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09 Oct 23

Designing a bed and how you can too

Bedroom2

The bed is an integral part of any bedroom, and not only do we want it to be comfy and practical, but when an item takes up that much space in a room, it also needs to work with the rest of the colour scheme. When it came to redesigning my guest bedroom I chose a restrained, some would say, colour palette of  blue and yellow. The feel was fresh and joyful and not my usual in-your-face maximalism, but a beautiful space for guests none the less. I had my palette of blue and yellow fabrics and wallpapers organised but when it came to the headboard, I wanted something a bit special.

I chose to work with Naturalmat, because while they offer a selection of headboards in different fabrics, they also offer the opportunity to go more bespoke.  I excitedly sketched out a design with dimensions, complete with feel good curves, and their team of craftsmen made it in my chosen fabric. It involved me taking a tape measure to the room and deciding how high I wanted the headboard to be and then working to the dimensions of a kingsize bed for the width.  Every bed is handmade in their solar-powered workshop in Devon so many details can be tailored to your needs, like the height of the headboard, or even a handy cut out to sit over the top of your skirting board so the headboard sits flush to the wall.  I just love this detail which stops the headboard sitting away from the wall. They have a wide range of natural fabrics you can choose from, however if you would like something more bespoke, you can give them a ring to discuss the options. I chose a solid beech base with beech legs and the fabric is Saffron Plush Velvet from my Harlequin range.

Vibrant saffron yellow velvet headboard and bed base with new bare mattress on it and no bedding.

The custom made headboard was covered in my choice of fabric, along with the bed base.

 

The mattress I have chosen is ‘The Superb’, which, like all their mattresses, is handmade from entirely natural and organic fibres with no nasty chemicals. It’s a favourite with hotels, and I actually got to try it out in The Rose in Deal when we stayed there a few years ago so I was confident it would create the conditions for a perfect nights sleep for my guests.  They’ve replaced sweaty synthetic foams with pads of organic coconut fibres bound together, meaning not only are they good for the planet, but they are more comfortable to sleep on too. Everyone who has stayed so far have all commented on how comfy it is, so you don’t need to just take my word for it!

 

Close up of the cut out section of the bottom of the headboard which sits perfectly on top of the skirting, ensuring it can sit flush against the wall.

You give Naturalmat the dimensions of your skirting board and they create this clever cut out detail which allows the headboard to sit flush on the wall.

 

Naturalmat also offer a fantastic service to help recycle your mattress when you have finished with it. You can have it collected and they will either refurbish it or recycle the materials within it to go towards new mattresses, giving you credit towards a new one.  Or, you can choose to donate your mattress and they will collect it and put it through the world’s first mattress washing machine, (that’s a thing?!) before giving to one of their chosen charities to help alleviate sleep poverty.

The bed comes in sections so the Naturalmat team can easily assemble it

If your home has narrow stairs and landing like mine, it’s also worth ensuring you will be able to fit the bed up the stairs and easily into your room. Thankfully, many of the beds at Naturalmat, come with a split base, making all the manoeuvring a lot easier and less stressful.

The rest of the room is looking resplendent in my usual vibrant colourways, with beautiful florals and contrasting stripes. With a headboard like this, I think an off-centred art display is the way to go and I love these paintings by artist Sophie Abbott. Life has been very busy whilst we’ve been finishing the kitchen, the snug and the bedroom, and this bed more than ever is looking super tempting! Will anyone notice if I go and have a lie down?!

With the countryside views out the window and the pops of blue in the rest of the room, this headboard feels like the sun setting as you get into bed, I am completely and utterly thrilled with it.

Double bed with floral bedding and yellow curved headboard. Subtle floral wallpaper on the walls with a trio of abstract art to the right hand side above a bedside table.

Bedlinen is the Wonderland Floral from John Lewis. Wallpaper is Daisy Chain Trellis, Blind made in Ribbon Stripe, Harlequin x Sophie Robinson. Seagrass herringbone flooring by Alternative Flooring

5 things to consider when designing your bed:
  • Scroll through Instagram and Pinterest for head board inspiration.
  • Think about the height of your headboard and how it will look proportionate to your room – give it a measure and you can always mark it on the wall with decorators tape. Take into account the mattress and pillows will cover a greater part of it so you may need to go taller than you think.
  • Consider how you use your bed, do you sit in bed on a Sunday morning with a cuppa and need something tall and comfortable to rest against?
  • Order fabric samples and see how they look early in the morning, in the evening light, and under artificial light, as that is when you are most likely to be in your bedroom. make sure your headboard fabric matches in with the rest of the fabrics in your scheme.
  • Check out the Naturalmat Mattress Guide to work out which firmness will work for you.
  • Don’t forget storage! Some beds come with storage inbuilt or look out for designs that have a usable space underneath. And if you can have the bed base covered in your choice of fabric then all the better

 

This blog post is part of a PR collaboration with Naturalmat. All words and views expressed are my own.

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Catch Sophie In All Her Colourful Glory On Instagram

It all started with one bold wallpaper roll… and It all started with one bold wallpaper roll… and ended in a master bedroom that’s 100% me, and maybe a little extra.

Every pattern, colour, texture and trim was chosen to bring joy. Designing a maximalist space isn’t about throwing everything at the walls - it’s about layering with purpose, and creating 
a room that feels like you.

If you’re dreaming of a home that’s full of you, my “How to Create a Maximalist Interior” online course is 25% off until the end of May. Comment MAYJOY and i’ll send you the link!


#MaximalistInteriors #BoldBedroom #ColourLovers #InteriorInspo #WallpaperGoals
#MasterBedroomMakeover #InteriorDesignDetails #PatternPlay
DESIGN CRIMES - BUSTED! After years of designing DESIGN CRIMES - BUSTED!
After years of designing homes and helping people fall in love with their spaces, I’ve noticed a few design mistakes that crop up time and again. So, I’ve rounded up 5 of the most common design crimes that I see all too often, and how to fix them!

From towering TVs to short curtains (just… no), these little tweaks can make a big difference to how your home looks and feels.Which ones have snuck into your home?

I want your confessions below, or share your own design crime story. Let’s swap notes and make our homes the best they can be 💛

#DesignCrimes #InteriorDesignTips #SophieRobinsonInteriors #HomeStyleHelp 
#ColourLoversUnite #MaximalistStyle #TVStylingTips #DesignWithPersonality 
#Maximalism
Feeling stuck on how to make your home flow - with Feeling stuck on how to make your home flow - without it all looking the same?
You’re not alone. One of the biggest challenges with bold, maximalist decorating is getting that sweet spot where every room feels unique and still sings in harmony with the rest of the 
house.

This week, I opened up my home to guests at my VIP Masterclass — and since it was looking unusually spick and span(!), I thought I’d give you a rare peek too. What you’ll see is 
colour, pattern, and personality in every corner… but behind the scenes? There’s a very intentional design process holding it all together.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by all the decisions, unsure where to start, or terrified of making a mistake, my online course ‘How to Create Maximalist Interiors’ is designed to take that fear off your shoulders. I’ll guide you, step by step, through how I create spaces that 
feel joyful, cohesive and so very you.

✨ Want to see what’s possible — and learn how to make it happen in your own home? Comment MAYJOY25 and I’ll DM you the link. The course is 25% off throughout May, so it’s a brilliant time to dive in.


#HouseTour #SophieRobinsonStyle #ColourfulHomes #InteriorDesignUK #MoreIsMore #BoldInteriors #PatternLover #HallwayGoals #KitchenInspo #HomeStyle #CountryModern #FloralKitchen #MaximalistHome
Don’t underestimate the potential of small space Don’t underestimate the potential of small spaces. While we are a nation obsessed with knocking walls down and living in open plan (echoey) spaces, I’d go so far to say, when it comes to decorating, small rooms are my absolute fave! Little rooms are where you can really turn up the dial, because at face value they are bland, underwhelming and quite often overlooked. But turn your mind to creating jewel-box fabulousness, inject plush textures, fabulous patterns and standout accessories and the transformation isn’t only fast but exceeds all expectations. 

Here are a few small spaces I’ve designed, that may be small—but they pack a serious punch.

#SmallSpaceStyle #InteriorDesignTips #MaximalistInteriors #SophieRobinson 
#BoldNotBeige #ColourLover #DesignWithPersonality
You’re in the right place. 💛 Around here, we You’re in the right place. 💛
Around here, we don’t do beige boxes or design-by-numbers. This is a joyful, all-inclusive space where colour is celebrated and self-expression is the whole point.

I believe every room in your home should make you feel happy, positive, and 
unapologetically you. 

If that sounds like your kind of vibe, follow along!
✨ Save the ideas that make your heart sing
✨ Explore the joy of colour with confidence
✨And when you’re ready to dive in… there’s 25% off my incredible course How to Create a Maximalist Interior - all through May. Just use comment MAYJOY and I’ll send you the link.

Because great design isn’t just about how it looks - it’s how it makes you feel.


#dopamindecor #boldinteriors #interiorinspo #joyfulhomes #colourmyhome 
#interiordesigncourse #maximaliststyle
If like me you hate your shiny white UPVC windows If like me you hate your shiny white UPVC windows then this tip is for you!

I painted all of ours, inside and out, and it totally transformed our home (costing hundreds of pounds on paint rather than thousands of pounds replacing them with more traditional timber that would suit the Victorian character of our house better). 
The best thing about painting UVPC is with the right primer, there is no sanding or lengthy preparation. It’s important to make sure the frames are clean and dry, and then on with the All Surface Primer, which then ensures that the exterior acrylic eggshell, in a colour of your 
choice, can easily go on top. For many the beauty of UVPC windows is they don’t need decorating or maintaining, unlike timber windows. However, while these have not flaked or scratched yet (three 
years in) I know they will need a lick of paint at some point. But UVPC is a more stable substrate to traditional timber which cracks and swells, so the maintenance will be far less. 

And heres the best bit… you can’t tell the difference!

Works on Front doors and conservatories too! Would you try it? Let me know in the comments!

We used an All surface primer, mixed to match the top coat, of External eggshell in Lamp Black. Walls painted in masonry paint, in Lamp Black. All products @littlegreenepaintcompany 

#paintedwindows #upvcglowup #budgetrenovation #windowmakeover #diyhomedecor
I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but I I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but I’ve needed to hear it again and again this past year.

This little affirmation has carried me through some of the hardest moments of my life; navigating a divorce, facing the possibility of losing my home, and somehow still showing up for my business, my family, and my creativity.

And here’s the thing: I didn’t lose my home. 🏡 I’m keeping it. 🙌 That’s the biggest takeaway for me. Because in the midst of fear and uncertainty, I held on to hope. I kept creating. I kept believing.

Stress and anxiety can really crush creativity. They make us shrink, second-guess, and settle for less than we deserve. But when we give ourselves even the tiniest flicker of faith,  that’s when the magic can return.

So if there’s something you’re holding on for, don’t let go. Keep the faith. You’ve absolutely got this.

And if someone you love needs that reminder too — feel free to share this with them. 

#CreativeJourney #InteriorTherapy #DesignAsHealing #MyHomeMyStory #HomeInspo #LifeLately #PersonalGrowth #ThisIsRealLife #WomenSupportingWomen #OvercomingObstacles
Can you believe this unexpected May sunshine? It’s giving me total garden party vibes, and with that in mind here’s how I set the table outdoors, in my maximalist style!
- Layered pattern textiles, joyful colours, coloured glass, and flowers spilling over with abundance… because when the sun shines in spring, it calls for a table that celebrates more is more.
Everything here is from my new collection with @dunelmuk where I worked to create a collection that you could effortlessly mix and match, that way you can be creative and make it your own style statement. From furniture to tableware, textiles to glassware it’s a full more is more collection! Let’s hope that sun keeps shining as I think we are in for a beautiful summer!
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