Scrolling on Instagram makes my eyes hurt from the explosion of wallpapers and colour combinations and so many details to consider. The time and money needed to create a home that will look dated in a few years, maybe even months, leaves me feeling heavy. I’ve seen firsthand how people think their home isn’t good enough, all because of someone else’s opinion or home.

Where really a normal home is enough. Somewhere in the middle with no extremes, no pressure to perform, to maxx or optimise. No strict frameworks or schedules, just everyday life with no negative emotions attached to cleaning, decorating, renovating or upgrading it. Normal has no agenda other than to encourage you to get on with your life and enjoy it.

Normal life is different from living a slow life or following the lived-in trend. Both still feel performative or contrived, entailing a list of must-haves to make it count. Normal has no expectations.

A normal home looks and feels good, without really noticing why. It fades into the background so your life and people are the only thing you do notice. Their conversations are louder than the decor.

In a normal home, you only choose paint colours because you like them and they calm your nervous system. You paint it, forget about it and move on. Only refreshing, never repainting because someone made you feel it was wrong.

Your furniture has moved many homes with you, and you chose your sofa because it’s comfy and big enough for all your favourite people and pets.

Everyone loves to hang out and stay longer than planned because it feels normal, with no performance, no need to be anything other than themselves.

It looks like you live there, not styled to look like you do. Working for the life you actually live. It doesn’t make any bold design statements or follow trends. It is never in or out of fashion.

You live there. You feel safe there. You are happy there. It is just home. A normal home.

I wish some of the bigger accounts thought more carefully about the effect they have on their followers. What might gain them traction can leave someone feeling their home is missing something or ashamed for how it looks.

We can’t control what they share, but we can control how much we believe, who we follow and when we decide we've seen enough. Keeping our wise mind firmly switched on when we scroll and knowing we can step away at any point.

Things worth remembering before you believe what the internet is telling you.

Beware what you believe:

• Almost none of what you see online is normal or true.

• Remember you’re seeing someone’s carefully curated content, not real life.

• If interior text sounds similar, it’s probably AI-generated and not genuine advice: space, truly, simply, quietly, cosy corners, grounded or layered.

• Holding a fluffy microphone doesn’t make someone an expert.

Save your cash and don’t take the bait:

• Remember, when you’re scrolling, you’re a potential customer.

• If they are gatekeeping, they are selling. Don’t comment for more details.

• Even if you’re curious, don’t click the links.

• Linking everything because everyone is asking. No one is asking.

• Take I can’t live without… with a pinch of salt.

• You don’t need to buy seasonal homeware or do a seasonal refresh.

• They're paid to love the product they’ve only just received.

• Don’t watch their Shopping hauls.

• Ignore the Style swaps.

• Scroll past the Sunday scrolls.

• Ignore all the paint colours they’ve used in their home, as your home is different and probably won’t work.

Open your eyes to made-up trends:

• Unfollow influencers and interior designers who look the same.

• Choose accounts that inspire you to think, not to copy.

• Cafe curtains are great until you realise you don’t live in a cafe.

• Banquettes are back until they’re not.

• No hill is worth dying on for homeware.

• Ignore in or out lists.

• What you consider Good taste is all that matters.

• What you consider Timeless is all that matters.

• Ignore EVERY tiling trend. Tiles are expensive and difficult to install or remove.

• Your home is not missing contrast, weight, height, weird or any other confusing term.

• Your home doesn’t need a theme or a specific style; your life is the theme.

• Designing your home to make your friends jealous isn’t cool.

• Ignore that good design should make you feel nervous… makes you happy is healthier.

Listen to yourself instead:

• Your shelves don’t need to look like an LA interiors store.

• Your home doesn’t need to look like you hired an interior designer.

• You don’t need to try so hard. When it stops being fun, move on.

• Ignore them if they think your home looks cheap or dated.

• Ignore their lists of things that are missing, make a big difference, make it look expensive, a fail, or a room feel off.

• It’s just someone’s opinion, and it can be ignored… mine included!

• Is it only a mistake because someone told you it was?

• Your home doesn’t need a system or a framework; you’re human, not a robot.

• It’s okay to be different. We’re not the same; our homes don’t need to be either.

Being comfortable with normal means knowing your home is enough and caring less about what anyone else thinks or is doing. When you love a normal home, the pressure will disappear, and home feels good. Life is good.

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My four steps on how your home can slip into the background. Leaving you more time to get on with living your life:

Where are the million cuddly toys, the array of trinkets they love or the pet caterpillar found in the garden now living in its own decorated shoe box?

The reality is, most young kids don’t have great taste in an adult sense, and once a child adds their things to those rooms, they won’t look like the Instagram image or Pinterest board anyway.

I recently read this advice on decorating a child’s bedroom:

“Decorating with children in mind can inspire new creativity and give you the chance to embrace your own inner child.”

I completely disagree. It can be tempting to try to recreate the floral wallpaper and twin-bed vibe or the circus-inspired bedroom, but this is not your chance to embrace your inner child. It is a chance to embrace the inner world of your child and give them a room where they feel safe and can take ownership of their things.

I’ve found that children tend to go through distinct stages of influence that shape what they want from their bedroom at different ages, making it difficult to choose a look that will suit them for years at a time. My advice is to create a room that can evolve with them, rather than needing to be completely redone at every stage.

Baby to toddler years (0–3):
Design is largely driven by caregivers. What matters most at this stage is that a room feels safe, familiar and comforting.

Pre-school to early primary years (4–7):
Favourite colours, toy characters, TV shows, books and imaginative play become major influences. This is often the stage where children want their bedroom to reflect fantasy and play.

Tweens (8–12):
Friends, sport, gaming, YouTubers, online content, Pinterest and emerging trends all start shaping what feels aspirational or "grown up". This is often the first stage where children begin using their bedroom as a form of self-expression.

Teenage years (13–18):
Their bedroom becomes more about retreat, independence, and expressing their personality. Friendship groups, music, social media, fashion, hobbies and wider culture influence how teenagers want their room to feel and look.

Children are supposed to change their minds; it's part of growing up. Be mindful of decorating around a specific influence, as what feels cool to them one day can feel cringe the next.

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Design

Children don’t need an interior-designed, all-singing bedroom to feel loved. As caregivers, we don’t need to try so hard. If we allow their lives to be the main character in their bedrooms, rather than the decor, it can become a place where they have fun, learn about themselves, and retreat to.

The most important step in this process is to let go of the vision of their bedroom and become curious about the one they have instead. It has more benefits than being able to show off a beautifully curated room. Read here.

If you’re craving a creative outlet, I’d suggest choosing a different room, as a child’s bedroom is often the first place they get to call their own. It can be where they learn what they like, what they don’t like, how to make decisions and how to express themselves.

The trick is to see their room as a blank canvas; otherwise, you might need to decorate every three years, as their ever-evolving influences and tastes change. Don’t overthink it. It’s really about letting your child choose things that can be easily changed: accessories and layout. A duvet cover and poster are far easier to replace than a painted circus tent ceiling.

Writing a Brief

How you decorate or tackle the design together is very dependent on the age, needs and personality of your child. I recommend starting with a design brief, which can be words or images, and something to refer back to.

Start by asking what they want their room to look and feel like. Ask their favourite colours, what feels good to them, where they want their bed and toys. Do they want pictures? If yes, what of?

You might need to interpret their ideas and not take them so literally. And keep decisions off the table that aren’t within your budget, capabilities or time constraints.

If you need to buy anything, ask their opinion by offering a small guided selection of 2-3, as it reduces the overwhelm. Check they’re happy with the decision afterwards, as it reinforces that you trust them, their opinion matters, and the room feels theirs.

My daughter was thirteen when we put this design brief together. She was very clear on colour, texture, and the overall look. It really helped me understand, as otherwise her room would’ve looked completely different.

Furniture

I’m all for reducing scrolling time looking for the perfect bed, cupboard, etc., freeing your time and money on the fun stuff instead. My advice is to choose furniture that works for most of your child's life rather than a particular phase or theme.

Every child and situation is different, but these pieces of furniture and accessories, if bought wisely, could be used through various stages of childhood.

• bed - choose a simple design that doesn't belong to a particular age or theme

• shelves/bookcase - their interests will change but a good bookcase won’t

• drawers - timeless and sturdy for every age. see below

• wardrobe - can be painted to update

• bedside table - doesn’t need to feel childlike to be used

• blackout curtains/blinds - plain is more versatile than themed patterns

• desk and chair - become increasingly important from around eight onwards as homework and studying take up more time

• storage - baskets and tubs can be used to store toys, Lego, make-up or styling products depending on the stage

• lamp - a classic design won’t need replacing because of changing tastes

• hooks - useful at every age; avoid overly themed designs

• mirror - a full-length mirror can work from early childhood through to the teenage years

• laundry basket - encourages independence and helps children take ownership of their room

These accessories can change as your child changes:

• night light - a good place to lean into a theme or current fave

• rug - this might need replacing as tastes change and accidents happen

• art - easy to switch as interests evolve

• bedding, throws and cushions - one of the easiest and most affordable ways to reflect changing tastes, from TV characters to football teams to teenage cool

Beds. A child might need various bed types as they grow. A cot, a toddler bed, a single bed, and then a double as a teenager.

You can reduce this down to two types of beds: A cot that turns into a toddler bed, then, when they’re big enough, straight into a small double. It might feel odd, but it never really ever feels too big as their cuddly toys can fill one side of the bed. They’re great for sleepovers, can double up as a guest bed, and are far more comfortable when you want to lie down and read/snuggle together.

Chest of drawers. As tempting as it is to buy a changing table, I wouldn’t bother. Babies learn to roll quicker than you think, and you’ll most likely end up changing nappies on the floor or bed anyway.

I would suggest picking a timeless and sturdy chest of drawers instead. I tend to choose vintage pieces for myself, but my girls have always preferred Ikea drawers. The Nordli range is great as it’s easy for little hands to open and can be added to as their storage needs grow.

Storage. Kids love stuff, and especially tiny things. Let your child choose how they want their toys and things to be kept, either on display or tidied away, as having their familiar things around will help them to self-soothe and feel calm.

Shelves, baskets, and under-bed plastic trays are helpful at any stage. I used the big patterned zipped storage bags for the million dressing-up costumes. Easy to be dragged from room to room and emptied, and easy to fill back up again. Great for toys, winter clothes, and spare sleepover bedding.

Paint

Rather than overcomplicating things, keep the walls simple. It makes it easier to touch up or change when the time comes, and less stimulation helps with feeling calm and sleeping.

Offer your child two or three muted versions of their favourite colour, or a white with a hint of it, as research shows that softer colours lower heart rate and reduce stress hormones, helping children wind down at the end of the day. It’s also the perfect backdrop for their colourful toys, bedding, and accessories.

If you do want to add more colour interest without going too bold, use a slightly darker shade on the woodwork, painted furniture, or shelves. I would avoid painting stripes, using overly bright or contrasting hues, especially near the bed, as they can keep a child alert instead of relaxed.

If you do want to suggest a wallpaper to your child, check that there’s nothing that might appear scary to a child within the pattern when the room is dark.

Here are paint colours in calm tones that work well in children's bedrooms that won't fight with their things. Every room is different. The direction it faces and how much natural light it gets will affect any colour dramatically, so the colours below are a guide only; always test before you commit.

Green

Pink

Blue

Yellow

White

A child's bedroom doesn't need to be perfect. It just needs to feel theirs and ready for whoever they're becoming next.

Thank you for reading! Hope you found it helpful. Please press ♥️ and subscribe if you haven’t already. If you have any questions or comments, I’d love to hear.

Claire x

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The Harmonious Home Approach

Interior Design for Anyone Who'd Rather Be Told What to Do: Start Here

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My head hurts just typing these out, let alone trying to work out what each one looks like and how to make it work in your home.

I like to keep things simple in my life so I have more time for the fun stuff. The same applies to my home. It’s easy to lose hours looking for the right sofa, lamp, or paint colour. I’ve put together a four-step framework to show you how your home can slip into the background, too, leaving you more time to get on with living your life.

Hi, I’m Claire, an interior designer. My weekly newsletter, Interior Design for Anyone Who’d Rather Be Told What to Do. Shares design tips to simplify the decision-making process, so you can design your home yourself, with confidence and without the overwhelm. Make sure you start at the beginning here.

If you’ve ever done any work on your home, it can feel overwhelming, and part of that is the amount of choice available, which can blow your mind. When I have clients who struggle to decide, I offer a maximum of 2-3 options. It makes the process less confusing and far more enjoyable.

I find the design process really is a series of elimination. Before you even start thinking about design, let’s eliminate as many decisions as possible straight away:

The HHA 4 Step Framework:

I like to overthink everything, so you don’t have to. Looking at all styles of home and interiors, I’ve found the most understandable way to simplify is to refer to two styles only: Traditional or Modern.

Every style fits back into either, and age doesn't necessarily come into it, only how decorative the detailing is.

Traditional: decorative and detailed. Modern: simple and clean-lined.

Let’s get started:

STEP ONE: Categorise your building.

Look at the exterior of your home, is it Modern or Traditional?

Modern: simple, angular lines.

Traditional: decorative and detailed.

STEP TWO: Be clear on the difference between fixtures and fittings.

Fixtures are attached: sockets, flooring, doors, windows, woodwork, radiators, bathrooms and kitchens. The things you leave behind when you move.

Fittings are removable: furniture, curtains, rugs, mirrors, and light fittings. The things that come with you.

STEP THREE: Match your fixtures’ style to your building style. This will create a coherent backdrop for your home and instantly eliminate a huge chunk of decisions.

Modern building = modern fixtures. Traditional building = traditional fixtures.

Don’t worry too much about what modern or traditional fixtures might look like yet, as I’ll be going into more detail.

Examples below:

Modern building with modern fixtures.

Traditional building with traditional fixtures.

Now the magic part:

A home that is 100% traditional or 100% modern can look good, but risks feeling one-dimensional. The secret is to add a little sprinkle on top. I like to think of fixtures as the perfect pair of jeans, the fittings your favourite white tee, and the extra 10% is a statement necklace and earrings.

STEP FOUR: Match 90% of your fittings style to the building style. (The things you’ll take with you.)

The remaining 10% is where your personality comes in. Something unexpected that adds interest. A traditional home can have a few modern pieces, and vice versa. This only needs to be 1–4 items per room, depending on size.

Examples below:

Traditional building = Traditional fixtures and fittings + 10% Modern/unexpected fittings

This bathroom has traditional fixtures: bath, panelling, window, flooring and 90% traditional fittings: chairs, blind, stool, whatnot, rug. And the 10% is the two simple modern prints that add an interesting layer.

If it were a traditional oil painting instead, the room might feel like a set, more obvious. The unexpected prints are subtle but enough to elevate the room.

Rita Konig’s kitchen is a perfect example of the 10% sprinkle on top. The modern artichoke print, bright pink candles and perspex candle holders add colour. Although the gingham chair is traditional, the oversized design and colour add the unexpected. A brilliant juxtaposition to the traditional farmhouse table, chairs and dresser.

In this traditional study, the 10% is the modern art and lamp, as well as the unexpected toucan and ice cream accessories. Without them, the office could look a little ‘stuffy.’

Examples below:

Modern building = Modern fixtures and fittings + 10% Traditional/unexpected fittings

The 10% from the little traditional stool and rug gives this modern bathroom personality.

The modern kitchen looks more considered with the 10% traditional art, stool and baskets.

And the 10% traditional cabinet here softens this very modern interior.

It’s a very simple framework, and of course, you can ignore or change the %s; it’s your home, your rules. But if you are tired of feeling stuck, feel overwhelmed by choice or really have no interest, this is an easy way to create a home that looks balanced and considered.

Re-cap:

• Boost your own confidence - remember, there are no interior design police, only your fear of being judged. If you can ignore what anyone else will think, you’ll be flying.

• Be clear on your motivation - do any home improvements to improve your life, not to impress someone else.

• Design with you at the forefront - rather than being a people-pleaser with your home, be a me-pleaser, it will feel so much nicer to live in.

• Categorise your building - Lean into the style of the building to help dictate the style of fixtures and 90% of fittings. Modern or Traditional?

• The remaining 10% is where your personality comes in. This only needs to be 1–4 items per room, depending on size.

Up next: Having a clear picture of your home's style instantly narrows the choices available. Over the next few newsletters, I’ll start looking at what fixtures can look like for each traditional or modern home. I’d love to help if you have a question, pop it below.

Don’t forget to subscribe.

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A HUGE thank you for being here and reading.

It means a lot to me when you press like, leave a comment and share.

Claire x

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If you’re not design-inclined and the thought of doing anything to your home makes your head spin, I empathise. With contradictory opinions, endless how-to tips and every type of home imaginable online, knowing what to listen to is overwhelming.

Which is why I’m never surprised when clients ask me, “Can you just tell me what to do?”

Hi, I’m Claire, an interior designer. I don’t ever tell them what to do. By the way, I ask a few questions and try to get to the bottom of why they just want to be told what to do.

This is what my weekly newsletter, Interior Design for Anyone Who’d Rather Be Told What to Do, is about. Sharing design tips to simplify the decision-making process, so you can design your home yourself, with confidence and without the overwhelm.

Boost your confidence

I really do think we all have the ability to be our own interior designers. The reason most people struggle is usually down to a lack of confidence with a touch of fear, and that nagging voice in the background asking, “What if it looks crap?”

Remember, there is no right or wrong, no interior design police. Only your fear of being judged and someone else’s opinion will make you feel your decision is wrong. Which is why you should only ever choose something because you love it.

Who cares if you want something that might not be fashionable? Your home is for you and the people who live in it. Your home, your rules.

Confidence boosting questions:

• What decisions have you already made for your home that you’re happy with?

• Which part of your home have you already made look and feel good?

• Does it really matter what anyone else thinks of your home?

• Is someone else’s opinion about your home more important than yours?

You are more than capable of creating a home you love, I promise.

Understand your motivation

Before you embark on a home project and commit to spending thousands and losing hours you can’t get back, ask yourself: Why am I doing this?

It sounds simple, but most people skip it entirely and jump straight into choosing paint colours or browsing kitchen showrooms. Not understanding your why is the reason so many projects feel disappointing after they’re finished.

There is nothing wrong with wanting a beautiful home. We all deserve to live how we choose to. But from my experience, problems arise when motivation is driven by comparison or external validation.

I’ve had clients want to rip out perfectly good kitchens and bathrooms simply because they saw their neighbour’s new one. Suddenly, their own home didn’t feel good enough, even though nothing had actually changed.

Rather than being a people-pleaser with your home, be a me-pleaser. Only make home improvements to improve your life, not to impress someone else. Use your motivation as your end goal and try not to deviate, whether that’s a salesperson in a showroom, Pinterest, or anyone else’s home or opinion.

What to expect:

Design can feel scary because there are so many choices. When I have clients who struggle, I offer 2-3 options max. I’ll show you how to eliminate choices yourself, so you can narrow down what you search before you’ve even typed it into Google.

Up next: My simple 4-step framework to help you understand which style to choose and start the design process like a professional. Don’t forget to subscribe.

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A HUGE thank you for being here and reading.

It means a lot to me when you press like, leave a comment and share.

Claire x

When my grandma passed away a few years ago, I was allowed to choose some pieces from her home. I chose three framed pressed flowers, an oil painting of a boat, and two brass bedside lamps as they reminded me of her and her home.

The faint whiff of tobacco on the frames reminded me of my grandparents, who both loved to smoke. Memories flooded back of Sunday afternoon visits with my grandad in his chair puffing on his pipe, and my grandma laughing uncontrollably. It always felt touch-and-go as her laughter soon turned to coughing. Perhaps the most effective lesson a kid could ever get to never smoke.

Since I collected the things from my grandma’s house, I started to think what our heirlooms would be? And that the item passed on had to start from someone, did I have anything worth passing on to my children?

I’m going to put it out there: I couldn’t do high value, but I could do things that hold plenty of history and happy memories instead. Pieces that have been in our family home for as long as they can remember, reminding them of their childhood home, preferably without the scent of tobacco.

I very rarely buy anything new, and I have a couple of pieces that I’ll keep for years, but most of my prized possessions that are here for the long haul are all vintage. They have stood the test of time far better than anything I’ve bought on a whim. I don’t think I’ll be passing on any IKEA or H&M.

Reasons why I buy vintage rather than new:

• Made of solid wood, with marks and imperfections that add depth and character

• Beautiful detailing and craftsmanship that’s rarely replicated today

• Dovetail drawers - a big selling point for me, flimsy drawers just won’t do

• Often more affordable than new pieces of comparable quality

• Keeps beautiful, usable pieces out of landfill, and helps avoid the cycle of fast fashion

• Adds depth to a home as they already have a story, with more waiting to be added

My mantra is simple: buy with intention, look after it well, with the hope of passing it on, hopefully to my kids, if they want them.

I thought it would be fun to inspire you to think about what is in your home that could be passed down. Here are my five vintage pieces to look out for that could become the perfect heirloom:

#1. Chest of drawers.

I popped into West Elm recently, and there was a lovely chest of drawers. On closer inspection, the back was made of thin MDF, and the drawers had big, clunky metal runners on them. It cost a staggering £1,599. I doubt it would last long enough to pass on, compared to the beautiful, large chest of drawers I bought from my local Emmaus for £95. A far better investment as it’s sturdy, with such pretty detailing, and supports a local charity. I gave it a good clean, lined the drawers with leftover wallpaper (or wrapping paper is fab), and it was ready to use.

#2. Dining chairs.

Ok, dining chairs are expensive, and if you need 6, 8, 10, or even more, you might need to take out a small mortgage to cover the cost. Even if money were no object, I would still pick vintage Victorian, Edwardian, or Gustavian anytime. I love seeing mismatched chairs around a table. My friend has chairs from her granny, and it feels a privilege to sit on them when I’m invited over for dinner. Reupholstering or adding seat pads can give them a new lease of life.

#3. Cupboard.

I am obsessed with cupboards, mainly to put the million small bowls I am equally obsessed with. I’m on the lookout for a vintage pine dresser that I can either leave bare or paint, as I love a pop of colour against a pared-back room.

#4. Art.

Another of my weaknesses is art. I’m not fussy, vintage or new, budget-friendly or splash-the-cash, if I love it, I hang it. I also frame cards, postcards, notes, the kids’ drawings. I especially love vintage lithograph prints, and this one is a particular favourite of mine. I have three by the artist and am always on the lookout for more.

#5. Side table.

I love a side table. Perfect for drinks, snacks, and the remote. You can pick up such special ones for as little as £10. You can never have too many side tables; you’ll always find a spot for them, next to any seat, by the bath, or next to a bed.

My go-to for vintage furniture online stores:

I start with Vinterior and 1st Dibs for inspiration and to get an idea of price. I also like John Cornall, particularly their antique Gustavian furniture.

Then I scour the auction houses via EasyLive Auction. I have written about it here

I try not to get excited, but sometimes I bid without seeing an item. In the case of the rug below, the picture didn’t even show the full piece, but luckily, it paid off, and I love it.

I pick up art from anywhere I can, museum shop postcards, greeting cards, charity shops, and auction sites. I especially like collinsandgreenart.co.uk. This is on my wish list.

Hope this has inspired you to look around your home to see what you have that could be passed on. If you’re buying anything new, do wonder if it could become an heirloom.

Happy Heirlooming.

Claire. x

Thank you for reading it means a lot!

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Each one is designed to help you solve your own decorating challenges and become your own interior designer.

Simple, confidence-building, and fun.

To support my work, you can click here for the rest of the guide. I thought this would be more fun and helpful for you than asking you to buy me a coffee… also, I don’t drink coffee!

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To help ‘find out’ this important info, most companies I worked for invested in using trend forecasting companies on some level. Knowing what was coming and being able to offer customers the right colours, the right pieces at the right time could make or lose £millions.

One company in particular heavily invested its money to find out the future, hiring the infamous Lidewij Edelkoort from Trend Union as a consultant. Li, as she’s known, is a renowned Dutch trend forecaster, widely regarded as one of the world's most influential voices in fashion, textiles, and design.

I vividly remember one meeting, where Li couldn’t attend, so she sent her assistants instead.

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Walking into our bland corporate meeting room, I saw the assistants she’d sent looking very out of place. Two slim, chic French boys dressed in head-to-toe black, their long slim bodies, casually slouched low in their chairs. The meeting consisted of one of the long, slim boys nonchalantly listing off, with the arrogance only the French can get away with, random things that would be very important the following year.

I left the meeting completely confused, not only by the information received, but also by how they could charge large amounts of money for what seemed like plucking ideas out of thin air.

But over time, I saw the ‘ideas plucked out of thin air’ become a reality. The world had listened, organic and linen were big, and the outside did come in.

It was at this point that I realised the trend forecasting industry was built on confident bull shitting.

Say anything with conviction, and people believe you.

Trend companies predict everything from interiors, colours, fabrics, cars, beauty, branding, hospitality, wellness, fashion, you name it, they predict how our future looks.

Yes, there’s a lot of research and analysis that goes into predicting the future, but over the last 20 + years of working with trends, I can see the patterns. They’re not predicting the future, just gently nudging it to the opposite of what is currently being offered.

Trend forecasting is a money-making emperor’s new clothes industry, and we’re the suckers who keep falling for it, buying the must-have things similar to the long, slim French boy ‘made-up.’ It’s a continuous cycle, updated every 6 months. Spring/Summer, then Autumn/Winter, usually 1-2 years ahead. Along with long-term predictions, we have short-term trends driven by Pinterest, TikTok and influencers, but are they only trends because of the long-term forecasting? The cycle keeps going.

Do you follow trends or are you your own tastemaker? There is absolutely nothing wrong with following trends if you’re aware of what you’re buying into. If you find you’re regularly selling your possessions on FB marketplace or repainting more than every 5 years, it might be worth looking at trends with your eyes wide open. Your time and money are precious, so noticing where you put both is worth consideration.

My aim, as always, is to help you notice what you actually love, learn to trust your instincts, let go of pressure, and create a home that feels like you, not someone else’s version of home.

Asking these questions will help you recognise whether it’s true love or you’re being influenced.

1. Am I being truthful with myself? Do I really like it?

2. If I hadn’t seen it on IG, TikTok, or someone's house, would I still choose it?

3. Will it work with what I already have? Replacing something that is still functional?

4. What if no one saw it? No photos shared online, would I still want it?

There are certain interior trends I see that make my teeth clench, and my shoulders scrunch up to my ears. Anything that involves hiring a tradesperson to install your new idea, or costs more than a meal out, makes me particularly nervous, as removing or replacing can be just as costly and time-consuming.

Here are 10 trends predicted for 2026 that are either big-ticket items or might need a trade hired.

Of course, if you genuinely love one and you know it’ll still make you happy long after the trend has passed, go for it. Your home, your rules.

1. Silver

The return to silver is reimagined as a “new neutral” that works well with almost any colour scheme or style. Forgive me for thinking silver was already versatile. It isn’t new, but it will start to look extra shiny, or should I say polished chrome, brushed nickel, stainless steel, or antique/aged silver. They’ll have you looking at your light switches, taps, handles, showerhead and wall lights with a disappointed eye. Don’t rush to change any of them. My advice is if you do need to buy or replace and feel swayed by what’s on trend, stick with classic metals that don’t try too hard.

2. Tiles

Tile trends make me feel extra queasy. If you’ve ever followed a tile trend literally, you will know that when that tile is no longer cool, getting rid of it is NOT easy. I fell for the caustic tile trend a few years ago. The sealing process alone lasted longer than the trend. Hand-painted, vintage and the return of the mosaic tile will replace the popular checkerboard tiling trend. The Zellige tile is still very popular, but the trend is to be even braver with your tiling, and not just in the bathroom. You might start to feel your tiles look boring - PLEASE DON’T. Tiles are expensive to buy and install and difficult to get rid of, so always make sure you love them from an honest heart, not an influenced mind.

3. Wall Hangings

There’s a growing interest in more tactile art forms like tapestries. These won’t be a DIY nightmare to install or remove, but if you don’t love it, you might be looking to sell it in 6 months on FB marketplace, take it to the charity shop or worse. If you see something more than 3 times, it’s most likely a trend, and once it’s in your home, it might feel borrowed and never really yours.

4. Dark Woods

Wood is wood right? Well, not really, if you’ve filled your home with lovely pale wood flooring, kitchens or furniture, it might look dated as dark wood is cool again - remember what I said earlier about being nudged towards the opposite to what is already available.

Before someone else’s opinion influences you, check if you still like your paler woods and whether it really needs to be replaced.

5. The Occasional Sofa

I get very touchy about messing with sofas. The right sofa can boost connection, the wrong one can kill it. This sofa is what I call an intermediate sofa. The one you use before you move to the main event. DO NOT buy this sofa to watch TV on. The occasional sofa is exactly as described - occasional. It’s for perching and chatting with a drink, not slouching and spending a few hours chilling.

6. Paint - Earthy colours and high gloss finishes

Any paint choice should be driven by you, not by a trend. Absolutely loving the colour in the first place, will save you wanting to paint over it, which is time-consuming, confidence-zapping and money-wasting. Take your time choosing colours. Knowing how you want to feel in a room will point you in the direction of which colour family to look for, then you can break it down again by understanding which way the room faces. My guide will help: 5 Steps to Choosing Paint Colours

7. The Unfitted Kitchen

Just had a new kitchen fitted? Please do not despair. A kitchen is for cooking, eating and being together. If it can do those things, you’re winning. Stick your fingers in her ears, close your eyes and repeat la la la la. If you’re considering this trend, it has to look authentic; otherwise, it might look like a temporary kitchen until the real one is installed.

8. Lived-in Interiors

Surely this is just what our homes should look like as we live in them? But no, the rise of the (forced) lived-in look, also called narrative maximalism, will influence mainstream versions of new things made to look old. A true lived in home takes years to create. A home filled with pieces you love and collected over time that are mismatched, a little dented, and hold your story will feel more authentic than instant shop-bought props.

9. Arches

Arched doorways and openings have been popular with interior designers for a while, but they have now reached mass appeal with DIY-ers recreating the look in their homes. Yes, they look great, but they will look dated very soon, as they did in the 80’s when they were last popular. Getting rid of an arched doorway is not a quick job. Historic or rustic homes can take an arch, a semi new build might be worth thinking twice.

10. Fringing

Scallops are out, and fringes are in, and I don’t mean Claudia Winkleman. The pretty detail which has been big for the last couple of years is fading to be replaced with tassels and fringing. Sofas, armchairs and beds are big investments, but you can still adopt the trend without investing too much, with tasselled key fobs for your cupboards.

All the trends look very appealing, but remember, eyes wide open. Choose what you buy into. If you do want to invest in any, try interpreting it in your own way, make it personal to you. I will write another post on how to be your own tastemaker.

Thank you for reading, and subscribe if you haven’t already. It would be great to have you follow along.

Claire. x

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Dining tables can be expensive, but they don’t have to be. Buying vintage will save you money and bring something with a story already to tell into your home to add your own story and memories to it.

I have the most incredible French farmhouse table, which I bought for £100 from Facebook Marketplace. I love it, also being vintage, I find I’m less precious about using it as there are marks and dents already, which add to the appeal.

Every table I’ve chosen below fits between £30 and £500, proof that you can have a beautiful table that encourages connection without overspending.

The first thing I look for in a table to help people connect is size. It should be big enough for everyone who lives in the house and the guests who show up often. Extending tables are brilliant if you’re short on space, but if you have the space and prefer a fixed table, go for one that’s over two metres long, as it won’t feel too big when just two to four people are eating, yet it can comfortably fit eight when needed.

Round tables are my favourite for connection. Everyone can see each other’s faces, eye contact flows naturally, and no one is left out of the conversation. It’s much nicer than when one end of the table is laughing and the other can’t quite hear what’s so funny.

Oval tables like this beautiful extending Ercol elm ‘D’ end dining table mean no one gets a corner if you have to squeeze extra guests on, and eye contact is achievable for everyone a little easier than a rectangular shape. The starting bid is £25, and the estimated price it will go for is £30-£50. Length is 214cm and comes with a set of eight ladder-back chairs. Absolute bargain.

I’d update the chair pads, they’d look incredible re-upholstered in Lapaz Fabric by Christopher Farr Cloth in denim, for a contemporary twist to a traditional look. I find that a darker fabric in a busy pattern is very forgiving for food spills. Always choose a fabric suitable for reupholstery.

I love a farmhouse table, and this large oak dining table has so much character. Gorgeous turned legs, and generous proportions, 212 cm L x 96 W cm. Estimate £80 - £120.

I’d take advantage of the drawers and put a pack of cards, pen, pad and a bell or dinger as we call it. Or any other small games that could be used after dinner with family or friends.

I’m a fan of Ginger Fox games; this is on our Christmas list. If you have teenagers, their card games are a bit cheekier and fun, so they don’t feel silly playing what are essentially old-school games like snap and old maid.

I love the detail on this set of six 19th-century mahogany dining chairs, which would work well with the farmhouse table. Four side chairs and a pair of carvers. Estimate £60 - £80.

Adding seat pads and back cushions would make them more comfortable to encourage longer dinner time chats. Any of these bold and stunning designs from Ottoline would work beautifully. Their patterns have a vintage feel with a contemporary edge. These are my favourites:

This Knoll round dining table with arabescato marble top on the iconic tulip base is such a find. The 120cm diameter top does have slight marks, but so worth the £300-£500 guide price compared to brand new, which retails for around £4,810.00 from heals.com

I’d add these mid-century German Pagholz stacking chairs by ELMAR FLOTÖTTO. Model 6.5118/3. The wood adds a lovely contrast against the white marble. Estimate £200 - £300. Again, add seat pads!

If you don’t have the space for a large dining table but need the extra table space for guests, this mid-century McIntosh 122cm round teak extending dining table is a great option. Together with four chairs, is a really affordable option, as the estimate is £200 - £400.

Liberty’s stunning patterns would update the chairs perfectly to create a Soho Home vibe.

Take a look at this Victorian oak extending dining table. With five leaves, it can extend from 188cm to an incredible 422cm! It comes with a fifth leg, and the winding mechanism makes extending easier. The estimate is £500 - £700. That’s a lot of guests you can fit around. What do you think, 14, 16? You probably won’t be able to hear all the conversations, but it would definitely encourage lots of connections.

If you have an extending table but not the space to keep the extra chairs needed, these FRÖSVI £30 fold-away chairs from IKEA are genius. They come in black or white and are padded. Having these to hand to whip out will make your guests feel expected and welcome. Far more comfortable than your standard folding chair.

I love scouring auction sites for antique finds. The prices are often incredible, as you’d struggle to buy new pieces any cheaper. Vintage adds character to your home, is much better made than mass-produced items, and it keeps them out of landfill. Ideally, they stay with you for years, gaining new stories that can be passed down to younger generations.

I use www.easyliveauction.com, which lets you set automatic bids. If you enjoy a bit of pressure, you can bid live too. I usually do this only for pieces I really want, and happy to stretch my budget a little. Don’t forget to factor in any extra fees.

If you’re on the lookout for a dining table, don’t just think about how it looks; consider how easy conversation would flow around it, whether it’s comfortable to sit at for a while, and if everyone can see each other’s faces. I hope this gave you a little inspiration. After all, it’s not just a table, it’s where memories are made. x

But quite a few of my projects come from clients who get in touch after the building dust has settled. The expense, the months of disruption endured only to deliver something that doesn't feel quite right, and they can't put their finger on why.

When I'm called in as an SOS, I've learned to bite my tongue. The questionable choices have already been made, and there's no point upsetting anyone. Renovating is difficult and stressful, and they don't need me rocking up, pointing out the mistakes. So I concentrate on what I can do, turn a difficult space into something usable and beautiful.

Over the years, I’ve noticed some common mistakes which I hope sharing helps:

1. They hadn't worked out their why. Understanding your motivation for the extension will be your guide throughout the whole project and make everything run smoother. Why are you extending? Because you think you should? Because the neighbours did? To add value?

   Ideally, extending a home is to improve how you actually live. “Why?” is the most important question, and being honest with yourself changes everything that follows.

2. They created more room than they needed. More room isn’t always better. I’ve seen extensions that solved one problem by creating another, a beautiful new living space that made the old one redundant, leaving the house feeling unbalanced and the owners wondering why it doesn’t quite work.

   Think about the whole house, not just the new part.

3. They extended as big as they could, regardless of whether it looked or felt right. It’s tempting to make your home as big as you can, but sitting in big, cavernous rooms doesn’t always feel that nice. Make sure the proportions will feel good.

4. They didn’t consider what they would see. Both inside and out. Where are the windows? What do you see from the sofa, from the kitchen, from the garden? I’ve seen plenty of windows facing fences and bins.

5. Furniture and how the room gets used were an afterthought. The room looks awkward and doesn’t function well. This is where so many rooms go wrong. The layout looks fine on paper, but in real life, can you see the TV from where you’ll sit? Can you have a conversation without shouting across the room?

6. Connection and sightlines weren’t planned. A good extension should bring people together, not create obstacles between them. If the kitchen, dining area, and seating are placed without thinking about how people move, talk and interact, the room can feel oddly disconnected even when everyone's in it.

7. Their budget wasn’t quite enough. This one is painful to witness. A family who stretched their budget to the limit, only to find they couldn't quite finish the job, living for months (sometimes longer) in a half-built home, waiting to afford the final pieces.

8. The room has no clear purpose. It looks lovely. But no one’s quite sure what it’s for. So no one really uses it. A room without a clear purpose, even a flexible one, tends to be avoided. Think about how you’ll genuinely use the space before you design it, not after.

9. They let their builder make the decisions. Builders are brilliant at building. They are not interior designers, and they are not you. If you leave any detail for the builder to decide, you'll end up with a room built for their convenience and to save money. Stay involved. Ask questions. Make decisions.

10. They let the electrician do the lighting plan. I say this with great respect for electricians, but most will default to what they know: numerous spotlights and sockets not always in the right place. Think about how you’ll use the space at different times of day. Do an imaginary run-through: cooking a meal, watching TV, entertaining, and reading. What lights and sockets will you need, and where? The wrong lighting and sockets in the wrong place can make or ruin a room. Give it the time it deserves.

If you’re thinking of extending, my advice is simple:

• Always work out your why. Be honest, is it to improve your life, to impress, or to raise your property value?

• Are there any rooms in the house currently that could work harder for you?

• Imagine how you’ll move through your new space. When sitting in it, what will you see and how will it feel? This will help you get a sense of whether it’ll work or not.

• Be honest with your budget. The stress of financial strain during or after the build might not be worth it. Always have a realistic contingency plan.

• Consider how you'll interact with the people you live with in the space, or how it will feel to spend time alone there. Will it work for how you need to use your home?

Extending our homes should improve our lives, and I always feel like a mood hoover when I give my advice, but it’s only because I’ve seen what happens when people skip the honest bit. Being honest and getting it right early on makes everything else so much easier and saves a lot of regret later.

Thank you for reading!

If you’d like to support my work, rather than ask you to buy me a coffee … also, I don’t drink coffee! I hoped my guide: 5 Steps To Choosing Paint Colours would be more fun and helpful for you.

Please subscribe if you’d like to read more from me, and it’s free to share.

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That’s eleven mistakes. If I’m being completely honest with myself, one of the two that remain in my possession isn’t quite right either, especially if I apply my newfound logic to sofa choosing.

That’s twelve wrong sofas, twelve either not quite right, or damn uncomfortable sofas.

Within those thirteen, I made two expensive mistakes. One was the B&B Italia Charles sofa, and the other an Ercol Studio Couch.

I had lusted after The B&B Italia sofa for years; it retails for around £6000, and I was over the moon when I could finally afford it, along with its matching bench. I lived in a mid-century bungalow at the time, and it looked perfect, but, sadly, no one sat on it… for long anyway.

It was so uncomfortable with its low back and slim seat pad. I had envisaged snuggling with my kids, doing story time and watching movies, but instead we all migrated to the floor to sit on the kids’ £30 hot pink bean bags.

We lived with that beautiful yet ignored sofa for four uncomfortable years before I sold it on eBay to a very pleased young couple who couldn’t believe their luck. I felt bad for selling them such a dud.

B&B Italia Charles sofa

I did replace the B&B Italia sofa with a very comfy family-friendly movie-watching sofa, which we all loved sitting on together, equally fabulous when no one was around, as you could completely sprawl out, utter bliss.

I obviously hadn’t learnt my lesson, though, as quite soon after I bought the Ercol Studio Couch for the kitchen. Once again, I’d coveted this for sooooo long, and I’m not sure if I ever sat on it before I bought it, to be honest, I didn’t care as I really wanted it.

I wish I had cared a little more, as you really couldn’t get comfy on it. It was definitely a sofa to perch on rather than somewhere comfy for the kids to sit while I cooked their dinner. I guess the clue was in the name, hence why it’s not called the Kids Couch.

When we moved house, I sold it to the new owners as she too thought it looked gorgeous.

Ercol Studio Couch in my previous kitchen

There are many reasons why my twelve purchases have been dubious. But after scrutinising each purchase, then resale or give away of each wrong sofa, I started to understand where I’d gone wrong.

Each mistake had the same repeating pattern. I was buying the wrong type of sofa for how I needed to use it. My focus was all wrong: appearance, price or convenience. I never worked out my ‘why’. Therefore, I could never solve my problem. If I’d just asked myself before each purchase, “How do I want to use the sofa?”, such a simple question, but it might have saved me time, stress and money.

Along with the annoying things that buying the wrong sofa can bring, backaches, the expense of replacing, and being annoyingly difficult to get rid of. I’d missed moments of togetherness. Family and friends who’d sloped off as they couldn’t find an easy, comfortable way to sit and chat, or watch TV, leaving the conversation or moment. The opposite of what the sofa was meant to do.

Once I’d landed on why all my twelve sofas were wrong. I realised how much power a good sofa has. For me, it’s way more than a piece of furniture. The right sofa can create moments of connection, love, belonging and fun. The right sofa can enhance your relationships. The wrong one, though, can slowly quash those chances for togetherness, those easy moments to help us feel closer.

I always encourage myself and my clients to buy what they love, ignoring trends and outside influences as much as their conscious mind will allow. But the sofa? I now tackle this one differently. There aren’t many things in a home that I put rules on, and yes, you should love it, but checking you understand your ‘why" and some practical boxes ticked before you buy one will save you the pain of a wrong sofa.

I thought I’d share how I choose my sofas, in case it helps you too. Buying a new sofa should be fun and easy, but it can get surprisingly difficult and heated if more than one party is involved. I’ve seen people give up and settle on something they can both tolerate but neither actually likes, or, like me, buy a sofa because it looks good or is convenient. This is never a good idea, as choosing one based on appearance or ease alone will always cause trouble later.

So, here’s my guide to add a bit of logic to your sofa decision-making and help narrow the search. All with the hope you’ll have a little more patience and enthusiasm left for what should be the fun part: colour and fabric.

1. The most important question: How do you want to use your sofa?

• Do you want to snuggle with a blanket, an animal or another human?

• Would you like a sofa that allows for easy chatting with friends, where you can comfortably move your body, to laugh, or maybe reach out and stroke an arm in response to their conversation, without being too slumped and horizontal?

• Or a sofa with a perfect seating position, where you can read or sit quietly and your body feels completely supported?

Sometimes, we need a sofa to do all these things. If you do, you can add the relevant tips to your shopping list. It also might help you work out what’s most important to you.

To help, I break sofa usage down further into how it will feel sitting on it and the kind of connection you can achieve:

Snuggling - Slouched and relaxed, perfect for movie and TV watching…and power naps. You’ll sit lower to the floor with a deep seat to fall back into.

I call this a committal sofa, as once you’re in, you’re staying.

Relationship bonus: Great for your cuddling, being together for longer periods, and sharing moments.

A snuggling sofa - Song Range by Maker & Son

Chatting - Excellent seating position for chatting to family and friends, maybe with a drink in hand. You definitely won’t fall asleep or feel awkwardly squished to the next person. You might teeter on the edge, so you can chat with your friend; a shallower seat depth is ideal.

I call this type of sofa an intermediate or non-committal sofa, as it’s used before moving to the main attraction.

Relationship bonus: Great for socialising and easy conversation, you will be able to give your full attention and receive it.

A perching sofa - Tiffany Sofa by Love Your Home

Supported - This sofa is all about being able to sit in a comfortable upright position with both feet on the floor. Perfect for using a laptop, reading, knitting, or quietly watching TV. A medium seat depth with a higher upholstered back will make you feel supported.

Relationship bonus: A perfect sofa that allows togetherness while carrying out a solo task. Great for close relationships as well as yourself, a bit of self-care, as it supports your hobbies and your back.

Nomeko Sofa by Oka

2. How many people will use the sofa?

Make sure the sofa can accommodate everyone who lives in the home. When someone feels expected, that they are included and belong, they’re more likely to show up and sit with you; otherwise, the people you want to spend time with will disappear.

If space is tight, you might need to consider buying two sofas, or invest in decent floor cushions, beanbags or footstools that can double up as extra seating. Someone might not always want to join you, but the aim is for everyone to have a place to sit and feel welcomed, for when they do.

If someone doesn’t like the crowding of the sofa, a window seat or a mindfully placed armchair can still allow togetherness.

3. Dimensions and details:

Approximate guide for proportions and comfort levels based on your preferred usage type:

4. Types of filling:

1. Snuggling - Feather/Down  is the softest filling where you’ll sink into, like a cloud. It will need reshaping to get back to its intended shape.

2. Chatting - Foam  is firmer and will retain its shape, so you won’t sink in, perfect for perching.

3. Supported - Combination , a foam core with a feather outer wrap. Supportive yet comfy and neater looking, as the cushions won’t need so much plumping. Ideally, seat cushions only and no back cushions.

5. Sofa back height:

• Snuggling - Around 65-75cm is a good height to rest your head if slouching down, but you might want higher, depending on your desired head/seating position.

• Chatting - To avoid the arms or back of the sofa restricting your view while talking to others in the room, the ideal back height would be around 20-30cm higher than the seat height.

• Supported - To sit upright and to have your whole back supported around 90cm is perfect.

Things to consider:

• Arms - Soft and rounded, or firm and squared? Do you rest your head or a drink on them?

• Seat cushions - One long pad or several? Will sitting on the gap between cushions cause arguments?

• Covers - Removable or fixed. Removable has the benefit of being easy to clean, but has a more relaxed vibe than fixed.

• Fabric - Order as many as you need to feel confident. Test them. Rub them, spill food and drink on them, basically treat them like a toddler with snacks.

• Colour - Place the fabric swatch against the floor and wall to check it’ll sit nicely next to them. Also, against any other colours or patterns already in the room.

• Size - Measure everything. Check that the sofa can fit into the home through any narrow hallways, stairways or doorways, as well as the intended room. Look out for radiators that might get in the way.

• Price - Ideally, buy the best you can afford, not just the most expensive. If the sofa you really want is out of your budget, I’d suggest scouring eBay or FB Marketplace for a second-hand one, or look on eBay for seconds/returns stores. Check whether the store you like has an outlet; for example, Oka has three outlet stores, Bicester, Marlow and Godstone. A day trip out to their factory or outlet store could well be worth a visit.

• The obvious one, sit on it. Always try to sit on the sofa before you buy, which I know isn’t always easy, as not all stores have a showroom to visit, but doing a sit, lie, and slouch test first will help your decision. If you can’t sit on it, make sure the company has an uncomplicated returns policy. Try not to buy a sofa just because it looks good; what can look like the sofa of dreams can quite quickly turn into a nightmare.

Brands I use and recommend:

• Maker and Son

• Sofas and Stuff

• Recoire

• Rowen & Wren

• Oka

• Neptune

• Loaf

• Love Your Home

• Sofa.com

Choose your sofa wisely, be clear on how you want to use it and what you need to look out for.

We all need to feel we belong, are loved, and have meaningful connections. The right sofa has the potential to create those opportunities where we can give and receive attention. It might only be a sofa, but it holds a deeper power.

Thank you for reading. I’ll be writing more on this topic as there’s lots to cover. Subscribe to get new posts so you don’t miss out.

Every bit of support you give; likes, comments, shares, or you could even buy me a coffee, means the world to me.

Take care,

Claire

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