Blog
Q&A
"I caught up with Interior Designer Anoushka from @Anoushkadesigns to
discuss all things interior as well as her top interior tips..."
- Kiran Lyall, Children's Book Author.
For most of us, day to day life is very busy with work, commuting, family life etc... what are your top tips for creating a relaxed atmosphere at home?
A home is a place where you escape after a busy day at work, where you can close the door and relax in your own serene atmosphere and help you recharge. My top tips to creating a peaceful environment at home are:
Declutter. A cluttered free home looks clean and tidy. Clutter can take over your home and your mind, causing anxiety & stress. You can spend hours looking for things you have misplaced. Living in a tidy and clear space can add a lot of health benefits and improve your wellbeing.
Flood your home with natural light, bring as much natural light into your home as possible, whether it is by simply opening your blinds and curtains every day, to installing large panelled glass and skylights into your home. Nothing brings more clarity to a room like natural lighting. A naturally lit room boosts productivity, improves mood, and creates an overall tranquil atmosphere more so than an artificially lit environment.
Bring nature indoors! Plants are a great way to compliment your interiors, but they also re-oxygenate your home.
Lastly, bedroom design, sometimes a space which is easily left out, but a bedroom is a very important area in your home. You'll want to walk into your bedroom and feel relaxed, so do not overlook this area of your home.
How do you come up with a colour scheme in your designs?
I like to use textures, tones, an earthy colour palette and using pieces made from natural materials. I tend to stay away from using bright blocks of colour in a room, I find that I can easily get bored if bright colours are used in this way. I aim to create a softer aesthetics which flows and gives a sense calm and understated luxury to the room.
What is your top tip for making a space feel bigger?
I would say using the same flooring throughout different rooms in your home is a good way to make a space feel much bigger. For example, if you have a large, open-plan room, use the same flooring throughout but use rugs to break up the continuity and divide the space accordingly, so if you have a dining room in your open plan space, have a rug under the dining table to define the dining area space. This will create the impression of a distinct dining area.
Some of us like lots of different interior looks, but how do we know what style we actually like?
Often my clients know what they dislike, but struggle deciding what they do like. So, I ask them, how do you want your space to feel?
Take a look at your wardrobe, do you gravitate towards certain colours, patterns or are you more of a neutral kind of person?
Another way to determine what you like is to think about your personality would you say you are timid, loud or humorous? Adding bits of your personality throughout your home like through artwork, patterns, textiles is a great way to add a personal touch to your interior. I often use these as a starting point to discuss with clients. Do they recall a particular hotel that they have stayed at or a restaurant in which they were wowed by? Or it could be a piece of art that they have seen and would like to incorporate into their home. Think about what you enjoy being surrounded by and what colours make you feel happy and relaxed.
Lastly, what is your favourite holiday destination?
That’s a really difficult question, as I have so many! I would have to say a few, the Peloponnese and Halkidiki in Greece as well as Venice and Mauritius.
I love the history and architecture of Greece and the hotels are so beautifully designed, which is really important to me. In my opinion, a hotel can make or break a holiday.
Venice, I love because it is totally unique, I love being surrounded by water and it's relaxed atmosphere. Mauritius not only because I was born there, but for it’s incredible lifestyle, amazing food and it’s diversity on multi-cultural population, all living on one small island.