ULTIMATE MAXIMALIST COURSE BUNDLE - £400+ Savings - JANUARY SALE

Sophie Robinson
  • Home
  • Workshops
    • Marrakech Retreat
    • Home Masterclass
  • Online Courses
  • Collaboration
  • Podcasts
  • Blog
  • About
    • About me
    • Work with me
    • Press
  • FAQs
  • Contact
  • Interiors
  • trends
15 Jul 22

Trend report: Big Checks

Antipodream Thistle Check Duvet Cover Duvet covers SOCIETY OF WANDERERS 2 888x copy

Over here at Pattern Lovers HQ I am loving the new print on the block. The Big Check is sashaying its way into the fashion pages of interior style mags, filling up the shelves on the high street and will soon be swaggering into my home I’m sure when I can get round to/justify a cheeky little decor update. Now while we all love to fantasise about new trends, this one actually has a lot going for it. Big checks are a really useful tool, helping to break up a fight between fussy florals  or give a lack lustre room some punch. Big checks have oomph. While there is nothing new or exciting about the classic check (of which we are seeing everywhere too), these big scale checks and chequerboard prints are bold and unashamed and thats why we will be friends.

 

Take this fabulous Thistle Check Duvet Cover and co ordinating bedlinen from tastemakers Society of Wanderers at Antipodream. Fabulous! See what I mean by muscling in fabulously with the patterned wallpaper and stripped flat sheet. Pattern mashing heaven right there, along with the colour clash that’s going on it’s all rather thrilling. Getting in on this pattern trend is easy because my tip is, you don’t need too much of it. Have it as the main event, as in bedlinen or a sofa, or save it for an accent- on a lampshade or cushion. Scroll down to the end of this post for my edit of the best of the big checks to update your home.

Featured image at top: home of Featured image at top: home of @buchanan.studio Photographed by @david.fernandez.studio for @tmagazine

Instagram is a great place to get some big check inspiration. Historically interiors have always been adorned by chequerboard floors and I love their dramatic effect in small rooms like hallways or bathrooms. This candy colour schemed bathroom by the oh-so-talented designers at Buchanan Studio is a riot of checks. Head on over to their page @buchanan.studio  for the full reveal. Obviously you have to have quite a lot of conviction to do wall to wall chequerboard but the effect is visually dazzling. While the classic black and white is very high contrast and dramatic, picking tonal colours will give a more subtle effect. Still super cool though.

 

Checkerboard knight woven dhurrie by 8 Holland street x Vanderhurd

A big check or chequerboard pattern is strong enough to hold its own in a room and be the star of the show like this huge chequerboard rug by designers 8hollandstreet x Vanderhurd . I love the way it has a feeling of fun and frivolity about it so even in the most seriously contemplated and curated interior design spaces- it can punch through with some much needed jollity. I cant help thinking of clowns trousers when I think of big checks and I love interiors that don’t take themselves too seriously so that works for me.

The home of @Mullercanseveren

The classic chequerboard floor is a great place to introduce this big bold geometric and is a wonderful pattern addition to any maximalist interior.

SHOP THE LOOK

1. Lavender Fizz Full Ruffle Cushion Cover, £49, Antipodream | 2. Checkmate placemats, £102. Balu London | 3. Piero Footstool, Punch, £855, Ceruado | 4. Checkboard shaggy rug, £169, Urban Outfitters | 5. Joy of Print Checkerboard lampshade in Pomegranate, from £84, Rosie de Ruig | 6. Velvet checkmate studio chair, contact Buchanan Studio for further info.

7. Pile rug, £79.99, H&M | 8. Ella Chair Upholstered in Chubby Check by Kit Kemp, £845, Gabriella James | 9. Check print ceramic jug, £29, Monsoon | 10. Carlotta ottoman, £1.555, Ceraudo | 11. Checked cotton cushion cover, £12.99, H&M | 12. Royal Check Charger/Plate, £80, Mackenzie Childs at Amara | 13. Patterned porcelain mug, £2.99, H&M.

Featured image at top: home of @buchanan.studio Photographed by @david.fernandez.studio for @tmagazine

  • Interiors
  • trends
Luisa’s garden renovation reveal How to choose a wall mural
  • Christmas
  • Interiors
    • colour crush
    • colour psychology
    • DIY
    • dream home makeovers
    • Home Office
    • Home Tours
    • Interior Design
    • Interior Styling
    • podcast
    • Sophie Robinson X Dunelm
    • Sophie Robinson x Harlequin
    • trends
  • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Fashion/Beauty
    • Life
    • My House
    • Nosh
    • Travel
  • Rooms
    • Bathrooms
    • Bedrooms
    • Kids rooms
    • Kitchens
    • Living rooms
    • Outside
  • Videos
online influence award winner 2019
Interior Design Winner Sophie Robinson Insta
Videos

Listen

Listen Here

Online courses
by popular demand

Catch Sophie In All Her Colourful Glory On Instagram

Not going to lie, this might be one of my proudest Not going to lie, this might be one of my proudest makeovers ever…
My Dad and Mary’s modern French villa was all beige tiles, white walls and zero personality. So I did what I do best: turned it into a technicolour dreamscape inspired by the countryside views outside those gorgeous bifold doors.

Inspired by early  autumn leaves, emerald green fields, and piercing blue skies we set about making the inside of their home feel as joyful as the outside … now imagine all that bottled up into wallpaper, fabrics, cushions and colour-drenched furniture.

If you’ve ever thought bold colour overwhelming or that pattern was too much for open-plan spaces… this one’s for you. Because colour and pattern sings in nature, and it can work just as well in your home decor.

All wallpapers, rug and cushion fabrics are from my collection with @harlequinfw. Painting by @sophieabbottartist 

Full sourcing list, extra styling tips and a deeper dive into the design story are up now on A Life In Colour: head to my Substack via the link in bio to read more!
End of January check-in… and yes, the struggle to End of January check-in… and yes, the struggle to stay joyful is very real right now. Dark mornings, grey skies, energy running low.

That’s exactly why our homes matter so much at this time of year. They are our sanctuary. The place that should lift your mood, calm your nervous system and make you feel held when the outside world feels a bit, how can I put this...relentless. And this isn’t just a feeling or a design philosophy. It’s backed up by science. Research shows that colour, light, beauty and nature in our homes have a direct impact on mood, wellbeing and happiness. Small, intentional changes really can shift how you feel day to day.

I’d love to know… what brings you the most joy in your home right now? A colour, a room, a plant, a view, a ritual? Share it in the comments 💛

And if you’re ready to go deeper, my big January Sale ends this week.

If you want to truly understand colour psychology and learn how to curate a home that feels joyful, confident and completely you, comment ULTIMATE and I’ll send you the link to my online design school and your opportunity to make the biggest saving of the year.
These are the ingredients to making your home feel These are the ingredients to making your home feel as good as it looks. 

• Confident colour that creates the mood
• Beautiful pattern that delights the eye
• Layered texture that brings it all alive
• Personality in every corner, so it feels like home

Magic happens when you stop playing it safe and start designing a home that truly reflects you. A home that feels joyful, expressive and alive. But designing a home can feel overwhelming. Where do you start? How do you combine colours without it feeling chaotic? How do you clash patterns so it looks considered? How to express your unique personality without merely copying other people’s style?

That is exactly why I created my online design school. After more than 25 years as an interior designer, I have distilled my design process into clear, easy-to-follow courses that take you step by step through combining colours, balancing patterns and adding texture, so you can decorate with confidence and creativity.

And right now, my January Sale is on. You can save a huge 60% on my transformational courses, designed to completely change how you approach your home and how it makes you feel. If you are ready to embrace your creativity and deepen your passion for interior design  comment ULTIMATE and I will send you all the details.
Think Maximalism is ‘too much’, too messy, or only Think Maximalism is ‘too much’, too messy, or only for other people? 

I’m here to tell you: maximalism isn’t chaotic. It’s just misunderstood.

Once you understand how colour and pattern work together, decorating like a maximalist stops feeling intimidating and starts feeling instinctive. Your home starts feeling like you.

If you want to design your home with confidence, my Ultimate Interiors Bundle is exactly what you need. It includes three self-paced online courses that take you inside my design process, teaching you how to use colour and pattern so you can make bold choices that actually work, again and again. 

Right now, the Ultimate Interiors Bundle is a massive 60% off. Buy now, enjoy the saving, and start whenever you are ready to create a home that is completely yours.

Comment ULTIMATE and I’ll DM you the link to find out more.
Welcome to my witchy era! Who else wants to harnes Welcome to my witchy era! Who else wants to harness the Year of the Horse and use this dynamic energy to manifest your best year yet! 

A vision board is like a compass that will lead your goal settings and intentions with total clarity. To prepare i like to take lots of long walks and meditate on what it is so want more of in my life while gratefully letting go of what no longer serves me. 

Join me Wednesday for a live webinar on how to I create a Vision board that will ignite your passion and motivation to live a bold, creative and colourful life! Comment VB26 for the link.
Dark and moody colours can feel intimidating, but Dark and moody colours can feel intimidating, but my TV snug shows just how well they can work. The deep tones soften the space and create a calm, cocooning atmosphere, perfect for evenings spent watching TV, or retreating from the day.

Contrary to what you might think, this room really comes into its own in winter. Low light and long evenings make the colour feel enveloping and cosy. It’s a space that invites you to slow down, sink in, and make yourself comfortable.

I sampled so many different paints but Cordoba by Little Greene was the perfect choice for this room. It’s full of depth and warmth, and just the right amount of drama. 

And if you’re thinking about taking the leap yourself, my tip is: don’t fight the natural light you have, lean into it. Don’t be shy about colour drenching walls, woodwork and ceiling so the room feels seamless and intentional. In my snug, that richness is what makes it feel cosy and complete.

There’s no place I’d rather be on chilly evenings.
How do I explain this feeling to a minimalist? To How do I explain this feeling to a minimalist?

To some people this might look like too much, but for me, maximalism isn’t excessive, it’s pure self expression. I decorate my home to reflect the way I live and that’s full of bold uplifting, joy-giving colour. Every patterned textile, every artwork, every joyful little object earns its place because it makes me feel happy. 

And if I’m being honest a neutral room doesn’t make me feel calm, it makes me feel slightly depressed. My home lifts my mood, fires my creativity and gives me a little thrill every single day.

Now tell me… are you Team Minimal or Team Maximal? And what makes your heart sing at home?
There’s something about walking that has quietly h There’s something about walking that has quietly held me together this past year.

When life threw its challenges my way, my anxiety went into overdrive. I lost clarity, my head was foggy, and the overwhelm shut me down. But walking, one step in front of the other, slowly moved me in the right direction.

We all know walking is good for the body, but it’s also one of the most powerful tools for the mind. Moving helps process stuck emotions, those steady steps soothe racing thoughts, and the changing scenery opens up fresh ways of thinking. Being in nature grounds you. And the best part is, it’s free.

Whenever I’m preparing a new vision for my year or any creative project, I always start with a long solo walk. I take my journal, let the thoughts tumble out, and begin to find a clarity and direction again. Next step is to use my creativity to create a powerful vision board full of images that resonate with how I want to feel and who I want to be. Less of a to do list, more of an emotional reset. This works for me as it brings in the light, and more importantly keeps me inspired and motivated.

If you’re ready to gently clear the fog and get clear on what you want more of, my ‘Life in Colour Vision Board Masterclass’ is now on sale. I’m hosting on the 21st January, 7pm GMT (with a recorded replay available). Comment VB26 below and I’ll send you all the details. 

Can’t wait to see what we can create together this year!
Follow on Instagram
Sophie Robinson
  • © 2025 Sophie Robinson

    /
  • Contact/
  • About/
  • Design by MW

You're almost inside!

Leave me your best email to sign up for the Webinar

MG0001 Magnet Sophie using Tap 021 copy

You're almost inside!

Leave me your best email to sign up for the Webinar