After taking the runner’s up spot on the BBC’s Interior Design Masters, Cannock-based Sophie Newlands, of Shag Interior, shares her advice on creating beautiful homes and customer-friendly business spaces.
What is the first rule of great interior design at home?
Your home has to make you happy. If you’re family orientated, blow up photos that make you smile or laugh and use them as artwork instead of buying generic prints. If you love colour, introduce it through soft furnishings.
How do you create a timeless look?
Invest in quality furniture and décor that you’ll want to keep forever. It can be hard to resist high street trends but they come and go very quickly.
What is the most important element in a room?
Lighting. If you get that right, it does so much of the hard work for you. It creates atmosphere in hospitality settings and highlights products in retail spaces.
What’s your signature styling tip?
Layer texture. I love combining velvets, throws and sheepskins with natural materials such as brick, stone and wood. Mixing textures creates warmth, depth and character.
Why does interior design matter so much for businesses?
I can’t stress how important design is for customer-facing businesses. A well-designed space can make all the difference.
Products were flying off the shelves of the shops we transformed on Interior Design Masters, because we’d created a better customer experience.
What advice would you give business owners thinking about refreshing their premises?
If you’re questioning whether your premises are working, trust your instincts.
Always start with the customer. Ask yourself how you want people to feel when they walk through the door, then make every design decision around that experience. I love to create immersive spaces that people want to photograph and share.
Don’t be swept away by trends. Each business has its own style and you need to stay true to that and create a space that reflects who you are.
Can good design be achieved on a budget?
Absolutely. The key is having a clear direction before you start spending.
Some people who aren’t creative find interior design difficult, but working with a designer doesn’t have to be out of reach. Many offer diagnosis calls or concept packages to provide a visual direction without the cost of a full redesign. Interior design isn’t reserved for the elite.
Any tips for upcycling?
Preparation is key. If you don’t clean, sand and prime properly, your finishes piece won’t last. Facebook Marketplace is a goldmine for furniture – around 70% of the items I used on Interior Design Masters came from there. Charity shops and antique stores are good too.
