In the ever-evolving landscape of interior design, we have seen trends come and go, however, incorporating quotes and sayings has been an element that has been incorporated in home design for many years and has grown and evolved– from what once was just a classic wooden home sign.
Speaking exclusively to Ruggable who have recently launched their House Lingo campaign, which is all about what our design choices say about us, interior designer Temi Johnson shares what ‘house lingo’ choices are making your home look dated, what is becoming more popular, and how to use ‘house lingo’ to better reflect your self expression at home.
Out goes ‘live life love’, in goes personalised identity
“I think people are moving away from these generalised live life love posters and signs into a more personalised form of house lingo or just downright humorous,” says Temi. “For example, a sign added in a home library like ‘A home without books is a home without a soul’ will not feel or look outdated due to its personalised context and use in the space. So although still kitsch, the personal element prevents it from being something dated and makes it work in modern interiors. In this day and age, we have greater access to customisation within our interiors, so the ‘House Lingo’ concept has adapted with this.”
What element of using quotes at home has the biggest impact on making your home feel outdated?
“In my opinion, the quote itself makes a huge impact in making your home feel outdated”, explains Temi. “Whilst we all loved the ‘This Kitchen is for Dancing’ trend’, seeing that quote in yet another kitchen will make your space feel outdated in time. However, something to bear in mind is how your sign is presented, as this is important too. You can usually get away with an overused quote if it’s amongst great artwork and framed accordingly to suit your interiors.”
So, now you know which type of design choice can make your home look outdated. Temi has gone on to share three tips on how you can incorporate your own ‘house lingo’ into your decor, and if done right, can actually help enhance the aesthetic of your home:
Personalise, Personalise, Personalise
“Nothing will ever feel dated or old if it is personal to you and your family or home. It’s the reason house names never leave that ick feeling. They are literally part of the house’s identity, so seeing a sign with them on feels timeless.”
Choose a suitable space to frame your ‘house lingo’
“When choosing a sign for your home, you need to consider where the quote is going to live, and what other artwork is in that space. So rather than opting for a neon sign because you know they are a fairly new concept, make sure you choose the way you frame and present your sign works with what is in and around your space, so the sign feels like it belongs in that space.”
Context can make quotes work
“If looking at humorous quotations such as ‘this house runs on sarcasm and inappropriate humour’, what better place than having that in the toilet? Context often makes the quote choice work.”
“However, there are some ‘simple’ options that you can get away with because of their appeal and make sense in the area that it is in. A neon sign is always going to look right in a cocktail bar. It’s never going to look outdated and always feels modern because of where it’s placed and most importantly, has context.”
Feature image by Ruggable
