Art & Lifestyle 5 Dec 2022

9 Vogue-Approved Creatives On The Interior Design Rules Everyone Should Know

Looking to give your home a refresh this autumn? Our favourite designers and dealers share their tips, and bust age-old interiors myths

by Hayley Maitland

Eleanor Cording-Booth, founder of A Considered Space

Buy the furniture you’ll use, not the furniture you think you’re supposed to have

“Always create spaces that work for the way you actually live and not the way you live in a fantasy version of your life. That might mean the rooms in your home don’t serve a traditional purpose, which is far better than precious space being wasted. Don’t feel obligated to create a guest bedroom and ensuite that no one will ever use when the thing you desperately need is a giant walk-in wardrobe full of shoe racks and concealed storage.”

Matilda Goad, designer

Don’t be afraid to reimagine an existing piece

“Don’t always feel you have to respect the colour of a natural material, whether it be a piece of furniture or lighting. Be brave and bring a new lease of life to a piece by painting it in a fun colour or by highlighting little details with a softer tone.”

Matilda Goad’s rattan wave pendant shade, HK$1,860.

Sandrine Zhang Ferron, founder of Vinterior

There’s no reason wooden furniture has to “match”

“A mixture of wood tones can look great if you ensure the pieces clash enough to create an eclectic feel. For example, a ’20s oak ladder-back chair can look right at home next to a mid-century teak dining table as long as both pieces are of beautiful quality, and the other items around them tie the space together.”

Anissa Kermiche, designer

Forget about trends – especially when it comes to big purchases

“So many of us have these gorgeous Pierre Paulin sofas on our moodboards, but you live in a house, not a showroom. I bought one, and my couch is now pleasing only to my eyes; my back, my legs and the rest of me all despise it. It’s worth compromising on aesthetics to have something you’re actually keen to sit on.”

Laura Jackson, founder of Glassette

Choose pieces from different design eras

“There’s no reason to stick to a certain interiors ‘era’ when decorating. I’ve always been a fan of mixing and matching; my own home is full of ’60s, ’00s and contemporary pieces. In general, I believe that taste is always subjective. There are no hard and fast rules – beyond decorating your home with what’s going to bring you joy everyday.”

Gergei Erdei, designer

Small rooms can benefit from maximalist décor

“A maximalist touch has the potential to give smaller rooms a mysterious, sexy vibe. A heavily printed wallpaper can make a bathroom feel like a treasure box, while high-gloss chocolate-brown walls in a bedroom evoke the decadent spirit of ’70s interiors. Shimmering fabrics, mirrors and accent pieces are a great way to bring in some light, too.”

Natalie Sytner, founder of Bettina Ceramica

Look beyond traditional knick-knacks and objets

“Think outside the box when decorating surfaces and walls. Quirkier objects can spark conversation. One of our most popular designs is our acquasantiera, a holy water font like those found in churches.”

Acquasantiere, available from Bettina Ceramica for HK$668.

Jermaine Gallacher, designer

Embrace clashing colours rather than being afraid of them

“I have an unhealthy obsession with pink and acid yellow as a combo, so much so that I painted my entire office in that colour scheme. It works particularly well when you punctuate it with strong black accents.”

Isabelle Dubern-Mallevays, founder of The Invisible Collection

There is such a thing as too much lighting

“I’d suggest using indirect lights at different heights for a warm glow – and avoid overhead spotlights unless you’re using them to illuminate paintings and artwork.”