Image: Clair Strong Interior Design

Trends come and go (and come back round again) so I’m all about design ideas that are timeless. Layering is one of them.

Layering in interior design is much the same as layering in fashion. It’s a trick stylists use to add depth, character and interest to a look – or a room – without overwhelming the eye. You can layer items on a sideboard, art work on the walls, rugs on the floor and cushions on a sofa. The options are endless so you can have a lot of fun.

It’s easy to layer a jumper over a shirt, find a jacket that complements (but doesn’t match) and add a scarf. We do it all the time; it’s practically a necessity in winter. But it seems many people are afraid of trying this in the home, despite how amazing it looks. So here are my tips for utilising this trick and adding charm (but not clutter!) to your space:

Start Big                          

Choose the biggest item and settle on its placement first. This will give you a sense of the space, and will help lead to a natural placement of other objects.

Play with Scale

Layered objects should feel random, not contrived or symmetrical. Playing with scale is the best way to achieve this ‘random but not accidental’ look. So group together items of varying heights and widths. Think a bulky, oversized vase next to delicate ornaments, or art hung in a mismatch of frames.

Create Contrast with Texture

Combine the organic with man-made; textiles with metals; glass with raw wood; plastic with ceramics. It breaks up the arrangement and keeps it from looking too matchy-matchy, whilst adding interest and dimension.

Hang, Lean, Stack

Vary the ways you display the objects within a vignette and don’t be afraid to get creative. This is a great tip if you want to take a minimalist approach to layering. You can display like objects using different techniques (hanging, leaning, propping, stacking) and keep the rest of the look quite simple.

Edit

Editing is one of the most important things you can do in interior design. So when you think you’ve finished be prepared to rearrange or even take things out. It might help to walk away for a while and come back with fresh eyes. Or even live with it for a few days and see if anything stands out. Be ruthless with the items you choose – otherwise you’re not layering, you’re creating clutter.