7 daring design risks worth taking this year to avoid a cookie-cutter home

Many of us tend to settle for what's safe in our home renovations - sticking with neutrals, going the minimalist Scandinavian route, or opting for conventional carpentry designs. That's all well and good - if you want your home looking like everyone else's.

Stand out from the crowd by undertaking the following interior design risks. Some will require more than a little push, but the result is a home that definitely won't be called cookie-cutter. So throw caution to the wind this year, and adopt these less than conventional ideas in your renovation.

1. WHEN IT COMES TO LAYOUTS, LIVE BY YOUR RULES

When it comes to where everything should be, you know best, so don't have anyone telling you where your living room or dining room should be. Want your dining table to take centre stage in your home because you host often?

Sequester the living room elsewhere instead. Don't watch TV, but need an extra bedroom? Do away with a living room and locate your bedroom where the living room would have been.

2. DECK THE CEILING IN WALLPAPER

Wallpaper doesn't need to just stay on the four walls of your home. Take into account the fifth wall by wallpapering the ceiling. Use a bold print in a large area like the living room to make a big visual impact, while keeping the rest of your walls neutral so you don't overwhelm the space.

Or consider wallpapering just a small portion of your home, like a hallway, to make an impression without too much of a risk.

3. ADD ROUNDED EDGES TO YOUR CEILING

Say goodbye to you conventionally boring ceiling by adding curves to it. It's a minor change with no hacking done, but it makes a huge impact because it feels just like an architectural modification. A curved ceiling softens the edges in your room and can make a space seem taller than it really is.

4. DO AWAY WITH EVERYONE'S IDEA OF WHAT A SOFA SHOULD LOOK LIKE

Sofas are not sacred, so don't be afraid to change things up by getting an unconventional one. Do up a custom built-in sofa that would better fit in with your design theme (it's also a great way to minimise space or to add extra storage) or place beanbags on a platform to create a more casual vibe to your space.

5. TILE WALLS WHERE THEY DON'T (TYPICALLY) BELONG

Wall tiles are often found in wet zones like the kitchens and bathrooms, since the material stands up well to water damage. But they can also be used elsewhere to create visual interest.

Rather than go for a feature wall crafted from plaster or carpentry and then lined with laminates, consider creating one with tiles, which can add an extra textural dimension.

6. TRY OPEN CONCEPT BEDROOMS THAT OFFER NO PRIVACY

Bedrooms are often known as the private spaces in the home, but if you don't need that privacy because you don't live with a lot of people, do up an open concept bedroom just because. It channels serious luxe hotel vibes, and it's a great way to make it the showpiece of your home.

7. DIVIDE YOUR ROOMS IN STYLE

If open concept is not for you, then you will need some really good looking room dividers. Why settle for typical concrete or that done-to-death black-framed glass divider? Pivot doors make a huge stylistic statement and will buck the trend, while louvres will definitely need seriously cleaning but can be really hipster cool.

This article was first published in Renonation.