Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen's one item every home should have this winter
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, the flamboyant interior designer known for his eclectic taste in home design, has teamed up with wallpaper brand Galerie for a bold and vibrant new collection. In an exclusive chat, he shares his thoughts on creating a living space that reflects your individuality, preparing your home for winter, and his unexpected must-have as the nights get darker.
Personal touch
He believes in adding a personal touch to your space, saying, "Surrounding yourself with personal items heightens the senses and creates a visual journal that communicates the soul to a room,". He adds, "From family heirlooms to newly acquired pieces, their worth is sentimental rather than monetary. These choices often elicit memories and milestones from our lives."
Follow the patterns
Laurence also emphasises the importance of patterns in interior design, stating, "Pattern is the little corner of interior design that separates a man from the animals." He continues, "A room without pattern is a room without romance, without storytelling. Charles Eastlake, the Victorian tastemaker, said that if humans occupy rooms without ornamentation, they develop intense neuralgia. So, that’s why minimalism gave everyone a headache."
READ MORE:Gordon Ramsay shares rare glimpse of baby son with sweet family snaps
Works of art
This winter, interiors are "a chromatic feast, with the sort of colour-combining earthlings haven’t seen since the Joan Collins heyday of the 80s," says the interior designer. "It won’t be long before we bring back wallpaper borders as well. My approach to pattern-making starts with my own fine art and when you use one of my papers, you’re papering your room with art. The walls become main characters in a storybook."
Sign up to OK!'s daily newsletter to get updates sent to your inbox for free
Cocktail hour
Laurence’s top three tips for your winter home are: "Clean your windows – this time of year the sun is low, so you need to maximise light. You’d be amazed by the difference. "Heavy curtains with decent lining make all the difference to the way the home feels, but also help immeasurably with your heating bills. And make sure you have a well stocked drinks tray!
Festive flair
What does Laurence love surrounding himself with over the festive season? "I have an issue with Christmas," he admits. "It can be terribly claustrophobic. I fill the house with spring bulbs. I’ll plant them in anything – even making little gardens using bun moss. If you plant them all a couple of days before Christmas Eve, they will actually take you through into the New Year with a sense of optimism and energy – exactly the things that are usually sapped by all those carbohydrates."
Bright ideas
Laurence the king of colour, also has some advice for those looking to spruce up their homes. He says, "It’s difficult not to be obsessed with the scintillatingly sexy combination of peacock and blood orange. Of course, it goes without saying that you should never have room in your world for anything that’s grey on grey." And when asked about his must-have home decor item, Laurence cheekily replies, "Gin!"
You can shop Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen’s Off The Wall Collection from Galerie at galeriehome.co.uk. Wallpaper starts at £48 per roll.
