Thinking about how to style your first home can be exciting and daunting in equal measure. Our resident expert, Steve Hird, Director and Co-founder of show home interior design specialist Edward Thomas Interiors, breaks down some of the most popular styles and how to recreate these in different rooms…
STYLE: SCANDI/HYGGE
Inspired by: Danish/Swedish/ Norwegian architecture and design
Best for: living room, kitchen/ diner, bedroom, bathroom
Probably one of the most enduring design styles, Scandinavian interiors offer a stylish beauty and simplicity. This style’s key principles emphasise minimalism and functionality, everything has both purpose and place. This combination of aesthetically pleasing yet practical interiors is what makes this style so popular.
Traditional Scandi decor has a light and bright feel, clean lines, and is characterised by a use of natural materials and patterns alongside neutral, earthy colours and unfinished woods. It makes for an extremely versatile base, with warmth and texture being added through accent colours or layered fabrics.
Another reason for the rise in popularity of Scandi design is the Danish concept, hygge. This introduced us to interiors specifically designed for comfort, those that embrace cosiness and relaxation. Think log burners, throws and cushions in luxury fabrics, warm lighting, hand-crafted accessories and you get the idea. The latest iteration of this is the Swedish “mysa”, which has similar connotations but also focuses on spaces to promote self-care and wellbeing. Scandi design is also extremely budget-friendly so is a great choice for first time buyers. IKEA anyone?!
STYLE: MODERN FARMHOUSE/COTTAGECORE
Inspired by: quintessentially English rural decor
Best for: kitchen/diner, utility room, hallway
A style enjoying a revival right now is modern farmhouse. Appealing because it can work in both town and country locations, modern farmhouse takes its cues from the classic British country aesthetic. Think rusticinspired furniture and accessories, an emphasis on crafts and homemade items, and a desire to embrace a more sustainable, “back-to-basics” lifestyle.
Modern farmhouse goes hand-in-hand with the cottagecore trend that really took hold during the lockdowns when people embraced hobbies such as baking, knitting and gardening. Both styles have a relaxed, liveable, even vintage aesthetic focused on comfort and a slower pace of life. The key differences are that modern farmhouse is more uniform with colour and prioritises function, so repurposes rooms like the utility into a pantry or mud/boot room (“bootility” is my preferred description!), whereas cottagecore is more whimsical, introducing busy patterns and bright colours. Both styles can be achieved by upcycling vintage, second hand or inherited pieces, making it an affordable option for first time buyers.
STYLE: DARK ACADEMIA
Inspired by: gothic architecture, classic literature, Harry Potter!
Best For: home office, dining room, reading nooks
Popular for the last couple of years because of TikTok and Instagram, dark academia has become a style to watch. It’s not for everyone as it embraces a bold, moody decor but can certainly make an impact.
Inspired by the gothic architecture of Oxbridge as well as classic libraries, dark academia design typically comprises panelled walls, shelves with a collection of quirky or nostalgic items, and distressed leather seating. Lighting is low level, fabrics are predominantly wood or leather, and colours veer towards richer shades such as navy, forest green, burgundy or black. But with splashes of brass for that “olde worlde” library charm!
Dark academia is a great style for rooms where you want to make a statement for example a dining room or home office, but also works in nooks or transitional spaces such as landings or under the stairs. There are some great wallpapers that mimic library shelves or panelling, plus scouring antiques fairs or flea markets might unveil some second hand pieces to complete the look.
STYLE: MAXIMALISM
Inspired by: self-expression
Best for: whole house!
Widely acknowledged as the antithesis to the long-lasting minimalist trend, maximalism is about having fun and expressing your personality, and where better to do this than in your first home?
Maximalism features prominent, bold colours, patterns and textures to demonstrate individual taste. Each room has character and brings its own joy through quirky and eclectic decor, avoiding any uniformity. Deliberately designed chaos, if you will. Wall treatments can include colour block painting, wooden or mirrored panelling and dramatic patterned wallpapers (think botanicals, florals, animal motifs) often side by side to be deliberately contrasting. Don’t forget to look up too, ceilings are often overlooked but can really add depth and bring a design to life with hand-painted murals or canopies.
At the heart of the maximalist design approach is the focus on self-expression. It’s about curating meaningful collections; you could scour the local antiques market and display impressive vintage finds, scroll online marketplaces, or perhaps you collect souvenirs from your travels and could artfully arrange these as a reminder of where you’ve been? There’s no right or wrong way with maximalism, and it can be achieved on all budgets, so let your creativity flow!
First Time Buyer is an exciting bi-monthly glossy which takes a stylish and comprehensive look at all the options available, setting them out in an entertaining and informative way, and helping potential customers navigate their way through what is often a daunting and complex process. We dispel the myths, reinforce the facts and arm the reader with the tools necessary to make their homeownership dreams a reality.