WHAT FOUR MONTHS AWAY TAUGHT US ABOUT INTERIOR DESIGN
Four months is a long time in the world of interiors.
There have been new trends, new colours, new must-have pieces, approximately 847 new “things you absolutely need in your home” — and probably several more beige sofas.
But while we haven't been writing as much here, we certainly haven't stopped thinking about interiors.
Quite the opposite.
We've been busy working on projects, talking to clients, solving awkward room layouts, changing our minds about things we thought we were sure about, and generally spending far too much time thinking about whether a particular shade of paint is actually the right shade of paint.
And somewhere along the way, we realised that working on real homes teaches you things that Pinterest, Instagram and trend reports simply can't.
So, after a little break, we're back with a few things we've learnt — or perhaps re-learnt — over the past four months.
1. People want their homes to feel like them
One of the biggest things we've noticed is that clients aren't necessarily looking for the latest trend.
They want a home that feels personal.
They want to walk through the door and think, “Yes. This is us.”
That might mean a colourful kitchen, a slightly wonky vintage chest of drawers, a sofa that is actually comfortable enough to fall asleep on, or artwork that has nothing whatsoever to do with the current colour trends.
And honestly? We love this.
We're seeing more people move away from the idea that every room needs to look as though it has been lifted directly from a showroom.
Instead, they're asking questions like:
How do I make this feel more personal?
How do I make it feel cosy without making it cluttered?
How do I use colour without getting bored of it?
How do I make all the things I already own work together?
These are much more interesting questions
Because good interior design isn't about creating a room that looks impressive for five minutes. It's about creating a space that works for the people who actually live there.
2. Some things look brilliant online. Then reality happens.
This one may get us into trouble...
There are some interiors that look absolutely incredible on Instagram.
We save them. We admire them. We send them to clients.
And then you try to recreate the idea in a normal-sized room with normal-sized ceilings, normal-sized windows, a radiator in an inconvenient place and a television that someone actually wants to watch.
Suddenly, things get a little more complicated.
A huge statement pendant might look spectacular in a room with four-metre ceilings. In a modest bedroom, it might feel like you've installed a chandelier in a cupboard.
A beautiful low sofa might look effortlessly cool in a photograph. It might also be surprisingly uncomfortable when you have to stand up from it several times a day.
And open shelving? Gorgeous.
Until you realise that somebody has to dust all those shelves.
Real homes have practical considerations.
Children. Dogs. Storage. Radiators. Laundry. Televisions. Shoes. Coffee mugs. Life.
And that's something we think about more and more: a beautiful room still needs to work.
Because the best design isn't just photogenic. It's liveable.
3. We're increasingly obsessed with lighting
If there's one thing we'd happily talk about for far longer than most people would like, it's lighting.
Good lighting can completely transform a room.
And we're not talking about one beautiful ceiling light in the middle of the room.
We're talking about layers.
A combination of:
ambient lighting
task lighting
accent lighting
table lamps
floor lamps
wall lights
and, whenever possible, plenty of natural light.
One of our favourite ways to make a room feel instantly more inviting is to stop relying entirely on the big light.
Turn off the ceiling light.
Switch on a couple of lamps.
Add a little glow in a dark corner.
Light something at a lower level.
Suddenly the room feels different.
More relaxed. More atmospheric. More finished.
And perhaps more importantly, lighting can make a room feel expensive without necessarily costing a fortune.
Which brings us nicely to our next lesson...
4. Spend money on the things you use every day
We're not going to tell you that you need to spend £5,000 on a sofa.
But we will say this: spend your money where your hands, feet and eyes are going to notice it every day.
A sofa you use constantly?
Worth thinking carefully about.
A mattress?
Definitely.
A dining table that will become the centre of family meals, homework, conversations and the occasional pile of unopened post?
Potentially worth investing in.
Good-quality flooring, beautiful curtains, well-made joinery and decent lighting can also make a huge difference to how a home feels.
On the other hand, you don't necessarily need to spend a fortune on every decorative object.
Not everything needs to be a major investment.
A room can have a £20 vase sitting next to a beautiful piece of furniture. It can have a charity-shop find next to something bespoke. It can have a cushion from a high-street shop alongside a vintage throw you've had for years.
It's the combination that matters.
So, what's next?
Four months away from blogging has reminded us why we enjoy talking about interiors in the first place.
Not because there is always a new trend to talk about.
Not because everyone needs to redecorate every year.
And definitely not because your home needs another cushion.
It's because we're fascinated by the way the spaces around us affect how we live.
The best projects aren't necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets or the most impressive “before and after” transformations.
They're the ones where, at the end, the client looks around and says:
“This feels like home.”
And that's something no trend can really replace.
So yes, we're back.
We have plenty more ideas, plenty more interiors to talk about, and almost certainly a few more opinions to change along the way.
And if the last four months have taught us anything, it's that the best interior design lessons tend to come from real homes, real people and real life.
Which, conveniently, is where we'll be spending most of our time.
ABOUT MIKA DESIGN STUDIO
Mika Design Studio is an online interior design studio on a mission to make a positive and meaningful impact on our clients’ lives.
We believe great interior design should be accessible to everyone — not just those with big budgets or the time to manage a full-scale project. That’s why we offer affordable online interior design packages designed to provide as much or as little help as you need, whether you’re refreshing a single room, struggling with a layout or planning a complete transformation.
We listen to how you live, understand your style, priorities and budget, and create a personalised plan that works for you, your home, your budget and your time.
Our approach combines creativity, thoughtful design and sustainable materials to create authentic interiors that feel personal, practical and built to evolve with you.
Visit our website to find out more about us.
Comments