Designing Homes That Hug You Back
There’s a certain chill that creeps in when you walk into a space that’s been styled to perfection but lacks soul. Pristine white walls, generic furniture, and a few obligatory accent pieces that feel more like props and certainly don’t give any personality. It’s the showroom aesthetic, and while it photographs well, it rarely feels like home. But homes should feel like a big warm hug. They should tell stories, spark curiosity, and cradle you in comfort. So let’s talk about how to create interiors that inspire, not just impress.
Start with Emotion
Before diving into colour palettes or furniture selections, ask yourself: How do I want this space to feel? Cozy? Energising? Grounding? That emotional anchor becomes your compass. If you like any design trends lean into them, but understand they will date, that is ok if you truely love the trend. It should take you back to a time and place that you thoroughly enjoyed. Don’t follow a trend to keep up with The Jones’s.
Embrace Texture and Imperfection
White walls act as a blank canvas that requires layers. Layering textures such as linen, velvet, jute, or wool, creates a tactile richness that invites touch.
Clay-based paints for a soft, earthy finish
Limewash or textured plaster to add depth and movement
Timber panelling or reclaimed wood for warmth and character
Colour That Breathes
Warm doesn’t mean only beige. Think ochre, rust, olive, dusty rose, and butter. These hues evoke nature, nostalgia, and nuance. Feature walls have gone out of trend and typically in 2025 designers love to colour drench a room, meaning colour on all walls and ceiling too.
Curate, Don’t Decorate
Skip the showroom sets. Instead look for pieces that are mismatched, they can have a common tread so it doesn’t look too eclectic, if thats not your thing.
Mix vintage finds with modern pieces
Display handmade ceramics, travel mementos, or heirloom textiles
Let your art be personal; photos, sketches, even your child’s drawings
A home should reflect you, not a catalogue.
Lighting That Loves You Back
Overhead lighting is practical, but it rarely flatters. Layer your lighting:
Table lamps with warm bulbs
Wall sconces for ambient glow
Candles or lanterns for flickering intimacy
Lighting sets the emotional tone, think of it as your home’s heartbeat. Please don’t let recessed downlights be your only light source, it’s such an unflattering type of glow. Warm light is 2700K-3000K, cool light is anything from 4000K-6000K- be aware of your globe types.
Designing a warm and inviting home isn’t about following rules, it’s about breaking them with purpose and letting your character shine through. It’s about choosing pieces that evoke stories, colours that stir emotion, and textures that beckon you to stay a while. Ready to begin your interior design journey, contact me to discuss further. 2025 is almost finished, so I’m looking forward to working with new clients in 2026.
Your Vision Crafted.
Jenni
