There's something innately satisfying about viewing the before and after looks of a messy-to-classy home. It's why prime-time shows such as Extreme Makeover, Flip or Flop, Fixer Upper and Trading Spaces are so popular, and how tidying experts such as Marie Kondo and apps such as Autodesk Homestyler make their money.
One of the Middle East's most popular furniture stores, Home Centre, too, cottoned on to this psyche, introducing its Win This Look competition, through which it invites people to paint a picture of their dream room and explain why their current space needs a makeover. The contestants with the most convincing rationale or, indeed, most pressing problems are then helped by the store's stylists to transform parts of their home to suit their needs and personalities. Here we look at the before and after images from the brand's 2019 contest, and glean tips that can be incorporated into your own living space.
Problem: Emirati Reem Alhammadi, a police officer from Abu Dhabi, wanted a feminine yet functional bedroom. The 25-year-old who prefers pink, peach and nude colours to brown and wooden furnishes, was on the lookout for a space that would bring her a measure of comfort at the end of a long day, as well as be suitable to host her friends.
Here's what her bedroom looked like before:
Solution: Since too much pink can be at once overwhelming and immature in the bedroom, the Home Centre team looked to shades of lavender, using it for the curtains, lamp bases, cushions, throws and bedding. The bigger items, many from the Celestial collection, are in shades of white and silver, which gives the room a feminine yet contemporary touch. Mild and warm lighting makes the space more hospitable, while slivers of silver on the walls match the lines on the bed. The only hint of brown is in the form of two-seater Ascot sofa in a light beige tone, which balances the lavender accessories.
Here's where she sleeps and socialises now:
Problem: Lebanese expat Nisrine Chaaroui, who lives in Dubai Investment Park, wanted to create a spacious-looking room for her two children. However, the tastes of her 10-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter varied dramatically.
Here's what their bedroom looked like before:
Solution: "We opted for furniture with plenty of storage – ideal for growing kids and their needs. If you can, input a bookcase, which can serve as an display piece and for storage," says Nataliya Yordanova, Home Centre's design solution manager, who used pieces from the Addison collection. "Using white furniture and plain white curtains creates a sense of space. And it meant we could add accents of colour to personalise the pieces for the boy and girl." Case in point: the Elsa themed pillows for the girl and multiple shades of blue on the boy's bedding. "We created a geometric pattern on the wall in pastel tones for a bit of drama, and a soft shaggy rug brought it all together, making the room more cosy," she adds.
Here's what the kids come home to now:
Problem: Romanian expat Alina lives in Jumeirah Village Circle, Dubai, with her son. She wanted a playful jungle-themed room for the four-year-old, but didn't know how to bring the various elements together.
Here's what the room looked like before:
Solution: Yordanova went for a safari-inspired look, using a khaki colour scheme, animal stickers, animal-head pillows, and Home Centre's Hippo chair and Kidit truck bed. "The print and shape of the furniture is fun and kid-friendly, yet functional. We also used semi-transparent Roman blinds to get in plenty of light," she says.
Welcome to the jungle:
Problem: Indian expat Ifrath Sulthana lives with her parents in Abu Shagara, Sharjah. Her family had owned the same tired-looking furniture for about 25 years, and Sulthana wanted to update the living room to make it more contemporary.
Here's what the space looked like before:
Solution: "Since the family was looking for something straightforward yet modern, we chose the Eterno sofa as the main feature. It is simple and contemporary, and can be arranged as necessary depending on the seating requirements. We also used a lot of glass and steel finishes, and a Clymene buffet that is a display unit with storage and also doubles as a console," says Yordanova. The use of light colours and curtains also make the room look more spacious and modern.
Here's where the family gathers now:
