Oh yes, there are RULES for everything, aren’t there? Even in design and decorating, you will hear plenty of β€˜rules’ that you should probably be following. Many of these are great, don’t get me wrong. They keep us from putting artwork too high on a wall or choosing a light fixture that is far too small for a big space. They make our rooms look more balanced, alleviate making costly mistakes and generally work very well in our favour. However, there are so many different rules out there that sometimes I fear we will all end up with the same bland spaces if we listen and apply them too closely.

6 Decorating Rules You Can Totally Break

All rules are made to be broken, after all, and living in fear of making a β€˜decorating mistake’ is often the fastest way to ensure we’ll never actually complete a room, so frozen we are with getting it wrong. So today, I’m basically just giving you permission to throw out the rule book. These are a few rules that I’ve heard repeated time and again and honestly? I think they are a load of crap. The best rooms, in my opinion, are those that flout the rules just a bit. The ones where the personality of the owners shine through and where there are two fingers held up to what we are β€˜supposed’ to do. Ready to be a little rebellious? Read on to find out what rules I think are totally cool to break.

Decorating Rules to Break #1: You should carefully coordinate everything

dark purple living room with green and yellow sofas and Sheltie dog on sofa

Look at any home website and you’ll see it repeated again and again. The full set – matching sofas, matching tables, matching sideboards and dressers and coordinating materials – to give you an idea what the products might look like in your home. Don’t get me wrong – I understand they want to show off their product lines so it’s understandable. But should you repeat this look in your own home? No way.

The most interesting spaces are those that look as though they’ve been collected over time. Mixing and matching your furniture and accessories create layers of interest in a space and give a room a look that’s totally unique. If you want to know some secrets about how to create an eclectic look, you should probably check out my blog post here.

Decorating Rules to Break #2: Expect to spend a lot of money if you want something stylish

bedside table in black and gold with pink bed and wall mural

My Ikea Rast hack bedside tables – they cost me around Β£40 to DIY.

We all look through the pages of our favourite interior magazines and marvel at the prices of the items on show, don’t we? After all, it’s normally the homes of the well-to-do that we see reflected back at us, especially in the pages of publications like Elle Decor, Architectural Digest or Living Etc. The homes are huge, the budgets even bigger. It’s enough to make us think that we could never do up our own homes unless we have a huge budget behind us.

As I’ve been barking about on this blog for the last 8 years, you don’t need a big budget to get an amazing style. There are some great brands out there on the high street with incredibly reasonable prices. We have big box stores like IKEA which offer up incredible value on furniture for not a lot of money or H&M Home which will allow you to pick up lots of stylish accessories without spending big money. There are also supermarkets now getting in on the design action which constantly amaze me at how trend-led they can really be. And of course, please don’t forget about buying second-hand. It’s worth scouring eBay, Gumtree or your local Facebook groups for used items that are still in amazing condition at a great price. (Looking for more tips? Check out my post here.)

Decorating Rules to Break #3: There are certain colours that you should never mix

black bedroom with yellow headboard and pink cushions

Remember the old saying, β€˜blue and green should never be seen’? Yeah, it’s a silly old saying that no longer makes any sense. The truth is, nearly any colour combination can work, whether that’s yellow with pink or orange with grey or indeed, blue with green. With experience, I’ve found that if you stick with a similar saturation, you can get a unique look even when mixing colours that don’t seem at first to work together. Or, if you want to get really rebellious, try one of the colours in a very saturated tone (a bold bright perhaps) alongside a softened de-saturated colour (a pastel maybe). It creates a certain tension in a room which can actually be very inspired and totally unique.

Decorating Rules to Break #6: Never paint a small room a dark colour

black and white bathroom with boho accessories

Painting a room in a darker colour won’t necessarily make your room look smaller. Take my bathroom above for example. The original colour was a pale blue and the room felt cramped with the slanted white ceiling making the room feel claustrophobic. Painting the walls and ceiling black was a game-changer here because the walls and ceiling now simply work as one and in a dark colour, the corners of the room seem to recess, making them less obvious. The result is a room that actually feels better to be in and strangely, looks bigger.

Not every single room out there will suit a dark colour but if you are on the fence about going dark, there are a few factors you might want to consider (and you’ll notice that size has nothing to do with it). Check out my flowchart here which will walk you through the decision.

Decorating Rules to Break #4: You should meticulously plan every detail of the finished space

Decorating Rules You Can Totally Break - Planning details

I think a lot of people are totally frozen with fear when they face the prospect of decorating an entire room from scratch. The fear likely comes from seeing what interior designers do for a living. They DO plan almost every detail of a space but it’s for a very good reason. Their time with their clients is limited and so getting every detail nailed is important to ensure the clients have a lovely finished room at the end of their agreement with them. Does this necessarily apply, however, to a homeowner who is working on their own home? Of course not.

Almost every single room I’ve ever designed has taken time. I will plan the large stuff – things like ensuring my furniture is the right size for the space, the basic colour palette I’ll be using, making sure I have the lighting right or wallpaper chosen are all big details that really make an impact on the final look. However, once these β€˜big’ decisions are done, the details always get tweaked and added as I go on. This is why many of my rooms end up evolving a bit even once I’ve put down the paintbrush.

So, no, you don’t have to know exactly what vase will be placed on that sideboard or which plants you’ll need to fill up a corner. There’s nothing wrong with β€˜slow decorating’ – in fact, I’d highly recommend it. Waiting for the right thing to appear is almost always better than rushing the details so take your time and let your space evolve – I promise you’ll end up with a much better and more considered room. And if you are looking for more tips to get off your ass and start your project, see my blog post here.

Decorating Rules to Break #5: Always stick with neutrals then add colour later

pink bed with black and white mural

I’m not saying this isn’t good advice because really, it is. If you start with your largest pieces in neutral colours, it allows you a lot more flexibility to add different colours at different times in the future. However, I don’t believe that if you have loved greens for a long time, have used it in your decor for the last 5 years and you want to, say, buy that gorgeous emerald green sofa, you shouldn’t just go for it. I adore a big shot of bold colour in a room and while you can certainly stick to neutrals for most of your big stuff, it doesn’t mean you have to do it with everything.

I think this is especially true when you already have a good idea of what your favourite shades are (if you’re not sure, look at your wardrobe – it’ll give you a good idea of colours that make you feel good). If you’ve been crushing on navy for years, there’s no reason you shouldn’t pick up those glorious navy blue velvet dining chairs or navy blue tiles for your bathroom. Or if you adore mustard yellow, that you shouldn’t go ahead and buy the mustard yellow headboard. Neutrals are great for when you are on the fence, you are easily swayed by trends or you change your mind very often. However, if you know your style and your preferences well, then there’s no reason why not to break this rule.

So those are just 6 decorating rules that, in my opinion, are totally cool to throw out the window. Now it’s your turn! Which rules have you broken successfully? I’d love to hear all about your rebellious side! Let me know in the comments.


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Swoon Worthy
6 Decorating Rules You Can Totally Break
dark purple living room with green and yellow sofas and Sheltie dog on sofa
bedside table in black and gold with pink bed and wall mural
black bedroom with yellow headboard and pink cushions
black and white bathroom with boho accessories
Decorating Rules You Can Totally Break - Planning details
pink bed with black and white mural
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Unboxing my new card deck Daily Dose of Magic by my gorgeous bestie Victoria Jackson of @themanifestationcollective ! ✨

This is not an ad, I am just so in love with them, I wanted to share for my spiritual witchy friends out there πŸ₯°

@thoughtcatalog

#witchvibes #spiritualjourney #carddecks #magicmoments✨
Ad (Press Sample) There are few kitchen products that are considered absolute classics but there is one that I have lusted after for YEARS and that is the utterly iconic @lecreusetuk large casserole pot. 🀩

For nearly a century, Le Creuset has been trusted for its superior performance, lasting quality and iconic design and the enamelled cast iron allows incredible versatility - not only can you use it with just about any heat source (from induction, glass, electric etc), you can also do everything from stir-fry to slow cooking to baking a cake in it and more. 

So, imagine my delight when Le Creuset got in touch to ask if I'd like to shoot their brand new colourway πŸ‘ PΓͺche πŸ‘ in my kitchen. I mean, there couldn't be a more perfect colour match with that juicy coral shade which if you've followed my account for any length of time, you'll know is one of my all-time favourites (not to mention that beautiful soft gold knob! 😍). The matching petite casserole dish and mugs are the perfect companions but you could easily mix and match this colourway with Le Creuset's other designs (Might I suggest the Sea Salt, a soft blue-green which would be gorgeous with PΓͺche). This new juicy summer shade is currently available exclusively at Le Creuset Official. I'd love to know which colourway is your favourite in the range?

#lecreuset #kitchendesign #kitchenstyling #kitchinspo #victorianhome #englishhome
My little neglected makeup/dressing room has had a glow up πŸ₯°

#swoonworthy #beforeandafter #dressingroom #makeupvanity #closetgoals
My new rug can't compete with that belly.

Rug is from @laredoute_uk (not an ad) not that anyone cares πŸ˜…

#kitchendesign
I've really loved making these pretty reusable Christmas crackers! I'm still in the process of finding cute bits for filling them but they'll definitely be a centrepiece for my table this year!πŸŽ„πŸ’•

Suggestions for what to fill them with coming soon!

(By the way, I'm not a skilled seamstress so I'm sure my techniques can be improved but just sharing what worked for me πŸ€—πŸ˜…)

Let me know if this is something you'd try? ❀️

#swoonworthy #christmasdecor #christmascraft #diychristmas #diycrafts #easysewingproject
On 22 October 2022, I married my best friend! I can't believe it's been a whole year (and one day) I've been calling @2nilup my husband πŸ₯° We've been together for 15 years now and I simply can't and wouldn't want to imagine my life without him ❀️ 

#youandmeagainsttheworld #2222 

Photography: @violajayphotography 
Flowers: @primroseavenuefloral 
Dress: @camillawithlove
DIY REFILLABLE CHRISTMAS CRACKERS πŸŽ„πŸŽ‰

I've been thinking about making refillable crackers for so many years now - I just hate the waste the disposal ones create! So I'm so excited I've finally gotten around to starting this project!

I will be sharing more details on how to make them as well as ideas for what to fill them with too so stay tuned for more but in the meantime, what do you think? 

#swoonworthy #diychristmas #christmasdecor #christmascraft #easysewingproject #sustainableliving #ecofriendlyliving
Just wanted to introduce my latest plant baby in my dining room πŸͺ΄

It's from @botanique_shrewsbury and it's a Peparomia (I am probably pronouncing it wrong, I keep wanting to say
GUEST BEDROOM REVEAL 🌟

I decided on a whim, 2 weeks before we were expecting visiting family, that our guest bedroom was in desperate need of a refresh.

Well there's nothing like an impending deadline to light a πŸ”₯ under my πŸ‘ and I managed to clear out the clutter, repaint the woodwork, ceilings and walls and hang wallpaper as well as restyle the room in one week πŸ˜… (Meisha was zero help 😼)

I'm calling it Boho Vintage Victorian Grandma πŸ˜†

This wasn't sponsored in any way but the wallpaper and bedding is from @lauraashleyuk and the paint is @earthbornpaints Peach Baby - everything else I already had!

What do you think of the new look? ❀️

#bedroombeforeandafter #guestroom
#bedroommakeover
#beforeandafter
#bedroomdecor #cottagecore #vintagestyle #victorianhouse #ihavethisthingwithpink #bengalsofinstagram
πŸ”₯JOIN US ROUND THE FIRE PIT! πŸ”₯

ad | One of my favorite things to do in summer is sit around the fire pit in the evenings with a cold beer 🍻 There's just something incredibly relaxing watching those flames and embers crackle, warming yourself up and taking the edge off falling temperatures as the sun sets!

Thanks to @homefireuk they've made the whole process incredibly easy and enjoyable with their Handy Firepit Bundle which include 2 bags of kindling, 2 bags of natural firestarters and 3 large bags of kiln-dried logs πŸͺ΅ for a really great price! 

No more standing around waiting for things to light properly or billowing smoke from wet wood, everything burns beautifully! ☺️ We literally sat around this for hours as the logs last so long, long after the sun set, just chatting and enjoying ourselves! πŸ₯°πŸ»πŸ”₯

Do you love a good firepit in the summer?

#homefire #readytoburn #smokelessbyhomefire #heartofyourhome #logsbyhomefire #summerideas #firepit #gardenideas
San Sebastian photo dump - just a tiny selection πŸ˜„

We have had such a fabulous holiday to Basque Country - our first 4 days spent in the beautiful city of San Sebastian, land of pintxos, stunning architecture and some damn good wine.

#sansebastian #travelgram #photodump
A little kitchen reshuffle today so I thought I'd share πŸ₯°

It's been 4 years since we created this space and it's still one of my favourites β™₯️

#kitchendesign #kitchendecor #kitcheninspiration #kitchenideas #openshelvingkitchen #kitchenstyling
Ad 🩷 Before and after Deck makeover! 🩷

This little decked patio was looking worse for wear after a wet winter but @frenchicpaint came to the rescue with their beautiful Dusty Blush Alfresco Paint, perfect for all your outdoor projects!

The deck has been a few colours over the past few years but this is definitely the most fun and gives the whole space such a tropical vibe - even in Shrewsbury! 🏝️ πŸ¦©πŸΉπŸ˜„

The paint has incredible coverage and was so nice to use - I loved the tools they provided too, especially the oval brush which got into all the nooks and crannies easily!

Let me know what you think of the new colour! 

#frenchicpaint #beforeandafter #deckmakeover #gardeninspiration #gardeninspo #outdoorproject
So on a whim I decided to paint the bedroom pink yesterday πŸ˜…πŸ©·

This room has been neglected for so long as I've wanted to fully redecorate for about 3 years now but there are always other bigger priorities or a lack of time/energy/money so I keep putting it off πŸ™ƒπŸ™ƒπŸ™ƒ (tell me I'm not the only one) but happily this didn't cost a penny as I used what I already had although it did take me the best part of a day!

I went through my paint stash and found that I had extra @coatpaints Percy from when I did the living room early last year -- well I'm not one to let something this good go to waste (honestly this paint is absolutely wonderful to work with and has amazing coverage) and my goodness it's just so pretty in here πŸ₯° I also moved my pink curtains from my office into here and the whole room just glows!

I might actually be able to live with the mural a little longer until the room gets the attention it deserves! Let me know if you like the change β™₯️

*For those who are wondering, it used to be white walls and I had grey curtains! πŸ˜…

#swoonworthy #bedroomdecor #bedroommakeover #bedroomdesign #pinkpinkpink #pinkinteriors
A little photo dump from my recent living room shoot because I still love to dig into the details of a still photo πŸ˜„πŸ’•

#swoonworthy #swoonworthyscents #livingroominspo #livingroomdesign #photodump
ad How to De-stress at Home in 6 Simple Steps 😊

April has been #stressawarenessmonth and so I've teamed up with the wonderful @frenchbedroom to share a few simple tips in creating a cosy sanctuary at home!

One of my favourite ways to add a feeling of comfort and relaxation is with glorious touchable textures and the stunning Mulberry Silk ruffled cushion from French Bedroom not only looks spectacular but feels incredible too! Pairing this with other feel-good fabrics will add depth to your design and will beg you to sink in and unwind 😍

French Bedroom are also now stocking my own home fragrance brand @swoonworthyscents candles, adding another element of calm with scent to your home. I chose No 02 Sunday Morning for my living room with rejuvenating Jasmine and refreshing pine and lemon notes πŸ₯°

Check out my latest blog post for more tips on creating a relaxing sanctuary in your home via the link in my bio!

#swoonworthy #swoonworthyscents #frenchbedroom #livingroominspo #livingroomdesign #calming #aesthetic #cottagecoreaesthetic
Who needs pancakes when you can have Lemon Drizzle Cake with Lemoncello glaze?! πŸ˜‰πŸ‹

I've had such a craving for this cake for a while so figured I'd make it today! This is a recipe from @bbcgoodfood and it's rather gorgeous πŸ₯°

#baking #lemondrizzle #lemoncake #bakewithlove #shrovetuesday
Are you lucky enough to be owned by a cat? 🐈🐾

#bengallove #bengalsofinstagram #bengalcat #bengal #catsofinstagram #catlife
Finally managed to get the gallery wall completed in our hallway!

I couldn't have been happier with @violajayphotography capturing our little intimate wedding in October and knew as soon as I saw the photos I had to print them for our home! I admit, I've never been one to hang photos but it's probably because all we ever had after 14 years together was selfies πŸ˜‚πŸ€·πŸ½β€β™€οΈ I'm so pleased we finally have some lovely shots of us together πŸ₯°

Do you have photos of you/your partner/your family up around your home?? πŸ€”

#gallerywall #autumnwedding #hallwaydesign #hallwayinspo
✨These little vintage copper pans needed some TLC! ✨

After searching for a while for vintage copper pans, I found these on eBay - they looked quite grim on the ad but I knew they could be shined up nicely! A little @barkeepersfriend later (not an ad!) and I'm loving how they look in my kitchen πŸ₯°

Let me know if you like the new addition ❀️

#kitcheninspo #kitchendesign #vintagestyle #kitchenstyling