ForLook Interior Design

As I already mentioned in the article about designing a successful interior, your home should reflect who you are, what you like and how you live. This doesn’t mean that you should go wild and create something totally weird or fantasy-driven. This would not achieve balance, which is the most important component of a well-designed interior.

TV programmes & magazines have made us de-clutter and de-personalise where we live to such extent that it no longer feels like home. More often than not when I enter recently remodelled interiors, I see the right gadgets, trendy deco and furnishing - yet the space feels soul-less, cold and de-humanised. There are no clues about the inhabitants, their lifestyle, their memories, their individuality, their taste… I could be in a hotel, a showroom or anybody else’s home anywhere in the world. They are just not successful designs..

Remodelling your home should come from within. Having analysed the space (which gives you certain boundaries) it’s now time to focus on yourself. By now you should have collected many images and samples that you like. If you haven’t, do so, and put them into a scrapbook randomly. Then think about your desires - things you always wanted; places you dreamt of; spaces that felt good when you were in them. These  can be recreated -  not by blatantly copying them but by subtly adding elements of them layer by layer as a reminder or connecting thread.

Then think about colours, shapes, textures, materials you like - put samples of these into your scrapbook. Try to get real samples, not just images of them - photos don’t really work, as they cannot show depths & tones, nor can they reveal the sensuality of materials and textures.

Then it’s time to become a bit more practical and analyse your lifestyle. Write down the answers in your notebook to these questions:

• Do you live alone?
• Do you have kids?
• Do you have pets?
• Do you work from home?
• Do you work late hours?
• Do you eat out? How often?
• Do you cook? Do you like cooking?
• How many hours per day do you watch telly?
• Where do you like watching telly - sofa, bed, bath, kitchen?
• Do you entertain? How often?
• How often do you have guests to stay?
• Do you exercise in your home?
• Are you a bath or shower person?
• How many hours do you spend in the bathroom?
• Where do you dress?
• What is your morning routine?
• What is your evening routine?
• What is your daily routine (if you’re at home all day)?
• Who cleans your home and how often?
• Do you like cleaning?
• Are you a clean or messy person (at home)?
• Are you disciplined or lazy?
• Are you a now, yesterday or tomorrow person? 
• Are you organised in your home life?
• Do you have precious items or furniture?
• Are you clumsy?
• Do you travel?
• What are you hobbies?
• What makes you relax?

There are many other personal factors that could influence the design of your home. Consider these and write them down. If you live with someone or have a family, also analyse each other person’s way of living and write these down. Then monitor a normal day - take notes and pictures. You’ll be surprised how many things you’ll find out about people using spaces differently! You’re doing this because your home should reflect who you are and because the design should fit around the way you inhabit the space. For example, there is no point in designing a super-duper kitchen if you don’t cook; or if you really like chilling out in the bathroom, more energy should be spent on creating a sanctuary there; or if you don’t like cleaning, think about hiding things in cabinets.

The most important factor is to forget interiors you’ve seen on TV and in magazines - this is your space; your life. It’s about you and your family - you don’t want to create a dull space with no personality however trendy it may be. But obviously, don’t go overboard and come up with some really OTT concept!

It should now be clear in your mind what you want, so you’re ready to put everything together and to style your space.