What is minimalism? Clean lines Simple and soft colour pallet with minimal colour. Works well with earthy tones Each piece is sleek, simple but beautiful. Texture works well to keep some interest like wood, plaster walls and woven rugs. What is maximalism? Maximalism is fun, loud and exciting. There is lots happening everywhere you look. Having a cohesive colour pallet in important to tie the room together. Often Maximalists are eclectic. The beauty of maximalism lies in excessive compositions and unlikely pairings' unexpected and marvellous harmonies.   What ..read more

Many researchers have found that touching natural materials from wood, pet’s fur to living plants has a calming and relaxing effect on our nervous system.  These are some materials that you could put into your home. Textures of real things Leather Wood Bark Sheepskin Marble Rock Ratten Plan/ moss wall When you are choosing a material for your sofa or curtains, look for natural materials like linen, cotton or bamboo. When looking at flooring consider bamboo wood floors and wool carpet. If you have the budget look into having a green wall full of plants and or moss ..read more

Research shows that listening to nature’s sounds can help us recover faster by up to 37% faster after being stressed (Alvarsson et al., 2010) and reduces fatigue and helps motivation (Jahncke et al., 2011) when compared to urban or office noise. There are two steps to achieving this. The first is removing noise pollution and the second is adding in nature’s sounds. Noise pollution Reducing distracting noises we wouldn’t hear out in nature is just as important as adding in nature’s song. Small budget: Use a wall bookcase on a wall that has noise coming through it and use noise-cancelling hea ..read more

Don’t be another stat, lets make your new years resolution happen.  Have you been procrastinating doing up your home? Working on your home can be daunting with all the options available, getting it wrong and waste money your money. Hire Tonic Interiors to get it wright the first time. We can make things easy for you •We help you get clear on what you want •We give you confidence by using 3D drawings to show you, how your home will look before purchasing anything. •We save you overwhelm by only showing you the best options that will work for your home. Then we pound the pavement on your ..read more

Gift ideas $40-$60 https://madegood.co.nz/collections/living/Candles https://madegood.co.nz/products/this-is-a-good-guide-for-a-sustainable-lifestyle https://www.kapa.co.nz/collections/peer-sorensen https://www.tradeaid.org.nz/product/round-grey-rattan-basket/ Tea towel rapping options https://gormanshop.co.nz/products/game-on-teatowel-set https://www.alidavies.co.nz/collections/tea-towels https://verdantdesign.co.nz/product/organic-teatowels/ https://www.cranfields.co.nz/collections/textiles-new/products/ecovastorganiccottoncloth3pkriverstone ..read more

Do you want indoor-outdoor flow? What style and colour of furniture do you have inside? This can be a great way to influence your outdoor furniture for an inside-outside flow. What will fit in your space? Do you have space for both dining and living or do you need to choose one option? Map out where you want everything to go with masking tape and work out what sizes will fit. Make a list of the furniture you need. What is your furniture made of? To ensure you get longevity out of your outdoor furniture you need to pay attention to what the furniture is made from. Invest in quality furniture ..read more

There are lots of options around for rugs but I recommend looking at sustainable rug options. Bremworth rugs are great because they use New Zealand wool and are made in New Zealand. Wool is a 100% renewable resource as it is a byproduct of sheep. It is shaved off them in the summer so they don’t overheat. The wool can also get so long and heavy that the sheep struggle to walk. Wool is hypoallergenic which means it’s great for people with allergies. It is also biodegradable so when it has come to the end of its lifecycle you can put it in the compost. Nodi rugs are great because they don’t us ..read more

In wellbeing design (AKA biophilic design) there is a section about the nature of the space. It is built around prospect, refuge, mystery and risk. Prospect It is all about the layout of a room. Back in cavemen times, we needed ro prospect which is an unimpeded view over a distance for surveillance and planning. That might have looked like a clearing in the bush. It helps us feel safe because we know what is around us. Health benefits are suggested to include reductions in stress, boredom, irritation, fatigue and perceived vulnerability, as well as improved comfort (Herzog & Bryce, 2007 ..read more

Sustainable Candles We all love candles but they can be really bad for the environment and our health. Look for 100% soy, coconut or beeswax-based candles. Make sure it’s not a mixture, as paraffin can be added to keep prices down. Paraffin wax makes up the wax portion of candles and is derived from petroleum. Like most petroleum products, paraffin is not clean-burning nor biodegradable in our environment. Find candles made with 100% pure essential oils rather than “fragrance.” Fragrances emit substantial amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The toxic substances these fragrances emit ..read more

Being connected to the natural systems is having the awareness of natural processes lighting, weather and seasonal changes. There have been many studies to back that it can improve mental engagement, increase the state of wellbeing and positively impact attitude. There are many ways to connect your home with natural systems. 1. Position furniture to enable vies of sky/ outside weather 2. Change cushions, throws and art each season to represent the season we are currently in. 3. Change the foliage you have in your vases. Now we are coming into spring, fresh flowers are a great way to go. 4 ..read more