Rooms
A Small Bedroom Layout That Feels Twice the Size
Where to put the bed, how much space to leave around it, and the storage and lighting tricks that make a small bedroom feel calm instead of cramped.
Articles by
Richard R.
Richard R. is an interior designer and the founder of The Aesthete Academy, writing practical guides for people designing their own homes and for beginners starting out in the profession.
Design Basics
The 60-30-10 Rule Is a Starting Point, Not a Law
The most quoted colour rule in interior design, what it actually measures, and the three situations where you should bend it.
Colour & Light
Reading Light Before You Choose a Single Material
A north-facing room and a south-facing one are not the same brief. How to read the light in a room before you…
Design Career
How to Price Your First Interior Design Projects
Hourly, fixed fee or per square metre? The three common ways designers charge, what each one rewards, and how to set a…
Materials
Unlacquered Brass, Limewash and the Materials That Age Well
Some finishes look their best on the day they are installed. Others get better every year. Six materials that improve with time,…
Rooms
How to Arrange a Living Room Around More Than the TV
A practical way to lay out a living room: find the focal point, plan the walkways, size the rug, and give every…
The Edit
What to Look for in a Sofa That Will Last Ten Years
The frame, the springs, the cushions and the fabric. A buyer's checklist for the most expensive piece of furniture most people own.
Design Basics
How to Measure a Room and Draw a Simple Floor Plan
Every good room starts with an accurate plan. What to measure, in what order, and how to turn it into a scale…
Styles
Scandinavian Style Without the White Box
Scandinavian interiors are often copied as white walls and grey sofas. The real style is warmer, more practical and more personal. Here…
Design Career
How to Build an Interior Design Portfolio Before Your First Client
No clients yet? You can still build a portfolio that shows how you think. Five kinds of projects to include, and how…
Colour & Light
How to Choose Paint Colours: Undertones Explained
Why your "simple grey" turned out purple, and how to see the hidden colour inside every neutral before it goes on the…
Colour & Light
Layered Lighting: The Three Kinds Every Room Needs
One ceiling light is not a lighting plan. How to combine ambient, task and accent light so a room works in the…
