Homes guru on why we are heading back to the 1970s
Kate Spiers built a successful career showing her thousands of followers how to create a happy, harmonious home but admits her DIY skills still aren’t up to scratch. The 30-year-old Instagram star has spent the past year renovating her traditional tenement flat, and says while she knows how to style and decorate, she leaves most jobs to the pros.
“We are not very Diy-inclined,” laughed Kate, who lives in Glasgow with husband, Jordan. “We will do painting and little repairs, but we’re usually quite busy with work. Luckily we had a lot of our renovations completed when lockdown was lifted a little last summer.
“I wish we were a bit more hands-on. There’s such a trend on Instagram and Tiktok for people to do a lot of jobs themselves, so I wish I was a bit more crafty.” With DIY and interior design becoming one of the country’s most popular pastimes, Kate says social media has played a big role inspiring new projects, while access to cheaper furniture and decorating supplies has made the process more accessible.
She explained: “There is a movement towards interiors, especially among younger people. When people see other people’s homes on social media, they feel inspired and know it’s possible to recreate that in their own space. Before social media, you would have to seek out an interior design magazine, and the homes in there would seem unattainable.
“Some of the big trends right now are ’70s-led. I have rattan and wicker everywhere, and greenery – lots of leafy plants – feels very retro. Plus, wall panelling seems to be having a moment.”
And for those looking to improve their indoors, you don’t have to spend much.
Kate said: “Just switch up the room. Moving furniture around and changing the layout can work wonders. It can make you feel like you’ve got a new space, which is so important right now when we are spending so much time at home.”