There are moments in every season when we feel the quiet pull to reassess the spaces we call home and to look more closely at the rooms that shape our routines, moods, and ultimately the way we live. Drawing on the wisdom of our most celebrated, sit back and relax as our interiors instructors help you reimagine your surroundings with confidence. Whether it’s a small adjustment or a complete rethink, you’ll find there’s more possibility in your home than you might expect.
Start with intention, not trends
Design with intention. Rather than chasing the latest design trends, think deeply about how you use each room, how you want to feel there, and what your long-term vision is. Alidad, in his course How to Create Timeless Interiors, encourages learners to define their own tastes and build layered, timeless, meaningful spaces that feel lived-in and enduring. Alidad states a furniture layout is key in making your home truly timeless.
“Interior design is a lot more than placing bits of furniture. It is actually very logical. The function for me is the ability to move around the room with ease and be comfortable. - Alidad
Principles of design as your foundation
Understanding fundamentals such as proportion, light, balance, and colour is essential to any successful transformational interior project. In her course The Ultimate Guide to Interior Design, Rita Konig guides you through these core principles at your own pace, helping you apply them with confidence. When your decisions are anchored in these basics, your home naturally gains a sense of harmony and coherence.
Rita emphasises that every project should begin with an honest look at where you are in life and how you hope to live in the future. Once this is clear, every other choice becomes easier.
With this in mind, Rita proposes a clear sequence for working through the principles of design: Room layout - Furniture Layout - Electrical Layout - Begin Designing - Tender - Building - Finish Designing - Ordering - Installation.
“The best homes aren’t copied. They’re created. My goal is to help you trust your own taste, because that’s what makes a house feel like home. - Rita Konig
Let light guide your choices
Light is arguably the most transformative element in any room. In her course Learn the Art of Lighting Design, lighting expert Sally Storey shows you how to use light to shape atmosphere and mood, infusing your home with warmth, character, and comfort. Thoughtful lighting has the power to elevate even the simplest of moments, reading, relaxing, or entertaining with friends and making them feel more considered and special.
In her course, Sally explains how to plan a lighting scheme by first analysing the interior itself. Understanding the style, architecture, and purpose of the space will guide your decisions and help you determine the types of lighting to include.
“You can change the way a space looks and feels with the touch of the button, there’s no other design tool that can give you that flexibility. Good lighting is everything. - Sally Storey
Build depth through curation and layering
Layering is what transforms a house into a home. In her course Artfully Edited Interiors course, Kathryn M. Ireland shows how to mix textures, patterns, and materials with a relaxed, eclectic hand, creating spaces that feel rich, personal, and enduring.
Curation is shaped by the pieces we choose and the way we bring them together. Objects hold atmosphere; they set the tone of a room. Kathryn is always editing and evolving her own home, not by discarding, but by repurposing, gifting, or selling. Even old pots, jars, or containers can become lamps with the help of a skilled lamp maker. It’s a reminder to avoid the disposable and instead invest in items that will live with you for years.
Kathryn emphasises that collections, too, are a powerful storytelling tool. A single object can feel lost, but a group of related pieces gains presence, meaning, and charm when displayed together.
“The most interesting part of interior design is, in a way, the unknown, because you are like an artist, a painter. You are putting together a picture which not only looks beautiful - it does actually have to function. - Kathryn M. Ireland
Design for how you want to live
In her course How to Design Your Dream Home, Bunny Williams guides you to design and transform any living space with both elegance and practicality in mind. By shaping your home around how you really live, rather than how a magazine might style it, you create spaces that support your everyday life with ease.
Bunny’s own approach is rooted in variety and curiosity. She works across a wide mix of styles and settings, from country houses to city apartments, and draws inspiration from everywhere, from prestigious galleries to flea markets. This breadth gives her interiors a sense of life, character, and authenticity. Whatever the scale or budget, comfort and elegance remain the foundation of her design philosophy.
““Timeless interiors don’t happen by accident. They’re created with intention, balance, and a deep understanding of the space in which you’re working. - Bunny Williams
Embrace your personal style
In her course How to Be Mad About Your House, Kate Watson-Smyth encourages you to define, and fully embrace your own style. Instead of chasing trends or following what’s considered 'in', she invites you to create a home shaped by your personal vision, even when it feels bold. Designing authentically makes your space feel more grounding, confident, and uniquely your own.
Kate also offers guidance on navigating trends. If a trend feels familiar or resonates with your existing tastes, it may be worth exploring but be cautious of anything that rises too quickly, as it often fades just as fast. Slower emerging trends tend to last longer. Kate highlights the growing popularity of vintage brown furniture, which can be refreshed to bring new life to a space in a sustainable way.
Kate’s advice is simple: take your time, let trends wash over you, and only embrace those that truly fit your home and style.
““I want o help you find your find your style and create a home that works perfectly for you and the people you live with so it will support you in everything you do. - Kate Watson-Smyth.
