A best-selling author and founder of lifestyle journal Hygge for Home, Reena Simon extends a warm welcome to her course and invites you into the home that exemplifies her design philosophy of creating tranquillity, comfort and calm interiors. She introduces her Scandinavian influences, and muses on what it means to call a space home.

Reena's home, 'The Black House', plays a pivotal role in her design journey and epitomises so many of her design principles. She takes you through the decision-making process in purchasing the property, and subsequently the factors that fed into her plans for the renovation.

Before undertaking any renovation project, Reena emphasises the importance of taking the time to really understand the space you have and to think about how you want to live in it. From floor plans to the atmosphere you want to create, she suggests where to begin and offers tips to help clarify your thinking.

Once you have an idea of your project's footprint, it's useful to start thinking about furniture layouts and spatial planning. Reena talks you through her 'less is more' approach, and discusses how to create a pleasing flow throughout your home.

A defining element of Scandinavian design is the use of neutral colours and earthy tones. Discover the palette Reena gravitated towards in her home, and how she created a layered colour scheme.

Reena highlights the importance of ambient lighting when creating a calm and cosy home. She talks through her approach to layering different types of lighting and utilising these layers to enhance certain areas of the home.

In order to celebrate the natural beauty of her home's immediate surroundings, Reena fostered an intimate relationship between the indoor and outdoor living spaces. Discover how this played into her design decisions.

The materials you use to build and renovate your home have a huge impact on the overall feel of the space. Reena was extremely conscious of the materiality of her home from the beginning, which set the tone for the rest of the finishes throughout each room.

Reena wanted a more unusual finish for her walls; one that felt warm, inviting, and in keeping with the 'imperfect' aesthetic she was crafting. She talks through how she came to her decision and the benefit this has had on the overall look and feel of her home.

An often forgotten element within a room, ceilings can become a design feature in and of themselves. Reena encourages you to assess the original features you are faced with, and how to enhance them.

The visual appeal of the exterior of Reena's home was just as important to her as the interior, and she was clear on her vision from the outset. Learn about the materials she chose and why they worked for her home.

Reena bids a heartfelt farewell and offers some final words of encouragement to design a home that feels authentic to you.