How to Avoid Dull, Generic Interiors & Make Your Home Truly Yours!
Do you remember a few years ago, when every room we stepped into was another shade of grey?
Interior trends are inevitable and will continue to come and go. As we all seek inspiration from magazines and social media, it’s easy to create spaces that merely follow the latest fad and swim in the current of the next trending moment.
We are flooded with hacks to replicate popular designs, and while I do admire the. reels and image carousels , what truly stops me scrolling are homes that give an insight into the lives of their inhabitants.
In my work with my interior clients, I love to embrace their style, even the trending ones, while injecting their unique stories and personalities into the space. Here are some thoughts on creating rooms that are stylish yet anything but generic.
1.USE COLOUR & TEXTURE
Back in the early 2000s, when the property market was booming, the advice to homeowners was to keep decor as neutral as possible, so as to appeal to the mass market in case of needing a sale. Homes were stripped of personality, and covered in non-offensive paint colours like magnolia. The outcome was lot’s people living in off white boxes with the occasional coloured cushion thrown in for interest.
Colour is personal, and much has been written about colour psychology. When meeting with my clients, I ask about their colour preferences and how those colours make them feel. We want to ensure that the colours we go for complement the overall mood they wish to create in the room.
The same applies to textures, fabrics, wall panels, and details. How you live and function in a space should inform the design, from lighting choices and the number of seats required to the level of intimacy needed. Colour and texture are essential tools in creating individual and successful design.
2. HANG SOME ART
Choosing art a personal pleasure and one of the easiest ways to tell people who enter your home something about you. Art on walls is a conversation starter. I love asking people where pieces are from and why they chose them. Sometimes they may know the artist personally, and the pieces have real significance to them; other times, they just love the piece. It doesn’t even have to be expensive; it may be a print or item bought at a charity shop. It just has to speak to you and have a purpose in the space to make it interesting.
3. MIX & MATCH FURNITURE
One sure way to make a room feel generic is to walk into a furniture shop and buy all your furniture from that one place. Just because they all belong to the same collection, doesn’t mean you have to buy it all! This approach will leave your room feeling rather flat and one-dimensional. Curate your own collection by mixing up pieces from different places. Utilise items with different textures, shapes, and colours. Head to vintage stores and antique fairs to blend old among the new, and don’t be afraid to mix wood tones. It will give more depth and interest to your space, and if that old sideboard you found at the fair has an origin story, even better!
“Just because they all belong to the same furniture collection doesn’t mean you have to buy it all!”
4. CONSIDER CUSTOM & BESPOKE PIECES
Custom items are a great way to inject your own personality and colour. You may choose a standard chair but find some fabulous fabric to reupholster it with. Window dressings are another great way to experiment with fabrics and pattern. Many companies and artisans can do this on your behalf, creating items customed for you and your space.
Adding bespoke furniture and joinery is another option. Commissioning a statement table or a bespoke shelving system that fits perfectly. Back to paint and colour - why not paint your kitchen in your favourite shade of pink or purple? With so many options, you don’t need to stay in the box.
5. DISPLAY PERSONAL ITEMS
Displaying personal collections is a wonderful way to make your home uniquely yours. Items such as family heirlooms, travel souvenirs, or cherished mementos from significant life events add a real personal touch to your decor. These pieces not only evoke memories and stories but also provide a connection to your past and the those you love. A previous client of mine had traveled the world collecting items including statues, fabrics and paintings and each had a story. I worked with the family to decide the best way to style and display the items in their new home, allowing all who entered room to enjoy them.
Creating a unique and personalised home interior does go beyond following trends and merely duplicating current styles. It’s about weaving in our story, preferences, and personality. So embrace colours and textures that resonate with you, choose some artwork that sparks conversations or buy a custom piece.
By taking time the to consider and integrate these elements, you can ensure your home is stylish, unique, and truly yours.
