How to Add Personality to Your Home Interior
- Feb 19
- 4 min read
Long before I became an interior designer, I loved visiting properties and browsing through design magazines. I’m fascinated by the variety of ways in which a standard room can be furnished and finished. Each year, the trends shape our view of what looks good. Yet, we make decisions that we live with for years. So, I want to explore how to add personality to your home interior.
Conscious Interior Styling Decisions
Have you ever visited Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge? I think this was one of the first homes that got me excited about interior design. The former owners, Jim and Helen Ede, styled their home around an extensive collection of largely British art. This was their passion, yet they also needed to live in the property.
When I first visited, I was struck by the fact that every item in their home was considered. When they positioned a chair, they sat in it to see the room from that perspective. As such, you’ll see low-hung paintings and other non-conventional features, which only make sense when you sit down. This wasn’t a home to look at; it was a home to live in.
For me, this was a lesson in how to design home interiors around your personality, rather than trends. There is no standard formula that applies to all properties. Instead, it is a considered approach to what works for you, your family, your lifestyle and priorities.
Purposeful Pieces
Interior design is not just filling a room with a standard selection of furnishings and fittings. Therefore, there are some steps to planning your home interior before you start shopping.
Firstly, consider how you and your family use each room. Where do people tend to congregate, and what is drawing them to these spaces? Equally, are there underused rooms and what is needed to make more of these spaces? Ideally, no room in your home is neglected.
Secondly, don’t be limited by the perception of ‘must-have’ items. If you are often away on business and usually eat out, do you need a large dining table? Equally, a roll-top bath may look impressive, but it’s pointless if you never use it. So, what are your priorities?
Thirdly, take measurements, so you know which furnishings function in the space. To make a home easy to live in and move around, you need to be practical. As an example, that sofa may look fantastic, but if it’s too big, it’s difficult to open the door. That will soon become annoying.
My final point on purposeful pieces is that you don’t need everything at once. You may need time to save up or to find the ideal item. It can be beneficial to be patient, rather than rushing into purchases that compromise your vision.
Storage in Interior Design
An often overlooked element in interior design is storage. However, as soon as you start living in a house, you realise it is essential in every room. Storage helps us to retain a calm interior and live a more organised life, despite the everyday clutter. As such, I believe that an ideal home interior includes storage solutions. Fortunately, there are many smart, space-saving options for homes of any size and style.
Perfectly Comfortable Interiors
Your home is your escape from the hustle and bustle of life. For this reason, you want it to be a welcoming and comfortable space to return to. We’ve touched on the functional features of your home interior, so now let’s consider ways to add depth, interest and your personality.
Lighting is an effective way of adding warmth and depth to a room. I experienced how valuable light is for creating a cosy interior in a recent trip to Sweden. Few places were brightly lit by a central fitting. Most used a wonderful blend of pendant lights, wall lights, lamps and decorative lighting features to provide a cosy and relaxing ambience. This layering of light makes it easy to adapt the feel of the space to fit what’s going on inside.
Texture is another vital factor. Let’s be honest, there’s no better way to make a sofa instantly inviting than to add a soft woollen blanket and some cushions. I’m a champion of natural materials, such as wood, which offers natural grain patterns and is smooth to the touch. What textural variations can you introduce to your scheme?
Artwork and accessories provide the opportunity to personalise your space. A large painting in a room can offer a striking focal point, and you can draw out the colours in other elements in the space. Alternatively, showcase a selection of smaller images on a picture wall. Have you inherited an heirloom, or do you have a collection to display? The point is to introduce meaningful items that reflect your personality and add interest. This is what makes it feel like your home.
Adapt Interiors to Evolving Needs
The final point that I want to make is that what works will change. As you go through life, your priorities alter, and people come and go. For this reason, it can be useful to review your living arrangements at regular intervals. What is still working and where could improvements be made?
Many of the projects I’ve been involved in have come at a time of change. The homeowners may be contemplating a move or extension because they can’t see how to make their current home work. In most cases, my fresh perspective on the layout and purpose of a room offers the solution. Fortunately, that is far less disruptive and costly than relocation or building work.
Your Ideal Home
So, your ideal home interior cannot be found on Instagram or in a show home. It is about finding out what works for your lifestyle. As with Kettle’s Yard, the results may not be conventional. However, if it results in a calm and comfortable home that you are happy to return to, it’s spot on!
If it is time to refresh your interior and you are unsure where to start, get in touch. From design advice to tackle problem areas to a full house redesign, my residential services can help you rediscover a home tailored to your lifestyle and preferences.
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