Interiors Q&A

House by Urban Splash interior designer Rachel Thomas answers your biggest interior design questions for 2021

 

 

IN A RECENT INTERACTIVE STORY on its Instagram page, House by Urban Splash asked its followers to send in their questions for interior designer, Rachel Thomas (pictured above).

Rachel is the experienced, creative professional behind the looks of many House by Urban Splash and Urban Splash properties – including new homes at Wirral Waters’ East Float.

She tackled 10 questions on topics ranging from clever storage solutions to incorporating Japandi styles.

1. Which colour palettes are trending right now?

When it comes to trends, I don’t think there is much place for them in the home. Look to them for inspiration, yes, but focus more on making your home a place that you love to spend time in.

If you like maximalism – go for maximalism. If you want a pink wall – paint a pink wall. If yellow makes you happy – choose yellow.

Don’t worry about whether the styles or colours you choose are on trend or not. Your home is your real life haven – not a square on somebody’s Instagram feed. Go for whatever brings you joy!

2. How can I decorate the walls of a rented property?

First and foremost, talk to your landlord. Never, ever, decorate a rented property without speaking to them first – we don’t want you to lose your deposit!

If your landlord doesn’t allow painting, there’s plenty of temporary solutions you can explore to make your rented property feel more like a home.

Vinyl coverings are great option. You can buy them from shops including Manchester-based Jes Rose. They can be added to walls, bathroom tiles, and kitchen surfaces to brighten them up – and they can be removed as and when you’re ready to move out.

If you want to hang artwork or photographs on your wall without causing damage, you can also use things like Command Strips too. And remember, you don’t have to just focus on the walls to add character and colour to your rented space – you could always use your soft furnishings like cushions and duvet colours.

For more inspiration, there’s a really good Instagram page called @howirent_, set up by home blogger Medina of @grillodesigns. She’s big on interior design and finding innovative ways to spruce up rented spaces.

3. Best places to shop for interiors in Liverpool?

Greenery is a must in any home, and our first stop in Liverpool would be Root Houseplants at The Bluecoat – there is no better place to green up your gaff.

Before you leave Liverpool city centre’s oldest building, be sure to check out the Bluecoat Display Centre. Internationally recognised for contemporary craft and design, it also runs talks and workshops if you fancy trying your hand at something new.

Last but not least, as well as its amazing online furniture store, Utility on Bold Street is the perfect place to pick up small accessories, decorative objects and gifts.

4. How can you create a home office in a dining room alcove?

In the New Islington show home, we featured the Arnie.M. – a beautiful, modular workspace, made in Manchester. It would be great for a flexible dining room/home office set up as the work top neatly folds away so you can easily hide your working area when it’s time for dinner.

5. How do I upcycle budget furniture to make it look more expensive?

I’m really into upcycling furniture, I take inspiration from Instagram ‘upcyclers’. Instagram account @_homeofshade is a great page to visit. It’s run by Shade Shannon – she does loads of DIY projects and has her own YouTube channel too.

We also love @ikeahackersofficial for ideas on how to personalise that Kallax unit we know you all have in your spare room.

 

 

6. Any clever storage tips for small rooms?

A great tip is to find furniture with built-in storage. In the bedroom, look for beds with underbed storage or even with storage space in the headboard.

If you’ve already got your main pieces of furniture, stacking crates are ideal storage solutions as they look neat and tidy, are available to suit every budget, and they can also bring a bit of colour to your room too.

7. What’s the best way to make a room feel lighter?

If you’re looking to redecorate, opt for a lighter colour and look for light reflective paint. Include a mirror as a feature in the room (if possible, near or facing a window so it will reflect the light back in the room).

Think about how and if you even need to dress your windows. Often curtains and blinds can impede on the window space, but if you do need them for privacy, use a lighter or translucent fabric like a voile

Oh, and clean your windows – inside and out!

8. What’s the best way to use bold colours in the bathroom?

The bathroom is the perfect place to go crazy with colour. You can put fun, coloured flooring down (we’ve done this in some of our show homes) or go really bold with your accessories – things like towels, shower curtains, bathmats, rubber ducks!

Over in New Islington, we brightened up the previously monochrome bathroom with some vibrant pink and red accessories from donnawilson.com.

9. How do I decorate in a Japandi style?

This trend mixes the minimalism of Japanese design with the refined style of Scandinavian design. Think clean lines, natural wood, and material finishes, paired with warm muted tones and a clutter-free interior.

Paint brand Lick has a Japandi colour palette which is a great place to start for colour inspo for the walls. Bring some nature into your space with plants or dried grasses and opt for ornaments with a matt rather than a glazed finish.

10. Where’s the best place to buy inexpensive accessories?

One of my favourite places to shop for home accessories at the moment is JYSK. It’s like the middle aisle of Aldi meets IKEA.

You can achieve some really expensive-looking spaces in your home with items from places like Dunelm, Home Sense, TK Maxx, and H&M Home – and don’t underestimate the home aisle of your local supermarket too.

Remember, an item may appear cheap when stacked on the shelves in budget shops, but it can look completely different when you find the right spot for it in your home.