From a freshen up to a starting from scratch, it can sometimes be tricky knowing where to begin with your project.

Figuring out what styles you like isn’t always as easy as it sounds, so maybe start with what styles you don’t like & work from there. Instagram, pinterest & even magazines are great tools for you to see what’s out there & what draws your attention.

It may also help to decide on a theme or a concept for the space you are designing. Whilst the two might sound similar, a theme & a concept are two different things. A theme is more detailed than a concept, there are clear links between each element in the room. A concept however is a broader idea of style. With a concept, elements chosen will work together to create a specific feel.

Taking these design projects on by yourself can be overwhelming, however help is always available. Our team of designers are always on hand to give advice and guide you in the right direction, whether this is in our showroom or through a home consultation.

Colour Drenching: using one colour or various shades of it, across different surfaces in a space. 

We are seeing a big move within the industry towards deep, warmer & richer shades, and not only on the walls. It is becoming increasingly popular to carry the same colour – or a shade of it – onto the woodwork and even the ceiling.

It doesn’t have to stop there though.

Jump on the current ‘colour drenching ‘ trend and go for furniture in similar hues to create a sense of intmacy and comfort. This style of decorating can give you the perfect backdop for a statement piece, whether it’s a bold piece of furniture or a striking chandelier.

If you want to break it up a bit, metallics and natural textures are great to disperse blocks of colour without compromising the overall effect.

It is important not to forget the 5th wall – also known as the ceiling. Painting the ceiling & the woodwork in the same colour ( or shade of ) as the walls, can elongate the space as there is a more cohesive flow to the room. This can work to accentuate small spaces.

You don’t have to go dark, this can work just as well with neutral or more timid colours. The key is to keep this colour going on all the surfaces.

Little Greene show this perfectly:

Why not give it a go?

If you’re not sure where to start or what to do, book in for an interior design consultation with one of our team.

There are many ways that one can become inspired, although more often than not inspiration hits when you’re not expecting it.

If you are struggling to find inspiration, here are some of our top tips:

• Magazines, sometimes something as simple as flicking through mags such as Living Etc, Elle Decoration and others, can open your imagination. These types of magazine often showcase popular and current trends in a scheme that will suit your space.
• Try not to bring in too many opinions, although we all love our friends and family to pitch in, it is possible to become overwhelmed by choices.
• Don’t have too high expectations, sometimes finding your inspiration can take a while. Leave yourself enough time so there is no need to rush and no added pressure. Try to not get disheartened if you don’t find ‘The one’ right away, there are so many options, and we’re happy to go through them all with you, but doing so all in one sitting can be overbearing.
• Look around you! Inspiration can come from anywhere, so try to keep an open mind.
• Come speak to our staff! Bring in some photos of the space you wish to decorate, let us know of your likes and dislikes and from there we can work to inspire you, finding your dream wallpaper and/or fabric. This is the best way to approach the decorating process, we are here to help, so utilise us as much as you can!

For a little added help be sure to follow our Instagram @gcjohnson_ig9 where we post new stock, interesting interior schemes and exclusive news.

Click this link to head straight to our page —> https://www.instagram.com/gcjohnson_ig9/