Instagram is now for many of us the go-to destination for interior design ideas; inspiration and I’ll be frank, a little daydreaming and escapism doesn’t go amiss either. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that a large part of my daily ‘screen time’ wasn’t taken up scrolling through my favourite interiors accounts. One of the best things about Instagram is you can peep past the net curtains of real homes; glean tried and tested tips from fellow homeowners and discover a whole network of fellow interior lovers. In fact that’s what makes Instagram so fascinating, getting a sense of the people who live behind the curtains is a big part of the appeal.
A new home offers you the perfect opportunity to get your Instagram game on and is a blank canvas ready for you to start flexing your styling skills, without the headache or cost of renovating or making structural changes. You can instead focus on being creative with colour and accessories and making your home look the best it can be. So here are my tips to get your started or indeed up your Instagram skills.
Start with the corners rather than the whole room.
If your home is anything like mine it will not be picture perfect at any given moment. Having to tidy the whole house in order to take a picture to upload to your Instagram grid can be just too overwhelming! However you don’t have to post an image of the whole room. A few well-chosen corners can really capture a mood or idea, which is what sharing on Instagram is all about. And if the cat happens to walk into shot, then all the better. Don’t be afraid to show an element of real life.
Take a photo with your camera to test how it’s looking
A good-looking room in real life doesn’t always translate into a great looking photo. I’ve been a stylist for the best part of my career and so much goes into looking down the lens of a camera in order to compose a pleasing shot. Armed with your camera phone, you can take a look at the image and consider moving items to fill the frame. You don’t want the end image over-cluttered with too much stuff but you don’t want any glaring empty gaps either. Be prepared to move things around to create the best composition. You can look to magazines, that are styled by professionals, to learn how best to do this.
Edit your images
Our phones are an incredible piece of kit, with everything you need to take great photography in one place. Not only can they take the picture but there are limitless editing options too. On my I-phone I use the quick edit option to help lighten and brighten my images. Too often rooms appear dark in pictures and rather than turn all the lights on, which can cause weird shadows and a yellow tinge, try lightening the mage using the edit features. I find the morning or midday is the best time to make the most of natural daylight.
Personalise with a gallery wall
Instagram loves a gallery wall! This is where you choose one wall in your home and group a selection of framed pictures to make a really strong focal point. I think it’s really lovely if you can add some personal photos and children’s sketches too. Don’t be afraid to personalise your home and make it feel unique. A gallery wall of art that you love is a great way to tell your own story.
Upscale for a focal point
In every interior scheme I think it’s important that you try and create a strong focal point in the room, it’s somewhere the eye can land as you walk into the room. This works really well for taking pictures for Instagram too. Start by thinking of up-scaling something in the room, be it an extra large pendant over the table, a striking piece of artwork on the mantelpiece or a substantial table lamp. It all helps add drama and a sense of grandeur.
Take a shelfie
Yes you read that right. People love to see a well-styled shelf; it really is a thing that sparks joy! From colour coding your book spines to grouping all your houseplants you can have endless fun creating little corners of creativity. Look up #shelfie for over two million posts of inspiration!
Create a tablescape
You can create other lovely moments to photograph around your home by what is called in the trade a ‘tablescape’. Be it a mantelpiece, sideboard, console table or side table you can create really lovely moments to share on the grid. The rules to think about are to arrange your ornaments in odd numbers and choose pieces that are different heights. For example a tall lamp, next to a medium sized vase and then a small trinket box creates a sweet bedside table display. Consider moving your accessories around the house to make the perfect picture.
Style your cushions
I’m a self-confessed cushion lover and they feature heavily in my home! But, I have rules! Cushions shouldn’t be styled on end like a diamond as that just looks weird and avoid the ‘interior designer’ chop. This is where the cushion is karate chopped in the middle. It looks too contrived in my opinion – this is your home not a hotel. Avoid having a set of matching cushions- it just looks bland and uninteresting. Instead mix patterns with plains and choose a range of textures and scales of pattern for the most interest. Don’t forget the bed too. A pair of cushions with a co-ordinating bed throw makes the perfect picture. You can also use your cushions on armchairs and even dining chairs to add some colour, pattern and softness to your pictures.
Go green
Houseplants have never been so fashionable and so add some greenery to your Instagram shots. Hanging planters in the window, herbs on the kitchen sideboard or fill your shelves; they instantly make your home look and feel fresh. And the best news is if you’re a plant assassin like I am you can fake it! Or the real trick is to mix real plants with some very authentic looking fake ones. twice the plant joy for half the watering!
Blog by Sophie Robinson, Interior Designer.
