10 ways to make your house a home
Softening architect designed homes without losing their edge
I recently stepped into a breathtaking architect-designed home featuring soaring ceilings, rich timber detailing, a sleek galley kitchen, and double-height glass doors that framed a view of the park so perfectly it made you pause and exhale. And yet, something was missing. Despite the architectural brilliance, the space didn’t feel lived in. It didn’t feel like home.
As an interior decorator, I could see it straight away. There was no colour, no softness, no sense of the people who lived there. The furniture was minimal and safe. No rugs underfoot, no joyful prints, no meaningful objects or collected pieces. The lighting was purely functional. Without those layered details, the house felt more like a luxury display home than a place to curl up with a cup of tea and a good book. Because no matter how beautiful the bones are, it’s the layers you add that make it yours.
Want to soften your architect designed home without losing it’s edge?
Here’s how to layer in warmth, character, and soul. To ensure the interior design style complements the architecture and the details that make a space feel relaxed, lived-in and truly yours.
1. Start with a sofa that invites you in
When decorating, what comes first? There are no rules, but a low, oversized sofa in a bold colour or playful print becomes more than just a place to sit, it becomes a focal point and a great place to begin. Think apple green velvet, a strong stripe, or even a deep, muddy plum. It's where everyone flops down at the end of the day, has a glass of wine with friends, or piles in for movie night. Comfort is luxury.
In a Notting Hill flat by U.K. interior designer Natasha Quick, a classic sofa was reimagined in a strong stripe, sitting pretty alongside dark green corduroy and patterned curtains. It’s not matchy-matchy. It’s layered, eclectic and completely personal. Reference: House & Garden UK / Photographer: Sarah Griggs
2. Add accent chairs and ottomans that don’t match but still work
A mismatched armchair in a fun floral or classic stripe? Yes, please. Ottomans in contrasting fabrics? Even better. The goal is to bring together different textures and shapes so the space feels collected over time. Mix that sculptural rattan piece with a vintage find, reupholstered in something fresh.
3. Mix eras for a collected, interesting feel
Don’t be afraid to pair your sleek, modern sofa with an antique sideboard or a mid-century coffee table. These juxtapositions create moments of surprise and visual texture, like a great outfit that mixes high and low, old and new. This aesthetic feels collected and genuine, something that has developed over time rather than a one-stop-shop.
4. Rugs that ground the space and tell a story
A textured sisal rug will instantly warm up concrete or timber floors, while a vintage Persian or faded kilim adds depth, colour, and a sense of history. It’s these grounding elements that make rooms feel layered, not empty. It’s not going to take away from the contemporary feel to add these elements; in fact, they can complement them and make the home more comfortable to live within.
5. Light the space like you would layer jewellery
Think of lighting as the finishing touch. Pendants, wall lights, table lamps and rechargeable lights dotted throughout. And decorating with custom lampshades - the secret weapon. A simple shade in a block print or pleated silk can make a lamp feel bespoke. Ambient lighting adds a functional aspect but also a feeling, an atmosphere or, for want of a better word, a vibe.
This Bouquet Chandelier for Le Klint from Great Dane Furniture brings softness and whimsy to a contemporary architect designed space and brings depth to the room. Designed by Danish industrial designer Sinja Svarrer Damkjær the light was inspired by mother nature and spring flowers. Image: Great Dane Furniture.
6. Cushions with personality (and plenty of feathers)
A mix of florals, stripes, and block colours in rich textures like velvet and linen brings softness and a relaxed elegance. Oversized cushions with contrast piping or fringe add a little drama without being loud. Always use feather inserts for comfort and to avoid a cheap and stiff looking appearance.
7. Accessorise like you mean it
This is where you bring in the story. Books, artisan ceramics, quirky finds from your travels, an Italian glass vase filled with fresh blooms. Layered accessories make a space feel lived in and loved, not staged. These are your story pieces. Something that sparks a memory, your child’s art or an heirloom, for example. Decorating with plants is another way to soften modern architecture while also bringing life to your home.
8. Soften the hard edges with curtains
Floaty sheer curtains are a dream for softening expansive glass or tall windows. In cooler climates, try a velvet of a heavy linen. Curtains don’t have to fade into the background, they can be the feature, and they won’t detract from contemporary lines if done well.
Sheer curtains, a chocolate velvet sofa and wool rug soften the architectural lines of this new addition to a Victorian home designed by architect Freadman White. Reference: Vogue Living / Photographer: Sean Fennessy. Stylist Marsha Golemac
9. Paint and wallpaper can completely shift the mood
All white walls can feel a little flat. Add a soft, warm neutral, a muted green, or a grass cloth wallpaper to give your room depth and flow. A little colour on the walls brings the architecture down to a more human scale and helps the furnishings feel anchored.
10. Add art to complete a space
Art is truly transformative and has the ability to make a room feel complete. Art is not something that is straightforward. It takes time to find something that is meaningful and works in your home. Art can be an investment but, most importantly, it should be something that speaks to you. You want to look at it each day and be moved by it. Art can be a contemporary Australian original, an indigenous painting, still life, or it can be vintage prints, framed textile pieces, photography, or sculpture. Art helps lift architectural homes by giving them personality and character.
Beautifully Decorated, Architecturally Designed Homes: Two Inspiring Examples
Furniture designers and owners of Pinch Design, Russell Pinch and Oona Bannon transformed a Devon farm building in the U.K. (once an ice cream factory) into a soulful home. The interiors celebrate their deep appreciation for craftsmanship and materials. Note the seamless blend of architecture and interesting, layered décor pieces.
Reference: House & Garden UK Photographer: Michael Sinclair
Textile artist Alice Kettle and her husband Orlando Goodden collaborated with architect Klas Hyllén to build a sustainable, energy-efficient home in Somerset, U.K. that also brought their lives and collections together. Collections are a fabulous way to add a piece of “you” to a home.
Reference: House and Garden UK Photographer: Michael Sinclair
Real Projects: Decorating Architecturally Designed Homes -
Here are two of our recent projects where we stepped in to layer colour, comfort and soul into already beautiful architecturally designed spaces:
Modern Muse project / Photography Francoise Baudet / featured in Australian House & Garden April 2025 / Architecture by Refresh Studio, Brisbane
Modern Muse
A modern home with concrete floors, timber detailing and an open layout designed by Refresh Architecture. We softened the space with rich textures, layered lighting, and refined furnishings to create a home that felt welcoming and tailored for everyday life.
→ View Modern Muse Project
Palette Play project / Photographer: Francoise Baudet
Palette Play Project
A striking Queenslander renovation in Paddington that needed colour, softness and soul. We introduced layers of colour, selected warm contemporary furnishings, and transformed the outdoor area for relaxed family living.
→ View Palette Play Project
Ready to make your architecturally beautiful home feel truly yours? Explore my Interior Decoration Services or Book a Discovery Call. Let’s bring the warmth, colour and comfort to your space and make it unmistakably yours.
