Master designer tricks of the trade
Give your home a slick finish by following our experts’ top tips
Most of our homes would benefit from a designer’s eye. But you don’t have to spend a fortune employing one — simply follow our expert tips and learn how to style your pad like a pro.
GO FOR HERO PIECES
‘the trick I use in my own home is to treat the space like my wardrobe,’ says interior stylist sally Cullen, interior stylist ( sallycullen.com).
‘I invest in pieces that are critical to my wellbeing, including the bed, oven and an amazing shower.
‘Consider these your hero products, research them and spend the most you can afford. then you can be frivolous with less expensive furnishings such as cushions, throws and candles.’
HARD WORKERS
outdoor fabrics aren’t just for the garden. their durability makes them great inside, too. ‘I use them in kitchens and bathrooms because they are hard-wearing and look just like indoor fabrics,’ says interior designer Kay West ma as( studio westmaas.com). ‘ try using fabric from Perennials ( perennials
fabrics. com), on heavy-traffic seating such as banquettes. You can wipe food marks off acrylicbased fabrics easily.’
MIX IT UP
Combining old with new will create interest. ‘Pair modern chairs with a rustic dining table and use contemporary fabrics on an antique chair or vice versa,’ suggests interior designer nicky dobree ( nickydobree.com).
‘An ornate mirror in an otherwise modern room will look great, just as a piece of contemporary art in a room full of antiques will sing.
‘In my home, I mix fabrics, too, pairing linen with wool, silk with velvet.’
BACK TO NATURE
‘FurnIshIngs need to have a little give to withstand constant use,’ says emma sims- hilditch,
simshilditch.com. ‘natural materials such as wood and stone age beautifully. I love using oak, or hand painting wood furniture.’
PERFECT PAINT
ChoosIng the right paint shade can be a baffling business. Find a trusted hue and use it throughout. ‘my favourite neutral paint colour is Cotton Bloom from dulux,’ says interior designer Amelia Carter ( amelia
carter.com). ‘this warm shade of grey works in every type of light.’
ALL IN THE DETAIL
there are plenty of ways to inexpensively add luxe.
‘ We have a variety of tricks, including painting the leading edge of a door in a fun colour, such as a fluorescent hue from Bristol Paint ( bristolpaint.
com),’ say emma Pocock and Bunny turner ( turner pocock.co.uk). ‘For impact, line curtains in a contrasting fabric.’
BORDERLINE
Add a graphic touch to a simple scheme. ‘We use a trim applied to the edges of walls to finish off a room,’ say interior designers nicole salvesen and mary graham ( salvesen
graham.com). ‘It’s a smart detail. An alternative is to apply a wallpaper border. Brilliant examples of trimmings can be found at V.V. rouleaux ( vvrouleaux. com), while Cole & son ( cole-and-son.com) is great for borders.’
MIRROR, MIRROR
‘KnoWIng your local glass specialist is invaluable. mirrored walls can open up hallways; create amazing splashbacks in kitchens and add dazzle to dressing rooms,’ says Blanca sanchez ( halo designinteriors.com).
SCALE IT UP
don’t be afraid to furnish generously, even in a compact home.
Interior designer Justin Van Breda ( justinvan
breda.com), uses oversize pieces to make rooms appear bigger. ‘I painted my dining table an electric blue to make a statement,’ he says.
MIX AND MATCH
‘ teAm curtains with roman blinds and play around with contrasting patterns,’ says sophie robinson ( sophierobinson. co.uk).
‘In many rooms, radiators are under the window sill. short curtains are best avoided, so I combine floorlength drapes with a blind that can be dropped in the winter so that the radiator can still heat the room efficiently.’