What Is Your Home’s Superpower? And Are You Making the Most of It?

Below, Cathy shares some top-tier interior superpowers, as well as steps to make the most of yours.

1. Symmetry

Symmetry creates a sense of order and harmony in a room, and we naturally find a lot of comfort in spaces that feel perfectly balanced.

‘Symmetry is the key to beauty, so if your home has it, use it! You should always try to keep the proportions and regularity in place and keep everything symmetrical,’ says Cathy.

In a living room or bedroom, a sense of symmetry is often created with a centrally placed fireplace or perfectly equidistant windows, and in a kitchen it is more often the job of a large cooker or kitchen island.

How to make the most of symmetry

• When arranging furniture, be guided by a central focal point – in the glamorous Brighton townhouse above, a straight line can be drawn from the pendant light, down through the console table and right up to the sofa and coffee table.
• Symmetry can be enhanced by using matching pairs of floor lamps, armchairs, bookcases etc. Or by thinking in terms of matching height and weight, such as a sofa to one side of a fireplace mirrored with two armchairs to the other.

2. Period features

‘If your house is of a certain age, it was built with its own inherent superpowers,’ says Cathy. ‘These give it character and tell a story of its age and origin which you can’t replace or fake. Original fireplaces, coving, window frames, doors and flooring are all treasures, unique to your home.’

Whilst Cathy is a proponent of creating a superpower where there is none, she doesn’t recommend dabbling with period features. ‘Our mantra is “what’s old is old and what’s new is new”, so we will never try to make period features modern or put period features in modern homes.

‘Bring in modern architectural features that make an impact instead. Adding modern wood panelling or other features to ceilings adds character and won’t look out of place.’

How to make the most of period features

• Frame your period features in a way that draws the eye. Arrange furniture to point towards an original fireplace, use dramatic floor-length curtains around sash windows or hang a statement ceiling light to draw attention to a ceiling rose.
• Take a leaf out of Katherine Ormerod’s book (above) and highlight cornicing with brilliant white paint.
• Restore where you can – original floorboards can be sanded, stained and sealed to achieve the look you want, and any dents or scuffs on internal doors, frames, skirting boards and architraves can be filled in with decorator’s caulk.

3. Natural light

‘The way the light hits and enters your house through the day can be a real superpower if you harness it well,’ says Cathy. ‘Observe how light falls at different times of the day and then think about what you can do to make the most of it.’

How to make the most of natural light

• Choose sheer window coverings that allow light to filter through without compromising privacy. Or use inexpensive window film that looks just like frosted glass (have a look at this Victorian living room reno in south London to see how it’s done).
• A large mirror positioned opposite a light source – windows and doorways – can double the amount of light in your home.
• If structural work is on the cards, extend your doorways into expansive open arches, or fit internal doors with a glass pane to aid the flow of light between rooms.

4. A good flow

A good flow is all about liveability. It creates an intuitive and seamless transition between rooms, minimising obstacles and ensuring that spaces are used efficiently.

‘The way you flow through your home immediately elevates the whole space, and makes your life easier,’ says Cathy.

It is especially important in open-plan homes, where kitchen, living and dining rooms can feel disconnected.

How to make the home flow

• ‘There are several ways to power up your flow. Architecturally, you can move, remove or add stud walls to improve function and flow. You can add, remove or disguise doors to direct flow to and away from public and private spaces,’ says Cathy. ‘Keep your flooring consistent all the way through; this makes your interior instantly cohesive.’
• In Megan Robson’s open-plan home (above), she uses paint and large area rugs to define each space without adding the physical barriers that interrupt flow. And each corner has been assigned a purpose – even the central column has been given the job of housing the log burner.

5. Garden views

‘Sometimes it’s what’s outside your home that is your superpower,’ says Cathy. In which case, all efforts should be made to harness it throughout.

Maximising a good view is all about framing and enhancing the natural beauty outside while ensuring that the interior space doesn’t compete with or block your line of sight.

‘Open up sight lines by removing walls through the house so you can see the view throughout. Put lesser used rooms the furthest from the view – such as bathrooms, boot rooms and snugs that are usually used when it’s dark.’

How to make the most of a good view

• Position furniture strategically to face the best view, making it the focal point of the room.
• Use large, unobstructed windows or glass doors to connect indoors and out, allowing for an uninterrupted visual flow. Window treatments such as sheer voiles allow light in without blocking the view.
• Subtle and adjustable outdoor lighting that illuminates a garden can prolong your view into the evening.

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Rachel Edwards is the Style & Interiors Editor for Country Living and House Beautiful, covering all things design and decoration, with a special interest in small space inspiration, vintage and antique shopping, and anything colour related. Her work has been extensively translated by Elle Japan and Elle Decor Spain. Rachel has spent over a decade in the furniture and homeware industry as a writer, FF&E designer, and for many years as Marketing Manager at cult design retailer, Skandium. She has a BA in French and Italian from Royal Holloway and an MA in Jounalism from Kingston University. Follow Rachel on Instagram @rachelaed