lighting expert Archives – Sophie Robinson

COMING SOON! Join me for an intimate Maximalist Masterclass in my own home

Sophie Living Room 1

30 Apr 20

Lockdown decorating, lighting tips and mood boards, Podcast show notes S7 Ep2

Welcome to the second episode of Great Indoors podcast, bought to you I’ll admit under extreme circumstances. My wifi is as dependable as Southern Rail and I have to sit crossed-legged on a child’s bed under a king size duvet while Kate and I squint at each other on tiny screens. It’s weird and we […]

full post

Previous Page

Next Page

Catch Sophie In All Her Colourful Glory On Instagram

Before and after ➡️ proof that your landing de

Before and after ➡️ proof that your landing deserves the same love as every other room.
Why do we ignore landings like they’re just a corridor to somewhere better?
This one began as a gloomy no-man’s-land – dull, beige and barely noticeable.
Now? It’s a total transformation. Colourful, cohesive, and full of character – a true extension of the entrance hall below.
My favourite colour - the bold and beautiful “Lazuli” by @zoffanyfw carries up from the hallway, tying the whole space together and making the journey between floors a joy 💙

Lesson learned: your landing should be treated as a space in it’s own right.

#ColourLovers #BoldInteriors #ColourfulHome #maximalism #MaximalistStyle

Let’s talk about lighting and why relying on cei

Let’s talk about lighting and why relying on ceiling lights alone is one of the quickest ways to kill the atmosphere in a room.
Yes, overhead lights are practical. But all that bright, undirected light flooding the space? It does nothing for creating mood or making a room feel cosy and inviting.
Instead, you want to layer your lighting, creating little pools of light with lamps dotted around the room. I’ve got them everywhere... on the kitchen counter, by the bed, on the desk, next to the sofa, even in the hallway.

They’re not just practical as they become part of the decoration. Lamps are a brilliant way to add colour, shape and pattern to a space, especially if, like me, you love a bit of maximalism.
And here’s my best tip if you’re renovating. Consider wiring your lamps into a 5 amp circuit so they all switch on and off at the wall. No scrabbling around behind sofas for plug switches! But if that’s not an option, smart bulbs are a brilliant alternative — giving you control over brightness and even colour temperature at the touch of a button.

Layered lighting makes all the difference — it’s what takes a room from looking functional to feeling like home.

#InteriorLighting #NeverTurnOnTheBigLight #MaximalistDecor #LightingTips #HomeStyling
#ColourfulHome #LampsOfInstagram #LightingGoals #SmartLighting #DesignDetails
#LayeredLighting

Want to know my secret to confident fail-safe room

Want to know my secret to confident fail-safe room schemes? Before you dive down a Pinterest rabbit hole or start pouring over paint swatches, PAUSE and follow my tried and tested design roadmap.

It all starts with the mood.

By asking yourself, “How do I want this room to feel?” I guarantee you will save time, energy, and money – with no more impulse buys or fear that the overall look won’t feel right once it all comes together.
Once you’ve nailed your vibe, decisions become easier and more coherent, because now you’ve got a filter through which every choice must pass.

In my latest blog, I walk you through:
– Why the 5-word method is the anchor that will keep your design on track
– How to use moodboards with intention (to cut the overwhelm!)
– And why even the dreamiest Pinterest room scheme might not work in real life

I want you to get clear on your interior direction, so you can enjoy the creative process and make better and bolder design choices. I’ve created a free resource to help get you started – Create Your Brief, and it’s the exact process I use to kick off any design project.

👇 Comment “ROADMAP” and I’ll DM you the link!

#DesignWithIntention #HomeRefresh #CreateYourBrief #InteriorInspo #DesignProcess
#MyHomeVibe #DecoratingTips #HowToDecorate #InteriorStyling

Back in January, I held my Vision Board Masterclas

Back in January, I held my Vision Board Masterclass and said: this is not about setting goals or putting pressure on ourselves at this time of year, but creating clarity—so when spring energy comes, we are ready. Well… I am ready.
Launching my Dunelm collection and opening the doors to my At-Home Masterclasses have been the highlight of 2025 so far—and it’s only April!
This is why I love to manifest. Manifesting a life you never even dreamed of - because it really works. Dreams can come true.

Follow your passion. Remain grateful. And keep identifying where you want your life to go.
There’s so much more to come… and I’m just getting started ✨

#ManifestingDreams #DreamBigDoBigger #InteriorDesignGoals #PassionIntoPurpose
#DunelmXSophieRobinson #SophieRobinsonStyle #ColourLoversUnite
#CreativeBusinessJourney #ManifestMagic #DesignYourDreamLife #SpringEnergy
#LiveColourfully

How I take my maximalist style outside... Don’

How I take my maximalist style outside...

Don’t be afraid to clash, contrast, and get creative because maximalism is about celebrating the things you love, and the more, the merrier! With sunnier days fast approaching, I love to turn my outdoor space into a joyful pattern-packed extension of my home.

Here are my tips on getting it right:

Be prepared to mix and match patterns. Maximalism abhors the overly matchy or coordinated sets and instead layers the look with textiles, crockery and glassware.

Maximalism is all about making a bold statement, so go for something large in scale like a fabulous patterned parasol, preferably fringed!

Pile on the blooms along the entire length of the table. I grab different sized vases and drinking tumblers so the flowers have plenty of height and volume.

To create an indoors- outside vibe, I like my garden furniture to look stylish. Invest in beautiful rattan dining chairs or cover simple benches in highly patterned cushions.

A garden scene truly comes alive at dusk, so layer on the lighting from LED lanterns to plenty of flickering candle light. The trick is to position high and low and everywhere in between!

All products from my new Sophie Robinson x @dunelmuk Collection – check out the links on stories

LED Indoor Outdoor Solar String Lights, £25
LED Solar Hanging Lanterns, £25
Sunshine Flowers Tablecloth, starts at £30
Pavilion Woven Lilac Tray, £30
Candy Stripe Bench Pad, £45
Tumblers, Plates & bowls from £2
Block Print Parasol, £79
Café Bistro Chair, £99

#SophieRobinsonxDunelm #BoldByNature #MaximalistStyle #GardenGoals #ColourLovers #MaximalistDecor #OutdoorLiving #TablescapeInspo #GardenStyling #ColourMyHome #GardenInspo #MoreIsMore

This is how I create flow and cohesion throughout

This is how I create flow and cohesion throughout my home — and now I’m here to help you do the same.

Join me at my At Home Colour Workshop on 15th May, where you’ll get to explore these rooms in person, soak up all my colour and design advice, and receive 1:1 guidance on your next interiors project. Want in?

👇 Comment “Workshop” below and I’ll send you the link! And while you’re here, swipe through for some of my favourite ways to bring a home together — from colour palettes and curated metals to repeating decorative touches. It’s all about making bold feel balanced.

#interiordesign #colourfulhome #homedecorideas #sophierobinson #designworkshop
#cohesivehome #colourworkshop #interiordesigntips

This DIY trick saved me thousands £££… Painti

This DIY trick saved me thousands £££… Painting my UPVC plastic windows!
When we bought our house, the first thing I had to address were the hideous bright white UPVC windows. After getting a quote back in 2019 for a whopping £16K to replace them for
traditional timber, it was time to think again.

And honestly? It was the BEST decision I made. Not only have I saved thousands of pounds
off our renovation budget but also prevented perfectly functional windows from ending up in landfill.
What you need is an all-surface primer, which you can apply after simply wiping down and
cleaning the window frames thoroughly. No other prep required! Best bit is you can then can go wild with your choice of colour, picking an acrylic eggshell to go on top. It’s
worth noting that by painting your UPVC windows you may discredit any warranty.
However, four years later the exterior windows look as good as the day we painted them,
(which is more than can be said for timber windows that need repainting around every 3-4
years.) Because we hand brushed rather than spray painted them, you can’t even notice
that they are made of plastic. Don’t you think they look amazing!?

Here’s what I used:
EXTERIOR: Little Greene All Surface Primer, then Intelligent exterior eggshell in Lamp Black
@littlegreenepaintcompany

INTERIOR:
💛Yellow: Zinsser 123 primer, then water based eggshell in Ming Gold by @Sanderson1860
🩵Blue: Zinsser 123 primer, then water based eggshell in Southwold blue by @Sanderson1860
🖤 Black: Little Greene All Surface Primer, then Intelligent eggshell in Lamp Black
@littlegreenepaintcompany
🤎Aubergine: Little Greene All Surface Primer, then Intelligent eggshell in Cordoba by
@littlegreenepaintcompany

#ColourLovers #BoldInteriors #ColourfulHome #PaintedWindows #BudgetRenovation
#HomeOnABudget #RenovationHack #PaintedUPVC

Spring shopping haul! I had so much fun filling my

Spring shopping haul! I had so much fun filling my trolley with some of my favourite
pieces from my new collection at @dunelmuk for an instant update! Think fresh floral bedding, velvet cushions, statement lighting, and playful accessories—all designed to work beautifully together, no matter what you pick.

As you would expect, this collection is bursting with colour and pattern, and the best bit? I’ve designed it so that you can mix and match it your way, confident that it will all just sing. It’s like a maximalist’s toolkit for creating a joyful, personality-packed home with a choice of colours and patterns across the entire collection that just work together.

Have you seen it in store yet? I’d love to know what you’re loving, what’s in your basket, and what you’ve got your eye on! And don’t forget the entire collection is available online for home delivery or click and collect. 🛒✨

#sophierobinsonxdunelm #shoppinghaul #colourfulliving #interiorstyle #springrefresh
#springupdate

Load More… Follow on Instagram