A philosophy I live and work by is…Everyone deserves good design, it is not a privilege but a human need. Great design brings joy everywhere.
Good interior design goes beyond just aesthetics. It involves thoughtful planning and consideration of various elements to create functional, visually pleasing and meaningful spaces that positively impact the lives of those who inhabit them.
The importance of good design can be seen at the highest level in urban planning, in a city with an infrastructure that serves it inhabitants and plenty of user friendly public spaces. On the most personal level good design is found in our homes, where we find comfort in our own personal sanctuary.
Most people don’t realise how unconsciously they are affected by their surroundings. A well-designed space will make you feel good. Your home, studio, or workspace should be a reflection of your lifestyle, supporting your functional needs while still making you happy.
Good Design At Home
Interior designers do more than make a space look good—they make it work. An interior designer has the skills to make the most of the available space, through effective space planning and smart storage solutions. They have the ability to ensure that all the elements within a space work cohesively together, pulling in your style preferences, along with your ensuring your functional needs are met. Their job is to bridge the gap between vision and reality, ensuring that every detail serves a purpose.
Whether it be a new colour scheme your home is craving, or a complete makeover for your well loved space, a well designed home has the simple purpose to improve your daily life.
In the journey of designing our homes, it’s easy to overlook the beauty of the utilitarian features that bring a space together. Those hardworking spaces can be humble in size, but it all comes down to the execution where function and flow meet in every day life.
We firmly believe that functional everyday objects can be beautiful too – and that such objects are easily available to all, rather than a privileged few. Interior design at home allows you to express your personality and personal style preferences through the choice of colours, furniture, accessories and all the design elements you choose to include in your home.
Are You Settling For Less?
The difference between a nice space and a truly thoughtful one is in the details. Interior Designers understand how textures, proportions, and lighting affect the overall feel of a space. They curate pieces that complement each other, ensuring that everything from the furniture placement to the smallest decor choices work in harmony.
It’s easy to get despondent over the state of your home and feeling like nothing you do will make it feel light / more welcoming / comfortable; or thinking that it will cost too much money to make a reasonable change.
This is simply not true. One of the most meaningful activities we ever engage in is the creation of a home. The process of curating our personal possessions. The number of hours of thought given to the process, the money spent and dedication to the process. When you intentionally select each item in your home with care, it adds character and meaning to your space, that in turn allows you to live a more meaningful life. The place where we remember who we are.
We rented for years and years, and through all our rental homes I made small adjustments to the apartments / homes (mostly in the form of paint and window treatments) that personalised the space for us. And I know this is a controversial decision, but those small changes really made the house feel like home for me.
Just remember that interior design isn’t about how much you spend—it’s about how intentionally you design your space. A small budget doesn’t mean you have to settle for a space that feels incomplete or uninspired. With the right approach, thoughtful choices, and a bit of creativity, you can create a home that looks and feels just right without overspending.
When Should You Hire An Interior Designer?
The best time to hire an interior designer is when you have a head full of ideas, but before you actually do anything.
People tend not to realise all the dynamics of the design process and often the biggest expense on a project is having to redo or fix ‘mistakes’ people make before working with a designer.
We also find that people shy away from their fun or interesting ideas and dream smaller when they don’t have a designer to talk their ideas through with. The stunning wallpaper for the guest bathroom gets replaced with a ‘safe’ paint option, a neutral sofa is opted for over the navy velvet sofa that you’ve been eyeing for the last 6 months.
It is also common for people to mismatch proportion and scale. A rug often looks bigger in the shop than it does on the floor in your living space,.
Having said that, many people have amazing instincts and a great eye. Design isn’t about a wrong or right answer. More than ever people are aware of curating a sense of style in their homes and there is enough inspiration and information to help them do so. Working with an interior designer is a smart move when you’re overwhelmed by choices or don’t have time for endless trial and error. Instead of guessing which paint colour, furniture, or layout is right, a designer streamlines the process, saving you time, stress, and costly mistakes.
A designer is there to help. Someone to work with you through the process, someone who understands the importance of the details and someone who will help you realise your full potential.
Well-designed interiors can actually help you save more in the long run. When you hire an interior designer for a design project, they will know how to remain within your budget without compromising on the materials used. They will be familiar with the types of paint, lighting, fixtures, and carpeting needed for every kind of project, regardless of the budget. Working with an interior designer early on while building or renovating your home can help you avoid spending excessively on unsuitable materials and stay within your budget.
How Do You Know You’ve Chosen The Right Designer?
Selecting the right interior designer is crucial to achieving the desired results for your space. Your designer should be asking you the right questions. They should be planning for real life – it’s not only about how you want your space to look, but also how you want your space to add value to your life. The process should be conversational and collaborative.
Interior designers have the skills, knowledge and insight to take your ideas and turn them into a feasible design plan that can be executed over a chosen timeframe.
At The Home Studio we believe design should represent something unique to each and every client, and we pride ourselves on bringing our projects to life with discerning style and lots of personality – all the while adhering to your budget. We design homes that are more personal than perfect—deeply loved rather than simply lived in. We are passionate about creating enduring environments that inspire you to slow your pace and savour the moment
One of the most common misconceptions about interior design is that it is only reserved for people with lots of money, or really big renovation projects. We focus on making the luxury of interior design available to everyone regardless of the scope of your project. I love it when I come across a small-budget renovation because a lot of people think to have a million dollar “look” the renovations need to cost that much and it’s just not true.
Interior design isn’t always about going from nothing to something incredible. Sometimes it’s about leveling up the space you already have. Refreshing your space to a finished product that’s better than you could even imagine.
To learn more about how we can work together, contact us on [email protected]