How do you know how to make your house nice?

[Newsenmum]

I know this is such a strange question but it’s something I really struggle with. My husband is no better. Our house is a real mess and basically everything needs redoing, so we try and do a room at a time when we can afford it. Honestly though, I have no knowledge of interior design. How do you decide how to decorate and what will look nice?
I can go to someone’s house and think ooh I like that, but that’s it. And the houses will look totally different. I have no sense of style. Help.

Following.

Instagram or Pinterest. Save pictures of style you like (you can create boards on Pinterest, such as one per room).

Get a few interior design magazines next time you’re in a supermarket - again to start looking at things you might like.

Pinterest. And TikTok.

But basically chose things you love in colours that tone with each other.

And choose art you love. If you love badgers, have badgers art.

Second instagram. You can search a hashtag for your style of house eg

#victorianterrace
#1930ssemi
#newbuild

You’ll get loads of ideas and you can follow any interior accounts that you like the look of - they’ll often post specific paint colours and things

Pinterest or app called houzz are good for ideas

Less is more, clutter never looks nice

I tend to find one thing I really like- normally a piece of furniture- and work around that. So in our living room it's a squishy charcoal sofa. From that I found a brighter sofa in a contrasting colour but similar shape, and a paler carpet. From there I could work out paint colours that might go, and blankets/ cushions/ curtains that go with all.

I would start with what I don't like. Then work backwards. I moved to a new build a few years ago and found the blank canvas an absolute nightmare. When looking at older houses I was able to look around a room and say I love the carpet but I'll change the blinds etc but was totally lost on an empty space. Dh was equally indecisive. Carpet or tile shopping was a lot of 'I don't mind, you pick.' No you pick. No you do.

I found Pinterest was best for me, I set up folders for each room and added what I liked and eventually built up an image. I was also able to show it to sales people.

The most important thing was practical though, storage and positioning of walkways came first for me. Design after.

Weirdly I think for me it’s instinct. I seem to have quite a good eye and can put things together so they work. I usually get a bit of inspiration from friends or magazines but I just get a feel for things.

I’m glad it’s not just me then!

I wish I had this!

For me it is about object that have history and significance. Books and paintings but also some bits of furniture - often quite shabby - that I have owned for a while or which belonged to relatives. So while it may not look particularly 'designed' it is very much my home. Children's stuff may get everywhere, but I also liked having their fingerpaintings on cupboard doors etc.

I buy something I absolutely love, a picture, cushion, lamp or wallpaper then work around that. Picking out a colour from the art work for the walls for example. Alternatively Google ideas for small/large/south facing/whatever living room/bedroom/whatever and be inspired.

Also following. It’s definitely not just you!

I start with blank white walls and simple furniture. Then I add colours and stuff I like.
I am bit modern boho with love of vintage and industrial and green... Sounds chaoti, ends up great apparently. DH and I love it, that's the maim thing.
Agree with less is more.

Keep it clean and smelling nice.
Try to keep it clutter free.
Always have flowers or foliage dotted about:: you can use small vases and divide a bunch between them.

Books, throws and cushions give a room that bit extra.

I can’t tell you how much I sympathise and this is ME. Pinterest/ insta/ houzzz are fab for looking at things but overwhelming and bear no relation to my problem which is converting ideas to my house. Will I be able to get any of those looks in my house? NOPE!!

the key thing you said is DH is bad too- this is the same for me. I think it makes a huge difference when neither of you can do it.
my whole life I have poked round friends houses and wondered how they seem so put together- even at university when they’d get matching curtains/ duvet/ lampshade pattern from Ikea and I’d think WTF I would never have thought of that. I went to Asda and put white duvets in the basket.

at my age, And in my situation, all I can think that’ll solve this is paying an interior designer. There are no shortcuts. I want those gorgeous wooden media walls that are like £4k and I see people on Pinterest knocking them up from Ikea for £500 and I just think if that were me they’d be sagging, patchy, half done and look like they were in a cheap bedroom designed for a teenager.

FIST BUMP.

I can't. My mother could. And even when she was old and frail she could do something-I have no idea what-that made everything nicer. She could also spend 30 seconds and turn a bunch of flowers shoved into a hug into something lovely. I wish I could. Oh, she could also^ tie a scarf so it looked stylish.^

I think “ooh I like that” is how it is for quite a lot of people.
friends houses but also Pinterest, Instagram, Brands (I used to love the Laura Ashley catalogue!) and interior design magazines and programmes.

also thinks like finding a piece of art/fabric/rug you like and picking the colours out in it.

Weirdly I think for me it’s instinct. I seem to have quite a good eye and can put things together so they work. I usually get a bit of inspiration from friends or magazines but I just get a feel for things.

Same, although I would often base it around one thing eg a light and everything will go from there. I also need practically though so things have to look nice and perform.

I imagine you need a sense of style to achieve it. I look at a room and things catch my eye that I think don't work and I can imagine what might fix them.

You can start by clearing things out so it's not too cluttered -- this includes too much furniture. I tend to pick out one or two colours for a room and try and stick to those with neutrals. I look around a room and decide which existing elements I like and which ones I hate and work around that. Start with the big/ expensive elements and work down from there for placement of smaller items. If you can't decide what goes together yourself, you might be best just to emulate what you've seen elsewhere.

I also have things from my parents, stuff from charity shops and eBay, etc. I think with social media it’s very easy to end up with houses looking the same.

The problem with this is are you the only person in the house? My H or children wouldn’t tolerate me chucking out the sofa or dining table or mish match of photo frames or whatever.

I feel you OP.

I also find Instagram/Pinterest etc not that useful unless you already know what you like and want to search for.

I find I admire so many different types of style but my own seems to be just cluttered.

I do think you have to be quite brave as well, and have the time and ability to try new things, plus no partner rejecting your ideas, which is where mine often end 🙈

If I lived alone I think I'd be a lot more adventurous/ would redecorate more readily.