• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Interiors Addict

Heart Your Home

@interiorsaddict on Instagram   @interiorsaddict on Facebook   @interiorsaddict on Pinterest  
Subscribe
  • Job Board
  • About
  • Before & Afters
  • RENO ADDICT
  • Kitchens
  • Bathrooms
  • Kids Rooms
  • Bedrooms
  • Living Room
  • Shopping
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipes
  • Parenting
  • Travel
Interiors Addict
  • Job Board
  • About
    • Our Story

      Australia’s largest interior design, styling and renovation blog for the everyday Aussie. By former journalist and magazine editor Jen Bishop, the original interiors addict!
      READ MORE

      We’re big on Instagram!
      @interiorsaddict

      • About
      • Contact Interiors Addict
      • Work with Interiors Addict
      • Advertise / Find a job in Interiors
      • Press
    • Get Your Free Ebook

      This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • By Room
    • Browse by Room

      Where you can search for all our posts about a specific room. Only interested in kitchens and bathrooms? We got you!

      • Kitchens
      • Bathrooms
      • Kids Rooms
      • Bedrooms
      • Living Room
      • Home Office
      • Dining
      • Laundry
      • Outdoor & Exteriors
      • Renting
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • Before & Afters
    • Before & Afters

      Who doesn’t LOVE a good before & after? If you want to be inspired by the whole reno process, and not just the shiny photos at the end, this is the place for you!

      View Articles

      • Before & Afters
      • Jen’s reno
      • Real Renos
      • RENO ADDICT
    • DSC_0257Designing Wandarra: Breathing new life into a 1980s homestead
    • 20240206_185022-01Before & after: tiles steal the show in 90s kitchen revamp
  • Reno Addict
    • RENO ADDICT

      Looking for reno inspo? Find it all here, from other people’s projects to the latest trends, tools and products, whether you’re DIY-ing or employing trades.

      View articles

      • Reno Products
      • The Block
      • DIY
      • Reno Trends
      • Before & Afters
      • Real Renos
    • Northmead cube bathroomsDi Lorenzo Tiles open new showroom as family business thrives
    • AUS_TVC_DanishBlue_LadyGreyBT_2025_003_LRThink a beautiful kitchen has to cost a fortune? You’d be wrong!
  • Shopping
    • Shopping

      Want to know where to buy the latest furniture, homewares, rugs, art and more? We’re always sharing our latest finds and telling you where you can buy them.

      View Articles

      • Furniture
      • Homewares
      • Art
      • Smart Home
      • Appliances
      • Reno Products
    • kuddlava-table-lamp-pleated-white__1416409_pe975547_s5.jpgWhat’s new in furniture and homewares: June 2025
    • 20250516_DinosaurDesigns_SH_13_2035 2Vases the heroes in new Dinosaur Designs Bones collection
  • Inspiration
    • Inspiration

      While Jen’s a legitimate interiors addict, she’s no design professional, so she calls on an army of the country’s best to share their expertise with you. Be inspired by their stories too!

      View Articles

      • Decorating 101
      • Interviews
      • Expert Tips
      • Before & Afters
      • House Tours
      • Designers
      • Styling
      • Renovating
      • Real Renos
      • Covet my coffee table
    • r+r-coolangatta_rachaeltagg-0343A luxurious slice of Italy on the NSW South Coast
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle

      We’re mostly about the home but Jen also likes to share other things she thinks you’ll love, like food and travel.

      • Recipes
      • Travel
      • Parenting
    • Salted Choc PB PretzelFoodie Friday: Salted chocolate peanut butter pretzel cocktail
    • Muse marrakech Retreats Co Riad Botanica courtyardAussie in Morocco launches design retreat in Marrakech
  • Jobs
    • Advertise on our job board
    • Job Board FAQs for advertisers

Interior design expert Neale Whitaker shares four things to make your house a home

By Yuri Nagata •

FacebookPinWhatsAppEmailTweet

When it comes to transforming a house into a home, interior design expert and TV personality Neale Whitaker, certainly knows a thing or two.

Neale, pictured in his own home, says he has four fundamental rules when it comes to interior design. To transform a house into your own personal castle, you absolutely have to consider colour, light, functionality and mood.

Colour

When it comes to decorating, colour has a profound influence on our mood. The ‘60/30/10’ rule is a useful place to start when planning a colour scheme, especially for an open-plan environment.

“The rule means using approximate percentages of colour to create balance,” says Neale. “For example, using 60% of neutral or white, adding 30% of toning shades and finally a 10% flourish of contrasting colour.”

This creates an even palette and avoids stark colour clashes. Another simple rule is that blue-based colours will work best with cool whites, while red-based colours work with warmer whites. Neale recommends experimenting with colour in smaller areas first before committing to larger spaces. 

“Neutrals don’t sit on the colour wheel, but they have hints of colours that do and these should be considered when mixing neutrals and colours,” he explains. “Find out where stronger colours sit on the colour wheel and this will determine whether you opt for cool or warm neutrals.”

A key colour trend for the coming year is warm, earthy and spicy tones. These include pale beige, biscuit and parchment shades vying with whites and greys as a backdrop to rich colours like bark, olive and ochre. They have a subtle intensity that can be incorporated in spaces to create a cosy vibe. 

Light

Correct lighting is fundamental to how spaces function and how we react to them. According to Neale, there are three types of lighting to consider in the home: general lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting.  

“General lighting is a light source such as downlights or pendants that are used to illuminate a space from a functional perspective,” says Neale. “Task lighting is used for specific tasks such as reading, desk work, crafts and can have an aesthetic value… accent lighting creates ambience.”

However, more recent lighting trends to hit the market include natural light control and skylights. Australia luckily has extraordinary natural light, and harnessing this can actually improve the livability of our homes.

“A recent popular trend is using sheer curtains in conjunction with blinds,” Neale says. “It’s a combination that feels perfect for our light and our climate, and it can also add depth and interest to a room.”

To create this clever combination of sheers and window coverings, Neale suggests using window coverings such as Luxaflex’s Pirouette Shadings or Duette Shades for the base layer of the window. For the finishing layer, he recommends using Luxaflex Curtains, which give homeowners the opportunity to expand their design options.

Controlling natural light with the sheers plus window covering combination also comes with the perks of privacy, insulation and energy efficiency.

Functionality

The quality of your life inside your home really depends not only on comfort but also how functional and useful it can be. With the pandemic shifting our relationship with our homes, most of us are spending more time at home than ever before.

“Considering your priorities and what you need to live well and comfortably is crucial to sticking to a budget and creating a functional living and working space,” says Neale.

Kitchens and bathrooms are important focal points of our homes but also the most likely to be personalised. When redecorating spaces of function such as kitchens and bathrooms, it’s important to consider current trends and question if they will impact functionality in years to come.

Mood

Creating the mood of your home is what makes it unique and individual. The three most popular interior design styles in Australia are Hamptons, Scandinavian and Contemporary. Identifying the characteristics of these looks can help you decide where you are stylistically, and how you can create mood in your own home.

“Identify a general style that appeals to you and then layer it with your personal choices,” says Neale. “Don’t be afraid to mix styles and eras.”

It’s important to remember to style your home not only to your aesthetic appeal but to your comfort. The most impactful ways of adding mood and personality to your home are art and books. However, Millenials and Gen Z tend to opt for house plants which are also a great way to add depth, texture, and personality to your home.

“Make art choices independent to what is happening elsewhere in your home and go with what you love.”

After all, your home is for your comfort, pleasure, and happy place.

Neale is national brand partner for Luxaflex

Expert advice: how to plan your next interior design project
Starting an interior design project can be both an exciting and an overwhelming venture. You have an array of ideas and want your design to come together, and you risk…
Four great tips for a warm and welcoming atmosphere this winter
While Australian winters might not be the bleakest, this is a period when staying snug in the comfort of one’s home seems more appealing than heading out. As we approach that…

FacebookPinWhatsAppEmailTweet

June 23, 2021

Primary Sidebar

Popular This Week

  • Latest Kmart Home range, coming later this month

  • Australian bathroom standards: dimensions explained by an expert

  • What’s new in furniture and homewares: June 2025

  • Kmart’s latest homewares have hit stores: the key pieces

  • Check out Australia’s first full scale 3D printed house

Follow us on Instagram

Nestled among the rolling vineyards of the Shoalha Nestled among the rolling vineyards of the Shoalhaven area on the NSW South Coast, former Block contestants @rachelandryan Carr have transformed a tired rural property into a luxurious holiday retreat that feels like a slice of Italy. Surrounded by the natural beauty of gum trees and rural views, the property is designed to transport guests to the heart of Tuscany, blending the charm of the Australian landscape with the elegance and luxury of Italian design. 

See more on the blog now, via link in bio and stories.
Australia's first 3D printed house is complete! An Australia's first 3D printed house is complete! And this pair of duplexes look pretty stylish too! Ground floor is printed concrete and the top floor is made from lightweight modular panels.

Want to read all about it and see more pix? Comment '3d" and we'll send the article link straight to your DMs! Or find it on the homepage via link in bio.

#3dprinting #3dprinted #3dprintedhouse #3dprintedhome #3dprintedhomes #houseofthefuture #australianhomes #australianhousing
New @kmartaus home coming later this month and her New @kmartaus home coming later this month and here's a few of the standouts, with pricing and more info on the blog now, via link in bio.

Anything catch your eye?

#kmartaustralia #kmarthome #kmartaus #kmartstyling #affordablehomedecor
A custom look on a budget: we love how this rangeh A custom look on a budget: we love how this rangehood cover was fashioned from a piece of American oak benchtop!

This fresh coastal kitchen showcases some of @kaboodlekitchen's latest products to achieve a truly individual space, without paying a small fortune. V groove doors, premium wireware inserts and a concrete look benchtop make for a great combination that's at the same time on trend and timeless. 

See more on the blog now via link in bio and stories.

#flatpackkitchen #budgetkitchen #uniquekitchen #bluekitchencabinets #vgroove #kaboodle #kaboodlekitchen
Swipe for before An interior designer shares the Swipe for before 

An interior designer shares the clever ways they took this homestead from tired 80s to a welcoming country retreat for holidaymakers without spending a fortune or starting from scratch.

This fireplace became a beautiful focal point after a lick of paint, for example.

See more before and afters from @wandarra_homestead on the blog now via link in stories/bio.
How heavenly is AFL star @rhysstanley_'s home he s How heavenly is AFL star @rhysstanley_'s home he shares with wife @kirstenstanley_ and their young kids?!

When they first set eyes on an expansive acreage on Victoria's Surf Coast, they knew it was the perfect place to build their forever home and embrace working farm life. @studiohallihan helped them bring it all together perfectly!

Take the tour on the blog now, via link in bio and stories.

#modernfarmhousehomes #australianfarmhouse #workingfarm #surfcoastlife #foreverhomes #farmhousestylehome #geelongfootballclub #geelongcats
Brand new furniture in an 1877 house and IT WORKS! Brand new furniture in an 1877 house and IT WORKS!

@castleryau have named the talented stylist @stevecordony as their first Australian brand ambassador and he's curated a capsule of their furniture which he styled to perfection at his stunning country house @rosedale_farm 

I was lucky enough to see the pieces in situ last week and I honestly couldn't believe how well it all worked! They were going for accessible luxury and well, he delivered, and then some!

Head to the blog via link in bio to read more about the partnership.

#castlery #castleryau #stevecordony #rosedalefarm #affordablefurniture #australianstylist
If you pick your restaurants for the interior as m If you pick your restaurants for the interior as much as the food, you might want to add @pinosalmare  by @nicgrahamandassociates to your date night list! 😍

@smartstoneaustralia's stunning Calacatta Viola sintered stone surface features throughout, making a bold statement while being durable enough to be used in the busiest areas.

Inspired by Puglia, Pino's (named after the owner's father) in Cronulla has a real seaside vibe. The Smartstone was also chosen for the outdoor tables due to its UV stability.

#calacattaviola #smartstone #restaurantinteriors #restaurantinteriordesign #italianrestaurantsydney #engineeredstone #sinteredstone
SPA VIBES was the brief for this bathroom and @jas SPA VIBES was the brief for this bathroom and @jasminemcclellanddesign delivered. And then some!

"With a keen eye for design, they wanted their main bathroom to feel calm, spa-like and elevated with more storage, better layout, and soft, layered textures in a neutral palette. Lighting was another big focus, with the goal of creating a space that felt luxurious enough to unwind in, preferably with a glass of champagne in the bath.”

Is it a yay or a nay for you?

Head to the blog via link in bio/stories for all the suppliers as well as a look at the powder room with its bold wallpaper 😍

#spabathroom #zenbathroom #spavibes #bathroomremodels 

📸 @jonathantabensky
Follow on Instagram
Visit Jen's profile on Pinterest.

Get Your Free Ebook

Ebook cover

Never miss the latest renovating and interiors products, news and inspo again! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll send you the best bits from the blog, direct to your inbox. Plus you'll get our latest eBook: Just One Thing To Elevate Your Interior, featuring Australia's top design talent.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Yuri Nagata

About Yuri Nagata

Yuri Nagata is interning at Interiors Addict as part of her communications and journalism studies at the University of New South Wales.

More from Expert Tips

Unexpected places to use wallpaper (that aren’t just your walls)

Designing Wandarra: Breathing new life into a 1980s homestead

Throw a Pinterest-worthy party with these styling essentials

Tomorrow’s bathrooms are warmer with more personality: opinion

From neutral to bold: best carpet colours for your living room

How to do colour drenching: the refined version

5 simple hacks to lower your energy bill this winter

How to put together a stain emergency kit for your home

Quartzite is the new ‘it’ stone but it’s more than just Taj…

Promo Area

Footer

Interiors Addict

Interiors Addict

  • About
  • Contact
  • Work with Jen
  • Press
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy

Browse

  • RENO ADDICT
  • Jen’s Reno
  • House Tours
  • Real Renos
  • Interviews
  • Styling
  • Designers
  • Bedrooms
  • Covet My Coffee Table
  • Expert Tips
  • The Block
  • Art
  • Furniture
  • Recipes

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RENO ADDICT

Copyright © 2011–2025 Addicted Media Pty Ltd
Website care by ClickWP · Log in