7 interior design tips we stole from Erica Davies

Roanna Day
Updated
Photo credit: Erica Davies - Instagram
Photo credit: Erica Davies - Instagram

From Red Online

There's no point hiding it, we adore Erica Davies. We steal her style lessons, stalk her Instagram and now we're noting down all of her interior design tips and adopting them for our own homes...

Fill your home with things that spark joy

We all like to try and make our lives as difficult as possible. It’s actually quite simple. Find out what makes you happy and who makes you happy - and that’s it! Oh and flowers. Flowers make me very happy 🌸

A post shared by E R I C A D A V I E S (@erica_davies) on Nov 23, 2017 at 11:37pm PST

When are too many, TOO MANY? Candle AND cactus issues 🌵🌵🌵🔥🔥🔥 . . . (For anyone interested, the wall colour is Juniper Ash by Little Greene 😉)

A post shared by E R I C A D A V I E S (@erica_davies) on Mar 29, 2017 at 11:20pm PDT

Flowers, gorgeous prints, wild textiles - what's obvious about Erica's approach to decoration is that so much of what she uses brings her real joy.

Don't overlook an unused space

Morning sunshine and half-term calm (they’re currently watching the iPad 👍🏼). Calm is important, because I won’t lie. I want to fix the problem between Kim Cattrall and SJP. It’s making my early-noughties, S&TC addicted self EVER so anxious 😐 #edhouserenovations🏠🔨 Tap For Brand Details ✨

A post shared by E R I C A D A V I E S (@erica_davies) on Feb 12, 2018 at 11:35pm PST

We love how Erica has transformed this hallway in her house into a peaceful hangout.

The more plants the better

It’s like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder .... which ones are real?! 🧐🌴🌱🌵🌿#Fauxreal #edhouserenovations🏠🔨

A post shared by E R I C A D A V I E S (@erica_davies) on Jan 9, 2018 at 11:29pm PST

Another day, another print I've put into another IKEA frame. This one says 'leopard is a neutral,' but in French! I mean, so chic, non?! Also, I don't want to go on about the dog every day, but I DO want to say that I have been completely and utterly overwhelmed by the messages, emails, advice and encouraging comments from you all. Honestly, I cannot thank you all enough. There have been hundreds - and you're all saying the same thing: hang in there! 🙃 This virtual space feels very special - it offers support, friendship and words of comfort, when really, we don't actually know each other in real life! But it feels like we do. And I just wanted to say that I have appreciated every single word. So thank you. TFI Friday 🌴😘 #tapforcredits #edhouserenovations🏠🔨

A post shared by E R I C A D A V I E S (@erica_davies) on May 11, 2017 at 11:13pm PDT

Indoor jungle? Yes please. We love Erica's green-fingered approach to interior design.

Don't shy away from colour

When I was in my twenties I always felt lacking for not having the brunch set-up that Carrie Bradshaw has in Sex & The City. You know, every week, all the girls, same table, same time, big life chats. I quickly realised life isn’t ACTUALLY like a long-running HBO series, because REAL LIFE gets in the way and generally, you have lots of different groups of friends. A good catch-up takes all forms anyway, from a quick check-in on WhatsApp, the spontaneous coffee, to sorting out a weekend visit with the family. But last night I went out for dinner with the girls, after trying to schedule our diaries for MONTHS. And it was just what the doctor ordered! 🥂🥂Proper nights out might not happen as often as you’d like - but when they do, they’re mighty good for the soul ❤️(I might just be lying here quietly for a little while though ☕️)

A post shared by E R I C A D A V I E S (@erica_davies) on Oct 14, 2017 at 12:05am PDT

Red trousers, pink shoes ❤️🌸 Can I also take a minute to say I was completely overwhelmed by your kind messages and supportive comments to my post yesterday. Thank you all, so, so much. It is so appreciated. You're an amazing bunch ❤️ #tapforcredits

A post shared by E R I C A D A V I E S (@erica_davies) on Aug 7, 2017 at 11:44pm PDT

The panic of the 5.30am wake up, when you realise you have a crew arriving for a photo shoot happening in your house today, you don't currently have a kitchen and aren't sure where the non-chipped mugs are 😳🌿

A post shared by E R I C A D A V I E S (@erica_davies) on Jun 1, 2017 at 11:29pm PDT

Green carpet, green sofa, bold multi-coloured rug. The more the better in Erica's rainbow home.

Define your zones

Since we had the kitchen done, this room has been a bit neglected, in the sense that we are hanging out watching tv in the kitchen. It's the house equivalent of buying new sparkly heels and ignoring those stylish, yet ever-so comfy lace ups you've loved forever. But last night I threw a mega strop 🙈 (tired/hormonal/possibly verging on irrational/annoying) and flounced in here for Celebrity Masterchef 😡And as I calmed down and squashed myself firmly into the corner of that sofa, I realised that even though you really love the sparkly shoes, sometimes you just want those lace ups back on 💙 ps I'm completely fine this morning! Tra la la! 🙃 #edhouserenovations🏠🔨

A post shared by E R I C A D A V I E S (@erica_davies) on Sep 15, 2017 at 11:47pm PDT

Sound the 'Profound Pinterest Tuesday' alarm! 📢 Because this little nugget lost her first tooth yesterday - and I have that feeling of 'SLOW DOWN! STOP GROWING' every time I look at her 💔And ultimately, (get ready for #PPT...) 'It's not what we have in our life, but who we have in our life that matters.' ✌🏼

A post shared by E R I C A D A V I E S (@erica_davies) on Aug 1, 2017 at 11:25pm PDT

6am. Asleep. But someone is knocking loudly on our bedroom window. WHAT IS HAPPENING??! Proper, loud, bang-bang-bang knocking. And I must have ignored it, thinking I was dreaming, but it kept happening. So I jumped up, threw open the shutters and shocked three large blackbirds into flying off. BIRDS! It was like something OUT of The Birds 😧 Actual, proper knocking - as though someone was really trying to get our attention at 6am (just always text in that scenario though, K? Way more sociable) 😬 I can always hear them walking up and down the roof but never before the knocking on the window. Man. So now I'm going to sit here with my second cup of tea and work out how to fix aesthetically pleasing scarecrows to my roof. Anyone?! 🐦🐦🐦 #edhouserenovations🏠🔨

A post shared by E R I C A D A V I E S (@erica_davies) on May 7, 2017 at 12:35am PDT

Window seating areas, sofas arranged so you can chat properly, a central dining table. We love how Erica has crafted the perfect series of spaces for her family to use.

Seek out small brands (and mix them in with big ones)

Morning! It's me again! With another kitchen photo! But this is the other end - and the other exciting thing that happened yesterday! Now, the walls had all been painted grey and I was very happy with them. I even had an idea about making this little entrance way a bit of an art gallery. BUT then I met @lucytiffney - a super talented mural artist, who, if you know your Great Interior Design Challenges, was runner up a few years ago. (She has also just won the Mollie Makes Best New Start Up Business Award for her own line of wallpapers and cushions!) Anyway, I completely fell in love with her 'Lagoon' wallpaper and thought I could make way, WAY more of this entrance by slapping it on the walls! I like the fact it gives a nod to what's inside, making the kitchen a bit of a tropical sandwich! 🌴You enter through a lagoon, come into the main kitchen (which has similar colours to the paper), then it goes all Miami Vice tropical 1970's style at the other end of the room with the palm tree and sofa! I had a few feature walls in our old house and am a bit over them now, so just decided to paper the whole thing. Check out Lucy's other designs too, they are really gorgeous 🌴🌴🌴🌴 #edhouserenovations🏠🔨 #tapforcredits

A post shared by E R I C A D A V I E S (@erica_davies) on Jul 7, 2017 at 11:56pm PDT

I've got my first kitchen photo shoot happening today. Well, the first where everything is in the right place. I had one for a Sunday newspaper Homes section a few weeks ago but I think they've decided to ditch the piece, which is a bit sad because the photographer was here all day and I'd bought special biscuits! 😔Today I haven't got ANYTHING in and am frantically trying to cobble two packed lunches and swimming kits together for the kids activity camp. Rubbish. When I was a fashion editor, I loved a location shoot because of the breakfast selection. Now I AM the location shoot - and I can barely find clean swimming costumes, never mind warm through some fresh croissants. But look! My gorgeous weather clock from @bramwellbrown is up on the wall! And anyway, there's always time for a quick cup of tea ☕️ #edhouserenovations🏠🔨

A post shared by E R I C A D A V I E S (@erica_davies) on Jul 31, 2017 at 11:18pm PDT

From mural painters to craft clock makers, Erica expertly blends buys from household brands like Ikea and La Redoute with small, artisan producers.

Don't be afraid to make a statement

I'm heading in to London today. Ultimately, this is all we've got ❤❤❤❤🇬🇧

A post shared by E R I C A D A V I E S (@erica_davies) on Mar 23, 2017 at 12:46am PDT

I'm heading off on a work trip tomorrow. Before the joyous experience of a hotel room on my own for 3 nights (😎), I'm driving the kids to a halfway point to meet my folks. There, we will embark upon that ninja parent move known as 'handing over the children in a pub car-park.' The grandparent switch, stealth style. Meanwhile my husband will thoroughly enjoy the silence at home (👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼), star-fishing in bed and NOT being forced to watch anything with Phil n' Kirstie, Kevin McCloud or any kind of international top model search. I'm heading to Nice for work - all the while pinching myself and feeling very bl00dy lucky. Mainly that I have brilliant parents - and in-laws - prepared to do that for us. It takes an army, this work/life balancing act we all do, doesn't it? ✌🏼#edhouserenovations🏠🔨 (📷 of our stairs by @christophercornwell for @roger_oates)

A post shared by E R I C A D A V I E S (@erica_davies) on Mar 30, 2017 at 11:09pm PDT

Whether it's a huge LOVE memo on the wall or a statement green rug, Erica's home is the interior equivalent of wearing your heart on your sleeve.

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