When you think of Kauai, what do you think of? If you’re like most people you’ve fallen for the natural beauty of Kauai’s expansive ocean views, mountains, and sunshine. These dramatic scenes elevate your mood and help create that rich beauty this paradise is known for.
If you want to translate the natural beauty of Kauai into your interior design, one key is to capture the openness. Creating an airy and open home doesn’t require tearing down walls. Here are my favorite techniques that can make your home feel more open:
1. Pare Back & Pare Down
When it comes to creating space, it’s often a matter of tricking the eye. Reducing clutter makes a room feel more spacious by reducing visual chaos. Keeping items that you no longer use or love can unburden your space.
As for items you want to keep, use closed, solid-colored storage bins. These can contain clutter. Choosing bins that blend into your shelves can further multiply the feeling of order and space.
2. Stick to Light Neutrals
Dark colors and patterns have a lot of visual gravity. They absorb light, which can make your house feel more closed in. By sticking to light, bright creams, tans, and neutrals with just a few accent colors, you can multiply the light in the room and create a more airy feeling that reflects the breezy nature of Kauai.
3. Let the Light Flood In
Natural light pulls the outside into your home. So, replace heavy rapes with linen, burlap, or thin cotton. Natural light illuminates the space, forming an illusion of more space. Placing mirrors in the darkest areas of the house allows the light to bounce and reflect into areas it was once trapped.
Windows are also vital to capturing the beauty of the outdoors while you’re inside. Adding greenery to your yard and a windchime will complete the ambiance of a naturally transitive space.
4. Create Indoor/Outdoor Areas
When you live in Kauai, there is no delineation from living space and outdoor space–it’s all home. By setting up living spaces that bleed into your indoor space, your home will open into nature. One simple way to do this is by placing outdoor seating and a table just beyond a door that leads out.
5. Go Vertical to Maximize Height
Truncating height can make a room feel more closed-in. By lengthening your drapes all the way to the ceiling, raising the height of artwork, and using unique light fixtures, you can play with the height of your rooms. This will make them feel more airy and open.
Open Your Home to the Kauai Style
When it comes to interior design, it’s hard to beat Kauai’s style. The understated elegance and natural chicness of Kauai interior design transforms any home into a paradise. Ready to update your space with more light, more natural elements, and the relaxation that goes along with them? CIH can help.