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04 Jun 19

What makes a happy home?

blue bedrrom detail

Happiness… it’s what life is all about isn’t it? When we really get down to the nitty gritty and ask ourselves what we are doing all this for, it’s basically for that feeling of contentment and wellbeing, not only for us but the people around us too. I’m particularly interested in how our homes affect our feeling of happiness, what makes a house a home and then a home a happy one.

I’ve always been really sensitive to spaces, ever since I was small I quickly decided if a room had a happy vibe or not. But this is no sixth sense, it’s something we can all tap into. Over my 20 year career, I’ve been constantly shaping and honing what it is that makes a room feel great to be in, the way colour affects our mood, the right layout that makes us feel at ease and the objects, pictures and paintings that can take us to our happy place. But in this image-rich digital age, I think it’s all too easy to get disconnected from how a room makes you feel and dive right on in with how it looks. But that’s just the surface. You need to dig a little deeper to unlock the happiness – as we all know, beauty is only skin deep.

At home with interior designer Sophie Robinson. Her bright and cheery hallway has dramatic bluewalls painted in Lapis by Zoffany, blue patterned tiles by Claybrook and a bright Rose stair runner by Roger Oates

My hallway is decorated in my favourite blue and gives me such a happy feeling when I walk down the stairs in the morning or through the front door in the evening.

So when I was sent The GoodHome Report, a body of research commissioned by GoodHome by B&Q and carried out by the Happiness Research Institute, I literally jumped on it! Right now, with everything else that’s going on in life and politics, this is what we need more of! And what an incredible piece of stat it is too. Some 13,489 people, all across Europe, were canvassed about how they felt about their homes. People from different cultures, young and old, from different social economic backgrounds, renters and homeowners as well as passionate renovators, to people who want to turn the key on a new build, were all asked the same questions about how they feel about the spaces they live in and guess what, we all have more in common than you think! First up, the way we feel about our homes is integral to our happiness.

“Our home is holding who we are. Where we can truly be ourselves. It’s meant to be a place of restoration. We can completely let go and be our true selves.”

Lindsay Graham, psychologist and research specialist.

One of the key messages that shone out for me was how big a role our homes play in our happiness. If you are happy with your home you are almost certainly happy in life. Our homes are more important to our overall happiness than our incomes or job, three times more important than what we earn and five times more important than our job, our relationship and whether we have kids or not. Are you surprised by this? I was initially and then it totally made sense. Our home is the bedrock that launches us into each and every new day but its also a place to retreat to. But sadly 25% of people canvassed were not happy with the state of their homes.

What makes a happy home?

Lots of emotions are wrapped up in how we feel about our homes but the big five are pride, identity, comfort, safety and control. (I love the last one, I rarely feel in control in my own home!)

country kitchen in dark green with mid century modern ercol chairs and pink kitchen tiles. Reclaimed hexagon terracotta floor tiles complete the modern country look

My small north facing kitchen was the least impressive part of our home. However when we relised we couldn’t afford to extend I embraced the rooms limitations by painting it this delicious dark green which mirrors the greenery outside the window.

Bigger isn’t necessarily better!

A feeling of space and connection to outside space ranked high in the polls and interestingly 20% of us say that our homes don’t feel spacious, regardless of the size of it, so it’s more about the feeling of space rather than the size of it. We could save ourselves a fortune in loft conversions and side-returns if we just had our interiors better planned out and less cluttered perhaps.

You don’t need to own a home to feel happy

I think this is a surprise to us here in the UK where owning our home is the ultimate goal. Germany (ranked 2nd overall) is a nation where 50% of people rent. But its about stability and security that makes the difference here. If you feel you can stay at an address for ten years or longer you are going to feel happier as a result. The transitory nature of renting our flipping houses to better your options is not.  Learn to love the home you’re in!

This quote from the report really stood out to me from Meik Wiking who is not only the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute but also wrote the best selling ‘Little Book of Hygge’.

“Our research shows that often we look for happiness in the wrong places. Sometimes what we think makes us happy and what really makes us happy are not the same. The report builds on the belief that our homes shape our lives. They are where we let our guard down and connect with loved ones. In a world demanding more and more of our attention, our homes are where we can retreat and seek refuge”

Sweet Shop blue bedroom by Sophie Robinson

The bay window lets in loads of natural light and helps to make the room feel spacious. A collection of my favourite pictures, grouped over the bed lends a sense of personality and shows off my love of colour!

Five ways to make a happy home

Create space. The research proved that a sense of space was integral to a feeling of well-being but this didn’t mean more space. So organise the space you have, declutter and have efficient storage systems in place.

Don’t move, improve. Invest time and energy in improving your home and adapting it to your needs. See it as an investment in your happiness.

Invite people round. Our homes are happier when we fill them with people we love. It increases our sense of pride and makes an emotional connection to where we live. I’ve never heard a better excuse to have a party.

Brings the outside in. Connection to nature is a fast track way to increasing happiness levels. Even if you don’t have an outside space, greenery, houseplants and botanical prints will improve the overall feeling of wellbeing.

Express yourself. This is the drum that I like to beat! Ignore the trends, ignore what the neighbours think, use your home to explore your sense of style and love of colour! From painting a wall your favourite hue to collecting items that make you smile, what you say goes!

This blog post is part of a paid partnership with GoodHome by B&Q. For more information and fascinating insight about the GoodHome Report visit  www.diy.com/goodhome

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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. 💫

If you missed out, don’t panic, we’re already planning more dates in this dream of a design destination. Think: bold design, deep connection, sun-drenched inspiration, and the kind of joy that lingers long after you get home.

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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. 

In my exclusive online course How to Create a Maximalist Interior, I’ll guide you through my step-by-step design process—so you can confidently design a space that’s full of heart, soul, and style.

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Comment MAYJOY below and I’ll send you the link.

And yes, you’ll get a personal tour of my own technicolour home, so you can see exactly how I bring it all together.

Let’s unlock your dream home. One room at a time. 💥
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.

Just comment MAYJOY and I’ll pop the link over in your DMs.


#maximalisthome #colourfulhome #interiorinspo #designmyths #interiordesignadvice 
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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.

You feel confident, calmer. More you.

And if you’re ready to design a home that feels like you, my brilliant online course is here to help.

I walk you through how to bring your personal style to life — from choosing colours and mixing patterns, to making it all beautifully hang together. And right now, it’s got a whopping 25% off — but only until the end of this week! 🏃‍♀️

Simply comment MAYJOY and I’ll DM you the link to find out more.

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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