Decorating any property is a challenge, but it is particularly difficult to make large spaces feel like home. From high ceilings to open-plan living, it can be hard to inject a sense of style into these vast spaces. We asked Fine & Country Interior Design to share their tips on how to make your new splendid space feel like home. 

1. Add accessories 

“It is vital to add personality to make a large space feel like home. Use cushions, rugs and bedspreads, throws on arms of a sofa, candles and colourful accents which add warmth and ambience,” said Kate Haynes from EHG HOME – Home Stylists. 

“Accessories can make a huge difference, so add in some quirky pieces to feel at home.

“I advise using a mixture of traditional and contemporary pieces with an emphasis on laid back luxury, comfort and being tactile. A textured fabric will help to bring an extra layer of depth into the space."

2. Frame a focal point 

“Consider where the eye is immediately drawn to upon entering a room,” said Kate. “Add a statement dining table, use two lamps to frame a seating area, or include a fabulous piece of art or sculpture.”

3. Make it personal 

“To create the feeling of home within expansive, grand properties that are often second, third or even fourth homes, it is important to surround yourself with objects that truly reflect yours and your family's personality,” said Amelia Carter from Amelia Carter Interiors. 

“Despite where in the world the property is or what the style of design is, make it personal with colours (or lack of colours!), artwork and objects you’ve collected from different parts of the world. You don’t need to fill it with existing pieces, but a few well-placed pieces will ensure that your memories are within that new space.

"If you don’t have any existing pieces to bring with you, then create familiarity through use of brands that you identify with and have enjoyed throughout your life, Christofle cutlery, William Yeoward crystal, Bruno Cucinelli cashmere. These pieces will evoke a sense of home whenever you use them and will be part of creating new memories in a new home.” 

4. Ground a grand space

“Large-scale spaces can often be mistaken for feeling ‘uninviting’ or too grand to make one feel comfortable. We feel that making a large space feel like home is about making the space feel inviting for yourself as a homeowner and also for your guests,” said Alice Barrington-Wells CEO of Fine & Country Interior Design. 

“This gorgeous garden room, a total must for any grand house, is a terrific example of large scale items helping to balance the space and make the guest feel ensconced and comfortable but also transported to another world, which is an automatic route to escapism and relaxation. 

“Artwork is always a wonderful way to make large spaces feel intimate and personal. We particularly love how one of our favourite London design firms, Base Interior, have created an inviting space within this grand room. Sometimes, the architectural detailing within a grand room can feel complicated to work with, but we love the way this original 18th century panelling has been used as the perfect back drop for their clients artwork. Revitalising an art collection is a well-honed skill for many interior designers and if they can help you to give a large space life and personality, why not let them re-hang your art collection? It’s an excellent way to start.”

“Designers are confident with scale, and it is always worth seeking a designer’s advice for capacious rooms,” continues Alice. “For example, we love the way Kate from EHG has confidently styled and furnished this space with large-scale furniture and sofas and she has not been shy with the amount of furniture used to fill this large space. By breaking the open plan space up with lots of interesting pieces and giving the eye plenty to look at the space feels more intimate and immediately more ‘homely.”

Top tips from Fine & Country Interior Design to make a grand space feel like home

1. Be brave with scale for large spaces: ensure that large pieces are used to complement the size of the room. This can be done through artwork, sofas, lighting and accessories. We particularly love this over-sized hall ceiling light that beautifully pulls this entrance hallway together, by home styling experts EHG. It demands attention but is not overbearing or dominating. It’s a natural fit, but grand enough to not go un-noticed. 

2. Ensure that each piece that is chosen for the room or space works well together. This is a real skill from an interior designer to understand how pieces of furniture, light fittings and artwork can hold their own together and really work to make the space feel coherent and harmonious. This beautiful hallway by Amelia Carter is a beautiful example of carefully curated pieces that work together beautifully to make the space feel harmonious and inviting. 

3. Use beautiful tactile textures that are inviting and comforting. Mixing textures really helps to enhance the comfortable experience: velvet with silk, with linen, with cashmere. And combined, no matter the scale of the space, the experience in the space will be warming and relaxing. 

This bedroom from Base Interior is a great example of layered textures to make a space feel exceptionally comfortable and luxurious.

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