Design Buy Build Issue 46 2020 | Page 42

INTERIORS THE SECRETS TO DESIGNING YOUR HOME, ACCORDING TO AN INTERIOR DESIGNER Designing your house to create a home takes a certain eye. Pulling a room together and transforming the features to make it functional yet stylish is a big task. Each room in your house must look consistent with style, a lot of consideration needs to go into choosing the furniture and accessories to create a beautiful masterpiece. It’s not only about practical tips, but simple things too! From how to display objects you’ve brought on your travels; what paint works best in different rooms to the lighting options that come from blinds and curtains. Whether you’re redecorating an entire home, sprucing up your kitchen or looking for a splash of colour to freshen up your bedroom you’ve come to the right place. We’ve enlisted the help of interior designer Vanessa Arbuthnott to share her designer tips and secrets so you can gain that insider knowledge and transform your home like a professional. 1) IT’S YOUR HOME There are no rights nor wrongs in interior design, everyone has the potential to design their own home, it's just a matter of getting an eye for it. Remember that you are in control, taking the latest trends into account is worthwhile but always put your own personal spin on something to make it special. There used to be the exception of your office, but with that seemingly out of the equation for a while, your home is where you spend most of your time, so the space needs to reflect you. 2) FIND DESIGN INSPIRATION Transform your interiors from tired to revitalised by gathering inspirational images from magazines, Instagram, Pinterest etc. Once you have a strong collection you will begin to see the look you would like to achieve. Creating a mood board is a great way to use your creativity to unleash any hidden design inspiration you may have subconsciously seen. Buy a large foam board and pins from your local art or stationary shop and collate samples, images, samples of the fabrics, wallpapers, furniture and flooring that you might want to use. This way you can see how they would all sit together. Within the room, it is important to add textures through flooring, rugs and fabrics such as velvet, wool, and tweed. Place the mood board in the room and live with it for a while. 42