The Little Guru

Tag: Interior Design

Trends for 2022 Interior Design

Home Trends for 2022 interior design have shifted to reflect our new practices. Practices of holding the home at the centre of our lives. We have created spaces that are sanctuaries for our souls to rest and recharge and spaces where we can express important aspects of ourselves that make us so unique.

Creative behavioural strategist Kim Williams shares her top insights into the trends for 2022

Kim Williams Design_ Claire Photography

Seeking refuge

Our need to find refuge has translated into creating more spaces to recharge. The rise of the DIY industry when looking at home improvement also speaks to our need to be mindful.

Aspects like designing spaces for privacy and using touchless technology will dominate 2022. Creating zones in our home spaces, workspaces and public spaces will become essential to living in line with our new consciousness surrounding our health.

The return of natural textures that help us self-soothe and connect will continue to rise in 2022. As with the emergence of the fourth wave, we continue to create new opportunities in our spaces that facilitate new ways of connection until a return to more social human connection can be made.

Nostalgia

Over 2021, this materialised as bringing in smaller elements of nostalgia such as items associated with happy holidays, personal history or icons of decades past that we shared a fondness for.

The return of colour and expression in our spaces over 2022 will likely continue to operate off of nostalgic inspiration. In furniture, for example, we expect to see more rounded objects and repurposing of pieces from the ’70s and ’80s. An element many of us find comfort in the midst of so much uncertainty.

Reading nook by Nikki Brandmark

Connection to Nature

Over 2022 we will bring nature into nearly every element of our homes in new intentional ways. In our furniture we will have greater mindfulness of the sustainability with which it is made and our need to tread lightly on the planet will eventually assimilate into the core ideals of South African design as it has begun to do in Europe.

The return of the local product to our spaces in fabrics and items. Partially influenced by the transport issues due to Covid, and partially our wanting to create more meaning in our spaces – and create community and social economy to keep small businesses going.

Biophilia Sustainable living room makeover by Koala Furniture

Meaningful Living

Mindful living is about real healing, feeding our souls. Layering of emotion into our spaces to create spaces to rejuvenate and be more spiritual. Becoming much more focused on our spirituality and try to find meaning in our surroundings by deepening our spaces.

The purpose of refreshing our space is to feed our energy. Designing spaces intentionally helps us preserve our energy and create richer spaces in which to thrive.

For more Insights and other reads from Kim Williams, sign-up for her blog at www.kimwilliams.co.za or follow her on Facebook and Instagram @kim_williams_design.

January 5, 2022
Top Decor Trends for 2021

Nothing excites me more than decor! I have always had a love for it and tend to spruce up my home every so often. As we start the new year, I thought we could look at top decor trends for 2021 with a designer I have grown to love- Kim Williams.

True innovation often begins by looking to the past for inspiration. Few people know this as well as Cape Town-based interior creative and behavioral specialist, Kim Williams. Kim believes that only by reflecting on our design influences, can we ground our individual styles and lay the foundation for true innovation.

Top design trends to take from 2020 and how they are likely to evolve in 2021:

Biophilia

Bringing nature into our spaces provides us with a kind of visual comfort. The concept of biophilia embraces connecting with nature on all levels, from organic materials to earthy tones and colours. Natural elements permeate our spaces as we try to recreate a connection with nature.

Isola Design Studio – Image courtesy ITALIANBARK + SOMA

Modern Retro

The modern retro style has lush elements, like gold taps and classic patterns, that make spaces timelessly stylish and classic. More than that, the new modern retro puts an interesting twist on the idea of vintage as it draws inspiration from more recent decades. The beauty of the old has evolved; we see the use of pattern and the return of velvet and classical elements of retro being presented in a modern way.

Kim Williams Design

Nostalgic Design

One of Kim’s most recognizable design signatures is creating an experience with nostalgic items. This helps you can induce emotion, enhance productivity, or imbue a sense of relaxation.

Kim Williams Design

Metallics

How beautiful were the metallics of last year? Golds, coppers, and silvers all glistening and adding glam to our spaces. 2020 undoubtedly saw metals take off, especially here in South Africa, and some noticeable trends include black taps and coloured sanitaryware. 2021 is sure to continue to incorporate metallics into our more modern spaces.

New Minimalism

At the beginning of the lockdown in 2020, there was an intense decluttering process many of us went through and our need to have less stuff and have more space. Minimalism is built on sustainable, intentional living and an emotional relationship with your home. However, new minimalism is not sparse like its predecessor, but rather about reducing the number of material things we have down to what we really need.

Matteo Nunziati – Architect – Image courtesy ITALIANBARK + SOMA

Maximalism

Ironically, in 2020 we also saw the emergence of minimalisms polar opposite, maximalism. This style uses every element of our space as an opportunity to make a statement or grab our attention. Kim believes that this is because as individuals we are becoming more appreciative of our personal styles rather than simply following other’s choices. You can read more about maximalism here

Seletti Studio Maison and Objet 2020 – ITALIANBARK + SOMA

Trending

Looking back, the trends that stand out for Kim in 2020 from a design perspective were intertwined with our need to reconnect with nature and to find comfort in our homes and workspaces. I for one absolutely love the Biophilia trend and hope it stays for a very long time!

For more about Kim Williams and to sign-up for her blog here

Follow Kim on Facebook and Instagram @kim_williams_design.

January 22, 2021
We Got to Interview Kim Williams + Giveaway!

If you haven’t been introduced to Cape Town’s most stylish Interior Designer, you can read more about Kim Williams Design here and here

We had the pleasure of interviewing Kim and asked her some questions around interiors and home workspaces.

Kim Williams Interview

1. Change has definitely invaded the homes of many due to the pandemic and I wholeheartedly believe that change is good for the soul. Have you made any changes in your own workspace at home?
I created a pause area outside of my workspace as well as a wellness/exercise space. My office and studio is on my premises but with all of us working from home, we needed extra spaces to retreat to.

2. What would be your 3 “key” items for a small workspace?
Natural light, a comfortable and good-looking chair, as well as storage to put up and take down in your workspace to keep the space clutter-free.

3. Absolutely love that the nature trend is back! What plants have you included in your wellness space?
Me too! I think it’s going to take off even more. I have a combination of faux and real plants. Faux ferns and aloes where I do not get natural light and then hanging silver satin pathos plants in the corner of the space.

4. Colour does play a big roll in our overall mood, what would the best colour scheme be for the ideal gym or workspace area?
Ideally, you want to start with the floor – a vinyl floor will work well given you can wipe it off, and it will be cool in summer and warm in winter. This is the first prize. It really adds warmth and light.

Then you have to consider how you are using the space. If you are only using it as a traditional gym then energetic colours such as red, orange, bright colours work well. In my case, I combined a retreat (spot to escape to), yoga space, sauna, and exercise so I used pastel blue and green, combined with darker shades of green, a spot of pastel yellow, grey and white. I wanted to create a sense of serenity and connect with nature given the kind of exercise we would be doing in the space. I think in most homes these spaces will have to double up in function so you have to consider colours that will work across this.

5. What is your favourite spot in your home at the moment?
The corner couch in our PJ lounge. I have a winter fur in the space, and relaxing there with a G & T watching the sunset is my best at the moment.

6. What is an absolute “NO NO’ for a wellness space?
Clutter, white bulbs used in lighting, bright energetic colours.

7. What has been the highlight of your career to date?
The freedom I have right now in my business to choose the work I want to do. That is a great moment.

Kim not only is an Interior Designer but a behaviour strategist as well! Talk about fierce females!

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Win with Kim Williams Design!

On the subject of fierce females, The TLG Blog and Kim Williams Design have collaborated to give one of our lucky readers a gorgeous set of cushions!

Win this set of Gorgeous Cushions by Kim Williams Design

All you have to do is head over to our Facebook or Instagram pages to check out the giveaway details!

Get Entering and Good luck!

July 8, 2020
Get Your Home Workspace Right during Lockdown
The shutdown hasnt been easy. Sitting on level 4 in South Africa, we’re still getting used to spending so much time at home with our families, and many, working from home during extended lockdown.

My hands have been itching to upgrade our multifunctional room to create the ideal working space during this time. I came across the incredible Kim Williams, an interior creative and human behavioural specialist, that gives tips and tricks on great design and that it is more than just simple aesthetics.

Beautiful, functional, clean spaces have a profoundly positive impact on our psychological wellbeing. In a time where our mental health may be taking strain, Kim’s insights on how you can get your home workspace right during lockdown is invaluable.

Who is Kim Williams?

An entrepreneur and well-respected local interior creative based in Cape Town, Kim Williams, working across décor, design and interior architecture. Kim’s first-hand experience of the importance of well-functioning, energising interiors became the cornerstone of her own blueprint called the Pure Design Innovation ID. It involves a process of extracting what people want and need from their interior spaces. Kim developed this Blueprint to guarantee a focus on the client – what they want – and matching this with their unique personal style.

Three Elements Kim Recommends We Consider:
- What your space needs to do on a physical level. Who you will be sharing space with, what equipment you will need such as Wi-Fi and plugs for devices, where the space can be and how big it needs to be.
- Consider the invisible factors of shared space such as ambient noise from other people in the house and how profoundly it affects your concentration and ability to work.
- Our freedom to step out of our workspace when we need a break is limited, so it is important to create multiple work zones in the home to allow you to move between the spaces when you need a change of scenery.
Get Your Home Workspace Right during Lockdown with Kim’s top tips!

Kim’s Practical Top 10 Tips for a Productive and Functional Home-Office Space:
- Organise your space. No matter the size of your home, how you arrange it will directly impact its functionality. The way you organise your space will also differ depending on what you need that space to be at different times of the day.
- Keep your space tidy. Set it out every morning and take it down every evening to solidify the feeling of a beginning and end of your workday.
- At the end of your workday evaluate and reflect on how your space served your work, how you experienced a specific space and how you moved around the space depending on the task. Certain spaces can be associated with different mindsets and it is important to adjust what is not working.
- Schedule your use of space.
- Allocate time for specific activities. Psychologically it aids in creating a sense of discipline and routine which is key to productively working from home.
- Create a work tray for all your work tools. In a small apartment trays can be used as desks and allow you to easily move around your home for that much-needed change of scenery and they are an easy way to keep your space organized and clean.
- Dressing tables are a great size and can be moved into your dedicated workspace and used as a desk.
- Create different spaces within your home office. The ability to move to different areas assists in the thought process and allows you to rest when you take your regular breaks.
- Make the environment an attractive space to be in. Playing music, putting flowers and natural elements inside or even using different ornaments in your office all help create ambience which helps you to associate the space positively in your mind and in turn increase your productivity.
- Light and temperature have a massive impact on us, and it has been proven that if you sit in a small dark area, it brings your body temperature and mood down. So setting up your space where you can look out of a window has a significantly positive impact on your sense of wellbeing.
Energy, flow and function have long been at the core of excellent interior design. The Lockdown presents us with a fantastic opportunity to embrace the fluidity and flexibility that simple and elegant design can bring to our home spaces.

This lockdown is a chance for us to connect more deeply with ourselves and our needs as professionals. A chance for us to be more conscious of how we set up our workspaces to have a positive effect on our productivity and psychological wellbeing.

Follow Kim for some insane interior inspiration an: @kim_williams_design
May 12, 2020