Interior design and styling can be the most exciting parts of buying a new property. How do you want your home to look? How do you want it to feel? Which colour palette will best bring your space to life and represent your taste? As your luxury property specialists here at Engel and Völkers, we understand the importance of interiors and keeping up with the latest trends and timeless tricks in the world of decor. Here are our 7 essential tips to help you revitalise your current house or elevate your new Mallorcan property to new heights.
1. Mediterranean living style à la balearic chic
First and foremost, take inspiration from your home’s geographical location, the idyllic island of Mallorca. The contemporary ‘Balearic chic’ aesthetic favours a neutral palette inspired by the natural stone walls, wooden beams and tiled floors of traditional Mallorcan architecture or Ibizan-style whitewashed interiors for a light, airy feel. Whether you opt for a rustic style, stark minimalism or a more opulent approach, take inspiration from the world around you: the beautiful Mediterranean light, countryside and climate are gifts.
2. New home in Mallorca - create a mood board
Is your head already bursting with design ideas? At the start of an interiors project, it is important to have a strong sense of how you want your house on Mallorca to look and feel. Here are some tips to help you:
Organise your thoughts by creating a 'vision' or 'mood' board to help you to pinpoint your aesthetic. Focus on one room at a time.
Flick through magazines such as Wallpaper, The World of Interiors of Architectural Digest to find images of rooms that you would like to emulate.Look for pictures that make you happy!
Remember: certain colours, pieces of furniture or artworks might also spark joy!
Add scraps of fabrics and materials that you love. Alternatively, create an online mood board using Pinterest that allows you to ‘pin’ any online image to your virtual ‘pinboard’ - quick, fun and easy!
3. Choose your colours for your Mallorca property
Study your moodboard and look for common themes: have you opted for clean, white walls, for example? White is a brilliant blank canvas that is fresh, bright and classically Mediterranean. Or perhaps you are drawn to a particular shade of blue in a painting? Consider an accent wall to add interest and personality. Before committing to a colour, buy sample pots of paint so that you can try before you buy. Remember that shades can change when the paint dries! Share your ideas with your partner and whomever you live with; remember that you have to live with your colour scheme!
To incorporate a further splash of personality and texture, striking wallpaper looks fabulous on an accent wall, at the head of a bed, for example. Fashion designer and Mallorca resident, Matthew Williamson, has his own interiors range, including wallpaper which features exquisite colours and exotic patterns that add a touch of romantic elegance to a room. Visit two of his design projects in Deià - Nama Bar and La Residencia - for inspiration.
4. Unique furniture and accessories for a home
A brilliant way to create a unique home with personality is to source original, one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture, light fixtures or decorative objects. You can do this sustainably by scouring local antique markets like Consell Market which takes place every Sunday morning. Our top market tips are to: check the piece for wear and authenticity; ask questions; take cash and don’t be afraid to negotiate the price. If you are unsure if a piece will fit in a room, a table for example, a great tip is to measure it, and then mark it out in the desired space using masking tape. Remember: measuring is key!
5. Support local artists and artisans on Mallorca
Honour the island of Mallorca by investing in handcrafted pieces by local artists and artisans. Traditional crafts like basket weaving, carpentry and textiles are an integral part of the island’s fabric and a fantastic way to personalise your home and spark conversations at dinner parties. For rustic, made-to-measure furniture crafted from olive and almond wood, check out Conalmadesign, a small family business. To add a decorative but thoughtful touch to empty spaces, Jaume Roig Ceramics (@jaumeroig_ceramics) makes interesting sculptural pottery with organic textures whilst Adriana Meunie (@adrianameunie_textilework) weaves abstract wall hangings out of raw materials which are stunning against white walls. For brighter artworks, the Palma-based painter Tomás Pizá’s (@tomaspizagarcia) huge canvases are perfect for large rooms and Marcos Juncal’s (@marcosjuncal_art) cool contemporary pop sculptures add a colourful twist to any home or garden.
6. Dress your home in Mallorca - it’s all in the details!
Complete your interior design project by adding finishing touches that complement the space and colour palette. Lampshades, cushions and rugs add warmth, interest and texture to a room. Try to colour match the shades to your sofa and paint. Natural fabrics like linen are currently fashionable yet classic, and sustainable. For inspiration and high-quality pieces, visit Palma’s lifestyle store, Rialto Living, which stocks furniture, sofas, rugs, bed linen, decorative items and much more. Its inhouse interior design studio offers a bespoke service and the store seamstresses can tailor custom-made curtains and cushions to your exact needs. In Santa Maria, Living Dreams is a Swiss-owned concept store and bistro that sells excellent quality homeware and stylish interior and exterior furniture. Other good options are Maisons de Monde just outside Palma or Zara Home which has a grand flagship store in the city centre. For practical purposes, handwoven baskets are great for organising your possessions and Mimbreria Vidal in Palma’s Old Town is definitely worth a visit.
7. Interior designers, the true interior miracles
If you are struggling for ideas or time, call in the professionals! With a glossy showroom in Poligono Son Bugadelles in Santa Ponsa, the multilingual team of experts at About Living Mallorca will manage your interiors project from start to finish. Based in the same area, Terraza Balear offers a bespoke interior design service that will transform your home into a harmonious space that best reflects you and your style.
For more than 30 years, Engel & Völkers Mallorca has been assisting clients in finding the property of their dreams, whether you are looking to buy, sell, rent or even lease a property in Mallorca. Discover our wide range of villas, apartments and luxury fincas in Mallorca.
