8 Design Opinions I Stand By (For a Beautiful, Layered Home)

Welcome back to Susie Anderson Home. Over the past 20 years of styling homes, I've developed certain design preferences that I believe transform the way a home looks, feels and functions. These span visual choices, practical details, multi-sensory elements and of course our five L's of styling. So today we're continuing with part two of our design opinion series. So let's begin. I like to avoid matching furniture suites. My first design opinion is to avoid buying a complete matching furniture suite. I believe a room feels more collected and interesting when there is some variation between the pieces. For example, in a bedroom you might pair in a upholstered or a tan bedhead with timber bedside tables and a contemporary or antique chest of drawers. You can still create unity by repeating a material, colour, silhouette or finish throughout the space. These can all provide a visual connection without relying on matching furniture. I also love this approach because it gives you greater freedom to mix design styles and combine contemporary, vintage and antique furniture. My second opinion is that curtains should always reach the floor. When curtains stop at the base of a window or finish several centimetres above the floor, they interrupt the vertical line and make both the window and surrounding wall appear smaller. I also recommend mounting the curtain rod or track above the window frame and extending it beyond each side when possible. Curtains that graze the floor offer a sleek tailored finish, whereas if you prefer a romantic luxurious look, extending the length creates a soft puddle. Next, I believe beautifully crafted brown timber furniture will always have a place in the home. Walnut, mahogany, rosewood, cedar, dark stained oak and other richly toned timbers bring warmth, depth and character to a room. They also create a beautiful contrast against pale walls and soft neutral upholstery. For modernity, add antique rattan, chalky ceramics, modern art, lamps or sculptures. Many older timber pieces were made using traditional construction techniques and their marks, variations and patina contribute to their character and can often be repaired or refinished. If you have inherited a quality piece of brown furniture that currently feels out of place, I recommend watching our video dedicated to styling brown furniture, linked below. Next, I like to avoid stark whites with blue undertones in the home, particularly when the material palette includes warm timber, rattan, linen, warm metals or natural stone. Every white paint has an undertone which may lean warm, cool or neutral depending on its formula. Blue undertones can make a room feel cold or sterile and may cause warmer materials to appear more orange. I prefer neutral whites such as Dulux Natural White, Dulux Whisper White and Porter's Paints Popcorn, which are all great starting points when testing samples. Next, I believe reflective surfaces should be regularly cleaned and polished. Glass, metallic accents, mirrors and glossy finishes add luster and reflect light around a room, helping it feel brighter and more spacious. However cloudy glassware, murky vases, a streaky mirror or a smudge window can detract from the overall look, no matter how beautifully the room has been styled. Once a week or as needed, I like to wipe any reflective surfaces with a clean lint-free cloth to keep the room feeling fresh and polished. Warm white lighting is essential. Warm white lighting is one of the most affordable and transformative changes you can make to a room. The colour temperature of a light globe is measured in Kelvin. A lower Kelvin rating produces a warmer, more golden light, while a higher rating creates a cooler, bluer light. In addition, smart globes and dimmers offer additional flexibility and when paired with layered lighting, makes each room feel more inviting no matter what time of day. 7. If you have pets, have a solution for pet hair. If you share your home with pets, it's worth considering their favourite resting places when selecting furniture and textiles. Choose tight weave, washable or performance fabrics for the furniture and textiles your pets regularly use. Loosely woven fabrics can trap hair and may be more vulnerable to claws, while certain velvets and highly textured materials can make shedding more visible. Colours and patterns that disguise your pet's hair along with a washable throw over their favourite spot can make daily maintenance much easier. 8. Scent is an essential element. Beyond the visual, I believe scent should always be considered as part of the design of a home. Scent contributes to our first impression of a space and can influence how comfortable we feel and how long we want to linger. Begin by addressing the source of any unwanted odours. Open windows to encourage cross ventilation, consider an air purifier with an activated carbon filter or an odour neutralising product, particularly if you're really sensitive to fragrances. Once the room is clean and fresh, you can introduce fragrance through candles, diffusers, room sprays, incense, oil burners, fresh flowers or aromatic herbs. Finally, I believe every room benefits from our five L's of styling. Lighting, layering, luster, living energy and something loved. Thank you so much for watching. Now I would love to know what is one design opinion you stand by? Let me know in the comments below. If you've enjoyed this video, please like and subscribe and remember when designing a home you love, the beauty is in the detail.