The Rule of Three

Image: Clair Strong Interior Design You’ve probably heard mention of the rule of three; it’s a writing concept that has been co-opted for use in all sorts of creative industries, including interior design. In writing, the rule of three suggests that events or characters introduced in threes are more satisfying, entertaining or humorous to the…

Don’t Miss These 2017 Design Events

Image: Clair Strong Interior Design This month, The Bath Magazine published my round-up of the most exciting design events coming up in 2017. Well, for those of you who don’t live in Bath and thus don’t receive the magazine, I’m republishing parts of that article here. Design is a really important part of British culture,…

Illusions of Grandeur

Today I want to talk about ‘faking it’ in interior design. I’m a strong believer in using clever little tricks to create the illusion of a particular feature, style or trend. We’re not all blessed with an endless supply of income and time, so faking it can sometimes be necessary. In fact, there are some…

A Guide to Biophilic Design

Image: Clair Strong Interior Design Not just another passing fad or kitschy buzzword; biophilic design is radically changing the way we interact with our urban spaces. According to respected biologist Edward O. Osborne, humans have an innate attraction to nature; a biological need to connect with the natural world. But our cities and suburbs are…

A Better Night’s Sleep

Image: Clair Strong Interior Design We all understand the importance of sleep. And yet so many of us struggle to get a solid seven hours. For many people, the problem of poor sleep is quite simple: their bedroom is not the sanctuary of peace and quiet it should be. Here are my tips for creating…

How to Maximise Your Storage Space (Part II)

Image: Clair Strong Interior Design Storage space: the one thing all homes could use more of. Here, in the second part of this two-part series (check out part one here) I show you some creative ways to maximise storage space in the bathroom and living room. The Bathroom The bathroom is usually the most storage-deficient…

How to Maximise Your Storage Space (Part I)

Image: Clair Strong Interior Design Houses are getting smaller. Research conducted by The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) found that the majority of new build homes are significantly smaller than their older counterparts. What this often means is a squeeze on storage; smaller kitchens, fewer built-in wardrobes and no cupboard under the stairs. Too…

Three Lifestyle Concepts to Try in 2017

Image: Clair Strong Interior Design The Danish concept of hygge took the world by storm in 2016. Celebrating the cosy, joyful moments of every single day is a lifestyle we could all benefit from. Especially during winter. But it’s not just the perpetually happy Danes who have embraced meaningful ways of living. There are cultures…

Three Ways to Add Personality to a New Build Home

Image: Clair Strong Interior Design There’s a lot to love about new build homes; they’re modern, often beautifully designed, high-spec and generally very energy efficient. But, and this is quite a big but, they can be quite bland. Most construction companies will use the same suppliers for every home they build. That can mean thousands…