Interior Design Intimidation: Who Makes The Design Rules?

A few weeks ago, I created a sentence for a post that followed all the normal laws of marketing, stop the scroll and grab your interest, hook you in…. A nice juicy scroll stopping headline is what is often suggested. 

It’s a sentence that’s caused three weeks of internal discussion, debate and questioning, and three words that are going to forever change the trajectory of my business.

The words: 3 decorating mistakes. 

Just typing it out makes me feel a little uneasy. 

I mean, it could have been a LOT worse, and certainly potentially more juicy. 

Maybe I could have thrown in “3 decorating mistakes that will destroy your home” or “3 decorating mistakes that will ruin your life”. You get the picture.

If you stop and take a look around, you’ll find this type of click bait, guilt-inducing intimidation EVERYWHERE, and especially so in parts of the pretentious and judgemental interiors industry.

Take a second to google decorating mistakes. There are literally millions of people out there telling you how much you’re screwing up your house, your home and your life. Interior design intimidation is everywhere.

It’s a headline that makes you feel like whatever you’re doing, you’re doing it wrong.

It’s fear-inducing and makes people feel inferior, and in my corner of the interiors world I never want ANYONE to feel that way.

Here’s the thing… design is subjective and there isn’t often an absolute truth to it. Who has the right to say what’s right or wrong? 

Who gets to decide what beauty means to you? Not me, not another designer, not anyone. You, my friend. Only you.

I want to create a community that nurtures, inspires, uplifts and supports. Not one that makes you feel inadequate, lacking or inferior. 

A community that removes judgement and interior design intimidation, that helps people feel safe and supported, the very same feelings we want our homes to provide us with. 

Of course this doesn’t mean that there aren’t things you can learn that will help you make your choices more empowered, or your decisions more educated. 

There are ways that you can use elements, principles and practices of design to understand why your eye views things in a certain way, and get to an understanding of why something works the way it does, the practical and technical really do exist. 

It’s me saying that I will not use my experience and knowledge to make you feel inferior or intimidated for your design choices.

I understand why people are using this type of marketing, because to be quite frank, the psychology-based stuff that plays to our insecurities, well it works! 

It’s taught in every single marketing course that exists and I personally have many formula builders that follow this type of strategy. It’s hammered into you that you must create authority at all costs, you must be the best, the most educated, the most important. 

I’ve given this some deep thought over the last few weeks. Authority comes from building relationships, showing up to help people and sharing your experience.

Would I ever feel that I am the best? Would I ever feel like I am the most authoritative, important, knowledgeable, educated? No. 

For one, I’d never be that far up my own arse…. Firstly, I’m open minded, flexible and ALWAYS here to learn in this world, and secondly, is that even possible when the topic is so subjective? 

I’ve now supported thousands of clients, DIY designers, renovators, self builders with compassion and empathy. And you can ask every single one of them, I’ve never judged or enforced an opinion. I’ve helped and guided to make empowered and educated choices with zero interior design intimidation.

All that’s important to me is you feeling that you are safe to discuss your ideas and I’ll help you achieve your goals with zero interior design intimidation and Judgement.

And believe me, interior design intimidation and judgement…..it happens. It happens a lot.

I have members in HomeEnvy that have been ridiculed and belittled by some of the institutes, on a subject that is SUBJECTIVE. 

The funny part, the irony and the cherry on top? Recently I received an email from an original HomeEnvy Bootcamp member to say that HomeEnvy Bootcamp has given her more knowledge, was more accessible, practical and supportive than the £1800 course she did with a prestigious London design school. 

Don’t believe everything you’re told by the rule makers. Make up your own mind. Do your own research. 

So, from now on, I’ll be fine tuning so that I can ensure that I never use any type of fear or intimidation.

I always want to work incredibly hard to make HomeEnvy a place where people feel safe, a place where people feel supported and empowered to be themselves, to cultivate and share their creativity and ideas with no judgement.

I want to thank you for being here and for being part of our collaborative and supportive community. 

If you’re new around here, join me, the team and lots of wonderful women (and a couple of great men) all walking the same path as you in our free Facebook group to get supported and empowered to be yourself.

Cheering you on, always. Your design cheerleader.

Natalie xx

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