5 things interior designers have in their homes and wouldn't be without

1. Layered Lighting That Works

Lighting can totally change the feel of a room — not just how it looks, but how you live in it. In our own living room, we rarely use the overhead lights. Instead, we rely on a mix of mini downlighters, soft shelf lighting and a few candles for a calm evening glow. When we’re hosting, I’ll switch on the wall lights too for added ambiance. And on those grey ironing days (because yes, real life happens here), it’s all lights blazing!

Quick win: Try switching off your ceiling lights tonight and use just your table lamps or wall lights. You’ll notice the difference immediately — promise.

2. Texture, Texture, Texture

Even in neutral spaces, layering texture is what makes a room feel finished.

As designers, we love to mix cottons, rattans, linens with richer textures like suede feeling fabrics, weaves, velvets and wools with warm woods, metal finishes and a few off the shelf finds, you know the sort, you’re rushing around for something specific and something just grabs you. It brings richness and depth, even when the colour palette is simple.

You’ll rarely find an interior designer’s home that feels flat or one-note. Even in a neutral palette, it’s the interplay of texture that makes everything feel considered and complete.

Quick win: Add a textured throw to your sofa, swap a cushion cover, or try a woven lampshade — small touches, big impact.

3. Beautiful, Thoughtful Storage

We’ve got bespoke storage in our living room, and honestly? It’s a game changer. It keeps everything looking tidy and calm, but it’s also flexible. I can choose whether the TV is the focal point or not — and there’s always space for everyone to sit comfortably.

Good storage is one of those things you don’t always notice, until it’s missing. Every designer knows that clutter-free spaces allow furniture and styling to breathe, and nothing disrupts a calm interior faster than piles of ‘stuff’.

In our own homes, we use a mix of closed and open storage: beautifully built-in cupboards,

floating shelves, baskets and hidden drawers. The key is making storage both functional and design-led – no bulky units, no wasted corners.

Quick win: Baskets with lids, floating shelves, or even a painted IKEA unit can do wonders. The secret? Keep it intentional, and make it blend with your space.

Don’t let it shout as you enter the door and choose your focal points (eg stunning art work accentuated with great lighting, a striking piece of furniture like a sideboard or coffee table, an impact-fully patterned rug or a statement sofa – not both at the same time unless you are a big fan of the busier look!)

4. Something with Soul

A home should reflect the people who live there. That’s why we always include pieces with story or soul. It might be a vintage armchair, a ceramic bowl picked up on holiday, or artwork that’s been passed down through family.

These kinds of details add warmth, authenticity and individuality to a space – and they’re often the first things guests ask about.

In our own homes, they’re the pieces that mean the most. We do love a bit of history or story — not everything needs to be new.

In my own home, I have a few inherited pieces (a lovely frame, an ornament from my Grandmother and some travel finds that bring real character like my African elephant stack) . It might not all match, but it matters. I also love a book, so I have a few of my most special on my coffee table and on some of my shelves.

Quick win: Style your shelves with books you love, ceramics from your travels, or that slightly wonky vase your child made — anything that makes you smile and lifts you emotionally.

5. A Signature Scent

I talk about this a lot, but it really does make a difference. Scent finishes a room like nothing else. Right now I’ve got a soft green fig candle in the hallway, a calming oil diffuser in the bedroom and herbs by the kitchen sink. I also have a wonderful candle by Octo, called Golden Hour in the living room (and full disclosure – in my office too) which I light at night and smells wonderful.

It’s the finishing touch most people forget, but every interior designer swears by it.

We often match scent to space: something grounding in a bedroom, something energising in an office, something soft and inviting in a hallway or snug. It’s subtle but powerful, and no home is complete without it.

Quick win: Choose one scent you love and use it consistently in one space — it instantly elevates the feel of the room.

Bringing It All Together

You don’t need a full redesign to make your home feel better. Sometimes it’s just a few well-chosen tweaks — a new lamp, a better shelf, a calmer palette, or simply lighting the room differently — to shift how it feels to live there.