Interior design trends for your new home

By our guest blogger Fiona Woodward-Kelly, Interior Design and Property Marketing at Woodward-Kelly & Co Ltd 

It’s very exciting buying your first home and if you’re buying a new house from a house builder it will be brand new, clean bright, well-designed, white and already decorated – turn your key in the door and move in. A blank canvas! This can also be quite daunting if you’re starting out with maybe just a few pieces of furniture you already own or have been given to you by kind family and friends to save on your initial outlay. Where do you begin? 

I am lucky that I design and create show homes for a living. I start from scratch buying everything from new and I work hard to ensure everything coordinates together. This however, for many new home owners, is not a very realistic option as most people have ‘things’, ‘belongings’, ‘precious mementos’ or what could be called ‘clutter’ – where do these fit in your brand new home? 

Creating a look for your new home 

My advice is to try to think about a style and colours you like. Look at current trends as they influence everything you can buy in the high street shops. Maybe there is a particular clothing brand you like? Often they will have a ‘home’ section and its likely you’ll be drawn to the style and design of their homeware too. 

I like to keep in touch with trends to ensure that the show homes I create for my clients are fresh, modern and appealing to visitors.  

Four current design trends 

Some current trends for you to look at and ones that I think would work well in your new freshly decorated home as well as with your existing belongings are: 

• Create an eclectic mix of bright coloured, patterned and floral fabrics. Bold paint colours with both modern and old pieces of furniture. Be brave – not everything has to coordinate! 
• Go for a ‘Scandi’ look which is inspired by our Danish/Swedish neighbours who have a wonderful ethos of good design. Simple, functional and beautiful – wall decoration is plain, light bright and neutral using natural materials. 
• Feeling bold? Choose some feature wall papers of 60’s and 70’s geometric patterns and bright colours into a ready decorated room on one wall only – the backdrop behind the headboard in your bedroom. 
• Paint walls in warm neutral whites and greys but add sparkle with metallic dressing – golds,silvers and bronzes. 

Getting started 

To help you on your way: 

• Use apps like ‘Pinterest’, ‘Houzz’ and ‘Clippings’ to search for inspiration and ideas, trends and colours, styles that complement each other and ones will work with your taste and belongings. 
• Paint manufacturers, fabric companies and wallpaper suppliers produce booklets and give advice on current trends, colours and how to put colours together – e.g. Dulux colour of the year 2019 is ‘Spiced Honey’ a warm amber shade reflecting a new mood of positivity and optimism – a desire to ‘let the light in’ and their website gives you some great ideas how to use it. 
• If you’re nervous at first, buy the larger, costlier items such as a sofa, in a neutral colour and add colours with fabrics, cushions and art. The smaller items are cheaper to change when you want a change. 

I studied interior design 30 years ago and have worked in the industry ever since, I am still being inspired and learning every day by everything around me. I look at nature, fashion, different cultures, art and of course other interiors.  

There is no right and wrong way in interior design, just create something you feel comfortable in and enjoy!….. 

For more information about the services Fiona offers please visit www.woodward-kelly.co.uk. 

If you would like to find out more about shared ownership, our team will be happy to help. Email us at newhomes@cerrishomes.co.uk or give us a call on 01782 854748.