Interior Design Masters is back! If Interior Design Masters has been a missed experience, set a date with your couch for Wednesday night. Alan Carr, the host of Interior Design Masters, and the 10 aspiring designers / BBCMichelle Ogundehin’s favorite challenge this year is renovating shepherd’s huts. She says that they are mini homes in one. They are romantic, beautiful, and very glorious. But design-wise, they can do almost anything. That’s often the most difficult brief. What do you do when you have the ability to do anything? It’s a question many homeowners ask themselves. The possibilities can be overwhelming. It can be difficult to know where to begin, especially if your experience is limited. Michelle offered her top design tips. Her top tip? Her top tip? She says that the goal is to restore a blank canvas. A bog-standard, white paint will suffice. It will be a brilliant undercoat for any other colour and your landlord won’t likely to object if you rent. “Determine your color palette” Dean, an aspiring IDM designer, revealed that he has painted every room in his house black. He takes on the challenge of creating a calm green bedroom in his Manchester apartment rental for young professionals. Although he is not a disaster in design, he fails to make the best use of colour. What was he doing wrong? Michelle says that too many colours can lead to chaotic results. It becomes boring if you use too many colours, as Dean did. It’s all about having enough colors to give you variety without being too Changing Rooms. This post is on Instagram. She suggests six core colours, one white, and two accent colors, and using them throughout the home. You can help them blend together by linking their tones – Michelle favors “dirty colors” with a slight undertone gray. Her own palette includes lavender, pale lemon, greens, and blues. She advises that you surround yourself with colours that are meaningful to you, the colours that make you feel happy. My palette might not be yours. I wouldn’t say that you have to use “the colour of the Year” if it doesn’t fit your scheme. Michelle prefers to use tactile glue and paste mood boards. You don’t have to complicate things if you are already unsure if you have the time or energy for an artistic endeavor. Michelle says, “Start with your colors.” Take out pages from magazines and get a few paint cards. Keep going until you feel that you love the item. You can then use your new colour palette to guide everything you buy, from curtains to bedsheets. This post is on Instagram. Most importantly, mood boards should be fun. She says, “This is your home.” It’s a small piece of the ground you can curate and it doesn’t have to be expensive. There are many fancy, expensive stores that sell hideously expensive items. But I also love IKEA. They have some amazing stuff. It doesn’t matter how much you spend on it. It is about what you choose to do with it. Michelle says it’s important to tune in to what you loveChoice can seem overwhelming. There are many options. She says that when you go out to eat, you can tell when you don’t like one dish but like another. The same goes for interiors. Ask yourself why you like a particular chair. Is it the colour? It’s velvet upholstered. Is it because it is really squashy? It’s all about noticing the beauty and importance of flooring. “Understand the power and beauty of flooringMichelle believes that it is better to sit on a box with a great floor than on a cheap sofa on a poor one. It will compromise everything.” But renters, don’t despair. You can hide a shoddy floor by purchasing a rug you can take to your next home. Michelle shares this post on Instagram. Michelle suggests that if you are on a tight budget, you can visit a local carpet showroom and ask for their offcuts. She will then help you choose a large piece in one your preferred colours. Many companies will bind your edges for you at a very affordable price. You’ll also be helping to reduce wastage. “Take pride in being sustainable. Whether you’re upcycling a wooden chest with drawers that you found at the tip, or finding a pair of unique brass candlesticks at a charity shop. Sustainability is more than just a passing trend riding on the Blue Planet wave. Michelle says that pieces with a history are my favorite. It can be difficult to feel warm if your home is filled with shiny, new things. Michelle advises not to rely solely on the ‘big light’. Lighting is a vast area of design that many people dedicate their professional lives to. Michelle’s core tip is to never rely on a central pendant to brighten a room. This is an Instagram post. “That light is for when I’ve dropped my contact lens.” she says. Table lamps that highlight certain areas can make a space feel more welcoming, provided they are in harmony with maximising natural light. “Don’t be a slave for design rules. There are many design rules, but you should consider how they would work in your space. Do you feel happy following these rules? Consider the popular dictum that a small, north-facing room should be darkened because it doesn’t get enough natural light. Michelle recommends that you do what you love, not what you feel like you should. You can see this Instagram post. Michelle says that you could transform it into a cozy den-like space but that it could also be lit with beautiful lamps. You should not try to alter a space’s bones structure. However, if you have a style that favors neutrals and suddenly have deep teal walls, it could look great, but it could also be the room you never use. “Be strong in your convictions. It’s your home. If you love leopard print, glitter, and polka dots, then it’s your home. It is important that you walk through your front door and say “Yes, this is me!” “Interior Design Masters” airs at 9pm on Wednesday, March 9th on BBC One
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