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14 Invaluable Style Tips to Steal From Our Blogger Series So Far
A round-up of the best design ideas we can take from our fascinating peek into the homes of interior bloggers
Over the past few months, we’ve loved being welcomed into the homes of interiors bloggers and seeing how they’ve decorated their properties. Each of the bloggers has their own unique style and personality, but the one thing they all have in common is an innate sense of what looks beautiful. Here are some great design tips we can steal from the series and use in our own interiors.
Turn your eyes to the floor
Just like a ceiling, the floor can transform a room. If your floorboards are looking tired, a lick of paint can revive them and completely change the look of the space as well.
Life by Lotte’s Charlotte Duckworth really put the effort in to make her flooring look fabulous. She told us, “I had to rip out all of the carpet and underlay, and cut it all up and drive it to the tip. Then I had to paint on loads of coats of Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe. I was there until about midnight every night – it was pretty backbreaking.”
The effect is great for the room and makes more of a statement of the white walls. The addition of a striped rug adds to the look, and the pink edge complements the grey flooring perfectly.
Just like a ceiling, the floor can transform a room. If your floorboards are looking tired, a lick of paint can revive them and completely change the look of the space as well.
Life by Lotte’s Charlotte Duckworth really put the effort in to make her flooring look fabulous. She told us, “I had to rip out all of the carpet and underlay, and cut it all up and drive it to the tip. Then I had to paint on loads of coats of Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe. I was there until about midnight every night – it was pretty backbreaking.”
The effect is great for the room and makes more of a statement of the white walls. The addition of a striped rug adds to the look, and the pink edge complements the grey flooring perfectly.
Don’t fret if you can’t fit in a kitchen island
We tend to think of an island as an essential element for a sociable kitchen. It’s a place for family and friends to perch and chat to the cook, or a spot for quick breakfasts and cups of tea.
However, not all of us have room for a large island. Well, that didn’t put off Becky Freeman of The Spirited Puddle Jumper. Her ingenious breakfast bar was created by extending the worktop around a protruding wall. It’s a fantastic use of space and led her to say of her kitchen, “It’s such a sociable space day or night, and there’s nothing better than having a glass of wine at the breakfast bar with friends, with the doors open and someone else cooking for you!”
We tend to think of an island as an essential element for a sociable kitchen. It’s a place for family and friends to perch and chat to the cook, or a spot for quick breakfasts and cups of tea.
However, not all of us have room for a large island. Well, that didn’t put off Becky Freeman of The Spirited Puddle Jumper. Her ingenious breakfast bar was created by extending the worktop around a protruding wall. It’s a fantastic use of space and led her to say of her kitchen, “It’s such a sociable space day or night, and there’s nothing better than having a glass of wine at the breakfast bar with friends, with the doors open and someone else cooking for you!”
Bring cohesion with colours
Katy Orme of Apartment Apothecary told us how she uses colour to bring a look together. “I like to have an eclectic mix of furniture and textiles in my home, but I always try to bring cohesion by using one or two colours that thread through the look, pulling everything together.”
The striking teal of the sofa here reappears on the mirror and the vase, while the earthy tones in the rug are carried through in the wooden furniture, old brown suitcase, orange flowers and objects on a bureau round the corner (not pictured).
Find more expert tips on how to stylishly use colour at home
Katy Orme of Apartment Apothecary told us how she uses colour to bring a look together. “I like to have an eclectic mix of furniture and textiles in my home, but I always try to bring cohesion by using one or two colours that thread through the look, pulling everything together.”
The striking teal of the sofa here reappears on the mirror and the vase, while the earthy tones in the rug are carried through in the wooden furniture, old brown suitcase, orange flowers and objects on a bureau round the corner (not pictured).
Find more expert tips on how to stylishly use colour at home
Spruce up preloved treasures
Becky Freeman and her husband could have spent a fortune on a new fireplace, but they chose to be creative instead. When asked what her proudest DIY achievement was, Freeman replied, “Finding our fireplace in a charity shop for £50, restoring it and painting it black. I feel pleased at the bargain aspect every time I look at it.”
When you’re hunting for key pieces, design features or new storage, consider the second-hand option. You might find something with real character and, if you’re willing to put in the work, you could transform an unloved item into a statement piece.
Becky Freeman and her husband could have spent a fortune on a new fireplace, but they chose to be creative instead. When asked what her proudest DIY achievement was, Freeman replied, “Finding our fireplace in a charity shop for £50, restoring it and painting it black. I feel pleased at the bargain aspect every time I look at it.”
When you’re hunting for key pieces, design features or new storage, consider the second-hand option. You might find something with real character and, if you’re willing to put in the work, you could transform an unloved item into a statement piece.
Make design connections
To create a cohesive look, think about how you can carry an idea through the room. Here, Jen Stanbrook of Love Chic Living has replicated the painting’s circular pattern in a very clever way.
The honeycomb balls pick out the colours and shapes of the painting and bring it out into the rest of the space. It’s a very simple, budget-friendly idea that’s extremely effective.
To create a cohesive look, think about how you can carry an idea through the room. Here, Jen Stanbrook of Love Chic Living has replicated the painting’s circular pattern in a very clever way.
The honeycomb balls pick out the colours and shapes of the painting and bring it out into the rest of the space. It’s a very simple, budget-friendly idea that’s extremely effective.
Get mad about your ceiling
In her blog, Mad About the House, Kate Watson-Smyth describes the ceiling as the “fifth wall”. She looked at the ceiling in the dining area of her kitchen from a different angle and had tin tiles fixed to it. The effect is stunning, and her plan is to carry the idea through to eye level. “We need a new hob, which, as it’s an odd size, will mean a new worktop on the island; I’m planning concrete. Then we’re going to clad the ends of the island in the same tin as the ceiling.”
It’s easy to neglect the ceiling and simply paint it white, but with some creative thinking your fifth wall could become a stunning design feature. If tin tiles aren’t your thing, some patterned wallpaper or a striking paint colour would work just as well.
In her blog, Mad About the House, Kate Watson-Smyth describes the ceiling as the “fifth wall”. She looked at the ceiling in the dining area of her kitchen from a different angle and had tin tiles fixed to it. The effect is stunning, and her plan is to carry the idea through to eye level. “We need a new hob, which, as it’s an odd size, will mean a new worktop on the island; I’m planning concrete. Then we’re going to clad the ends of the island in the same tin as the ceiling.”
It’s easy to neglect the ceiling and simply paint it white, but with some creative thinking your fifth wall could become a stunning design feature. If tin tiles aren’t your thing, some patterned wallpaper or a striking paint colour would work just as well.
Move things around
Want to give your interior a revamp? How about circulating some furniture? “I’m always moving things around,” Hannah Russell of Layer enthused. “I love repurposing furniture from one room to another to keep things feeling fresh and new. An object or piece of furniture can be overlooked in one room, but if you move it into a new space, then it might suddenly find its rightful home.”
There are endless possibilities: a kitchen trolley could be revamped as bathroom storage, or a dressing table could find a new role as a living room sideboard.
Want to give your interior a revamp? How about circulating some furniture? “I’m always moving things around,” Hannah Russell of Layer enthused. “I love repurposing furniture from one room to another to keep things feeling fresh and new. An object or piece of furniture can be overlooked in one room, but if you move it into a new space, then it might suddenly find its rightful home.”
There are endless possibilities: a kitchen trolley could be revamped as bathroom storage, or a dressing table could find a new role as a living room sideboard.
Trust your own design instincts
We learnt a valuable lesson from Karen Knox of Making Spaces, who stuck to her guns with this unusual chimney breast. She’d painted the whole room white, but discovered the embossed wallpaper still showed through the paint.
“So, a bit back to front, we then stripped that wallpaper off, and I loved what was left behind,” she says. “People kept asking when we were going to finish it, but I love it.”
We learnt a valuable lesson from Karen Knox of Making Spaces, who stuck to her guns with this unusual chimney breast. She’d painted the whole room white, but discovered the embossed wallpaper still showed through the paint.
“So, a bit back to front, we then stripped that wallpaper off, and I loved what was left behind,” she says. “People kept asking when we were going to finish it, but I love it.”
Make a space for yourself
A common theme in our blogger series was the importance of a solitary space. Whether it be Hannah Russell’s morning preparation of a calm workspace, Kate Watson-Smyth’s reading library, or Katy Orme’s office and sewing room, most of the bloggers had carved out a small place for themselves.
“Everyone should have a space of their own, even if it’s just an alcove,” Kimberly Duran of Swoon Worthy enthused. This gorgeous haven is her dressing room, which is located in the boxroom. The mix of colours, materials and textures reflects Duran’s eclectic style and personality perfectly. It really does feel like her own domain.
The space doesn’t have to be big, and could even be a favourite spot on the sofa or a comfortable armchair. Add a lamp to spotlight the area, some personal objects and lots of luxurious textures. The key is to create a vignette that will carve out space away from the rest of the room.
Discover more ways to carve out space for yourself at home
A common theme in our blogger series was the importance of a solitary space. Whether it be Hannah Russell’s morning preparation of a calm workspace, Kate Watson-Smyth’s reading library, or Katy Orme’s office and sewing room, most of the bloggers had carved out a small place for themselves.
“Everyone should have a space of their own, even if it’s just an alcove,” Kimberly Duran of Swoon Worthy enthused. This gorgeous haven is her dressing room, which is located in the boxroom. The mix of colours, materials and textures reflects Duran’s eclectic style and personality perfectly. It really does feel like her own domain.
The space doesn’t have to be big, and could even be a favourite spot on the sofa or a comfortable armchair. Add a lamp to spotlight the area, some personal objects and lots of luxurious textures. The key is to create a vignette that will carve out space away from the rest of the room.
Discover more ways to carve out space for yourself at home
Use white as a brilliant backdrop
Many of the bloggers we interviewed are big fans of white walls, and use them as a background on which to display brighter objects.
“I love colour so much, although most of our walls are white – I love the light it brings to a space,” said Rachel Lane of Curious Casa. “I like my home to act as a blank canvas, so I tend to paint the walls white and lay natural flooring. This enables me to alter the colours and accessories as and when I fancy.”
Here, the bold hooks, mirror and cushion stand out beautifully from the bright white wall. The door looks stunning, too, as there’s nothing to distract from the turquoise paint.
Many of the bloggers we interviewed are big fans of white walls, and use them as a background on which to display brighter objects.
“I love colour so much, although most of our walls are white – I love the light it brings to a space,” said Rachel Lane of Curious Casa. “I like my home to act as a blank canvas, so I tend to paint the walls white and lay natural flooring. This enables me to alter the colours and accessories as and when I fancy.”
Here, the bold hooks, mirror and cushion stand out beautifully from the bright white wall. The door looks stunning, too, as there’s nothing to distract from the turquoise paint.
Limit surfaces that collect clutter
Another blogger who knew her own mind was Charlotte Smith of Lotts & Lots. Smith and her husband ignored advice to include a breakfast bar in their kitchen, because they knew they’d use it to offload clutter. “Dan and I are the worst for piling up post,” she told us. “I knew I wanted to keep dumping areas to a minimum.”
They made sure half the kitchen was freestanding, so they could add areas as they needed them. They sourced most of the additional cabinets from Gumtree and now have storage that fits their needs perfectly, rather than a large, clutter-collecting surface. “It really works for us and, even if we don’t put everything away during the week, it doesn’t take long to tidy up at the weekend.”
Another blogger who knew her own mind was Charlotte Smith of Lotts & Lots. Smith and her husband ignored advice to include a breakfast bar in their kitchen, because they knew they’d use it to offload clutter. “Dan and I are the worst for piling up post,” she told us. “I knew I wanted to keep dumping areas to a minimum.”
They made sure half the kitchen was freestanding, so they could add areas as they needed them. They sourced most of the additional cabinets from Gumtree and now have storage that fits their needs perfectly, rather than a large, clutter-collecting surface. “It really works for us and, even if we don’t put everything away during the week, it doesn’t take long to tidy up at the weekend.”
Have fun with Ikea hacks
The Lovely Drawer’s Teri Muncey told us her revamp of these Ikea bedside tables was her proudest DIY moment. “They cost me £8 each in their original state. After a few coats of wood varnish to tone down the light wood and adhering a sheet of white vinyl to the underside of the glass, they look totally different.”
Take a good look at your budget finds and think about how you could update them. If your creative juices aren’t flowing, just go online to find a whole host of ideas for Ikea hacks with accompanying tutorials.
The Lovely Drawer’s Teri Muncey told us her revamp of these Ikea bedside tables was her proudest DIY moment. “They cost me £8 each in their original state. After a few coats of wood varnish to tone down the light wood and adhering a sheet of white vinyl to the underside of the glass, they look totally different.”
Take a good look at your budget finds and think about how you could update them. If your creative juices aren’t flowing, just go online to find a whole host of ideas for Ikea hacks with accompanying tutorials.
Make a feature of your storage
We all know how great open shelving can look, but Sarah Bagner of Supermarket Sarah has really perfected the look. She chose metal shelves in her kitchen, which add an industrial look to the room.
She told us, “It’s fun having open shelves, as you can style them up with plants, ornaments and photographs. They also don’t block the space – they have metal rods, so you can see through them – so they don’t feel like a big bulk of furniture in our small space.”
The key to this look is colour. Bagner’s eclectic mix of objects could have looked messy, but she has cleverly brought it all together with the repetition of red tones.
TELL US…
What have you enjoyed most about our blogger series so far? And have you picked up some useful ideas? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
We all know how great open shelving can look, but Sarah Bagner of Supermarket Sarah has really perfected the look. She chose metal shelves in her kitchen, which add an industrial look to the room.
She told us, “It’s fun having open shelves, as you can style them up with plants, ornaments and photographs. They also don’t block the space – they have metal rods, so you can see through them – so they don’t feel like a big bulk of furniture in our small space.”
The key to this look is colour. Bagner’s eclectic mix of objects could have looked messy, but she has cleverly brought it all together with the repetition of red tones.
TELL US…
What have you enjoyed most about our blogger series so far? And have you picked up some useful ideas? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Want to add a designer touch but don’t have the budget? Some lateral thinking might help. Patchwork Harmony’s Caroline Rowland and her husband did just that with this beautiful copper-edged worktop. The original idea was to have a completely copper work surface, but things didn’t go according to plan after their builder jumped ship. They were left with a plywood worktop, which should have been clad in copper.
Rowland told us how they came up with a new plan. “We simply laid wooden planks, which we stained, side by side, then edged them in copper strips. It was quite a big job, but I think it turned out well, and it didn’t cost too much.”