Sophie @sophiesgaff

How would you describe your personal style? 

Answer – I’m definitely a lover of boho style interiors, I love combinations of natural materials, wicker, cane and linens. And houseplants of course! I find adding plants to a space brings the colour and interest I am after.

What’s one design “rule” or piece of advice you always follow?  

Answer - Don’t be afraid to try new things! I buy all of my furniture second hand, so if I buy a piece that doesn’t look as good as I had hoped for, it’s not a problem because I can just sell it and buy something else. I’m more of a ‘buy the things you love and worry about how you’ll bring them together later’ kinda gal.

In your opinion, what’s the key to creating a home you love?  

Answer - Making it somewhere you want to be with things you love in it! Making it cosy, lots of blankets and candles and cushions. Having my plants around me makes my house feel calm and somewhere I want to hang out

What are some things in the interior design world you’re loving right now? 

Answer - I’m a big fan of lime wash walls that everyone’s doing, so simple yet effective. I’m also a big fan of vinyl but I’m yet to tackle my kitchen with it yet!

How did you get into interior design? Any advice for people who are passionate about design, but don’t know where to start? 

Answer - I’ve always been creative and quite crafty since I was a kid. I studied textile design at university which got me into home interior design a lot more but it wasn’t until I got my first flat where I discovered my taste and love for creating cosy spaces. I’ve always shopped in charity shops and second hand so when I got my first place I naturally just started to look at furniture and home decor in there instead of clothes!

What’s your favourite design project, DIY, or room you’ve ever done? 

Answer - We’ve just bought our first home so this is the first time I’ve been able to fully decorate. I’ve just wallpapered the nursery for the first time and absolutely love it! 

What are you working on right now that you’re particularly excited about?

Answer - The whole house haha! I’m particularly excited to revamp the kitchen. I’m going to paint the cabinets and vinyl the worktops as we can’t afford a new kitchen at the moment, so hoping to make it more our style on a budget. 

Let’s talk rugs! What do you look for when choosing a rug?  

Answer - Size first of all! I hate when a rug seems to small for the space, so the bigger the better. Then I look at colour, I would always choose something neutral that can work anything in case I want to change up the space in the future.

What do you feel like rugs can do for a room? 

Answer - Completely change the vibe. My living room has dark wooden floors, so without my large Berber rug it looked a bit hard and cold. The rug ties everything together and makes it feel cosy and complete.Choosing the right rug can feel like a big decision!

What advice do you have to pick out the perfect style?

Answer - Scrolling through Instagram usually helps me decide what kind of vibe works, I take inspo from other home interior accounts and it gives me an idea of what will work in my space.

Who are your favourite follows on Instagram? 

My faves at the moment are @thisenglishhome @houseofcait and @the.wendy.house_67

What’s your design pet peeve?  

Answer - I’m really not a fan of blingy jewelled furniture, but maybe that’s because I hate dusting.

What’s your design guilty pleasure?  

Answer - Plants. I could fill a room and I’d still be looking where I could add a plant hanger or another plant pot.

This or That! 

• Neutral or bright?  - Neutral but with pops of colour 

• Jute/Natural or Cosy rugs?  - Both?!

• Old or New – Old! I love second hand pieces and the thrill of hunting for stuff in a charity shop.