Interior Designer Homes: Behind Closed Doors

Ever wondered what interior designers’ homes really look like when the photoshoots are over and the cushions aren’t karate-chopped within an inch of their lives? Spoiler alert: they’re not always pristine, but they are full of quirks, stories and the odd guilty-pleasure purchase (yes, even designers have an IKEA moment now and then — my Billy bookcase can vouch for that).

Personal Style

Designer homes don’t feel like showrooms — at least, not the ones worth living in. They’re layered with personality: the latest “must-have” lamp might sit right next to a battered vintage chair from your grandmother’s house (I have mine and couldn’t imagine my home without it). I also have a little antique table in my office that I stumbled across while shopping for a client years ago — the kind of thing you just know you’ll regret leaving behind if you don’t grab it.

Attention to Detail

Designers are the people who will move a lamp two inches to the left because “the scale feels off.” Guilty. I’ve been hunting for bedside lamps for weeks now because the scale, shape, and vibe have to be just right. It’s a bit like icing a cake — the decoration only works if the sponge is perfect underneath. (Yes, cake analogies pop up a lot when I’m designing… or maybe when I’m hungry).

Functionality Meets Beauty

Our homes are lived-in, not museums. There might be muddy boots in the hallway, kids’ rugby kits drying somewhere inappropriate, and stacks of books I absolutely will read one day. But even with the chaos of real life, designers can’t resist weaving in beauty — a vase in the perfect spot, a paint colour that makes the room glow, or a sofa that’s equally good for collapsing on with a glass of wine as it is for impressing guests.

Creative Freedom

At home, we let ourselves off the leash. You might see bolder colours, more daring furniture, or statement art that we’d hesitate to suggest to a client on the first meeting. It’s our chance to play, experiment, and yes — sometimes make mistakes (there’s a bright orange cushion in my loft that didn’t survive).

Looking inside designers’ homes is a reminder that style isn’t about following rules or sticking to one look forever. It evolves. It’s about mixing old with new, honouring the pieces that mean something to you, and trusting your instincts. Comfort should matter just as much as beauty.

At Haysey Design and Consultancy, we believe every home should tell a story — and if that story includes your grandmother’s favourite chair, a flea market find, and a trusty IKEA bookshelf, then so be it. That’s what makes it yours.