Interior design that’s one-of-a-kind
Style is nothing without personality. Unless there’s an individual behind the vision, adding the handpicked details and intriguing focal points, then you end up with interiors that feel flat and lifeless.
Freedom of expression is everything when it comes to designing your home and that’s something stylist, Gemma Gear, embraces with her playful interior layouts.
Her breezy walk-in wardrobe design is the perfect antidote to the sometimes po-faced interiors of high-concept homes. It’s vibrant, it’s a little mischievous, and quite fun too - a quality that can be curiously absent in contemporary designs.
A TV Art Director and author of her That’s So Gemma interior design blog, we were thrilled to catch up with her to discuss her process and her walk-in wardrobe project.
When did your love for interior styling first start?
“My passion for styling began way back in 2013 when I was working as a Visual Merchandiser in home retailing stores,” says Gemma. “I absolutely loved the concept of creating a visual display and decided to take the plunge and go self employed in 2016 to pursue a solo career in the interiors industry.
Since then I have styled photoshoots for various magazines and homeware brands and styled exhibitions and press events. In 2018, I branched out further into the TV industry, working on interior makeover shows including Interior Design Masters, The Great Home Transformation and The Big Interiors Battle.
It’s safe to say that I have a lot of spontaneity in my career but that’s what I love the most about it… I’ve never been one for a routine.”
‘Spontaneity’ seems the perfect word to describe Gemma’s dynamic styling.
Just looking through her Instagram account and her own personal interior projects, the colours and styles leap out of the screen.
All of the finishing touches are effortlessly stylish and yet seem so casually placed, as if choosing these elegant room accents is second nature.
And perhaps it is.
But Gemma assures us that a lot of work goes into her projects.
Tell us about your process, Gemma. What guides your designs?
“For me it’s all about the mood boards! I am a hugely visual person and need to put my ideas onto paper before bringing it to life so that the concept and idea is set in my mind.
Sometimes this may be done digitally with a collection of inspo shots and colour palette ideas and other times I do this with a selection of samples.
Quite often I’ll arrange fabric swatches, paint tester cards, tile samples and sketches that I have drawn and arrange them all aesthetically to create a mood board for the room.”
From looking at her walk-in wardrobe design, you can see that colour is used judiciously. While the majority of the room makes excellent use of fresh white finishes, it’s the ideal backdrop to make her clothes and decor pop all the more vividly. Though it’s packed with personality, if you look closer, you’ll see all of the more subtle and refined elements shine through.
The delicate brass Charlotte handles, the chic painted floorboards, a glimmer of chrome… All elements that add flair to the overall composition.
The ‘feeling’ you create in a room is key and more so in a bedroom. What ‘feeling’ were you aiming for?
“I wanted our bedroom to have a playful yet sophisticated feel with opportunities to show off my own interior style. I have always loved clashing colours which some may think is a tad too energetic for a bedroom.
For me though, it’s quite the opposite! I love surrounding myself in bold pops of colour as it really boosts my mood and makes me feel uplifted. A bedroom is somewhere you want to be able to relax and rest but at the same time feel excited to wake up and start the day, so it was really important for me to find this balance.”
Gemma Gear on her walk-in wardrobe
It really is storage heaven and I am forever swooning at the drawer dividers too where I organise all of my make-up and jewellery.
As Gemma was styling her new wardrobe into a period property - a Victorian townhouse - we were interested in her approach to space and how to retain an airy feel in interiors that can sometimes feel hemmed in.
A tricky task when you’re trying to preserve the character of an older building.
We noticed you went for a walk-in wardrobe style…
“I opted for an open wardrobe as I wanted to keep the rooms feeling large and spacious. It’s a lovely sized bedroom at the front of the house and I didn’t want the wardrobe to encroach on the space.
Having an open wardrobe still gives the illusion of depth so the room feels as though it’s the same size… Not to mention it also gives me the opportunity to show off some of my favourite clothes, storage baskets and accessories!
The shaker style wardrobe drawers also add a traditional feel but paired with modern brass handles makes it feel more contemporary, which is exactly what I was aiming to achieve. The room definitely feels as though it’s in a Victorian home now which is a far cry from how it felt before!”
Gemma Gear’s top 10 tips to styling your bedroom
Bedrooms are one of the most important rooms in the home, the first thing we see in the morning and the last thing we see when we close our eyes. We asked Gemma what tips she would give someone wanting to create a relaxing bedroom atmosphere.
- Choose a colour palette that you love, that will make you feel both relaxed and uplifted.
- Ensure you have plenty of storage space so the room is always organised and uncluttered.
- Choose window dressings that will filter out as much light as possible and make for a good night's sleep!
- Fill your walls with statement art that brings you joy and has sentimental meaning to you, to make you feel at home.
- Match your bedside tables to your wardrobe furniture, or dressing table for a cohesive aesthetic.
- Be bougie with your bed linen! Opt for high quality pillows and a duvet set in a fabric you feel most comfortable in. Go wild with cushions as these are a great way to show off your interior identity and give you that luxe hotel feel.
- Organise your wardrobe so that everything has a designated space. This will make your morning routine run far more smoothly as you’ll know exactly where to find things!
- Incorporate a rug to add some texture to the room and help zone your bed area.
- Keep the floors as clear as possible to make the room feel more spacious and stop it from feeling overcrowded.
- Always keep your bedside table clear from clutter… This is the first thing you’ll see in the morning so make sure it’s tidy. Tidy house, tidy mind!
Style and substance go hand in hand
It’s interesting to note that Gemma’s style tips are about the practicality of bedroom design and that’s something that can never be overlooked. Form and function should always blend together to create something that reflects how you experience your home. And as you add your own personality to the space, you might find it reveals your own unique brand of style.
Whether your spaces are irreverent and whimsical or even quiet and thoughtful, just make sure that they’re authentically you.
To explore more of Gemma Gear’s stunning walk-in wardrobe design, you can find it all in her Customer Story linked below.
Looking for more inspiration? Gemma Gear’s perfect walk-in wardrobe
TV Art Director and Interior Stylist, Gemma Gear, has been bringing her design talents to her own period property. When it came time to renovate her bedroom, she needed elegant storage that had a fresh contemporary look but would be sympathetic to her Victorian-era home.
Working with Sharps, she created a vibrant walk-in wardrobe that acts as a beautiful room feature, using a striking mix of open and closed storage.
