Uncategorised - Emma Downie Interiors

Spruce up your guest room for Christmas

Let’s face it our spare rooms are often the last thing on our minds in the hectic run up to Christmas. Once you’ve sorted the presents, decorations and all that food, there’s little time or energy for preparing for overnight guests. Your spare room might double up as an office-come-dumping ground all year round but don’t panic! This simple checklist will turn it into a welcoming retreat with very minimal effort. Your visitors are sure to appreciate the thought you’ve put in and they might even offer to help with some of the chores in return!

Cosy linens

A good night’s sleep is one of the best gifts you can give your guests. Instead of using a heavy duvet that leaves no room for adjustment, opt for a mid-weight duvet and layer it with soft throws and blankets. This gives your guests the option to add or remove layers depending on how warm they like to sleep.

Crisp white bedlinen always looks fresh and inviting, while layering in textured throws and decorative cushions brings warmth and personality.

And don’t forget the towels. Leave out a fluffy bath sheet and hand towel for each guest, ideally rolled or folded neatly on the bed or a chair.

Bedside tables

A bedside table is one of those little luxuries guests really appreciate, but is often overlooked —somewhere to rest their watch, a glass of water, or their current read. If you don’t already have them, you can often find vintage or second-hand tables at charity or salvage shops, and give them a new lease of life with a coat of paint or new handles.

Short on space? Folding tray tables or small stools can work beautifully and be tucked away when not in use. Just be sure to include a coaster, a pretty dish for jewellery and a box of tissues as a finishing touch.

Showing light sources for dressing table

Lighting options

Lighting can completely transform a room and at Christmas, soft, layered lighting adds instant magic. Avoid relying on just one overhead bulb. Instead, include matching bedside lamps for a soft glow and symmetry, and add a brighter task light if space allows.

If you can, position a lamp near a mirror or provide a small makeup mirror with good lighting. Your guests will love having the option to get ready in their own space, and it helps ease pressure on the bathroom too!

A cosy rug

If your guest room has hardwood floors, a soft rug adds comfort underfoot and enhances the room’s warmth. Choose one that complements your color scheme and is large enough to partially slide under the bed – this anchors the furniture and creates a more polished, intentional look.

Image credit – Cate Griffing

Rug in guest bedroom with green and rust accents

A mirror

A mirror is a must in any guest room, both for practical reasons and to enhance the space. A well-placed mirror reflects natural or artificial light, making the room feel brighter and more spacious—especially helpful in smaller or north-facing rooms.

If you have wall space, consider hanging an oversized mirror as a statement piece. Alternatively, a freestanding mirror or one mounted behind a door can still offer functionality without taking up much room.

Image credit – Balmoral Interiors

Thoughtful extras

A pine scented diffuser, a white poinsettia plant and a pamper basket filled with hand cream, chocolates and pillow spray really go the extra mile. Don’t forget the coathangers – if there’s no wardrobe space then an over the door hanging rack is useful for visitors to hang their party clothes on.

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Bold & beautiful new-build transformation

It was a complete joy to work with Jen & Nic recently on turning their brand new build with white rooms into a home with real personality and colour which was a true reflection of them. I re-designed three rooms for them – their kitchen/diner/snug, their living room and home office.

From the first consultation I established they loved pops of colour and bold patterns such as botanicals and abstracts. They are both drawn to blues, greens and pinks and loved the vibrant colours of Morocco when they travelled there. As with many clients, they had some existing furniture to work around.

Kitchen / diner / snug

I started with the all-important hub of the home – the kitchen/family room. The deep green kitchen set the tone for the rest of the room which was all white (see before pic). The only item staying was an inherited dining table.

The kitchen was balanced by the deep green sofa in the snug opposite and this stunning monstera leaf wallpaper, to create a cosy and relaxing area. The rest of the walls and ceiling were drenched in the beautifully warm Julie’s Dream by Little Greene. These teal green dining chairs add further colour and softness, and are super comfortable.

Stunning full length curtains with blackout lining and a washable rug add warmth. The side tables were re-painted to tone in with the greens and cushions and plenty of house plants were added. Art is botanical and fun. Oak shelves add interest on the wall and display greeting cards. I chose these sculptural oak pendants from Ikea – influenced by Tom Raffield but at a fraction of the price – to fit within the clients’ budget.

Home office

Next, onto the home office which is a busy home-working hub for this family of five. I created a calmer scheme in here with sage green walls and the use of oak slat panels on two corners to add some texture and a shelf to display ornaments. There are a lot of botanical influences here too – in the blind, the art and the many house plants. So good for keeping a healthy working environment. The brown leather chairs add character and the sisal rug adds texture.

Calming home office with oak vertical panel

Living room

The couple wanted this first floor room to be a relaxing space away from the hustle and bustle of the downstairs family rooms. They had chosen these vibrant curtains already and these set the tone for the rest of the room.

We colour drenched all the walls in this gorgeous teal – Little Greene’s Tea with Florence. Although it is dark it is very soft and calming. This completely transformed the space and this south facing space can easily take a bold colour. A new luxurious corner sofa in the same colour stops this large piece of furniture overpowering the room and provides plenty of seating. Jen wanted to recover the wingback chair which was her father’s. A bold fuscia velvet colour was chosen to pick out the fuscia in the curtains. Nick wanted a cocktail cabinet and this black fluted one adds a bit of drama, with the brass mirror over. A blush pink rug softens the grey carpet which was already fitted when they moved in. The brass and black coffee table is another luxurious element. The abstract art keeps the room modern and brings all the colours together.

Living room before re design with white walls

It was such a pleasure to work with a couple who put their full trust in me. Jen & Nick are thrilled with their home and feel it truly reflects their personalities – and they tell me they could never in a million years have created this by themselves.

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How to brighten a dark hallway

Hallways often get overlooked in home design and often lack natural light making them feel gloomy and uninviting. As the gateway to your home they are important to create a good first impression for your and your guests. With a few clever decorating tricks, you can completely transform them into a warm, welcoming and stylish space.

Choose light, reflective colours

One of the easiest ways to brighten a dark hallway is to repaint the walls. Opt for light, warm neutral tones like warm white, stones or even pale pastels . These colours reflect more light and make the space feel more open. If you’re a colour lover then get your fix with painting the stairs or architrave and skirtings in your favourite bold colour – ideally a colour used elsewhere in your home. This adds interest without overpowering the space.

TIP:

Use paint with a satin finish to bounce light around the hallway more effectively – these are often more hardwearing so better withstand bumps and scuffs.

Add architectural details

If you’re up for a more involved update, architectural elements can add charm and character:

Install panelling on the bottom half of the walls. There are all sorts of styles – from traditional wainscotting to modern vertical slat panels. Choose what best suits your home. Consider painting them in a darker colour and leave the top of the wall in your neutral. This breaks up the monotony of a dark corridor and elevates the overall look.

Use mirrors strategically

Mirrors are your best friend in a dark hallway. They reflect both natural and artificial light, instantly creating a brighter and more spacious feeling. And provide that all important spot to check your make up before you leave the house!

I like to put them on the walls of narrow hallways to make them seem wider. Placed opposite any natural light you have, they will reflect the light.

Improve the lighting

Relying on one overhead bulb isn’t enough in a dark hallway. Layer your lighting to reduce shadows and boost brightness:

Install wall lights or picture lights for added dimension. If you don’t have the wiring there are now several battery powered ones on the market.

Add a table lamp on your console table for a welcoming puddle of light and ideally a floor lamp too to brighten up a gloomy corner.

If you have a deep stairwell then a statement hanging pendant or chandelier can look stunning as well as providing much needed light.

I always choose warm white bulbs for a welcoming glow.

Use eyecatching artwork

Hang artwork with light or vibrant tones to keep the space from feeling heavy. Think abstracts with white space, coastal or nature scenes or photography. Consider frames in the same colour as your woodwork.

Image credit – Kitty McCall

Consider a runner or rug

A light-coloured hallway runner can make the floor feel brighter and more inviting. Choose patterns with whites, soft neutrals, or subtle colour to add visual interest without overwhelming the space.

Look for low-pile, washable options that are hallway-traffic friendly.

TIP: If they are on a hard floor you will need to add some rug grips to stop them slipping.

Add some greenery

Even just one or two plants can breathe life into a dark hallway. Choose low-light plants like ferns, snake plants or peace lilies.

Place them on a small console table, a floating shelf, or a plant stand to add vibrancy and texture.

I am not a fan of faux plants but you can sort of get away with them in a darker space if living ones really don’t survive here.

Keep clutter to a minimum

A cluttered hallway feels even darker and smaller and is the first thing you focus on as you enter. Invest in some hallway storage to suit the space and your family. For example wall mounted shelves make use of wall space if you have the depth. Hooks above a shoe bench are very useful. For a narrow hallway slimline shoe cabinets are perfect. Can you make better use of your under stairs storage? Investing in bespoke pull out cupboards with space for all the family’s clothes and shoes can be a game changer for a functional hallway.

Very few people have space for all their outdoor wear – I really recommend a changeover each season. Pack the bulky winter wear in the loft in spring and vice versa as it starts getting cooler. This way it is far easier to find things!

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Designing the perfect teen bedroom

Designing a bedroom for a young teen is a unique opportunity to create a space that reflects their personality, supports their growing independence, and evolves with them over the years. It’s not just a place to sleep—it’s where they’ll study, relax, hang out with friends, and express themselves. Here’s how to create a teen bedroom that’s both stylish and practical, with room to grow.

Start with their Personality and Interests

The most important part of designing a teen’s bedroom is making it theirs. Talk to your teen about what they love—colours, hobbies, music, or favorite themes—and use that as the foundation. Whether they’re into sports, fashion, gaming, or art, their room should be a reflection of their identity. This is essentially what us interior designers do during our design consultations and I followed this same process when I “interviewed” my 11 year old son before I started to design his room. It made him feel part of the process and he loves and respects his room more because of it. This also teaches them about design, decision making and budgeting.

Tip:

Create a vision board together with colours, textures, and inspirations from Pinterest, Instagram and magazines.

Layout is key

Teen bedrooms need to work hard. Plan the space on paper before you buy anything new.

Measure the room accurately and draw a scaled floor plan. Then create hand drawn cut outs of the furniture that you can move around until you have the optimum layout. Having zones for sleeping, studying, relaxing and storing their stuff is really important.

Bed choices

The bed is often the focal point of a teen’s room – as they spend rather a lot of time in it! Go for the biggest bed that will fit in their room- whilst leaving enough space for storage and some floor space. This is especially important if you want it to be suitable when they are young adults. Think about a bed with storage underneath – or at least space for storage boxes. And don’t skimp on the mattress – invest in a good one.

Add cosy, layered bedding and plenty of cushions for that laid-back, lounge-worthy vibe that teens love. Don’t forget a bedside table for their alarm clock and bedside essentials.

Smart storage

A clutter-free room is essential for focus and relaxation – and whilst most teens won’t keep it this way, those with better storage will at least have a chance. Use multifunctional furniture like beds with drawers, ottomans with storage, wall-mounted shelves, tall wardrobes (making use of wall height) and drawers under desks for stationery.

A dedicated study space

Homework gets more serious in the teen years. If you can create a desk area that is both functional and inspiring then you’re doing well. Ideally a desk size of 140cm wide by 60cm deep should see them through some pretty serious studying. A comfortable desk chair is vital to prevent back ache. Task lighting will ensure they can see what they are doing and a cable organiser keeps all those messy wires neatly hidden under the desktop.

Make it fun with desk accessories in their favorite colours or themes.

Personal touches

It’s really important for your teen to feel this space is an extension of them – a sanctuary where they love to spend time. But that can be hard as they change so much through the teen years. The best way to personalise the space is through framed prints that can be changed up as their tastes change. Picture ledges are great for propping posters on without the commitment of banging hooks into the walls. My son LOVES his wooden LED Nanoleaf “smart” lights that move in time to music he’s playing. If he grows out of them they are easy to remove as they are stuck on the wall with adhesive. Bedlinen, throws or cushions in their favourite colours is an affordable way to put their stamp on the space.

As they grow, it’ll be easy to update the space without starting over.

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My 5 interior design secrets

These 5 interior design tricks for the trade are just what you need to take your room to the next level.

Layered lighting is everything

Designers use three types of lighting in most rooms:

Ambient: general lighting. Eg ceiling fixtures and recessed lights. These will be in use far more in kitchens and bathrooms than living rooms and bedrooms where you want to use more of the accent lighting. Overhead lighting is a good overall light but doesn’t create a cosy mood.
Task: functional lighting. Eg desk lamps, under-cabinet lighting. This is more crucial in kitchens, bathrooms and offices.
Accent: decorative lighting. Eg wall light, picture lights, statement floor and table lamps. This can be in any room of the house, layered with the other lighting, to create interesting pools of lights to highlight certain features.

Odd numbers create visual interest

Styling in groups of three or five for cushions, vases, or artwork, feels more natural and organic to the eye than even-numbered groupings, which can feel too perfect or forced, as life isn’t like that!

Choose the right size rug

Most people buy rugs that are too small. A rug should ideally go under all main furniture pieces, or at least the front legs, to make the space feel grounded and expansive. So ideally under the front legs of all the sofas in a room, with the coffee table and footstool sitting on the rug. It will be cosier and make the room seem better designed and “finished”.

Low height ceiling tricks

To make a room feel taller:

Use floor-to-ceiling curtains even if your windows aren’t that tall. And that means position the rail as high as you possibly can.
Install tall bookcases or vertical art to draw the eye upward.
If painting the walls a colour, then consider painting the skirting and any coving the same colour to give the illusion the walls are taller than they are, as you won’t focus on a break in the colour.

North-facing room solutions

For years many of us painted cold, north facing rooms in pale colours and even pure brilliant white. But did you know that the latter colour has a high proportion of blue in it and is therefore going to make your north facing room seem even colder?

It’s personal taste but I often advise my clients to embrace the dark and to colour drench these spaces in a rich, cocooning colour. Chocolate shades are really enveloping and cosy and a deep green or blue can bring real drama to a space. Choose your favourite deep tone and create some real atmosphere!

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Letting summer into your home

Summer is the perfect time to give your home a light, fresh update. As the days grow longer and brighter, your interiors can reflect the easy, breezy vibe of the season. Whether you’re aiming for a full seasonal makeover or just want to make a few small changes, here are some easy and stylish ways to refresh your home interiors for summer.

Pick lighter fabrics

Swap out heavy textiles like velvet, wool, or thick knits for breezier options such as cotton, linen, or gauze. This simple switch can instantly change the feel of a room. Think linen cushion covers, breezy curtains, and soft summer bedding to make your space feel cool and inviting. Put the bed and sofa blankets in storage and swap out that winter duvet for a summer weight.

Declutter & simplify

Summer is all about open space and easy living. Clear out visual clutter and streamline your decor. Tuck away darker or heavy accessories and create more breathing room on your shelves and surfaces. Less really is more when it comes to summer styling. From a practical perspective this makes summer cleaning easier – especially when windows are open and surfaces are more prone to dust and dirt.

Add seasonal colours

Pops of classic summer hues such as coral, turquoise, lemon yellow, and aqua are perfect choices for the season. A great place for this is in your kitchen or on your summer dining table. You could even try a new accent wall in one of these shades for an inexpensive style update that’s a real mood booster!

Image credit – Little Greene

Bring (more) nature in

I’m a strong advocate for house plants all year round but summer is certainly a time to introduce more cut greenery and florals when they are so abundant outside. Nothing is more cheery than a big bunch of pink peonies or even a spray of wildflowers.

Summer scents

Don’t forget about fragrance — it’s a powerful way to evoke the feeling of summer. My favourites are lighter scents like lemon, bergamot, jasmine and rose. I tend to stop using the candles inside and instead use more oil diffusers. A few strategic scent choices can instantly set the mood. However I use citronella candles outside whenever we eat to keep the bugs at bay!

Image credit – Entertaining Diva

Rearrange the layout

Sometimes, the best refresh is free. Try moving furniture around to improve the room’s flow and let in more natural light. A new layout can make your space feel totally transformed, giving it renewed energy for the season ahead.

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How to create a moodboard

How many of us start the redecoration process with choosing a new paint colour for their walls or buying a new accent chair on a whim without actually thinking about the room as a whole, the look we want to achieve and the problems we need to solve? We’ve all done it!

However there is a process to creating a room that you will be happy with and the first step for me is always creating a moodboard. Here I take you through how you do this and as a result develop a clear vision for your space, create a cohesive scheme and prevent costly mistakes. Even the creative process needs a plan!

Step 1: Define your vision

Before you start collecting images and materials for your moodboard, take some time to define the vision for your room. Consider the purpose of the space, your preferred style (modern, traditional, eclectic, etc.), and the mood you want to evoke (calm, vibrant, cosy, light, etc.). This clarity will guide your choices as you curate your moodboard.

Step 2: Gather inspiration

Now, it’s time to collect inspiration from various sources. Explore interior design magazines, interior shops, instagram and pinterest to find images that resonate with your vision. Look for pictures that showcase colours, patterns, textures, and furniture styles that align with your desired aesthetic. Don’t limit yourself to just interior design; consider art, fashion, and nature for additional inspiration. This forms your concept.

Step 3: Select a colour palette

I’m a colour lover so I adore this part! Colours play a significant role in setting the tone for a room. Identify the dominant colours in your inspirational images and choose a cohesive colour palette for your moodboard. Aim for a balanced combination of main colours and accent colours that reflect the mood and style you want to achieve in your space. Bear in mind the orientation and size of the room and whether you want to make it feel bright and airy or dark and cosy.

Step 4: Collect materials

One step on from the concept – now you can have fun gathering physical materials that represent the textures and finishes you envision for your room. This could include fabric swatches, paint samples, flooring samples, or even small keepsakes or door handles that you love. Having tangible materials on your moodboard allows you to better visualise the overall look and feel of your design. Many websites offer a few samples for free.

Step 5: Arrange & edit

Once you have a collection of images and materials, start arranging them on a board or a digital platform. Canva is a fantastic free online graphic design tool. Play with different compositions until you find a layout that makes you happy. Take note of the ratios of each colour when you turn your scheme into reality. Save or photograph your board.

Step 6: Turn it into reality!

Use the finalised moodboard as a roadmap for your room design. Refer to it when selecting furniture, paint colours, and accessories. The moodboard will serve as a visual guide, ensuring that every element contributes to the cohesive and inviting atmosphere you’ve envisioned.

Image credit = Oliveri Kitchens

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How to turn your conservatory into a welcoming & practical space

So many people have conservatories that they can’t use all year round and they just become a dumping ground for garden furniture or drying washing. I have some great tips on how to make the space useable and not just that storage room you have to step through to get to your garden!

Tip 1: Always start with a good clear out and declutter and consider which furniture to keep and which to upcyle to fit your new scheme. Be ruthless – if you’ve not used something for a whole year, you are unlikely to ever use it again. Remember though that someone else might want it. I giveaway items on my local Facebook pages for free and they nearly always get snapped up that same day, which me makes feel a lot better than going to the tip.

Tip 2: To stop the extremes of temperature you can fix solar film on the roof to stop the sun’s glare. Go one step further and fix some beautiful fabric drapes to the ceiling to give a cosy tented look. See what Sophie Robinson has done in her conservatory in the image below – maximalist but stunning! This also helps retain heat in winter. And blinds on the windows is another investment that will add to the cosiness.

Image: Sophie Robinson

Tip 3: Most conservatories have a low brick wall under the windows and bricks where they join the house. Painting these a colour that fits the palette of the room is a great idea – or for a more finished look plaster them first then repaint them.

And of course it doesn’t have to be a neutral colour. Pick out a key colour from your scheme. Remember with light flooded rooms – especially south facing – any paint is going to feel warmer as the red and yellow tones will be brought out. If you want to “cool” it down consider going for grey or blue based colours.

Image: Sophie Robinson

Tip 4: If your windows are white PVC then I have seen people totally transform them inside by painting them. Use a good primer then paint them in the same colour as the walls. Personally I’d choose a dark earthy neutral for this, to get away from the shiny white PVC look. If you’re feeling brave, go for a colour as Sophie has done in the previous image! But just remember if you tire of it, re-painting window frames is a much bigger job than repainting walls, so choose a colour you’ll love for a long time.

Tip 5: If you want to create a snug / lounge type space then arrange comfy chairs around a coffee table in the middle, rather than looking out into the garden, to make the space more sociable and to enhance the feeling that this is a room in its own right.

There’s nothing worse than a doctor’s waiting room feel where everyone is sat facing the same way!

Image: Westbury Garden Rooms

Tip 6: There are plenty of accessories that will cosy up your conservatory – a big rug that fills the space and feels warm underfoot and plenty of throws and cushions in different textures and patterns. These are the finishing touches that bring the accent colour and, of course, warmth into your scheme. Relatively speaking these can be picked up fairly cheaply from shops like TK Maxx, or why not re-purpose something from elsewhere in your home?

Tip 7: Finally don’t forget “layered” lighting – floor lamps, table lamps and even fairy lights hung from the high ceiling. They create different pools of light which make the space really inviting.

If you haven’t got enough electrical sockets, there are many more battery operated lamps on the market now. Unless you can afford to fit more sockets then this is a far better solution than unsightly extension cables.

And remember the candles at night – beautifully scented ones will really enhance the mood and feel of your welcoming “new” room.

Image: Westbury Garden Rooms

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Uplifting summer colour schemes

Are you scared of colour or just unsure how to use it? Perhaps you don’t know how much to use or how to mix it with other hues? Many of us play safe with neutral walls, but we could be missing out when colour can bring so much joy. With summer almost upon us now is the time to let a little more into your life. Below are five of my failsafe colour schemes, whatever your preference.

Mix blues with terracotta

Think refreshing, bright summery blues such as Little Greene’s Sky Blue or Benjamin Moore’s colour of the year Blue Nova, with hints of violet. Mid blues are an uplifting change from the darker blues we have seen around for a while. They compliment beautifully with terracotta shades. This scheme works well in a south facing living room – go bold and colour drench the walls, ceiling and paintwork in mid blue, for a totally immersive look, and bring in cushions and curtains in rusty orange.

Image credit – Malin Karlsson

Sunrise hues

For those in need of a big mood-booster, then bring pure joy to your home with sunshine yellow and apricot to provide warmth in north facing rooms. Check out Pantone’s colour of the year Peach Fuzz, a softly bright shade which will give you a big, welcoming hug.

Sage and pink

Greens are known to be nourishing and revitalising colours which bring the calming effect of nature into your home. Sage is an easy mid green, which has a beautiful softness about it. It pairs really well with soft pinks. This scheme lends itself to a bedroom as greens are restful colours and pink is nurturing. Sage is equally lovely on kitchen cabinets.

Image credit – Greenbank Interiors

Understated earthy tones

If you prefer something timeless, this is a really comforting look taking inspiration from the “quiet luxury” trend we are seeing. Out with the grey-based neutrals and in with warmer, yellow-based hues; think oatmeal, camel and toffee – with accents of black or gold used sparingly. This is a beautiful palette for a sophisticated master bedroom or grown up living room.

Image credit – Farrow & Ball

Blush pinks

I’m not talking sugary, Barbie style pink but softer, more “mature” shades. In fact, really they are becoming another neutral, and a much-needed antidote of peace and softness in our troubled world. For a really sophisticated take pair with accents of burgundy for a tonal colour scheme. This versatile hue looks beautiful anywhere – just be sure to choose yellow-based pinks for north facing rooms and cooler, paler pinks for south facing spaces.