Athlone design expert teams up with furniture retailer to offer home decor tips
Susan McGowan, the award-winning design expert from Athlone, recently teamed up with furniture retailer DFS on a survey exploring Irish homeowners' design choices.
Susan, of the Ashen and Cloud design studio, said it was important that people trust their instincts and go with their gut when decorating their homes.
"Making a decision on your home décor doesn’t need to be make-or-break – styling is a journey of experimenting and discovering your personal preferences," she said.
"You've got to be unapologetic about your choices. One person's 'bold and adventurous' might be another person's 'too busy and over-the-top' - what matters most is that your choices feel true to you and your own personal taste."
She was speaking after the DFS survey found that seven in 10 homeowners have 'grand designs' when it comes to refurbing their homes - but often settle for safer, less bold options.
The study of 1,000 adults found that nearly a quarter - 23 per cent - opted for the 'safe' option to avoid feeling like they've made a mistake later on, and the same amount don't feel confident enough to make braver choices.
A similar number mentioned cost and being keen to avoid any interior mishaps that may end up taking significant work to resolve.
Of those who have made a décor decision they came to regret, buying cheap poor quality furniture that went on to break came top of the list.
It was followed by having a too neutral an interiors palette, and overcrowding the living room with too-big furnishings that didn’t work in the space.
"If you do feel like you’ve made a mistake, like overcrowding a room, give yourself permission to go back to the drawing board and try something new or different," advised Susan.
"You'll be surprised how much you can learn about your personal taste through experimentation. To stop playing safe and be bolder, there are steps we can take to feel more confident in our decor decisions and curate a space that works well for us."
Other regrets budding designers have made include wallpapering a whole room in a bold pattern, and prioritising aesthetics over the practicality of furniture.
Despite this, 42 per cent would like to use more colours in their home and 35 per cent want to be more creative with their lighting.
Almost a third – 30 percent - would choose a bright colour for their sofa if they were to make a bolder interior design choice.
More than half of those surveyed - 55 percent - didn’t think their personality was reflected in the way their home is decorated, with 42 per cent of people admitting they’d feel more relaxed if it did.
When it comes to creating an interiors look that really reflects your own personality and unique sense of style, Susan said, "Decorating your home is not just about furniture and colours, it's a canvas for your personality, a place to bring to life ‘your thing’.
"When it comes to following trends your home should tell your story, not anyone else's. Home decor is not a one-size-fits-all so have confidence in your unique style, mix elements of different trends, experiment with colours, patterns and textures, and watch your home transform into a true reflection of your taste."