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01 Aug 14

Ways to display and the Law of Grouping

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7f93c21e652d7b7d19b6986a9057cc51

A collection of vintage mirrors grouped all together makes this room feel glam. Image from Graham and Green

There’s no better way to add a punch of personality to your room than creating a feature from a personal collection. The one thing to avoid at all costs is a home that looks like it’s ripped from a page in a catalogue. Make your house a home by adding a dash of individuality, a collection of objects that are unique to you, that tell a story. It can be as easy as a collection of pictures of your favourite people.

Georgica-Pond-inspiration-photo-525x752

A single colour, like blue will help give your collections a unified look

Every room needs a focal point, somewhere that draws your attention and interests the eye. Rooms feel just niggly if there are random bits and bobs, bobbing around the room like flotsam like jetsam. Ladies and gentleman…drum roll… let me introduce you to the Law of Grouping!

So you have a collection of family photos, gorgeous! Now I think they look fab if you group lots of them all together. I think a selection of different frames look more interesting (I’m never a fan of matchy matchy) but pick a theme. For example all-white frames or all-metallic, all-mirror or all-wood. A totally random mix never hangs well together. If you’re a real stylista then you’ll simply have to print out all your photos in black and white. This always looks sophisticated and means your prints will look great in any colour scheme.

cf4f7da2f6b2b13eeb73a21ee8cfefdfA group of photos look good on a designated surface like a circular table, a grand piano, a book case, or mounted together on a wall. They don’t look good on windowsills or on top of the TV. If you’ve ever done any of these, go to the bottom of the class!

Sally Conran

A relaxed grouping of pictures and objects by Sally Conran

You can apply the law of grouping to other items too. I love a collection of framed prints grouped together to fill a wall. You can be orderly by choosing a collection of prints of the same size and displaying symmetrically, or go bananas group a medley of different shapes and sizes. No surprises that that’s the way I roll, it just looks more individual, like a personal collection that’s grown gradually and organically over time. You can even add to it, which you can never do with a collection of matching prints. Again I think it’s good to think of a theme so they look like a cohesive collection. Think about framing them in a similar colour, or pick a topic like flowers, or an artistic style like Scandi graphic design.

Choose a theme if you are grouping artwork together on a wall

Choose a theme if you are grouping artwork together on a wall

The same theory can be rolled out to decorative ornaments. Create a tablescape with items of varying shapes and heights. Again choose a theme either by colour code or style, like 60’s pottery, blue glass, or natural textures.With all these displays the trick is to keep free and fluid and don’t be afraid to jiggle and re-jiggle your items until you are happy with the composition. In the stylists industry there’s even a word for this science. It’s called ‘tweaking’ and us stylists, do it a lot!

Arrange your items loosely for am effortlessly stylish lived in look. emmas.blogg.se

Arrange your items loosley for am effortlessly stylish lived in look.
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So have fun creating your personal displays, scour car boot sales, chazza shops, as well as your favourite high street stores or art shows until you can create your own personal display that makes your home pop with personality!

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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!
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