It’s the ultimate interior design question: how should you decorate your home?
I’ve found myself reflecting on this recently while renovating my own ensuite shower room. Like so many people, I started where we all do—scrolling. Pinterest boards, glossy magazines, online shops, Instagram feeds, Facebook suggestions… and, of course, the ever-helpful algorithm offering up even more inspiration at every turn.
There is no shortage of ideas. In fact, the real challenge is not finding inspiration—it’s deciding what truly resonates.
Finding your direction
In the past, I’ve worked with wonderful local designers and businesses, and I still believe there’s immense value in doing so. But this time, I wanted to take a different approach. I wanted to trust my own instincts, create and build something that feels entirely personal.
And that led me to a simple but powerful conclusion:
decorate your home in a way that feels right to you.
Letting Go of “Safe” Choices
It sounds obvious, but in practice, it’s something many of us struggle with.
I often hear clients say things like:
“That wallpaper is too bold for me.”
“Isn’t that paint colour a bit too dark?”
“I love this fabric, but what if it dates quickly?”
And then comes the question that stops so many great ideas in their tracks:
“What about when I come to sell my house?”
Of course, there is a place for playing it safe. If you’re preparing a property for sale, it makes sense to appeal to a broader audience. Neutral tones and trend-led choices can help potential buyers imagine themselves in the space.
Designing for You
But your home—your home—is something entirely different.
It’s the place you’ve worked hard to buy. The place you maintain, care for, and return to every day. It should reflect your personality, your taste, and the things that bring you joy.
Choosing a bold wallpaper, a deep paint colour, or a fabric you simply love isn’t a risk—it’s an expression of who you are. And that’s what makes a house feel like a home.
One of the most enduring pieces of advice in design comes from William Morris, who said:
Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.
It’s a sentiment that feels just as relevant today.
A Home That Tells Your Story
So whether you’re redesigning a single room or reimagining your entire home, give yourself permission to choose what you truly love. In my case, an elegant relaxing bathroom combining my enduring love for reeded features and current lust for mini hexagon floor tiles.
Because the most beautiful homes aren’t the ones that follow every trend—
they’re the ones that tell a story. Yours.