With hundreds of projects under their belts and an eye for design, top designers can transform any space into something incredible, but alas, not all of us have this experience. Professional interior designers possess an innate ability to visualise spaces and bring creative concepts to life, honed through years of practical experience and countless successful transformations. However, for those of us who lack such expertise, there are still numerous ways to achieve stunning results in our homes.
1. Embrace period features
Whether it’s architraves, dado rails, a ceiling rose, or a cast iron fireplace, nothing gives a home more character than period features. For those wanting to enhance or restore the timeless elegance of their space, exploring authentic Victorian fireplaces can add a striking focal point and elevate the period charm. These architectural elements serve as a testament to the craftsmanship of bygone eras and create an immediate sense of history and sophistication.
Ripping period features out today is sacrilege, but go back a few decades, and it was standard practice! A terrible shame for many buildings, as these original features often represented the pinnacle of architectural detail and craftsmanship that is increasingly rare in modern construction.
Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, and well-preserved houses built in the 1930s will all have period features. If your home is lucky enough to have some, you should restore the features that need work and embrace the era of your home. Each period has its distinct characteristics, from Georgian symmetry and elegance to Victorian ornate details and Edwardian grandeur.
You can always take the character away, but adding it back is impossible. Once original features are removed, recreating them authentically becomes an expensive and often imperfect endeavour.
2. Design for real-life, not show
There’s no easier way to fall out of love with your home than designing it to look good without any thought for how you live. A home should be a reflection of its inhabitants’ lifestyle and daily routines, not a museum piece.
Show homes look great, but that’s about it. When designing your home, comfort, tactile quality, and functionality are what you want. The key is creating spaces that not only please the eye but serve your practical needs effectively.
When designing for real-life, use fabrics and finishes that reflect your tastes and build functionality into rooms to accommodate your life. Consider how you move through spaces and what activities take place in each room.
Ideas include a small double bed to free up space, bookcases with drawers, side tables that double as seating, recessed shelves, and perhaps even placing a bathtub in your bedroom. These clever solutions maximise space while maintaining style and practicality.
Pictured: Timberland 4FT Small Double Ottoman Bed – White.
3. Wallpaper is often the missing texture
Have you ever looked around a room and had the feeling that something is missing? That missing thing was probably a bit of texture. Texture adds depth and interest to spaces, making them feel more complete and considered.
Texture can be added to rooms in many ways, from shaggy rugs to curtains, yet many people neglect what encases furniture and furnishings – walls. The vertical surfaces in our homes offer vast potential for introducing visual and tactile interest.
Introducing texture to walls is easy with wallpaper. Wallpaper in mundane spaces brings them to life, creating a transition between areas and adding dimensionality to flat surfaces. From subtle grasscloth to bold geometric patterns, wallpaper can transform the entire feel of a room.
4. Blank spaces are important
Designers are suckers for overcomplicating things, and a great example of this is when they try and fill every square inch of space with something. The art of restraint is often more challenging than the art of abundance.
Every space needs breathing room. Blank spaces help to tone down styles and provide balance. Over-decorating is easy to do, but not everything needs a style. Less is more when it comes to décor, and especially in busy homes. These empty spaces allow the eye to rest and appreciate the carefully chosen elements in a room.
It’s easy to embrace more minimalism by emptying your room of furnishings and slowly reintroducing key pieces. You can see where one thing is too much, where spaces need to be cleaner, and what you can do to solve problems. This methodical approach helps create intentional, well-balanced spaces.
5. Wicker is a dream for tight budgets
Although exquisitely crafted wooden furniture, complete with a personalised maker’s mark applied using an electric branding iron, represents our ideal choice for home furnishings, the reality of budget constraints often necessitates exploring more economical alternatives. The warmth and character of handmade wooden pieces, whilst undeniably appealing, can stretch even the most carefully planned home decoration budget.
Wicker emerges as an invaluable ally when seeking to incorporate characterful storage solutions throughout your living spaces without compromising your financial parameters. This versatile material offers an excellent balance between aesthetics and affordability, allowing you to maintain style whilst being mindful of costs.
Wicker stands out as one of the most adaptable materials for a wide array of home furnishings, proving particularly excellent for storage solutions. From generously sized storage baskets and sophisticated hampers to practical under-bed storage containers, elegant chests, and charming occasional tables, wicker demonstrates remarkable versatility. Its appeal extends beyond mere affordability; wicker boasts impressive durability and introduces captivating layers of natural texture to any room. The intricate weaving patterns and organic appearance create visual interest whilst maintaining a timeless appeal that complements various interior styles.
A particularly noteworthy advantage of wicker furniture lies in its remarkably lightweight nature. This characteristic proves invaluable during home organisation and rearrangement, making it exceptionally manageable to transport up multiple flights of stairs or relocate within your living space. The ease of movement allows for flexible room layouts and seasonal adjustments without the usual strain associated with moving heavier furniture pieces.
6. Feature walls are your best friend
Every thoughtfully designed room benefits from incorporating a feature wall. These architectural focal points serve an essential purpose in interior design, effectively drawing and directing attention to a specific area within the room. Feature walls provide the perfect canvas for introducing your chosen theme through an artful combination of textures, geometric shapes, striking colours, and eye-catching patterns.
In bedroom settings, the feature wall typically adorns the space behind the headboard, creating a natural focal point that anchors the room’s design. Similarly, living room feature walls often emphasise the area surrounding the fireplace, enhancing its natural prominence within the space.
The beauty of creating a feature wall lies in its versatility and accessibility. Options range from simple yet effective solutions, such as applying a contrasting paint colour, to more elaborate approaches like introducing sophisticated patterns or rich textures through carefully selected wallpaper. For those seeking a more contemporary solution, constructing a media wall presents an excellent opportunity to elevate electronics such as televisions and gaming consoles off the floor, simultaneously creating a striking visual feature whilst maximising available floor space.
7. Art makes a home human
Amidst the prevalence of modern technology and manufactured furnishings, art serves as a vital element that breathes life and soul into a home environment.
Artistic pieces contribute significantly to establishing a sense of refined taste, cultural sophistication, and individual personality within your living space. Art provides a medium for personal expression, naturally stimulates engaging conversations, and transforms a mere living space into a truly personal sanctuary. The act of carefully selecting and displaying artwork on your walls creates a unique character that reflects your individual journey and preferences.
In contemporary homes, traditional painting as an art form has somewhat diminished in prominence. The current landscape, dominated by social media influence and home design publications, has witnessed a shift towards photographic art as the predominant choice.
Whilst photography undeniably qualifies as a legitimate art form, paintings offer a distinct three-dimensional quality that creates a unique connection between the artist’s vision and the homeowner’s space. The texture and depth inherent in painted works add an irreplaceable element to interior spaces.
Enhance your wall spaces with paintings that authentically reflect your personal taste and complement your chosen theme. Platforms like Etsy offer access to original artwork, while numerous online retailers provide high-quality prints to suit various preferences and budgets.
Have more décor ideas?
If you possess additional décor secrets worth sharing, we’d be delighted to hear them! Please share your valuable tips in the comments section below.