To ask your interior design loves

[Unlikelyfarmerswife]

Inspired by an interior design hates thread, read the whole thing thinking - but what do people love? Feels like lots of trends are very much disliked, so what do people like in terms of decor? For me, it's a bit of personality, decor a certain way because you love it, whether it is deemed out of trend or not. I also love plants, always have (plants however do not love me!)

A room that looks like it came together organically and reflects the owners' personalities. I hate interior designed looking rooms where it looks as if everything, including knick knacks and pictures were all bought in a matchy matchy way.

@Toomanythalias it sounds like we have similar taste. Rooms that come together organically feel more real, somehow.

@Fionaville definitely yes to books, cushions, meaningful posters and paintings. We also have lots of interesting finds on bookshelves.

I like colour, although I tend to go for neutral main (expensive) pieces and then accessorise with colour.

Two different friends bought old houses and modernised them very sympathetically, they're beautiful.

Mostly I just like a house I can go to and relax. I don't want to be worried about whether I should be taking my shoes off or that the owner is going to freak out of I spill a drink. I love a house that's beautifully decorated but also lived in.

Homes that have evolved, rather than rooms decked out all in one go, tend to feel more interesting and relaxed.

I like:

Natural materials. Wood floors, wool carpets, jute or sisal rugs, linen or cotton bed linen, silk lampshades, glass hurricanes with church pillar candles, pottery, rattan baskets, antique mirrors.

Furniture that tells a story. Old mixed with new.

Lots of light. White walls. Squashy sofas. Plenty of places to sit with a book. Plenty of books and bookshelves. A roll top bath.

Beautiful but lived in. Comfortable, relaxed, welcoming. Practical but lovely.

Neutral base where the colour comes from the art, throws, lamps, tables etc.

I get bored easily so want something that can be easily and inexpensively changed.

My wardrobe is the same. Money spend in good quality, well fitted, timeless neutral bases and then scaves, handbags, shoes and jewellery or items that date to liven it up.

I love strong colour, deep colours like Inchyra blue or forest green and charcoal. Anything you hang on them just goes up a notch due to the contrast.

I love coving!

On the whole tho, I love rooms that reflect the persons personality rather than a instagram post. If that’s a room of love, laugh, live slogan pieces so be it- love seeing the ‘person’ of the room!

Mid century everything, including architecture. There's a very distinctive house in my home town that must have been built around the early 60s and I've been obsessed with it since I was a teenager in the 90s. I've loved all things MCM ever since then.

Love a wood floor, white wall, plants everywhere and the colour coming from furniture and paintings.

My current house (a stopgap) is nothing like this unfortunately.

Also I think there was some hatred for them in the other thread, but I will never stop loving subway tile.

Do people just like the look of books? My PIL are avid readers, they donate their books to charity (or me!) as soon as they’ve read them and now use their kindle mostly. I also use my kindle or phone for books as it was easier with a baby (can read one handed), and on the morning commute on the tube. So I’m not sure a lack of books means a lack of reading. Often people have a lot of books but have never read them!

Warm, welcoming, clean but not clinical. Tidy but lived in eg not all brand new and matchy. I think this translates as loving a look that isn't bang on trend, but instead looks collected and put together over a few years. I like rooms to look like I could slouch on a sofa and put my my mug on a table without causing offence or the host to breakdown.

I do think it's a snobbery thing - people think it makes the house look cultured or educated.

I don't think a physical book has crossed our threshold in years, we've had kindles since our honeymoon 13 years ago. The only physical books we have are the children's, or some old books on the shelves of our office. I do think they look lovely but they haven't been touched in years!

I like a minimalist, Scandi look, but not too stark - a bit cozy with some throws and rugs to soften it. I find that style relaxing. I hate busy rooms with lots of strong colours, and I find dark wall colours oppressive.

We use kindles and books. I both like the look of books and read them. We have bookshelves, so have space for books. I go through the books a couple of times a year and keep those I think will be reread. It's part of our house reflecting who we are. Not all the books are literature (though a fair few are as I did English).

We also have lots of other things that a meaningful: paintings of local places, a rocking chair my grandfather made, clay models the dcs made, photos as dp is into photography. These are things that we like. We have quite a few "old" pieces that were handed down and I'd like to add some more modern things to the mix as well.

I like maximalist decor with minimalist clutter. A house that’s obviously lived in, stacks of colour and interesting bits to look at that have been collected over the years rather than bought all at once from b&m/dunelm that follow trends. Basically decor with personality that reflects the person that lives there!

I’m slightly freaked out in all white/neutral no colour houses that are pristine because I’m too scared to move or do anything in case I make a mess somehow and destroy something by accident.

Clean, functional and interesting to look at is my goal for the house I’m slowly tarting up. Definitely not fashionable, but something that we as a family all love.

I like strong colours in the living areas but calming pale shades in the bedrooms. Never grey or beige though!
The style is fairly eclectic, based around individual items I like, some art nouveau pieces, but I also like rococo and baroque for things like mirrors and picture frames. Most of the furniture is second hand, but I am quite good at repurposing and renovating in basic ways- eg dyeing sofa covers or spray painting furniture and ornaments.
DH designed and built bookshelves wherever they can be fitted in; we have a lot of books.

Ooh me too! That describes my house. I like clashing colours and patterns and bold colours. Lots of black. But I hate clutter so don’t have a lot of stuff on display. The stuff I do have holds sentimental value.
My hall stairs and landings are half painted white with black and white zebra print wallpaper under a dado rail. Just saving up for a geometric black and white carpet to complete the look!

I don't know why, but I love orange pine 🫢 I think I find it really cosy and nostalgic, even though it's super dated

I also love those really naff flying geese decorations you hang on the wall 🫣 I can't help it, I just like them.

Ultra modern, as unique as possible, ahead of the curve. Atmosphere and warmth added by lighting.