We can all be swept away at the start of a design project by the latest ideas and innovations but often the best way to create a lifelong home that comes from the heart is to look past all of this and craft your own story mindful of creating a characterful, cohesive and open space. Here are the strategies that we use at nelisignature that can help you to execute your design ideas to their full potential and avoid the pitfalls.

Balance should be the watchword of every space, ensuring that each item is thoughtfully curated for the room. Anything from a rug that just doesn’t stretch through the space, fizzling out as you reach the ends, to all neutral walls and furnishings can leave you with a sense that there is something missing. The home should be your respite from the mundane day to day of working life rather than its mirror. On the other hand, signature features such as eye-catching chandeliers, artwork or bold colour and texture fabrics should be seen as just that, focal points that accentuate and give life to a space without taking it over. Instead, think about how to make use of every inch of natural light to maintain a more open feel.

A key part of a characterful home is to introduce pieces from your own history, local area or travels however it is easy to fall into the trap of endlessly acquiring crafts. Really focus on the few that go together and that you truly love as they will always just work. Ultimately, it is about your own lifestyle and personality not about the ideal show home which is impossible to maintain with family life. Take the time to work out a really detailed brief with big picture ideas that are flexible enough to accommodate different uses of the space for decades to come. Once you have that original plan, stick to it and trust those initial instincts, it will take time but it will always come together in the end.

Maintain that sense of cosiness too with hideaway pockets in the space but make sure that you have planned for what suits and opens up the space rather than making it feel small and cramped. Having items that are constantly jostling for space and attention are the worst of all worlds. Not everything can be a showstopper and you cannot love everything, what matters is how you feel when it all comes together. If all of this is starting to get a bit overwhelming for both the mind and the pocket, sustainability can be the best way to save on cost and ensure usability for the long term whilst being considerably better for the planet.

Finally, the secret is to make sure each scheme works together so that the rooms are connected and the house flows as one space. This can mean prioritising warm lighting throughout the home, using cohesive colours and textures throughout different spaces instead of accent walls and co-ordinating fabrics to avoid washing the room out by reusing the same one. The end to the dreaded matchy-matchy look.

At nelisignature, we believe that a designer can help you to plan thoroughly and catch problems early. It may be as simply as measuring the space so that furniture fits in just right, maintains its symmetry and can float throughout the room comfortably. This can give you the confidence to take risks and make your home your own so that you can truly enjoy living there. We wish you all the best on your design journey.