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09 Mar 23

The trend for tiny rooms

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Don’t they say that the best things come in little packages? Well thats the topic of todays podcast debate as Kate and I ramble around the advantages of the smallest rooms in our home. Earlier in the year we reported on the trends for 2023 and House and Gardens magazine declared that open plan spaces are no longer top of the lust list when it comes to home renovations. It’s time to put the walls back up as we feel the need to curl up and feel safe in our cosy rooms. Maybe after being locked in our houses for two years, we discovered that having different rooms for different things is, well,  more interesting and convenient. The trend for tiny rooms also goes hand in hand with our motivations to create cosy and cosseting spaces.

From books nooks, breakfast booths, walk in closets to down stairs loo’s, box bedrooms and pantries, these spaces are being celebrated in a cacophony of colour and pattern.

As my house is quite cottage like in style I have quite a few tiny rooms, and they are among the most favourite in my home. My shower room is just 1 m x 2m so we tanked it out to make a wet room, but the patterned floor tiles and sunny yellow make it a joy to rise and shine in every morning. Another bathroom that is big and bold on design while being small on proportions is this amazing tile layout design by Buchanan Studio. 

Using a simple colour palette of pink and yellow (a personal fave of mine) the tile layout is carried out all around this room almost acting like a wallpaper. Like many bathrooms the room is only as wide as a bath but it delivers meters of design flair.

Pink yellow checkerboard tile bathroom by Buchanan studio tiny bathroom

@buchana.studio

Pantries and larders have been a high on the hot list for a while now. I remember my Mums laundry room come pantry in our child hood home which was all white laminate units, the dog bed and laundry baskets. But somehow these small rooms that are off the kitchen have become everyones designer dream, with fitted joinery, beautiful storage jars on display and mouthwatering colour palettes. This design by Sarah Brown Interiors show’s how a punchy paint colour can elevate this humble room instantly.

Red and mustard yellow painted English pantry by Plain English and designed by sarah Brown Interiors

@sarahbrowninteriors

Hallways, staircases and landings can present themselves a design challenge and my advice is to resist the urge to paint them pale in order to make them feel bigger. Embrace the quirk of a titchy stairwell or hallway with a saturated colour that invites you in.

A small staircase in a English seaside cottage painted bright blue and red

@thehouseondolphinst

Partitioning an area visually by colour blocking is a wonderful way to add interest and enjoy a bold and bright hue without it becoming claustrophobic. This hallway in the home of Jess Alavi-Ellis is a masterclass of taking a tiny room and making it visually very special. Check out the floor tiles, attention to detail is everything!

Small entrance hallway with bright yellow front door and dark painted dark grey walls and patterned cement tiles on floor

@jessalaviellis

Fitted banquet bench seating is a genius way to maximise space in small dining areas, typically in kitchens. I have one myself. They create a really cosy and intimate area, while also allowing you to maximise bums on seats. The lack of chair legs cluttering up the spaces makes it visually more streamlined too. And you get to introduce plenty of colour and pattern through fabrics and cushions. I’m totally in love with this narrow dining room designed by Meta Coleman Interiors

A fitted banquet seat in a small dining room breakfast booth in a bold yellow stripe fabric and green walls with a round dining table

@metacoleman_

Talking of adding plenty of colour and pattern, this home bar situation, designed by Salvesen Graham, is a masterclass in how you can go full-throttle with colour and pattern in a small room and it totally rocks. Any regular readers of this blog will know that I think you can go hard on colour and pattern in EVERY room in your home, but lots of people bottle it in small rooms as they worry the effect will be overwhelming. This works so well because they have drenched the whole room in one pattern so its impactful and yet still elegant.

@salvesengraham

Box bedrooms are often a struggle as they hallow room for a single bed and not much else. I’m loving this idea to fit a fabric bed canopy, that acts to entice you into a space to curl up and get cosy. In this girls room designed by Sarah Vanrenen, a strong yellow frames the window, while plenty of pattern found on the wallpaper, blind and bed head and canopy make this room feel rich and luxurious.

Small girls box bedroom with fitted bed canopy and vintage desk with yellow fabrics and painted window

@sarahvanrenen

Who doesn’t lust after a walk in closet? When I set eyes on this gloss pink parlour in the home of fashion stylist Erica Davies it was love at first sight. Erica has indulged in her love of leopard print with a feature fitted carpet. This is not the biggest walk in wardrobe but the confident colour scheme elevates it to a highly glamorous level.

Walk in wardrobe in pink gloss and leopard print in the home of fashion stylist Erica Davies

@erica_davies

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Before and after! This room took me on a real jour Before and after! This room took me on a real journey.
At first, I thought I needed a calm, blank space to focus… so I painted it all white. I know - can you believe it?! I told myself it was for clarity and creativity, but the truth is, I hated it. I felt flat and totally uninspired.

So, I ripped up the rulebook and went back to what I know works for me: bold colour and big pattern. I painted the whole space in my favourite cobalt blue (Lazuli by @zoffanyfw) and installed the ‘In the Woods’ mural from my @Harlequinfw collection - and now it’s everything I wanted and more.

I feel creative, energised, and completely connected to the beautiful garden just outside the window. A daily reminder to trust your instincts, feel from your gut and be brave. 

#OfficeGoals #CreativeWorkspace #BoldInteriors #BeforeAndAfter #SophieRobinsonStyle 
#CobaltBlue #HarlequinWallpaper #ColourLovers #InteriorDesignUK #InTheWoodsMural 
#DesignForJoy #MoreIsMore
A masterclass in maximalism! 🌈✨ It was such A masterclass in maximalism! 🌈✨

It was such an honour to guest judge the Interior Design Masters final alongside the fabulous @michelleogundehin and wow, what a finale it was!

The setting? The magical village of Portmeirion.
The challenge? Transform a bland holiday cottage.
The winner? The brilliant @john_cooper_design and what a winning design it was! 

John’s scheme was a glorious celebration of colour and perfect  storytelling. I loved how  he used bold Mediterranean hues and motifs from room to room which cleverly held this maximalist vision together. It felt like being whisked away to a land far far away. And thereby perfectly capturing the spirit of Portmerion. Honestly, it felt magical to be there!

I’ve unpacked all Johns clever ideas and design takeaways over on the blog (link in bio) — but I’d LOVE to hear what you thought.

Was John your winner?
What design moment caught your eye?
Could you stay in a house like this?

Tell me in the comments 👇

#interiordesignmasters #maximalistinteriors #maximalistdecor #portmerion #colourlover #banthebeige
Longing for a life-changing escape? You’re not a Longing for a life-changing escape?
You’re not alone. Our next Discover Colour Retreat at @elfennmarrakech just sold out in just a few hours, snapped up by our incredible subscriber community who said yes to more colour, creativity, and the trip of a lifetime. 💫

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Ready to create a home that feels unapologetically Ready to create a home that feels unapologetically YOU?

For me it’s about bold joyful colour, striking pattern, and those magical touches that light you up every time you walk through the door. This isn’t about playing it safe, it’s about crafting a home that celebrates the uniqueness of who you are and how you want to feel. 

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EXCLUSIVE Live with the WINNER of @interiordesignm EXCLUSIVE Live with the WINNER of @interiordesignmasters ! 

Thankyou @john_cooper_design for a beautiful LIVE taking a deeper look into your amazing experience being on the this most loved show. We all loved watching you grow and develop as a designer and your collection with @johnlewis is an absolute triumph! Cannot wait to see what you do next 🙌
All the Finale feels ✨ What a joy was filming t All the Finale feels ✨
What a joy was filming this series of @interiordesignmasters with @michelleogundehin , @chattyman , not mention this year’s insanely talented finalists @john_cooper_design 💙 @ritamillat ❤️ There is a lot of love and positive energy that goes into making this show.

And it doesn’t end here…

TONIGHT at 7pm I’ll be going LIVE right here on Instagram with this year’s winner… SPOLER ALERT….

@john_cooper_design 
I cannot wait to chat all the behind-the-scenes design insights, and what it really takes to win Interior Design Masters. What a smashing journey John has been on. Wow his final design blew me away, it’s was soo well executed and his vision was perfectly in step with the flamboyant eccentricity of Portmerion. Top marks! 

Come join us and ask your questions during this exciting Live event or come back later and watch the replay! 👀

Missed the show? Catch  up with @bbcone  Interior Design Masters on @bbciplayer 

#InteriorDesignMasters #IDMFinal #DesignShow #BehindTheScenes #InteriorDesignUK
Beware of listening to the ‘experts’! I get i Beware of listening to the ‘experts’!
I get it though, designing a house is hard, especially if your taste leans towards the 
maximalist style. There is every chance you’ll feel overwhelmed or stressed about getting it wrong with the end result one hot mess. However here are some of those common ‘design rules’ that I absolutely disagree with! Would love to know your thoughts in the comments below!

If you’re ready to stop playing it safe and fully embrace creating a home that truly reflects you, my specially designed online course has everything you need to keep you falling into any more traps. I’ll guide you through uncovering your unique style, choosing colours with confidence, and mixing patterns like a pro, all while making it feel beautifully cohesive and creative. And the best bit? It’s 25% off until the end of May! That’s right, just a few days left to pick up a massive discount.

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#colourmyhome
Ready to step into your best life? Start with the Ready to step into your best life? Start with the place that holds it all. Your home.

I’ve always believed that a joyful, soul-filled home isn’t just a reflection of who you are… it’s a catalyst for who you want to become. When you’re surrounded by colours that lift you, patterns that energise you, and decor that tells to your story, something magical happens.

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

And that feeling? It ripples out into every part of your life. 💛🌟

#FeelGoodDesign #JoyfulHomes #MaximalistInteriors #ColourConfidence #InteriorInspo #DesignWithSoul #SophieRobinsonInteriors
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