It’s1 Oscar season and while Hollywood celebrities are deciding on where best to place their golden trophy in their home, we’re seeking décor inspiration from the movies that placed it in their hands in the first place. And while we ourselves might not be able to attend the star-studded ceremony, we can certainly bring a touch of Hollywood glam into our own spaces. From vintage Los Angeles to the Pacific islands, we at Tile Africa have chosen three Oscar-nominated films, whose motifs and cinematography inspired us to transform homes into Hollywood havens.

La La Land

What stands out the most in this Hollywood film (besides the fantastic music) is the mix of vintage and modern styles. Set in present-day Los Angeles, the costumes represent a time when Judy Garland and Gene Kelly tap-danced their way across the earth – and the two styles work perfectly together. Not to mention the sensational use of colours. They key to getting this look right is to take older elements and give them a whole new functionality. Rusty pipes can be transformed into a contemporary book shelf, or the legs of a wooden table. Vintage beer bottles can be turned into glasses or candle holders, and old suitcases into a retro tray, an ottoman or even a medicine cabinet.

Jackie

Set in the 1960s and focusing on the iconic Jackie Kennedy, the décor, costumes and design featured in Jackie are classic, elegant and timeless. It’s easy to incorporate this look into your own home; it’s all about finding items that will never go out of fashion. Back in the 60s, colours were inspired by nature; green, gold, orange and yellow, and were incorporated into everything from clothing, to cars. Flat pack furniture, ‘S’ and pod-shaped chairs were all the rage, and are still available today. Simple monochrome tiles are great for a sixties inspired room, but colourful ceramic tiles also work well. Minimal décor, and a clean open look will give your home a classic feel and allow you to make an individual statement, something that was hugely encouraged back in that day.

Moana

There are many ways to make your house feel more tropical as seen in the animated film, Moana. Indoor plants are a great way to incorporate some greenery without having to paint or inundate a room with green furniture. Metal, stone or tiled flooring works best with indoor plants in areas like your bathroom, laundry room or kitchen. Wooden flooring or wood-look tiles also work for a tropical inspired room, giving it a spacious and more outdoorsy feel. When it comes to furniture; rattan and bamboo furniture are perfect choices for a tropical feel that still has a contemporary element to it. Strategically adding splashes of green throughout your home with things like scatter cushions, curtains, or painting isolated walls, is also great for creating a tropical hideaway. Don’t forget to incorporate bold floral designs where you can, as well as tropical art that will make for some great focal points.

And just like that, you’ve quite literally transformed your home into something out of a movie. The best part? The tiniest changes can make the biggest difference, and it means that you won’t need to break the bank in order to give your home a makeover. Happy decorating!

No money? No problem. How to Decorate Like a Star on a Tight Budget

There’s no reason to live in shambles just because it’s January and you’re a little light on cash. These easy and affordable ideas to polish up your living space are a great way to get on track with your redecorating plans, or to get your home back into shape if you’re thinking about putting it on the market.

The Bathroom

If it’s been years since you moved in and the most renovating you’ve done in the bathroom is replace the shower head, it’s time to make a change. Maybe you’ve been waiting until you retile, but can’t afford it yet. Well, why not just create one accent wall to start you off? A decorative border with hexagonal tiles or a one wall mosaic can make things interesting, and you could add some shiny new hardware to the mix just by updating your tap fittings – take a look at our range. Even simply installing a towel rack can make all the difference, and a wine rack or ladder is an interesting alternative option if you need more storage space.

The Kitchen

Renovating a kitchen can run up a hefty bill, fast! The best way to save is to completely skip the first step of the renovation– ripping everything out. You can always just cover up the eyesores, like your tacky linoleum counter top, which can be transformed with a few small square tiles. Then add a tiling backsplash to tie off your new look. Many of the bathroom tips already mentioned can be used here too, but one of the fastest and easiest ways to spruce up a kitchen is to do something as simple as replacing all the cupboard handles, and voila, your space gains a whole new character.

The rest of the house

Your front door is the first impression everyone gets of your home, so replacing, repainting or at least repairing it should be your first priority. New light fixtures can be a bit pricey, but repainting or replacing your plug and light switch covers shouldn’t be. Then, installing some shelves will bring some dimension to the house and give you extra storage and display space. Adding wall beading, a chair railing or extending the wall skirting or baseboards throughout the house is a nice subtle way to bring your home together, making it feel both more connected and more expensive. Lastly, keep an eye out for potential quick fixes that cost virtually nothing. For example, did you know you can remove build up on brass door handles by removing them and soaking them overnight in Coca Cola? While re-varnishing your old doors and furniture immediately brings up the quality of the room. Finally, every home in the world can do with a good old fashioned scrub from floor to ceiling, so you can start fresh when you finally do have the savings to splash out on those gorgeous Linear Marble White from Tile Africa.