Get inspired with our collection of interior design ideas and examples for your home
Are you looking for some fresh ideas for your home? If so, then look no further. In this article, we’ve compiled some unique interior design ideas that will transform your bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and living room that are simple to implement and instantly impressive. From celebrating houseplants and mixing up natural materials to experimenting with tiles and embracing bold wall murals, you’re guaranteed to find something that you’ll want to try out at home.
- Bathroom interior design ideas and examples
- Bedroom interior design ideas and examples
- Kitchen interior design ideas and examples
- Living room interior design ideas and examples
Are you ready to get seriously inspired? Then, let’s dive in!
Bathroom Interior Design Ideas and Examples
If you’re looking for some fresh ideas for your bathroom, then you’re in the right place. From laying down quirky, contrast tiling to turning your bathroom into a reading sanctuary, your bathroom is a more versatile design playground than you might think!
Check out these fun interior design ideas to inject some originality into your bathroom.
Make your bathroom your library, too
For those who love to read but do not have the luxury of a library, a bathroom can be the perfect place to store (and enjoy!) your favourite reading material. With a freestanding tub in the middle of the room and wall-to-wall bookshelves filled with much-loved reads, a library-inspired bathroom means that you can indulge in long, hot soaks with your latest sci-fi, romance, or psychological thriller without ever having to go in search of your next book.
When incorporating a library feel into your bathroom, consider shelving units that fit neatly into the walls, freestanding floating shelves that can be arranged in corners, or wall-to-wall shelves. If your bathroom is quite large, you might want to include a reading nook, a cosy chair, or a small step ladder for added decoration.
Install a shelf for treasured items
Just because your bathroom is a place for everyday activities, doesn’t mean it can’t feel special. Installing a shelf above a sink or the toilet can provide a place for you to store treasured decor items, art pieces, flower arrangements, or framed photographs. If your bathroom has high ceilings, make the most of vertical space and build multiple shelves going upwards for your decorative accents.
To inject a bit of humour into your bathroom decoration, consider placing old photographs, framed articles, or cartoons on your shelf. Introverts might also want to display university certificates, running medals, or other mementoes in this modest location.
Find wallpaper inspiration in nature
A great way to instil a fresh, outdoorsy vibe in your bathroom is by taking inspiration from nature in your paint and wallpaper choices. Whether you’re into jungle themes, pretty florals, coastal tones, or forest greens, you needn’t be shy about going all out with nature-inspired walls to bring out the best in your bathroom interior design.
To further enhance the nature theme, consider using natural materials for fittings, accessories, and furnishings, such as natural wood flooring or bamboo picture frames. You can also include flora and fauna designs in upholstery, cushions, rugs, or even towels. Finally, don’t forget to include some real nature-based elements in your bathroom. House plants, succulents, fresh bouquets, and dried flowers all make wonderful additions to a bathroom and will elegantly continue the natural theme on the walls.
Embrace different tile styles
If you prefer a clean and simple look, consider making a statement through the use of different tile styles and patterns. Black and white square tiles either on the floor or walls (or both) create a dramatic effect that compliments a minimalist overall bathroom design, while contrasting patterned tiles can keep things exciting and bold with minimal decorative effort. If you prefer neutral tones, another idea is to put down natural-coloured tiles made with different finishes to create a textured but more subtle aesthetic.
Bedroom Interior Design Ideas and Examples
Your bedroom isn’t just where you sleep; it’s your place of calm in a busy world. If you’re looking to revamp this important space, take a look at some of these ideas. From inserting antiques into a modern design to adding a distinctive wall mural, here are some inspiring and unique approaches to bedroom design.
Combine antique and modern approaches
If you find yourself drawn to both contemporary and traditional interior design looks, or you simply want to embrace a more eclectic aesthetic, try incorporating a mix of antique and modern pieces of furniture in your bedroom. While vintage and antique elements like a Chippendale chest of drawers, or Liberty-print curtains, can create a warmer, cosier aesthetic, modern elements such as a neutral colour palette or lots of natural light will ensure the end result remains fresh and appealing.
Include a cosy, seated corner
If you’re lucky enough to have a spacious bedroom and you're not quite sure how to make the most of it, consider including a sofa or seated area. A cosy corner complete with a fluffy rug or a small coffee table creates a chillout zone away from family or flatmates where you can relax without distractions.
If your bedroom is on the smaller side, consider investing in a vintage armchair and a large lamp, with floating shelves for your magazines instead of a coffee table. More quirky seating options for smaller spaces include folding cinema seats or bean bags which can be stored in a cupboard when you need more floor space.
Add a wall mural
A wall mural is a great way of injecting some personality into your bedroom. Whether you paint it yourself, hire a professional artist, or purchase a removable design, a landscape or pattern will brighten up the dullest of bedrooms, create a certain mood, and add depth to the existing architecture of the room. With so many self-adhesive options to choose from, this needn’t be a permanent decision: you can freshen up a bedroom with a different mural design as often as you change the curtains. For children’s bedrooms a mural can work especially well; let this be their opportunity to make the room their own.
Inject some luxury
There are numerous simple ways you can inject some luxury into your bedroom without breaking the bank or spending months redesigning the space. A chic rug will pull the space together, while a statement hanging light fixture or chandelier will instantly add the wow factor to your bedroom. If you want to feel like royalty in your own bed, invest in overstuffed throw pillows and choose luxury fabrics for your bed covers such as silk, velvet, and cashmere. Finally, plants are a must in a glamorous setting and, in the right stoneware pots, will instantly transform your bedroom from average to opulent.
Learn More: Top 26 Interior Design Styles (with examples)
Kitchen Interior Design Ideas and Examples
The kitchen is the heart of the home; a place where families gather and friends catch up after a long day. If your kitchen is looking like it needs freshening up, these ideas may give you some food for thought. From a kitchen island to a concealed breakfast station, these are just some of the quirky ways you can turn your kitchen into a stylish hub.
Consider a concealed breakfast station
A recent trend in kitchen design is the concept of intelligent storage solutions. With kitchen space in apartments often being fairly limited, a concealed breakfast station or pantry fits neatly into this trend. The station can contain a professional coffee machine, crockery storage, cereal options, a bread bin, and a toaster. You can even hang coffee cups or mugs from hooks inside it and place high stools next to it to create a breakfast bar effect.
Add a kitchen island
As well as being a creative storage solution for utensils and pantry basics, a kitchen island can become a focal point to what can be the busiest room in the house. Whether you choose a rolling island that can be pushed out of sight once your cooking prep is done, or a more permanent island that doubles up as an eating area, a kitchen island can help to create a natural flow to your kitchen. In addition to providing valuable counter space, a kitchen island can be designed to meet the homeowner’s specific needs, for example, it could be a place for the kids to hang out or a speciality baking area with all the latest gadgets.
Create positive vibes with yellow
The colour palette you choose for your kitchen will play an integral role in the perceived ambience of this important space. Whether you choose small accent pieces or use this shade of paint on every single wall, the colour yellow will help to exude warmth and create a welcoming, homely atmosphere.
There are numerous ways you can inject some yellow into your kitchen. If you want to make a small statement, replace your regular cupboard door handles with yellow ones, or use yellow-painted clay jars to hold your kitchen utensils. If you want to fully embrace the colour, consider painting one wall in a bold tone of yellow, or investing in yellow floor tiles.
Remember, there are many different types of yellow to choose from. Pastel shades of yellow will work well with an otherwise neutral colour scheme, while bright shades of yellow can be great for drawing the eye to a particular area of the room.
Take advantage of the original design and architecture
While we all have an idea of exactly how we want our dream kitchen to look, when reworking the interior design of this important room it’s crucial to take into account the original design, structure, and architecture of the space. When this is done effectively, a kitchen will appear harmonious and in tune with the rest of the house. However, when these fundamental elements are ignored, the design can often look out of place.
When planning your kitchen, try to take inspiration from the room’s original architecture and embrace the use of authentic materials. Rather than hiding original elements like brick walls, beams, or pipes, draw attention to them and make them key features of the room.
Living Room Interior Design Ideas and Examples
Your living room is an important space for entertaining friends, winding down after work, or spending time with family. If you’re hoping to get some inspiration for transforming your living room, check out some of our ideas; from embracing houseplants to combining vibrant patterns, you’ll find it doesn’t take much to create a whole new look.
Experiment with neutrals
Many of us opt for neutral tones in our living spaces to give the illusion of more space and light. Neutrals are not only easy to mix and match, but can also give the effect of luxury and cosiness with minimal effort. However, despite these benefits, neutrals can sometimes be deemed as a slightly less exciting option for interiors. One way of countering this is to experiment with your neutrals. You can do this by combining different, highly textured pieces within a neutral colour palette. Examples include a fluffy cream rug over a white-painted wooden floor or textured cushions and throws in different neutral tones made from silk, velvet, or corduroy fabrics. Combining neutral-toned materials in this way will give your room more depth and create an expensive, contemporary look.
Bring the outside in
Quirky indoor trees and plants will add a pop of life and colour to your living room. Not only do houseplants improve the air quality in the room, they can reduce stress, increase productivity, and boost your mood. Unlike a bouquet of flowers which will die over the course of a week or so, indoor plants will flourish in the right conditions, making them perfect as accent pieces or as decor to soften areas dominated by hard surfaces or less forgiving architecture. When it comes to how to house your pot plants, consider bold, beautiful vessels such as reclaimed wood containers, antique urns, or woven baskets for injecting multiple textures and enhancing the natural vibe.
Create different zones using rugs and flooring choices
If you’re lucky enough to have a large living space, you might want to consider dividing up the room into different sections using vibrant rugs and different flooring options. A brightly patterned rug in one corner could signify that it’s the kids’ zone, complete with colourful bookshelves, posters, and child-sized furniture, while the adults’ zone might be indicated by using a large soft, neutral-toned rug with an elegant coffee table and luxurious sofa. If your kitchen area is also part of your living space, indulge in some contrasting floor tiles or bold laminate for practicality and an injection of colour.
Combine contrasting patterns
If you’re hoping to create balance across your living room while still injecting some personality into your interior design, combining patterns is a great way of doing it. When starting out, focus on including central pieces of furniture which have large-scale patterns to give the room a focal point. From here, you can work outwards, building in smaller patterns throughout the room using cushions, rugs, wallpaper, and tapestries. When combining patterns, a useful tip is to stick to a singular colour palette, for example, yellow and blue. This will ensure visual cohesion across the space and will help you avoid a chaotic aesthetic. Consider including accent pillows, vases, and smaller pieces of furniture that align with just one of the colours in your chosen palette as this will support the look you’re trying to establish without overwhelming the eye.
Conclusion
We hope you’ve been able to get some inspiration for your kitchen, living room, bathroom, and bedroom with our unique and quirky interior design ideas. By changing your approach to interior design, you’ll find you’re able to transform the functionality and aesthetics of a space in just a few simple steps.
For more interior design ideas, head back to our blog. Alternatively, you can also take a look at our student work for reference. AND learner Akriti Sharma’s Residential Interior Design project could be a great starting point.
Next Steps:
Interested in pursuing interior design? Here are some resources you can consider:
- Watch this session by Snehanshu Mukherjee, Founding Partner at T.E.A.M and Mansi Almadi, an Interior Designer at Studio Lotus
- Talk to a course advisor to discuss how you can transform your career with one of our courses.
- Check out our Interior Design courses - all courses are taught through live, interactive classes by industry experts.
- Take advantage of the scholarship and funding options that come with our courses to overcome any financial hurdle on the path of your career transformation.
Note: All information and/or data from external sources is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication.
