'I’m Marie Kondo’s worst nightmare,' says Banjo Beale
Back sailing the Scottish high seas with his quirky and sustainable interior design ideas, Banjo Beale returns with the second season of his inspiring TV series, Designing the Hebrides.
He’s travelled from his home on the island of Mull to a range of stunning locations, bringing a bit of Banjo magic to locals in need of design inspiration. His missions include transforming an apothecary on Harris, a wool shop in Iona, a pub on the tiny island of Easdale (where just 60 people live), and an ice cream parlour in a caravan on the island of South Uist.
Winner of BBC's Interior Design Masters in 2022, Banjo is known for his instinctive take on interiors, upcycling, and transforming the ‘treasure’ he finds in junk shops, lofts and sheds.
'I like breaking every single design rule in the book,' says Banjo, 38. 'And we're sick of fifty shades of greige and beige. I want to create spaces that are full of character, personality, and kind of reflect the people that use the space, and is full of old things.'
Here, Banjo shares his top decorating tips with House Beautiful on easy ways to bring joy into your home.
1. Hoarding is OK
'I’m Marie Kondo’s worst nightmare. I buy things that might spark joy in 10 years’ time and then hoard them. But really, I'd rather say that I see things with potential and keep them for when I can include them somewhere.'
2. Curate well
'If you want to feel happy about what you have, you have to know when to edit and organise. There’s one thing being a hoarder, and another to add order to the hoarder. For me, it’s about curating things. Know when to move an item on, sell it, and invest what you make in your collection.'
3. Let in light
'It all starts with light. I think the floor and lighting are the two most important things in a home. So bring in as much ambient lighting as possible, and lots of candles to coorie [Scottish word meaning to snuggle down and nestle in] in for the winter.'
4. Find your happy colour
'Colour is so important when it comes to feeling good in your home. It’s funny finding your colours. It’s taken me this long to realise that what I need are warm, saturated colours. So find your own happy colour. Think about what colours you respond to in your everyday clothes, look and style, and lean into your happy colour. For me, it’s all shades of yellow. You can pick your colour and use different shades throughout the house.'
5. Keep it clean
'Nothing is more joyful than a clean home. Hire a cleaner, if you can. It’s the best money you can spend. My husband Ro and I make a ritual around cleaning. We blast some disco music, lip syncing, we do it at the same time every week, Saturday morning. It’s a lovely start to the weekend, but the house is always a mess by Monday.'
6. Layer rugs
'There’s nothing worse than a sticky floor – your house isn’t a pub. So mop your floor and layer rugs in winter. I like a Persian rug on top of a jute rug. People don’t always think about layering rugs, but it makes a place feel really cosy. Rugs transform a room, especially if you're renting and can't change the floor.'
7. Go global
'Collecting things from your travels is so joyful. I always like to bring back things that are useful, a butter knife perhaps. When you use the item, you’re taken back to that happy time spent travelling.'
8. Choose history
'I love things that have belonged to other people, and the stories attached to those things – whether they’re real or made up! Things that come with a story have a rich patina, they’re much more meaningful. History and mystery and all of the kind of things that you can't get when you just run down to the shops and buy something new.'
9. Experiment in your bathroom
'I like to flirt with something fancier in the bathroom and have a bit more fun with it. I have my little collection of artwork in the bathroom at home, and I’ve also brought in peel and stick wallpaper. If you don’t like it, you can just peel it off. It’s really easy to experiment with your style in your bathroom and it’s a place where you can just be yourself.'
10. Bag bargains
'Nothing makes me smile more than a bargain. The more creative and clever you can be with your budget, the more that sparks joy. It’s the sense of achievement. Even better if it’s free. There’s nothing worse than post-purchase dissonance – that shaming feel when you spend too much money. My collection of chai Indian tea cups are one of my favourite things in the house. They are free when you go to India.'
11. Repurpose what you own
'I like the idea of shopping from your own home. Instead of going out and buying more things, play around with what you’ve already got. You’d be surprised how satisfying it is to rediscover something and find a new purpose for it.'
12. Make it bright outside
'I love it when people paint their front door and window frames with a bright pop of colour. Also, it brings Christmas all year round if you choose nice wreaths to hang on the front door in spring and autumn too. It’s especially nice if you can make them yourself with foliage and items that you’ve found.'
13. Choose tactile textures
'We’re talking natural textures. Rich velvets, gorgeous, sumptuous feels. You absolutely cannot not have proper linen on your bed, Belgian or French flax linen. It’s expensive, but you can still get it for cheap, actually good quality stuff. Look on the back of your label. If it says polyester, put it down.'
14. Hang striking art
'I love maps, they broaden your horizons when you’re at home, and inspire further travels. I also like older portraits – even of people that aren’t anything to do with you, if you like the look of them – and landscapes of course, to bring nature into your home.'
15. Get creative with flowers
'I like to dry a lot of flowers, especially as it is getting darker and colder just now, so they need picking. It’s lovely to hang them in kitchen, over your range. In the new series of Designing the Hebrides, we worked on an apothecary. We used 4x5m of dried flowers across the whole ceiling. There is nothing more beautiful. We found an old metal frame, hung it from the ceiling, and strung the flowers up. If you include herbs and bay leaves, it brings a beautiful scent too.'
16. Create a lucky dip box
'I love the idea of having a box where you can store things you find, and dip into it when you need a lift. It’s a bit like a lucky dip for the home.'
• All six episodes of Designing the Hebrides are available on BBC iPlayer from Monday 16th September and will air weekly on the BBC Scotland channel on Mondays at 10pm and BBC Two on Tuesdays at 8pm.
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