The use of external plaster or render goes back nearly 10,000 years. Its potential to effortlessly transform a tired old house into something sleek and sophisticated with a few waves of a plasterer’s arm is undoubtedly alluring. Combined with the use of external insulation this transformation can not only be aesthetic, but comfortable and sustainable too.
The same benefits also apply to new builds but be warned, rendering a house is hard to get right and even harder to keep looking good.
The benefits of rendering a house
Where many materials used for exterior cladding soften and look better with age, render rarely does. The moment it’s finished and perfect is when the render is at its best. However this can be avoided by careful design and specification.
Image credit: Future PLC/David Giles
1. It allows the building to breathe
To achieve your flawless vision you need to start with some physics and understand how your building breathes. The idea of a ‘breathing building’ may sound weird but all buildings absorb and release moisture; this is known as its breathability. This moisture is not from driving rain (although this contributes) but is mostly water vapour that cooking, showering and breathing produces.
This moisture generally moves from inside to outside through the walls of your home. Older buildings, especially without DPCs (Damp Proof Course) are very moisture permeable and rely on this to keep dry. Therefore the render you put on the outside of your house has to match the breathability of your existing walls or you will trap moisture within the structure and create a problem, resulting in looking at how to get rid of damp.
Image credit: Future PLC/Claire Lloyd Davies
2. It’s suitable for older buildings or modern properties
There are traditional and modern lime plasters that work really well with older buildings and more modern cavity walls also benefit from a vapour open (breathable) render to ensure you don’t get damp, and possibly mould, in your home.
If water does get trapped in your walls by a non-breathable render or exterior paint it can cause the top finish to blister and fail which looks like an outbreak of boils!
3. Good detailing ensures no cracking or staining
Getting breathability right is all about specification and is the first step. Next is to ensure you don’t get cracking or staining, this is all about good detailing.
As the temperature swings between day and night, summer and winter, buildings grow and shrink so carefully located expansion joints are needed to allow for movement between sections of render rather than in the render itself. This will stop your beautiful surface cracking.
Perhaps worse than cracking is weathering stains around windows, overhangs and gutters. Preventing this is again about careful detailing especially around windows and doors and ensuring your gutters are working properly.
4. It can improve thermal performance
Image credit: Future PLC/Robert Sanderson
If I’m being honest, I have mixed feelings about the appearance of render. It can be well done, but is often bland. However, I am a huge fan of render with exterior insulation. This is insulation fixed to the exterior of a house that is usually rendered to provide waterproofing.
Given that an average house loses about 40% of its heat through the walls, wrapping them up transforms both air tightness (reducing draughts) and thermal performance. It allows for a sustainable makeover without the expense and inconvenience of internal wall insulation, which means redoing most of the rooms after installation.
5. A professional installer will ensure a perfect finish.
It is important to do your research to understand the basics and crucially find a reputable, skilled installer. I always recommend visiting their previous projects and specifically something that was finished a few years ago as ageing is critical to successful render. When correctly installed and combined with some thoughtful design, external insulation will mean your home can look great, and be comfortable and affordable to heat.
Blue, pink and even yellow colours in a nursey are seemingly on their way out of fashion, as black nursery decor is taking off as the stylish, gender-neutral alternative.
With two children under 2 years, Interior designer, Lucy Sear-Barlow, is all too aware that practical function is more important than pretty aesthetics when it comes to researching nursery decorating ideas. However, the Creative Director at Barlow & Barlow Design, believes that doesn’t mean you have to turn down your decorating style-dial as you look forward to the arrival of your new tiny housemate.
Black nursery decor
Image credit: Pottery Barn
Skandi decorating ideas are always popular and trends such as farmhouse and bold colour schemes are making waves within interior waters. So, it’s no wonder striking black is the go-to colour choice for nursery schemes amongst decorators and designers right now.
‘Whilst I wouldn’t ever use too many big blocks of black in a scheme as it does absorb a lot of light, used sparingly on furniture legs, tablecloths, cushions, and vases it immediately makes schemes feel a bit edgier. It’s a way of giving some immediate attitude to a scheme,’ explains Lucy.
Black is already gardened a following of celebrity parents. Jools Oliver‘s son Buddy Bear has fun black pom-pom and superhero garlands highlighting a cool Nubie Kids house bed, while Dani Dyer has seriously cute animal prints with black frames on her new baby, Santiago’s wall.
Stacey Solomon‘s son Rex has his favourite animals; pandas as a featured motif in his nursery. The fury, and monochrome friends are teamed with black and white bed linen and a cosy Berber rug.
Lucy Sear-Balow tips for styling the black nursery trend
Lucy recently worked with the Norwegian manufacturer of children’s furniture Stokke to share her top tips for introducing the colour black into our family homes:
1. Use black as an accent colour
We often lean towards black as an accent colour for accessories at home. I have a bit of a penchant for animal print and black accessories work so well with a little bit of leopard print! I also love a gingham or big scale check; however, this can look very twee if done in colour, but a gingham in black immediately looks younger and cooler.
2. Black is a gender-neutral essential
Image credit: Instagram / @winterdaisy
Investing in children’s things that are in gender-neutral nursery shades such as black means that you can reuse everything for each child. Just like your wardrobe you will have to stare at your children’s things for a long time and so investing in smart and timeless colours like black means it will last through many fashion cycles and you will hopefully never tire of looking at it!
3. Style up the storage
With all the kit and caboodle that comes with children, some of it nice to look at and some not, the key to keeping it in some semblance of order is attractive black toy storage solutions.
Image credit: Nubie Kids
For me, the easiest and most achievable way to do this is through baskets. Whether cane, jute, or wicker, they are easy to come by, come in multiple sizes and most importantly suit every style of interior.
As soon as you sweep up the chaos of children’s plastic tat and hide it away in the nice basket suddenly all feels well again, and your house looks ordered and chic.
Furthermore, if you choose something beautifully designed in a timeless colour, such as black, it will look smart in the nursery, living room or kitchen no matter what fashions come and go and how many times you repaint your cabinetry.
Quotes can be an incredible source of motivation, especially when it comes to interior design.
These interior design quotes from designers and leaders both past and present are a source of inspiration, guidance and knowledge for experienced designers and newbies alike.
These wise interior design quotes from some of history’s most influential architects and interior designers, including Albert Hadley, Bunny Williams, and Zaha Hadid, are sure to inspire you.
Enjoy…
“Good design doesn’t date.” – Harry Seidler
“Architecture is inhabited sculpture.” – Constantin Brancusi
“A room is not a room without natural light.” – Louis Kahn
“We shape our homes and then our homes shape us.” – Winston Churchill
“The door handle is the handshake of the building.” – Juhani Pallasmaa
“The home should be the treasure chest of living.” – Le Corbusier
“No pattern should be without some sort of meaning.” – William Morris
“Interior decoration partly thrives on being social.” – Nicholas Haslam
“One should never be the oldest thing in one’s house.” – Patsy Stone
“The details are not the details. They make the design.” – Charles Eames
“Real comfort, visual and physical, is vital to every room.” – Mark Hampton
“I always put in one controversial item. It makes people talk.” – Dorothy Draper
“Dare to be different and unique but make sure you answer the brief ” – @amiconsulting
“Architecture is a visual art and the buildings speak for themselves.” – Julia Morgan
“Being identifiably ‘something’ will help you stand out from the crowd. ” – @RunForTheHillls
“Every room needs a touch of black, just as it needs one antique piece.” – Jan Showers
“I’d say the most important advice would be to network, network, network. ” – @chapter7design
“The best rooms have something to say about the people who live in them.” – David Hicks
“I am going to make everything around me beautiful—that will be my life.” – Elsie De Wolfe
“Be patient and positive. These things take time and do not happen overnight. ” – @noushkadesign
“Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.” – Frank Gehry
“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” – Steve Jobs
“Most importunely enjoy it and welcome to this fabulous world of interior design ” – @Twist_Interiors
“Underneath all I design lies the solid belief that beauty is a positive force.” – Barbara Barry
“Architecture starts when you carefully put two bricks together. There is begins.” – Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
“Good buildings come from good people and all problems are solved by good design.” – Stephen Gardiner
“If your client doesn’t already know they’re style be the one to help them find it ” – @atominteriors”
“Chandeliers are the marvels of drop-dead showiness, the jewelry of architecture.” – Peter York
“Be faithful to your own taste, because nothing you really like is ever out of style.” – Billy Baldwin
“To create an interior, the designer must develop an overall concept and stick to it.” – Albert Hadley
“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Design is knowing which ones to keep.” – Scott Adams
“A house is much more than a mere shelter—it should lift us emotionally and spiritually.” – John Saldino
“Architecture is the learned game correct and magnificent of forms assembled in the light.” – Le Corbusier
“Design is defined by light and shade, and appropriate lighting is enormously important. ” – Albert Hadley
“With plenty of self belief, ambition and hard work you can turn your passion into a career.” – @bhavintdesign
“Listen to the building and the project rather than impose a specific style and design to it ” – @AzouInteriors
“Architecture is really about well-being. I think that people want to feel good in a space.” – Zaha Hadid
“There are two things that make a room timeless: a sense of history and a piece of the future.” – Charlotte Moss
“My advice to new interior designers would be to have confidence in your ability and your vision ” – @mrs__w
“Whether spare or elaborate, harmonious moldings are the mark of a successful classical interior.” – Peter Pennoyer
“Design is a plan for arranging elements in such a way as best to accomplish a particular purpose.” – Charles Eames
“A room should never allow the eye to settle in one place. It should smile at you and create fantasy.” – Juan Montoya
“Furniture that is too obviously designed is very interesting often belongs only in museums.” – Milo Baughman
“Another word for minimalism is ‘elegance.’ Elegance is beautifully resolving an issue with minimal means.” – Tom Kundig
“True modernism always appears effortless but can only truly be achieved by exercising the utmost discipline.” – Waldo Fernandez
“When you’re building a room, you’re building character, and character is the strength and wisdom of a home.” – Rose Tarlow
“The principle of the design – the harmony, rhythm and balance are all the same with interior design.” – Venus Williams
“I like an interior that defies labeling. I don’t really want someone to walk into a room and know that I did it.” – Bunny Williams
“Form follows function—that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union.” – Frank Lloyd Wright
“All rooms ought to look as if they were lived in, and to have so to say, a friendly welcome ready for the incomer.” – William Morris
“For a house to be successful, the objects in it must communicate with one another, respond and balance one another.” – Andrée Putman
“Don’t undersell yourself – you have worked hard for your qualifications, your clients have come to you for those skills ” – @reynedesign
“Design for the present, with an awareness of the past, for a future which is essentially unknown.” – Norman Foster
“The key to being successful is being really practical and totally understanding how your clients live and what their needs are” – @Urban_Grain
“A modernist seeks rigor and honesty beyond ‘form follows function,’ creating spaces that transcend enclosure and become an art form.” – Lee F. Mindel
“Tonal and subtle color combinations allow us to mix furniture and pieces from different eras together to create a cohesive narrative.” – Rafael de Cárdenas
“There is a real sense of perfection of scale in the neoclassical period. When mastered, it becomes easy to adapt to any kind of style.” – Jean-Louis Deniot
“It has to be a subtle, un-strident mix, and the key, of course, is getting the personality of both house and those living in it right.” – Nicky Haslam
“Innovation is often the ability to reach into the past and bring back what is good, what is beautiful, what is useful, what is lasting.” – Sister Parish
“Classicism is about remembering instead of forgetting. I’m interested in making the old new and seeing what is modern in historical things.” – Thomas O’Brien
“Get paid for your time and for your work, otherwise you will be pursuing an expensive hobby rather than a professional interior design career. ” – @adriennechinn
“Minimalism is designing to allow the art, the books, the view, the people—whatever matters most to the inhabitant—to be the soul of the space.” – Deborah Berke
“Learn to look not just with your eyes but with your heart. Find the things that connect with you. How else will you know how to design your home?” – Kelly Hoppen
“Listening to a client when taking a brief is one of the most important skills you can have as an interior designer and one that is often over-looked” – @myintdesign
“The best traditional houses are anchored by a low-key sophistication—elegance and refinement balanced by understatement and an abundance of comfort.” – Gil Schafer
“Rawness and refinement are not opposite ends of a luxurious spectrum. They are two complementary features with which to populate a luxe environment.” – Kelly Weartsler
“If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” – William Morris
“Luxury is when it seems flawless, when you reach the right balance between all elements. Understated theatricality – that is what my luxury is all about.” – Jean-Louis Deniot
“Don’t be tempted just to pick any job, really go with what feels right in the aesthetic as you need to create beautiful things that you love and relate to. ” – @osborninteriors
“I want to create a place, like a little island, where you can have all your things around you and be comfortable and read a book and even sleep overnight.” – Patricia Urquiola
“Design is coming to grips with one’s real lifestyle, one’s real place in the world. Rooms should not be put together for show but to nourish one’s wellbeing.” – Albert Hadley
“Classicism is not to say it is staid—quite the contrary, as it is rooted in the classic elements that write the rules and then allow you to reinterpret them.” – Brian McCarthy
“You create your own decoration. You choose your color, you choose your mood…. If you are depressed, you put some bright yellow and suddenly you are happy.” – Phillip Starck
“Chairs are uniquely the best expression of design. They encompass more of the challenges by which I live and work than any other single component of furniture.” – Vladimir Kagan
“We often think of the principal responsibility of a modern interior, particularly one in a project with a beautiful site or a great view, as staying out of the way” – Steven Harris
“It’s the antithesis of ‘decor’ and the opposite of ‘designed.’ It’s full of personality and comfort. It’s collecting and layering to create a style entirely one’s own.” – Roman Alonso
“A designer has a duty to create timeless design. To be timeless you have to think really far into the future, not next year, not in two years but in 20 years minimum.” – Phillip Starck
“Designers and people in general are too attracted by ‘new’, but nothing ages more quickly than ‘newness’. All my objects reflect [a] marriage between past and present.” – Marcel Wanders
“In modernism there’s a certain openness, transparency, and relationship to context, how it deals with the pragmatics of the situation—all of these things are part of it.” – Richard Meier
“Integrating reclaimed materials into the architecture—among them, wood or stone flooring, rough-hewn beams, and parged walls—creates a very engaging and tactile environment.” – Darryl Carter
“We’ve found that bringing back objects from travels can add an almost totemic resonance to a space, invoking a different perspective and recalling that nomadic state of mind” – Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch
“Yves Saint Laurent’s fantastically eclectic rue de Babylone residence inspires me for all those überchic clients of ours today who follow their own paths and make their own rules” – Jamie Drake
“An iconoclast has vision. They mix things up and make you see things in a fresh way. They also often have a wicked sense of humor, which makes them so fun to sit next to at dinner.” – Miles Redd
“A combination of texture, soft patinas, warm woods, and old stone mixed with down-filled furniture, graphic textiles, and ceramics creates spaces that are easy, comfortable, and warm.” – Mark Cunningham
“In the case of not obeying the rules of design, something becomes incredibly personal. It becomes your own, and it becomes also something that nobody else shares because it’s your own eye.” – Robert Couturier
“Proper proportions, grounded compositions, and identifiably correct details make me feel rooted in time, place, and culture, but they also free me up to dive into decorative flights of fancy.” – Alexa Hampton
“To design for a globe-trotting client is always an exciting adventure. I love to use vintage ikats from the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. And exotic tiles always add an air of fantasy to a space.” – Martyn Lawrence Bullard
“Minimalist design is deceptively complicated. Those clean lines and unbroken planes don’t come easily. Cornices, moldings, trim, and the like were invented to hide construction imperfections.” – Russell S. Groves
“I think my unrelenting drive for order is what makes me a modernist. It’s about creating an atmosphere with an economy of means and allowing anything extra or unnecessary to fall by the wayside.” – Thad Hayes
“Ultimately it’s about working with clients so they are comfortable and excited about all the new changes that are going to happen in their home and with trades to ensure the project is delivered! ” – @fbainteriors
“Furniture is needed for practical reasons, and because it must be there, it may as well be as pleasant as possible to look at, and in a less definable psychological way, comforting to the spirit.” – Edward J Wormley
“What is quality? Quality design must have a sense of authenticity. My work is not cutting edge, it is not supposed to be, but sometimes, the middle of the road is the most dangerous place to walk.” – David Collins
“Being an iconoclast is a state of mind and heart. It’s having a free spirit, finding inspiration everywhere, and not minding rules. It’s appreciating the raw and natural, finding beauty in anomalies.” – Kelly Wearstler
“The here and now defines modernity—being present in the moment while equally aware of past experiences and the likely future, thus able to synthesize this knowledge into a coherent and inimitable design.” – Alan Wanzenberg
“I like to try to achieve a calm serenity in my work. I want to create interiors that allow furniture, art, and, of course, architecture space to breathe—but there must always be a warmth in the atmosphere.” – Rose Uniacke
“Minimalists can answer the what, where, and why for everything they own. It’s designing to allow the art, the books, the view, the people—whatever matters most to the inhabitant—to be the soul of the space.” – Deborah Berke
“From the primitive crafts I discover to the changing colors of the sand dunes of Namibia as the day progresses, the constant awareness while traveling brings more depth and a broader color palette to design.” – Vicente Wolf
“Get to understand and know the market you are trying to build your business in and above all listen to your clients as it is important to create a scheme that suits them not you but have a little bit of you in it too… ” – @SassyProperty
“I love creating rooms that are layered, cozy, and familiar—filled with deep overstuffed sofas, venerable brown furniture, a friendly mix of patterns, colors, collections, and paintings, and carpets that look better with age.” – Richard Keith Langham
“To be a modernist is a way of living, and how one approaches life. It’s not just about having the latest design from Milan, because if you know what you’re doing you can have an antique piece that feels very modern in an environment.” – Steven Volpe
“The essence of interior design will always be about people and how they live. It is about the realities of what makes for an attractive, civilized, meaningful environment, not about fashion or what’s in or what’s out. This is not an easy job.” – Albert Hadley
“First and foremost, travel to exotic places informs me as a designer as to pattern, color, and texture usually expressed in local crafts. It’s wonderful to work with the traditional artisans to produce a design element, then use it in a modern way.” – Richard Mishaan
“The basis of being a modernist and designing for one is clarity. Achieving the latter requires distilling an idea to its elements, and then carefully calibrating proportion, light, and materiality to most honestly reflect the way the client wants to live.” – Ron Radziner
“Nothing adds soul to a space like a distinctive wall covering. It envelops the room in such unique spirit. Designs that may read as too loud in larger quantities are a great choice to accentuate in moderation, such as on a ceiling or one wall. In smaller doses, they evoke just the right amount of drama.” – Kelly Weartsler
Woah. And there we have it. Over 100 incredible interior design quotes. Which ones are your favourites?
One thing is for sure, there’s enough interior design blogs on the web to please everyone.
There are so many amazing bloggers out there, doing an awesome job at giving advice, inspiration, motivation and stories across all spectrums of design.
Blogs can be great sources for inspiration for interior designers and consumers alike. From finding unique ideas for quirky spaces to creating more accessible living spaces – there is an interior design blog for every need.
This list of 51 (I tried to get it down to 50 but just couldn’t cut it down anymore) best interior design blogs isn’t based on metrics such as number of followers, amount of traffic or anything like that.
It features interior design blogs that I personally read and bloggers I highly respect. They all feature truly amazing articles, images, guides that I’m sure you’ll love too. Also, they are not ranked (I’ve put them in alphabetical order) as they are all amazing bloggers.
I’d love to hear your favourite interior design blogs too!
Elena has created an incredible platform of ideas, advice and interior design inspiration inspiration for decorating your house with +Deco. A lover of the best pieces of design, she is a strong believer that great design doesn’t have to cost the earth and is on a journey to bring you the best of design right to your inbox.
Anika’s mission to inspire and encourage everyone to fill their lives with DIY no matter the experience level really strikes a chord with me who struggles with most DIY I attempt. Her project guides are both categorised by difficulty and also effortless to follow so really anyone can complete the project.
If you want to combine wellbeing and interior design then Anita’s blog is the place to start. As a licensed family and marriage therapist turned interior designer she inspires you to create empowering spaces in your home.
Based in Mumbai, Rittika’s passion for some decor shines through in every post. From following along her interior design project updates and room reveals to trends, tips and ideas. She’s been on an incredible journey and you can join in anytime.
Beth doesn’t post all that often. But what I can tell you is that every post is 100% worth the wait. The archives are a treasure trove of inspiration and interior design ideas for your home. I particularly loved her post about her journey as an interior designer, truly incredible.
Michiel offers a soul-infused southern inspired, filled to the brim with inspiration for almost every home. From home tours to virtual shopping, Michiel has you completely covered with all your home decor needs and more.
As well as being one of the nicest people you will ever meet, Juan offers interiors-lovers advice on how you decorate your home with both style as well as boosting your wellbeing making it one of the best interior design blogs. Be happy, and love your home. He also runs #InteriorsChat which you should definitely check out.
Carmeon has one of my favourite mission statements ever, “MY PURPOSE IS TO NOT ONLY DISCOVER THE BEAUTY IN ALL THINGS, BUT TO ALSO HELP OTHERS FIND THAT BEAUTY IN THE THINGS THAT SURROUND THEM EVERY DAY”. Her interior design blog truly lives up to her purpose. She does not hold back with her photos, which only serve to inspire every reader.
Cate started her blog sharing simple interior design for everyday living and has built upon this to prioritise simplicity, sustainability and design built to last. She manages to create stylish, minimal spaces that you will want to experience and bring into your home. If you don’t end up pinning almost every image on her blog you must have some real self-control.
A stylist that enjoys every aspect of interiors, Charis provides you with an abundance of inspiration for your own home. Unique finds from design shows to sustainable interior design ideas, you have a never ending supply of ideas coming out of Charis’ blog.
One of my frequent go-tos for interior design blogs, Charlotte offers everything from how to use the latest colour trends in your home to productivity-boosting interior design styles. She shares her own inspiration for her own apartment to really bring to life the inspiration she shares.
For Silvia, interior design is much more than just aesthetics. Her mission is to make interiors great for both wellbeing and the planet. Her works is always inspired by nature and sustainable at its core. You’ll come away with new perspectives and also a sense of calm.
Running a interior design blog in one language is impressive enough, but running it in two is another level. That is exactly what Vanessa does on Damask et Dentelle, offering ideas and inspiration on decor, interior design, style and life. Just be careful you don’t get lost in her amazing writing, you could lose hours if not days.
To call Delali a colour queen, if anything, is an understatement. The colour loving interior designer shares the favourite finds, interviews with inspiring designers, and colour advice for your home. If you are looking for something bold and colourful then you need to get involved with Decor by Delali.
Take a trip of the journey of Paul, the interior stylist come jack-of-all-crafty-trades. He takes you on a true craft journey whilst inspiring you to get crafty yourself. Whilst you’re there, check out his Etsy store.
I’m always so impressed with how much incredible content Sam publishes on a regular basis. From budget-friendly garden ideas to updating her own kitchen for just £10. You’ll come away with more ideas than you could possibly do in your own home. Her down to earth and approachable style will have you losing yourself in her interior design blog for days if you aren’t careful.
Ever been watching a movie and love the decor of someones house and wanted to know how to recreate it in your own home. Well you need Film & Furniture in your life! Paula has created a truly unique experience that helps you find those iconic pieces in whatever film you are watching.
If you can DIY it then Becky has you covered. Her super-actionable step by step guides allows even a beginner to complete with ease. Recording every change they make to their house, however small, shows just what can be possible in your own home.
The award-winning London based interior design blogging duo, David & Mark have created a haven of content around their flat. Featuring the latest industry events, hottest trends as well as need to know info on renting in the city, it’s so easy to get lost in the incredible archives of posts.
Interior designers Beth and Jon, who left the busy life of London to start their new life and business in Leeds have a truly amazing blog. Their actionable guides, often featuring their own home, give you more ideas than you could dream of having for your own home. The only problem, where to start.
Sarah’s goal with her interior design blog is to inspire Haven Makers daily while seeking to inspire women to love themselves and their home with grace. And she smashes this goal out of the park with incredible guides and free printables. Go check it out.
Kirsty does the interiors research so you don’t have to. She curates the best tips, advice and inspiration all in her interior design blog so you don’t have to spend hours elsewhere trying to find the perfect product or style for your own home.
An award-winner and genuinely incredible person! Medina deserves every success she gets, her blog is absolutely filled the brim with easy to follow tutorials from upcycling to woodworking to IKEA hacks. If you like getting your hands dirty and trying new DIY things – then make sure you sign up. Also, if you are renting and want to make your place the best without losing your deposit, make sure you check out her book.
The software engineer by day, self-taught woodworker by night, Ashley showcases her DIY and woodworking projects to inspire you to dream big. From small modern coat racks to an industrial coffee table – whatever you want to make, Ashley has you sorted.
Everything Rebecca writes is for you. Her goal is to inspire you to have a home you are happy in and proud of – and she achieves this and more! Decorating, DIY, organising – it all adds up to turning your house into a home and reading Rebecca’s journey makes it even easier to achieve this.
Be careful when you enter the interior notes of Mariana, you might never leave. The Italian interior designer writes about her own inspiration, the latest trends and literally everything interior design. The simplicity of the design means before you know it you’ve read hundreds of posts and lost hours.
Jacquin has created something amazing with her blog. With an abundance of decorating inspiration, fine artist interviews, latest design trends and incredible features on the best products. Her warm and contemporary aesthetic shines through in every post.
Since Hubertienne was first nominated for an Amara Interior Blog Award, I’ve been in love with her blog! From colourful finishing touches and trends, to project profiles and event round ups. There is endless inspiration.
I fell in love with Jungalow the first time I set eyes on it. The design of Justina’s blog is amazing and it just sets the scene for her amazing writing. There is nothing plain, beige or boring about her blog, its an abundance of fun, creativity and good vibes.
Live Pretty on a Penny is a home decor lovers and DIYers dream! Since launching in 2012, Erin has gone from strength to strength with her blog now becoming a go-to destination for all things DIY projects and interior design inspiration.
Lucy was one of the first bloggers I had the honour of working with when I was at Amara and I’ve been an avid follower ever since. If you need some colour inspiration (for which she is award winning) then you need to start reading this blog.
No list of interior design blogs is complete without Kate from Mad About The House. Filled with more inspiration than you could think possible. Now with her own book, joint podcast and design consultancy. There’s not much Kate doesn’t know about interiors.
Interior designer Marie uses her blog to showcase her clear depth of knowledge of the interior design world. A Feng Shui expert, her blog showcases everything from before and after design projects to colour specific advice to design inspiration for all types of homes.
What Sophie has achieved since launching My Warehouse Home is nothing short of extraordinary. The magazine is now read in over 100 countries, a fully-fledged design service and book all showing the wonders of loft living and vintage industrial style. If you haven’t already, go check it out.
A fellow introvert. Repurpose and Upcycle is Lindsey’s creative outlet. If you are after simple DIY’s, budget friendly home projects, refinishing furniture and scoring vintage finds, then you need to subscribe to Lindsey’s blog.
There are not many people I know that truly understand colour as well as Leslie. And she has built a thriving design practise off the back of her impeccable style and eye for design. Her blog (and books) is filled with inspiration which will leave you wanting to make so many improvements to your home.
SG Style is where small spaces, little hold house and moody eclectic interiors are a big deal. Shavonda has really honed in her niche and her style shines through in everything she does. An amazing blog filled with inspiration.
Soonafternoon is the definition of natural beauty. Join Barbara where she seeks to explore the nature of beauty, the beauty of nature and the artistry of design.
Aoife has worked on design projects all over the world and this experience has allowed her to set up Style So Simple as a way to bring affordable design to everyone, no matter where you are. Her ethos that beautiful interior does not need to be expensive. The inspiration you get from her blog will leave you with ideas to improve every part of your house.
One of my all time favourites. Kimberly’s eclectic-boho style has drawn in millions of readers, won her multi awards and there is no wonder why. From her DIY projects to her styling advice, Kimberly has become a household name in interior design blog circles.
Velvet explores the vast space of inspiring ideas and possibilities with an open mind and the conviction that good design begins with an even better story. If you want to pursue a more meaningful life, embrace slow living and delight in all the little things in life that matter most then you need to subscribe to Te Esse.
If you didn’t already guess, Ingrid’s blog looks as good as the content she writes about. The Norwegian journalist’s (in Italy) blog represents the feeling of cosiness and calm with a Nordic simplistic, minimalistic style. If you want some scandi style inspiration then there is no better place to look.
Paula is awesome. I’ve had the honour of working with her a few times and she knows her stuff. Her blog is rammed full of inspiration and super actionable guide. Her design service is incredible so make sure you check it out.
I’ve had the true honour of meeting Jodie and Julie on two occasions at the Interior Blog Award ceremonies. Not only are they some of the nicest people you will meet they have also created one of the best interior design blogs ever! From organisation tips to DIY projects and everything in between these two lovely ladies are an absolute must-follow.
Nicola shares how she has created the spaces in her own house to inspire others to what is possible. Featuring small interiors businesses and her favourite suppliers makes turning these ideas into reality in your own home is super easy. And to think, it all started when she bought a green velvet sofa.
Abi shares inspiration for simple, relaxed living for your home. She focuses on minimalism, muted colours and understated, considered design. From home tours and brand features to decorating project guides it is so easy to get lost in Abi’s blog. So make sure you subscribe to never miss out.
The lover of power tools handy woman Timisha has created an incredible home decor blue as she remodels her home without breaking the bank. With step-by-step guides on painting, DIY, home maintenance and more. Whatever you want to do, Timisha will have a guide for it.
Athina and Amy are on a mission to show that great style doesn’t have to come at a cost. Only started in 2016, their interior design studio and award-winning blog has gone from strength to strength really owning their niche within the market. Two of the best people in the interior blogging world.
A blog as unique as it’s writer, Vicki has created one of the most helpful blogs I have ever read. Wheel Chic Home is a hub of inspiration of interior ideas for dealing with disability in the home. Product specific suggestions, room design ideas and tips on how to future proof your accessible home – Vicki has you covered.
Interior designer by day, super-star blogger by night. I love everything about Whitney’s blog. It’s filled with tips, tricks and ideas for every room in the house you won’t be disappointed if you spent days lost in her content.
Great design doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg. Nicole’s mission is to offer high street items to create affordable designs for everyone to enjoy. She guides you how to put your own stamp on your home and feel inspired to make your home beautiful.
These are my favourite interior design blogs, what are yours? There are thousands of interior design blogs all over the world catering to every niche within our huge industry. New ones popping up every month, including The Wellbeing Style, enhancing wellbeing through home styling, make sure you check it out.
