I have often dragged my family out on a Sunday to go through display homes.  My kids actually quite like it.  My kids love to explore new houses. They explore new little nooks and hiding places.  They are just as curious as myself about the layout and what’s around the corner. Visiting a new display village in a new home estate is a great way to get interior inspiration.

Most likely these homes have been styled by an interior stylist using on trend colours, fabrics and furniture.  I always take a multitude of photos and always ask for the colourful brochures.  These are filled with staged homes fully furnished with what is on trend and best of all are free.

I love looking at the way the bedrooms are styled.  They are always co ordinated with throws and cushions and the beds are made up immaculately.

A lot of display homes have fantastic lighting and lamps and occasional furniture to give that ‘at home’ feel.  It really makes you want to move in.

Pay attention to the exteriors as well.  Display home builders have a lot of competition so they use landscape designers to bring the whole feel of the home from the inside out.  The planting is always immaculate and you can always picture yourself outside your new home.

I love the way this guest bedroom has been styled.  The red really pops out against the neutral colours used.  Its tidy and clean and shows you that the space is quite large as two single beds can fit in easily.

Most new display homes have a butlers pantry.  They are always styled so lovely.  Cute vignettes that make you go oooh and ahhh. You literally forget that your pantry would most likely never look like this.  It makes you think if you bought this house with this pantry it would.  A great sales technique.

Getting ideas from display homes doesn’t just stop at the layout.  Consider all things when visiting a display village.  Whether you are renovating, building or redecorating, visiting a display village is a free way to gather inspiration.

Consider all aspects of the house;

• Flooring (tiles, floorboards)
• Lighting (lamps, lights over kitchen bench)
• Outdoor furniture, colours used
• Dining table styling (napkins, vases)
• Wall colours used and wallpaper
• Curtains, shutters or blinds
• Front doors, colours, handles
• Garden plants and garden paths
• Decking or tiled outdoor areas
• Ceiling heights
• Window frames, black, white, wood, aluminium, awning, casement
• Splashback in kitchen, glass, tiled, colours used
• Bedroom linen, plain, patterned, colours used

That should be enough to get you started.

Look up display homes and display villages in your area on the internet. Once the home has been displayed for a certain time and most of the estate has been built, display homes get sold.

Most of all have fun and take heaps of photos.

Have you visited a display village lately?