Ask an IKEA interior designer: creating your own style in the home

We chatted to an IKEA interior designer about how to borrow bits and pieces from the looks we love most to create something new and unique.

When it comes to textiles, what combinations work best?

“We can get caught up in worrying about whether textiles clash. Do these colours go together? How about checks and florals? There are no hard and fast rules and the best approach is to try things out for yourself. Hold fabrics up next to one another and play around until you find a combination that you like.”

What is an unexpected way to add interest to a space?

“Texture is a fun and often under explored place to start. By making interesting combinations, even something as functional as an office space can be made intriguing. Woven baskets, matte binders, shiny plastic boxes – they can all live together beautifully.”

Where else can we break from decor tradition?

“Everywhere! And that includes things that normally come as a set, like a dining table and chairs. Try mixing things up completely with individual chairs in different materials and styles.”

Any final tips around decoration in general?

“In the same way you’ve learnt to mix it up with your furnishings, you can also create new combinations with the decoration on your shelves, walls and surfaces. Framed pictures, wall lamps, clocks, ceramics: if you love them, try out different placements until you find something that is an expression of you.”