5 Interior Designers Reveal Their 5 Dream Schemes

This living room is designed with layered textures and a neutral palette to keep the scheme feeling timeless, using pieces that’ll grow with you and are worth investing in for your first flat. A slipcover style is always a good idea when you want a light toned sofa (to ensure it can be cleaned easily) and pairing it with an ottoman to use as both a footstool and coffee table helps keep the room adaptable when you are tight on space. A wide, tiered side table can be used for both a place to put a drink down, as well as a display space for books or doubling up as a minibar for bottles and glassware. Benches can be used for storing lovely boxes under, as well as another place for books, so are really great for a small space. Vintage lamps and a soft overhead pendant create layered lighting, for a cosy and romantic atmosphere.

Visit FARE-INC.COM 

Designed for a couple’s first home, this living room strikes the perfect balance between timeless investment pieces and more accessible finds, creating a space that feels collected over time. A softly tailored cream sofa anchors the room, paired with a vintage-inspired blue armchair and a warm, textured rug that brings pattern and depth underfoot. Earthy neutrals are layered with touches of burgundy, ochre, and muted blue, while sculptural lighting, a woven seagrass tray, and characterful ceramics add warmth and personality. The artwork and decorative pieces introduce a slightly eclectic, travel-inspired feel, with affordable accents from the likes of Etsy and Zara Home sitting comfortably alongside the more considered, long-term purchases – proof that a first home can feel sophisticated without everything needing to be a major investment.

Visit REBECCAHUGHESINTERIORS.COM 

A relaxed, layered living space designed for a young couple’s first London flat. Natural linens and timeless stripes are balanced with warm terracotta and lush green accents, while collected pieces and considered artwork add character, personality, and a sense of place. We’ve mixed high and low throughout, bringing together pieces from Neptune, IKEA, Pooky and OKA alongside smaller, independent artisan brands. The result feels considered but not overly precious – liveable and practical for a compact London space, while retaining a classic, elegant feel.

Visit BLYTH-COLLINSON.CO.UK

In London, where space is often limited, versatility is key. We’ve created a room that works equally well as a cosy, comfortable snug for everyday living and a sophisticated setting for entertaining. The room is cocooned in olive-green grasscloth, creating a rich, enveloping backdrop for a palette of warm neutrals. A plaster-white pendant, understated in design, creates a striking contrast against the walls, while the monolithic marble coffee table provides a strong architectural centrepiece. More traditional elements, from the tailored sofa to the pair of vintage leather footstools, bring charm and character, while the shearling armchair and mid-century lighting introduce a more contemporary note. The result is a room that feels layered, warm and inviting, while a carefully curated mix of vintage, mid-century and contemporary pieces gives the space a sophisticated, collected feel.

Visit CHRISTIANBENSE.COM

I wanted to create a really fresh and fun look for this living space. The wallpaper is a splurge but it sets the mood for the entire room – a touch Hamptons, a touch whimsical, classic British in the Bahamas. It feels fresh and breezy but still comfortable – layered and full of personality. The crisp green and white gives the room its freshness, while the dark timber, woven rattan and natural textures stop it feeling too polished. I love the slightly unexpected hits of red, blue and olive – particularly in the cushions, painted side table and lamps – which bring that playful, collected quality. The mix of stripes and small-scale florals feels quintessentially English but against the leafy wallpaper and rattan, it takes on a more relaxed feel. The overall look is pretty without being precious, colourful without being overwhelming, and above all designed to feel incredibly comfortable and inviting.

Visit LAURASTEPHENS.CO.UK