Diane Bergeron's crisp, American-influenced interior design style has won her many fans since she landed in Melbourne with her family in 2003. Since then, she has created the Design for Mirabel project to benefit The Mirabel Foundation, designed a furniture range for Arthur G and established the Mercer School of Interior Design in Melbourne. Here she shares six clever decorating ideas that will save space, help the budget, and make every corner of your home feel special. 

 

Use a pair of dining chairs in your living space
I love chairs that can be taken from the living space to the dining room and back again. This means you always have extra dining chairs without having to store them, and it also works to tie the two areas together, especially when they're open plan.



Double your sofa's life with slip covers
I love a rich velvet sofa for winter, with a cotton slip cover you can put on come summer. If you change the cushions and throws too, it's like having two completely different sofas. And don't think loose covers have to be 'shabby chic' – a clever upholster can include ties and Velcro so the loose covers look just as fitted as the original.



Sneak a spare bed into your TV room
I recently specified a deep day bed for a TV room. The home owners could put their feet up while watching TV, and when the cushions came off the day bed worked as a double bed for guests.



Hide extra seating under a console
A pair of stools look great in the empty space under a console table, and you can pull them out when you need an extra seat or side table.



Corral kids' art on a pinboard
I like to use a big pin board in a child's or teenager's room and hang prints around it so that it becomes a gallery wall. This allows space for posters, photos etc without those having to dominate.



Make even the smallest spaces special
Don't overlook any area – I think it's the unexpected details in your home that people appreciate the most. I like to put beautiful art in a powder room, or hang it on a bookshelf as an extra design element.

Find out more at the Mercer School of Interior Design website or follow on Facebook or Instagram @mercerschoolid