Whether you're settling into a new place or looking to refresh your current space, the way your home looks and feels has a big impact on your mood and lifestyle. Interior design isn't just about making a space beautiful - it's about creating an environment that reflects your personality, supports your daily routines, and inspires comfort and creativity.
To help you achieve a home that ticks all of these boxes, in this blog, we’re going to discuss our top 15 interior design tricks. From choosing the right colour palette to optimising and furniture layout, we’ve got it all written down to help you make the most of your space, no matter your style or budget.
The top 15 best interior design tricks
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Paint your woodwork
Your woodwork and accents can be an easily overlooked part of your interior décor; however, the transformative power of painting woodwork is nothing to be underestimated. By taking your plain, old white doors, skirting boards, and window frames, and painting them to better match your decor, you can instantly refresh and uplift your living space. You could paint them the same colour as your walls for a nice seamless look, or go all out and paint them something bold and bright to contrast against the surrounding décor and draw the eye.
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Hide utilities
This is great for bathrooms and kitchens. Keeping any clutter and appliances out of sight is a great tip for creating a seamless home look. More and more people are hiding their fridges, dishwashers, and washing machines behind cupboard doors. This creates a consistent flow throughout a kitchen or utility room that isn’t broken up with machinery.
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Let natural light in
Light-filled rooms can feel much more airy and refreshing. This is especially great for small, dark rooms, as natural light can help create the illusion of space. To do this, be mindful of the kinds of curtains and blinds you’re using; preferably, you’ll have something light and airy as well to help the natural light filter through them.
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Use paint effects for bold looks
Paint doesn’t have to be a block of colour; you can use paint in a variety of ways to bring personality to your room. You can try stencils to help with this process as they prove to be a very inexpensive way to add a backdrop to your rooms. You can choose detailed stencils like trees and flowers, or go for something as simple as stripes to add some colour and style to your space.
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Use house plants
Using plants is a great way to open up your home and create a seamless transition from outdoors to indoors. Plants can be incorporated into homes in many different ways, from the final touches on a desk or a big statement when you walk into a room. They come in many different shapes, sizes and care levels, so you can find something to suit your needs. If you’re going for a natural home look with neutral tones, then plants are a perfect choice.
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Wall lights are trendy
Wall lights are often forgotten about in favour of floor or table lamps; however, they offer all the same chic looks and soft, ambient lighting without taking up precious surface space - making them perfect for smaller rooms or minimalist designs. When placed strategically, wall lights can enhance the mood of a room while highlighting architectural details, artwork, or textured walls.
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Make use of artwork
Artwork is often the soul of a room - it breathes life into bare walls and tells stories that furniture alone can’t. Whether it's a bold abstract painting, a gallery of black-and-white photographs, or a vibrant cultural tapestry, art has the power to transform a space from ordinary to extraordinary. It reflects personality, sparks conversation, and creates a visual rhythm that ties the entire room together.
You can hang artworks in many different ways; you can group many smaller ones together to create a collage, or you can have one giant centrepiece. It’s all down to your preferences and what will best suit your interior style.
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Create an authentic look with antiques
Antiques are more than just objects - they have the ability to bring history, charm, and character into modern spaces, giving your home a more authentic look that embodies heritage. They break the monotony of mass-produced pieces and introduce a sense of depth, mystery, and craftsmanship that can’t be replicated. Whether it's a weathered trunk, a vintage mirror or a grandfather clock, mixing antiques with contemporary décor creates a beautiful contrast between old and new.
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Experiment with contrast
Creating contrast is where visual harmony meets a touch of bold rebellion. Playing with contrast in interior décor creates dynamic energy, drawing the eye and making each element stand out and can be done in a variety of ways. You can have crisp white walls framing dark furniture, darker accents highlighted by lighter surroundings or even contrast smooth surfaces with some texture to invite a multi-sensory experience.
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Hide your eyesores
Great interior design isn’t just about what you see - it’s also about what you don’t see. Just like hiding washing machines and dishwashers with cupboard doors, hiding any clutter and pipes can help create a more visually appealing home. Exposed pipes and everyday clutter can disrupt the flow of a beautifully curated space, but with a little creativity, they can disappear into your interior décor. Think custom cabinetry that tucks away chaos with clean lines, woven baskets that swallow up toys, clothes and other clutter, or a gallery wall that cleverly conceals unsightly plumbing.
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Incorporate textures
A velvet cushion, a rough brick wall or a silky curtain fluttering in the breeze - these are the details that breathe depth and richness into a room. Texture adds warmth, dimension, and a sense of touchable luxury, turning your home into a tactile experience where every surface has a story. Textures can be incorporated in a variety of ways, plush rug underfoot, a woven basket by the sofa, making it easy to work with and a great way to add depth to a flat room.
If you’d like to learn more about how to incorporate textures into your home décor, then you can read more in our blog.
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Don’t neglect corners
No matter how awkward the space, corners are brimming with untapped potential. While many home owners may put up a picture frame or squeeze a floor lamp into a small space, why not bring out some creativity in your own home and turn your corners into mini masterpieces? These quiet spaces can become cosy reading nooks, miniature jungles of cascading plants, or stylish display zones for sculptural lighting and art. All it takes is a little imagination to turn them into standout features that elevate the entire room.
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Reap the benefits of vertical lines
Vertical lines are the quiet architects of elegance; they draw the eye upward, creating the illusion of height, grace, and grandeur even in the most compact of spaces. Whether it’s striped wallpaper, panelling, or a series of pendant lights, vertical lines lead the gaze on, making your space feel open, airy, and intentional. It’s a simple trick with a powerful effect for small rooms.
A great example of ways you can incorporate vertical lines into your décor is with slat wall panels. Both easy to clean and easy to install, panels such as these STRIVO Acoustic Slat Panels are a great addition to any home. With warm, natural tones and vertical lines, this stunning cladding can transform a small room to feel bigger and cosier.
STRIVO Acoustic Slat Panel Smoked Walnut - £59.95
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Consider the transition between rooms
The transition between rooms plays a crucial role in creating a cohesive and harmonious interior. Rather than treating these in-between spaces as mere passageways, they can be designed to enhance flow, establish continuity, and elevate the overall atmosphere of a home. You can do this through simple touches such as consistent flooring, complementary colour palettes, or repeated textures can tie spaces together. This means that each room feels distinct yet connected, making the entire home feel more intentional, inviting.
We understand that designing a hallway can be one of the trickier parts of interior design, so if you need more tips and tricks on creating a welcoming hallway that seamlessly transitions from room to room, then read more with our hallway decor ideas blog.
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Go big or go home
Sometimes, the secret to unforgettable interior décor is the courage to go big - bold statements, oversized pieces, and fearless design choices that instantly elevate a space from ordinary to extraordinary. A grand chandelier in a modest room, a large-scale piece of art that commands attention, or an extra-deep, luxurious sofa can all become the heart of your design. It’s all about not being afraid to mix and match colours, to experiment and try new things, to unapologetically incorporate furniture and colours that perfectly represent your personality. When done thoughtfully, bold design creates a space that not only looks stunning but feels alive, intentional, and uniquely yours.
Create your dream home with Panel Company
At its core, interior design is about creating spaces that reflect who you are and how you want to live. Whether it’s playing with texture, embracing bold statements, maximising corners, or mastering the art of transition, these design tricks are tools to help you bring your vision to life.
If you want to find more brilliant ideas for your interior design, then you can browse through our blogs for more inspiration on everything from renter-friendly home upgrade ideas to utility room ideas to make the most of your space. If you already have an idea of how you want to design your home, but need the right pieces to fulfil your project, then browse through our wall panels for some stunning styles.
