For the Love of Interiors

I love interiors. No seriously, I’m obsessed! The way people style their spaces and make them their own, the different types of furniture, the bits and bobbles that make your space pop, comfy couches, colourful carpets, moody lighting…EVERYTHING!

My obsession started when I was younger. I used to love watching BBC Home growing up (and still do when I can find it here in France) and all their interior design shows. I’m such a fan of British TV and would spend my days watching every show available cause they were (and still are) that good! Shows like Changing Rooms (Linda Barker, Anna Ryder Richardson, and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen anyone?), Location, location, location, Escape to the country and my favourite, Grand designs!

When I left home for university at 18, my sights were set on an interior design degree. When I was told it’d take 7 years I chickened out and instead decided to mass communication (a decision I have since learnt to live with but gah!!)

Fortunately my love for everything interiors didn’t die there. I didn’t have access to British television anymore so I found other ways to satiate my appetite for all things interiors.

Now this was the era waaay before instagram and blogs were just starting out. I one day stumbled upon a website called ‘The Selby’ and later The Coveteur and the rest was history! I used to pore over these sites during my free time and couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend my afternoons. Absolute bliss!

What’s on my shelf: Money plant, candle, perfume, woven fan and art

I can’t explain it but I could look through pages and watch countless shows on interior design and home improvement for days. I think it’s the fact that you can really make a place feel like home by just adding your touches to it and buying pieces that mean something to you.

In my quest for making a place feel like home, I’ve only just recently started making my space feel like me, like a welcome hug that says, ‘come in and leave your worries at the door.’ A space that exudes warmth and calm. It’s super important for me to feel safe, warm and at ease when I walk into my space and I’m on a mission to do just that!

Recently bought myself a disco ball cause who doesn’t like a little sparkle in their lives?

My home decor philosophy is very much ‘more is more’! I adore a cozy vibe, colour, different textures & warmth. Think moody lighting, a velvet green couch, fluffy colourful carpet, artwork & candles. I believe your space should be inviting and filled with treasured items. Items that have maybe been handed down, or items you’ve scoured during your travels or at flea market.

I’m definitely influenced by prints and maximal decor. I took one of those ‘what is my home decor style’ tests recently and it turns out my main style is ‘Midcentury Modern’ with my sub styles being a mix of Bohemian, Global & Eclectic. I don’t know about the midcentury modern bit but the bohemian, global & eclectic are definitely me! So think patterns, vibrant colors, layered textures, and ornate embellishments, textiles, storytelling, funky detail and personalized collections. Yup! That’s me in a nutshell!

A few of my favourite things: disco ball, brass trinkets, amethyst crystal, perfume, flowers and iron elephant bought in Bali.

I also started an Instagram page dedicated to my love of interiors. My aim and goal is to feature the homes of Black people, furniture & art because representation matters. Check it out below! My hope is to pour more of myself into the page in the future and feature more homes and the beautiful people that inhibit them. Watch this space!

If you’re like me and looking for ways to get your space to feel more homely & cozy, then a good place to start is to buy plants. It’s not such a big investment and plants instantly add a lovely shot of green and makes a space feel alive. I’m a plant lover through and through and slowly getting back to acquiring some new babies.

Another way is art, poster art if you’re strapped from cash. There are some good websites out there that sell affordable poster art that won’t break the bank. I bought mine from Juniqe but you have others like IamFy!, Society 6 and Postery that have some good options.

Next would be to get some sort of storage system. IKEA has some affordable options which can help keep everything where they need to be.

I managed to buy myself a carpet cause the space needed it. The day it arrived and I laid it down it instantly added some much needed warmth to the room. If you can afford it, buy yourself a rug!

Love this lamp I got from Made.com. They have since unfortunately shut down.

My growing collection of much loved coffee table books. Seen here: ‘Africa: The Fashion Continent’ by Emmanuelle Courrèges, ‘Africa Arising: Fashion, Design and Lifestyle from Africa’, ‘Feeling Seen - the photographs of Campbell Addy’, ‘Our Own Series’ by Nadine Ijewere, ‘The New Black Vanguard’ by Antwaun Sargent, ‘Big Has Home’ by Hasan Semay & ‘Black Futures’ by Kimberly Drew + Jenna Wortham.

Cook books, jewellery, plants and ornate statues.

My ever growing book collection on display featuring a Cameroonian Namji doll bought from Kenya

A basket full of baby toys are part of the decor now!

Another close up of my much loved lamp. Swoon!

I’m still looking to add a few items to the room to make it just right! I’m loving deep seated armchairs, statement rugs, unique vases and moody lighting. What’s on your wishlist?

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