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The Edit
Top Tips From a Pro With Gemma Gear
We had the pleasure of catching up with Gemma Gear, Interior Stylist, TV Design Producer and blogger at @thatssogemma. A self-confessed colour splasher and a lover of all things bold and bright, she is the perfect person to ask for tips on all things interiors. Read on to discover more.
Hey there Gemma, tell us a little bit about yourself...
Hi I'm Gemma, an interior stylist & TV design producer based in Worthing. Over the past 6 years I've freelanced my way through the creative industry of set design, interior styling & have worked in the art department for various TV shows and events. I absolutely LOVE what I do! Along with that, I'm the founder & face of That's So Gemma, my DIY & interiors blog which was launched back in 2015. This is the online space where I share all of my creative encounters including my top trend picks, behind-the-scenes shoot action and countless DIY ideas & styling tips.
Scion’s mission is to make the world a happier place. How would you describe your own design philosophy?
My ultimate goal and ambition is to inspire people to be more creative and hands-on in their homes. Designing your home doesn't have to be expensive or stressful if you're willing and confident enough to tackle some of the hard graft and try some new things for yourself. There's nothing more rewarding than seeing your house become a home from projects you have taken on with your own hands, which is why I will always encourage people to step outside of their comfort zone.
What are the reasons for giving your space a little bit of love?
It was definitely time to give my bedroom a bit of a makeover! As much as I loved the existing decor, I always feel a fresh, new look boosts my mood and makes me fall in love with my home even more. Each room tells a story and watching a space evolve is what makes being a homeowner so exciting. Now, I swoon every time when I walk into my bedroom because it feels new again. I love the mix of bright colours and clashing patterns... It's a good balance of being fun and playful but the gorgeous botanical prints give it a sense of calm and tranquillity which is exactly the right ambience to have in a bedroom.
Transforming your home can feel like an overwhelming task - so where do you start?
I think it's important to remember that things take time and not to be too over-ambitious in one small hit. Renovating a home can be overwhelming, yes, but it can also be a lot of fun if you plan & schedule things in a realistic time frame so that you're not making the experience too stressful or exhausting. Spend some time listing each room in your house, and prioritise the rooms you want to complete first. Make mood boards for each room so you can visually see your design dreams & ideas come to life - Mood boards are a great starting point for experimenting with different colours & patterns so you can see what works and what combinations excite you the most.
Which part of your space are you secretly obsessed with?
I am 100% obsessed with the corner in my bedroom by the window. I've always said it's my favourite space in the house as it's such a lovely place to sit and watch the world go by - that is if I'm not fighting Digby for the chair as it's also his favourite spot in the house too, cheeky pooch! I'm loving the mismatch of patterns and fabrics in this space now with my new Lionel print blind and Parlour Palm cushion, it's such a great combo of colours & textures.
Mood boards are a great starting point for experimenting with different colours & patterns so you can see what works and what combinations excite you the most.
Are you all about coordination or do you go for a more mismatched kind of vibe?
I'm a sucker for a mismatched scheme! Every room in my home is filled with colour clashing designs and in some sense this creates a coordinated scheme throughout the whole house because it's cohesively uncoordinated... If that even makes sense! Saying that, although I like to mix things up everything does have it's own rightful place. Sometimes I'll try to experiment with moving cushions/accessories from one room to another and it just doesn't feel right.
What are your top tips for creating a happy home?
My biggest tip would be to not get too caught up on the latest trends or worry too much about what's 'hot' and what's not. At the end of the day, creating a happy home that's right for you means filling it with the things that YOU love. Then, in that blissful moment of creating a space filled with everything that makes you happy, naturally unearths your own unique style that you can be proud of. Not to mention it will make you far more confident when designing a scheme too!