that adds depth and character to each room,” says Lisa. This antique escritoire and Louis-style armchair team beautifully with the patterned wallpaper and mustard floor-to-ceiling drapes with tassels.

With that built-in bench under a vast window, little wonder the kids in this Newcastle home don’t mind studying one bit. And designer Stewart Horton’s choice of Dulux Imagine as the knock-your-socks-off colour, on both walls and ceiling, makes the space truly compelling. “The kids sit and do their homework or lie on the daybed and read a book,” says owner Janet. “It’s probably the most-used space in the house.” The elegant Josef Hoffmann chair from Space completes the picture. As far as study room ideas go, this window seat is one to steal.

This monochrome marvel sets the tone in this Sydney Eastern Suburbs home, fashioned by owner and TV personality Krissy Marsh, with help from Georgia Boyd of The Classic Outfitter. Two Orient House pots frame the front door underneath ‘Darlana’ lanterns sourced from The Classic Outfitter.

This Hamptons-inspired mudroom could be termed a ‘sandroom’ due to its NSW South Coast location. Designer Melinda Hartwright built the palette on Hygge & West ‘Pineapple’ wallpaper, with ‘Annalise’ floor tiles from Jatana Interiors, joinery in Dulux Blowout and a rattan pendant from Pineapple Traders.

Who doesn’t love an indoor-outdoor space that blends the best of both? Georgia Boyd of The Classic Outfitter opted for a look that was “classic and fresh”, with hints of the Hamptons in this entertaining area. An ‘Antigua’ dining table and ‘Verdun’ outdoor dining chairs from Early Settler suit long lunches.

When it comes to entertaining, this inviting alfresco hideaway on Sydney’s Northern Beaches is in the swing of things – thanks in part to ‘Dover’ lantern pendants from Lighting Republic. The work of Stritt Design & Construction, they lend gravitas and boost hosting credentials. So, too, does the communal table and bench seat that will get the guests talking. In this Hamptons haven, caneware and white ceramics have an informality that inspire lingering lunches in the garden.

A pool house was a must for Janette Stritt, the owner and designer of this heavenly Hamptons home on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Di Lorenzo Tiles in LA Ice complement the pool house weatherboards in Dulux Snowy Mountains quarter.

Relish resort living in your own backyard. This renovated 1970s Queensland cottage has a curtained cabana, complete with a daybed that appears to float above the pool. Owner ceramicist Cinnamon spared no expense on the Sukabumi stone pool tiles. “I love the moodiness of the natural green and the imperfection of the natural stone,” she says.

A dramatic outdoor chimney, flanked by a bocce court at this NSW Southern Highlands weekender, is a sure-fire way to draw everyone outside. Designed by Cadence & Co and Myles Baldwin Design, it is made from ‘Apollo Random Ashlar’ stone cladding from Eco Outdoor and Bundanoon sandstone, guaranteeing year-round appeal. The ‘Hayman’ lounge setting from The Classic Outfitter adds to the appeal.