How to interior design your own home, the uncontrived contrived way

Liz Murrell

Founder Zing Interior Architecture

June 9, 2021

How to interior design your own home,
the uncontrived contrived way

I believe domestic interior design is all about meaning and memories. Your home should have meaning to you and let you feel at your most relaxed. The items in it in my view should either have memories or things which you can identify with. My first piece of advice is to gather images and items that you really love and would like to see on a daily basis within your home. They could be anything which you’re passionate about and not necessarily something which you might imagine being in your home like a vase or an ornament. My dad was an aircraft engineer and has a passion for aircraft and all things mechanical. He has an old stripped back timber propeller in his downstairs toilet which is unique and interesting and looks like a wooden sculpture.

If you have images of interiors you love, think about how you might recreate them in your own home. Look at what you like about the image, Is it the colours of the fabric or the colour scheme in general. Is it the style of the furniture. Then research where you might be able to get items like this which would work with your home.

Think about scale, If you have a one bed apartment and have an image of a massive chandelier in the middle of a large hallway you may have to down scale the idea. Likewise if you have an image of an 1900 Italian villa with high ceilings with an abundance of architectural details but live in a modernist style 1960’s 3 bed semi in Croydon you may need to move to Italy! It’s all about working with what you have and attuning it the design of the architecture you live in and your preferred style.

Gather these images or items and think about how they could be displayed in your home in an elegant format which is also workable with your lifestyle. I have visited homes where the owners passion has taken over the house literally, where you can barely walk round the room due to the clutter of their collections. This makes the home not only unwelcoming to guests but also unhealthy for the owner. I believe space is so important for peoples wellbeing both mentally and physically. I don’t think we can ever have too much space. Sadly property developers of new build homes don’t adhere to this principle and so the rooms in some of the new developments are getting smaller and smaller as well as the plots sizes. When arranging your treasured items make sure that they don’t over crowd the room and block any natural light out. Space and light are crucial to enjoying your home.

When thinking about sprucing up your home with a new look in terms of interior design, many think that every element including the furniture, lighting, fabric & artwork need to match or connect in some way. If you go into any homewares department store you can buy a whole set of fixtures and fittings which are ‘matchy matchy’! So you could if your were so inclined buy a bronze effect bumble bee ornament (bees are on trend at the mo!), Wall-covering with a buzzy bee motif & curtaining in similar colours and style to match. When I have been involved in interior designing for hotel bedrooms, designing so every aspect looks like it belongs and is in harmony with each other makes sense. It makes the guest feel some kind of familiarity and comfort. In the home however, I believe the best interiors look like they have grown organically over time and don’t come from all the same date and shop!

“The best rooms have something to say about the people who live in them”.

David Hicks

If you’re as old as me you might remember ‘Through The Keyhole’ hosted by David Frost with his side kick Lloyd Grossman. Lloyd used to have a good nosey around famous celebrities homes. He used to show personal items so that the celebrity panel of guests had to workout who lived there, “It’s over to you David. Who lives in a place like this” I found that the more personal the decor was, the more interesting the interior and ultimately the house was.

In my own home; which is very much a work in progress, I would rather look at a bare wooden floor than put a rug which is just not handmade and from Persia! As interior design means so much to me, I would rather wait until I can have what I really want than look at a cheap printed rug made of nylon. This might seem rather silly to some people but I am not good at compromise with my own possessions, I have bought cheap before and always regretted it. However saying this, due to the fact that I am not a multi millionaire quite yet, I have to compromise and have actually found buying second hand items has been my saviour. There are some bargains to be had and what is one persons trash is another persons treasure. We recently bought a rather large welsh dresser which I love and although its is currently a shrine to my 4 year old’s artwork and ‘good boy’ certificates I have high hopes for it.

Quality, longevity and timelessness are the most crucial aspects of domestic interior design I believe. People don’t tend to refurbish or decorate like they do in the hospitality sector every 3 years or so, So fixtures and fittings need to stand the test of time. That phrase ‘Buy cheap buy twice’ has come up with me a number of times when I’ve bought something just to fill a spot, it has either broken or just warn over time and had to be binned. Good quality brands are worth seeking out and the investment. There are some elements like a sofa or armchair where it really is worth buying the best you can afford. Checking the material for durability is a must as cheap fabric will wear quickly and your chair will look terrible in no time at all. Where you place furniture is also key to making your room work and feel comfortable. Remember less is more. Don’t try to cram in as much as you can as you will feel congested and hemmed in. Also measure your furniture before you buy it and make sure it will fit in the space with ease and not be tight up against walls and door openings. Instead of buying a 3 piece suite which is ‘matchy matchy’ and looks like a great deal, think about buying separates like a sofa and an armchair in different styles and fabrics. It can look more interesting and less contrived.

Ensure you have circulation space around your furniture and clear walk ways this gives the impression of space and elegance. Also, think about zoning your place, (This may only be relevant if you have open plan living), think about your zones and arrange furniture around them. By zones I mean areas for different activities. Also try not to mix zones. I saw a renovation project the other day on tv where the owners had their ensuite open to their bedroom including the toilet. I don’t know about you, but this would definitely not work well with my lifestyle! Mixing zones in this scenario is not a great idea. Having a bath in a bedroom with a view sounds like a nice idea but think if it would practically work with your life style. Mixing the living zones like the kitchen, dining and living area is very popular and seems to work well, but allowing enough storage is a must as these large open spaces could soon begin to look cluttered and a mess if you have a busy family life.

In conclusion a collection of artefacts or pieces that you love and have perhaps had for a long time will give you a lot more pleasure and a sense of security than your quick fix purchase from the local housewares department store, perhaps unless you shop at Harrods! Placing these cherished pieces with fine fabrics & quality furniture is the winning formula for an attractive interior.

We would highly recommend Liz for architectural & interior design services. We wanted an extension to make our house open plan and Liz gave us some amazing ideas to choose from. She also dealt with all planning which just made life easier for us. Thank you so much! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lauren BlanchardClient

“We recently asked Liz to come up with a design plan for two bedrooms to be knocked into one. Although we had an idea of the style/decor that we wanted, we were struggling to see how it would all fit together. Liz was brilliant at suggesting ways in which it could all work and provided us with some very detailed and carefully thought-out design plans. Now we can’t wait for it to all happen! Excellent communication and attention to detail. Would highly recommend!”

Kathy at Altitude Internetclient

Liz did a fantastic job redesigning the flooring throughout my house. I wanted something that suited my style, but really didn’t have the time to research what was out there. Liz measured up, did all the research and presented me with various options. She listened and picked up on what was important to me. She even found someone to fit it all. Well worth the money! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sarah FindlayClient

I would highly recommend Liz for architectural & interior design services. I wanted an extension and remodel for my house and she came up with lots of ideas to choose from. She was also very friendly and patient with all the changes we wanted! I think the fact that she has a background in both architecture and interiors means that she comes with a unique perspective. We did get a quote from another firm and their ideas were more expensive and not nearly as imaginative.

Emily MorrisonClient

Liz has helped out with a couple of interior and exterior refurbishments for clients of mine and the level of professionalism and attention to detail has been very impressive. Many thanks.

Adam ForsterChartered building surveyor

Liz has helped out with a couple of interior and exterior refurbishments for clients of mine and the level of professionalism and attention to detail has been very impressive. Many thanks.