Interior Design Journal

Welcome to the Interior Design Nook blog. I love writing about interiors as much as I love designing them! Here, you can read about all things colour, neurodiversity, and how to create an authentic, personalised and practical home. I always aim to give you a fresh insight and tips beyond the standard interiors advice you’ll find elsewhere, so dive in and enjoy!

Love,

Minnie Claridge 01/02/2026 Minnie Claridge 01/02/2026

Buying Mindfully: How to Curate a Home That Feels Timeless

Shopping for your home, especially when renovating, can start to feel overwhelmingly materialistic. We are bombarded with choices but the reality is most of us don’t want to engage in mindless consumption. The skill of interior design lies in curating a home with intention: selecting pieces that add character, depth, and personal resonance, rather than simply filling space. Often, the most satisfying purchases come from looking for something specific and taking your time to find it. Mixing high and low, new and old, smooth and rough creates contrast and tension, which gives a room its character.

Minnie Claridge 11/10/2023 Minnie Claridge 11/10/2023

What is a design concept?

Someone asked me what I meant by ‘Spatial Planning Concept’ and I thought, what an excellent question! It can be easy to fall into using design jargon when you eat, sleep and breathe interiors, so here’s a bit of a glossary and in insider’s view of the interior design journey. I hope it’s helpful!

Minnie Claridge 27/04/2023 Minnie Claridge 27/04/2023

How to Mix Patterns

Today I’m talking in detail about how to successfully mix patterns in an interior. The first step is to make sure you have a cohesive colour scheme. I like mixing lots of colours in an interior, but where the palette tells one clear story. I might only use a tiny amount of some colours, but I love the depth it brings to an interior compared to having everything matching.

Minnie Claridge 07/10/2022 Minnie Claridge 07/10/2022

Gloss paint is back!

Gloss paint … It’s been creeping up the trend ladder for a few years … I’m seeing more gloss paint used in interiors, and no wonder as paint finishes are a fantastic way to add texture and depth to a scheme. By sticking to matt for so long, we’ve been depriving ourselves of this tool for creating variety and interest without adding too much clutter. Gloss finishes also bounce light around a room, which works particularly well for cosy evenings with lamp light as the nights draw in. Whilst I’m mainly sticking to woodwork for now, I’ve recently painted a ceiling in eggshell to bounce the light around in an otherwise matt room.