How do you make your interiors look effortless?
I am still very undecided on what my interior design ‘style’ is. I am far from a minimalist but I wouldn’t go as far as to say I totally align with maximalism either. There’s a touch of the rustic in my rooms, but again, I am not a total traditionalist.
What I have worked out recently is that my aim with my interiors is not really to nail down one design style that describes my home, but instead to always ensure my space feels effortless. Never overly styled or curated, chic and elevated but characterful and welcoming.
Over on H&G’s Instagram, we recently posted about ‘Sprezzatura’ which is an Italian word that loosely translates to something like ‘studied carelessness’ – and when applied to interiors this is exactly the ‘style’ I am striving for. Lived in and laid back but behind the scenes well thought out and considered.
I spoke with some of my favorite designers who I admire for always achieving this look, to get their advice on how I can recreate it in my home, here’s what they said.
1. Naturally collect pieces over time
(Image credit: Marie Flanigan Interiors, photography Julie Soefer)
‘Creating an effortless-looking interior is about embracing pieces that tell a story and age with grace,’ suggests designer Marie Flanigan. ‘Thoughtfully designed spaces don’t need to feel overly styled; instead, they come to life with patinaed leather chairs, unlacquered brass, and other elements that invite a sense of comfort and ease.’
‘When styling, reach for old books, loosely arranged branches, or anything that feels naturally collected over time. It’s these personal touches that make a room feel truly lived-in and welcoming,’ adds Marie.
2. Reflect personality in every detail
(Image credit: Rachael Smith)
Designer Natalie Tredgett seconds Maries point that when it comes to creating effortless interiors, no matter what your design style, it’s all about personality.
She explains, ‘Effortless interiors come to life when they are thoughtfully in tune with the client’s unique personality and lifestyle. I continuously refine ideas down to their essence by asking key questions: Where is the space? What is its function? How do you want to feel when you’re there? And what makes it personal? For a design to be effortlessly compatible, every element must authentically communicate these answers, ensuring the space feels natural, intentional, and deeply personal.’
3. Display your heirlooms
(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)
Decorating with family heirlooms is such a lovely way to add instant personality to your home and make it feel effortlessly curated when mixed in with your own pieces. As designer Kathy Kuo explains, ‘The key to a truly effortless interior design motif is to make sure that it reflects who you are and what you love and find interesting.’
‘There are so many ways to decorate a home, and creating a Pinterest-perfect design vignette is the easy part – more important than designer furniture and on-trend color schemes is heart and soul. Don’t be afraid to mix in family heirlooms and fun trinkets that have personal meaning; make sure your space feels super comfortable and livable.’
4. Not everything should match
(Image credit: Jake Shea)
‘My secret to making interiors look truly effortless lies in selecting materials that are both durable and of the highest quality. For me, it’s all about mixing colors, textures, woods, and metals in a way that feels natural and lived-in. The right balance of these elements is what gives a space that pulled-together yet relaxed feel, where everything flows but nothing feels overly coordinated or staged,’ explains designer Becky Shea.
‘I love blending different pieces like chairs, sofas, side tables, and ottomans because it creates that perfect harmony between comfort and style. When you layer in a mix of furniture and finishes, it adds depth and character to a room, giving it that cozy, lived-in feel without sacrificing sophistication. I steer away from anything too matchy-matchy – it can make a room feel flat and uninspired,’ she adds.
‘To me, the essence of effortless chic is in embracing the art of mixing things up. You want a cohesive palette that works together but is unique in every piece and material you choose. It’s about creating a space that feels personal and layered, where each item tells its own story yet contributes to the overall warmth and beauty of the home. That’s where the magic happens – when a room feels curated, thoughtful, and above all, effortless.’
5. Create layers and ‘ripples’ through your color schemes
(Image credit: Christian Bense)
‘One of the key things to remember if you want a space to look effortless and natural, is that not everything needs to match. To avoid the overly styled look you need to create layers and ripples throughout a space,’ explains designer Christian Bense.
‘Avoid the temptation to perfectly match every finish, fabric and color and instead, opt for a variety of tones and materiality that will bring a more layered and organic feeling to the space. As a studio, we are particularly keen on mismatching neutrals, pairing warmer white tones with cooler ones.
‘For example, a cooler, neutral wall color like Slate II from Paint and Paper Library works well with a warmer-toned linen on the curtains. Or an oatmeal linen sofa with brighter whites in a cushion or throw. I find that these purposeful miss-parings make a room feel more humble. It’s a really subtle response, but mismatched neutrals really are the foundation to how we create an effortless, more thrown together interior.’
6. Get artwork on the walls (in odd numbers)
(Image credit: Benji Lewis)
‘A gallery wall of assorted pictures is a brilliant way of creating impact but don’t get hung up on the idea that they must all be themed to a certain subject matter or painted in oil or watercolor,’ explains designer Benji Lewis, whose eclectic yet elevated style always looks effortless.
‘Bung things in together, a couple of oils, a few watercolors, a print, a mirror – get eclectic, it shows character. However, when it comes to accessories I find that grouping things in odd numbers works best. Mismatch things and don’t worry about it, as long as you ensure to have the scale and form of your furnishings in order, it doesn’t matter if you’ve got a fabric clash.’
7. Create displays even more practical rooms
(Image credit: deVOL Kitchens / Good Bones London)
More practical rooms like kitchens and bathrooms can be tricky to make look effortlessly characterful because they are such practical space. But Helen Parker, Creative Director of deVOL, says there’s still plenty of opportunity to create beautifully creative, but not overly curated, displays in a kitchen.
She says, ‘People who like their things on display or out rather than in cupboards are generally keen cooks or collectors. Cooks need to grab a pan or ladle quickly and efficiently so open shelves and hanging rails mean everything is easy to put away and easy to find and use quickly.’
‘People who have a love of beautiful things also love to display, why hide away all your treasures, which may be crockery or copper pans. Everyone’s displays are personal to them, straight rows of white plates or a jumbled mix of bits and bobs, a ceiling full of hanging herbs and utensils or a perfectly arranged display of Italian coffee makers.’
8. Bring in natural elements
(Image credit: MARIE FLANIGAN Interiors)
‘Creating an effortless look in your interiors involves a blend of simplicity and styling. We like to use natural elements like trees and greenery on tabletops and in corners of the room to anchor the space before we fill it with furniture,’ explains founder of Folding Chair Design, Jennifer Walter.
‘Styling is the key to making any space feel special. The use of neutral and natural feeling accessories can provide a serene and universally pleasing look. We opt for pottery, wood candlesticks, and textural art.’
9. Layer old and new
(Image credit: Studio Vero)
‘To achieve stylish and effortless interiors it’s all about the right mix. We take a relaxed, and quite often, experimental approach to layering old and new – antiques alongside newer finds as well as artisan pieces’ suggests Venetia Rudebeck, Co-Founder at Studio Vero.
‘Nothing should ever feel too fixed and there because it should be – you definitely need to love every piece you buy. We embrace color and pattern and adore bringing playful and unexpected designs together. We always recommend not to take a room “too seriously” and just have fun with sourcing and seeing what works. It’s all about being creative and not too matchy-matchy. Accessories and books are also really stylish touches – as many books as possible, you can never have enough!’
10. The finishing touches are key
(Image credit: Christian Bense)
‘So much of creating effortless interiors is in the finishing touches,’ says Christian Bense. ‘Books, art, flowers, ornaments – these can either make or break a space so it’s vital to get this right.’
‘When it comes to styling, books maketh a room, and piles of books or magazines on a coffee table, which swap places as people use them, create a rhythm to a room and provide a very real human element to a space. I tend to shy away from objects on a coffee table, rather opting for potentially usable items like bowls, trays or vases.’
‘A coffee table with marble ornament plopped on top immediately looks styled, so rather opt for considered pieces which could be used. Purpose provides intent, which means you can then start layering up surfaces more than you perhaps would if everything was just an object for display.’
Lessons learned from all this wonderful advice is that if you follow your intuition and decorate with pieces you love, ignoring what trends say, your home will be effortlessly stylish. Fill your rooms with characterful pieces, pieces with memories and meaning and you can’t go far wrong.
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