Why Designing Interiors Should Always Start With a Feeling
When we think of interior design, my clients often jump straight into thinking about colours, layouts, and styles. The tangible elements we can see and touch.
But at the very heart of a well-designed space is something far
more elusive, yet infinitely more powerful: a feeling.
As an Interior Designer, I’ve had the privilege of helping countless women transform their homes . I’m not just talking about making them beautiful, which of course we always aim for but to make them feel “just right”. Because no matter how beautiful a room may appear in a magazine or on a Pinterest board, if it doesn’t resonate emotionally with you, it just won’t feel like home.
Why Feeling Comes First
Designing a home is deeply personal. It should be only about you and the people who live within your home. Before a single cushion is fluffed or paint samples are ordered, it’s essential to take some time ask yourself the following questions :
“How do I want to feel in my space?”
Do I crave calm after a long, busy day?
Do I want to feel energised and inspired as I start my morning?
Do I long for a sense of nostalgic warmth, like stepping into a favourite memory?
Once you’ve anchored your vision in emotion, the rest of the design process becomes so much more intuitive. The feeling you desire becomes a compass, gently guiding every decision, from fabric choices and furniture scale to lighting schemes and even the scent in the room.
Morning Room by Daniel Slowik
Classic, traditional, formal, opulent and grand.
This is a room for serious conversations, it is to be admired but not touched. Playfulness is hinted at with the terracotta pot placed on a highly polished table but it is very restrained.
It is a room in which to respect history and appreciate beautiful things.
Translating Emotion Into Design
Let’s imagine you want your living room to feel “relaxed and grounded.” That might lead us to soft textures like linen and wool, earthy tones like moss green or warm taupe, natural woods, and diffused lighting. We might incorporate organic shapes and intentionally leave a little breathing space around each piece.
If your dream kitchen needs to feel “joyful and social,” that could mean embracing bold colour, open shelving to showcase your personality, layered lighting for different moods, and a welcoming layout that invites people to gather.
By beginning with a feeling, you also create a space that has longevity, one that supports your lifestyle, evolves with you, and continues to feel like you even as trends come and go.
Kitchen by Ben Pentreath Studio
Homely, inviting, cosy and relaxed.
This little corner in a very grand and traditional kitchen corner cleverly challenges the belief that a room can only be one thing. Whilst the other end is a beautifully functional workhorse, this nook shows character, exquisite handcrafted detail and the importance of rest.
Designing for the Life You Live & Aspire To
One of the most magical things about starting with a feeling is that it allows you to design forward. You’re not just decorating your current reality, you’re shaping a space that supports the life you want to grow into.
Perhaps you're stepping into a new season, a quieter chapter, a fresh start, or even rediscovering a side of yourself that’s long been tucked away. Your home can reflect that. It can hold you as you move forward. That’s the real power of thoughtful, feeling-led design.
A Simple Way to Begin
If you're ready to redesign a space but aren’t sure where to start, here’s a little exercise I often give to my clients:
Close your eyes and picture the space as your favourite version of itself. What are you doing in it? How do you feel? Peaceful? Inspired? Cosy? Confident?
Write down three words that capture that emotional tone.
Use those words as your filters. As you explore colours, textures, furniture, and lighting, ask yourself: Does this help me feel the way I want to feel?
Dining Room by Peter Mikic
Vibrant, exuberant, warm, fresh and utterly delicious!
This is not a room you come into for a rest but it is a room you come enter and KNOW you will have an excellent party.
Using a strong bold Analogous scheme Peter’s dining room creates a feeling of pure celebration, theatre and is unashamedly cool.
The ambience is one of all round glamour and focuses on evoking a ‘wow’-factor with lots of fine detailing that reveals itself more and more as you linger in the room.
Final Thoughts
Design is not just about what looks good. It’s about what feels right. It’s about crafting an environment that soothes, uplifts, energises, or embraces you — whatever you need most.
So the next time you’re tempted to dive into trends or get swept up in someone else’s aesthetic, pause for a moment. Ask yourself:
“How do I want this space to feel?”
That question is where the magic truly begins.