Picture: Tricia Guild, Instagram
Dress your room.
Every morning, I take the pillows off my bed and put them away. It creates a different energy and the room immediately looks more tailored.
Don't settle for the safe option.
Find something you love and then run with it. Don't be afraid of tiring of something because it's too bold.
Make small changes to instantly refresh a room.
It doesn't take much: use a different rug in the summer; add a throw in the winter; move a favourite painting or armchair to a new spot.
Always use flowers and plants to bring life to a space.
It could be just a beautiful fern leaf or a single stem; it is not about spending lots of money on huge arrangements.
Limit yourself.
There are no set rules, but it is difficult to combine a multitude of colours and patterns easily. If you are nervous, just use three or four and make sure one of those is a neutral.
Look for new talent.
I always go to the graduate shows at the Royal College of Art, Central Saint Martins and the New Designers show. This year I found a great ceramicist called Miche Follano, whom I discovered at the Royal College of Art.
Don't believe the myth that smaller spaces have to be kept plain.
On the contrary, opening a door to reveal a surprisingly decorative space will bring a sense of joy. Consider it your jewel box and have fun.
Look to art for inspiration.
I endlessly revisit the Renaissance frescoes of Masaccio, Giotto and Piero della Francesca; I look to David Hockney for his extraordinary palette and Howard Hodgkin for his ability to create images that are graphic yet soft. I try and visit as many exhibitions as possible.
Find a starting point.
This might be a colour or pattern, but use that as your central building block and then create a mood board around it.
Written by Emily Tobin.
This article originally appeared on House & Garden UK.
