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At Loveless Cook Blinds, we’re keen followers of the BBC’s The Great Interior Design Challenge. Last week, Lucy and Sarah faced off in the show’s grand final, going all-out to impress judges Sophie Robinson and Daniel Hopwood – not to mention guest judge Kelly Hoppen – by decorating three rooms each in a stately home in Sussex. Here’s what we learned.

1. Sometimes Less Is More.

Throughout the competition, Lucy impressed the judges with her original designs and hand-painted finishes – but she often overcrowded her rooms. Going into the final, the judges encouraged her to pare back her room schemes.

Daniel Hopwood commented:

“Lucy designs from the heart and she knows what her clients need, but she’s got so many ideas that her schemes can look cluttered.”

Lucy transformed her client’s lounge, dining room and bedroom into warm, elegant spaces – but guest judge Kelly Hoppen felt that she’d been too ambitious in the dining room.

“There’s too much on the wall. You’ve got a striped wallpaper, you’ve got oxblood red, you’ve got blue. And then you’ve got this bird wallpaper here. It’s a lot to take in.”

What You Can Do: If you love a busy room, choose an interior design theme that works with it. Eclectic, vintage, and shabby chic styles all look good with lots going on. Clashing prints, different textures, and creative accessories can really make a room if you believe more is more!

2. The Layout of a Room Makes a Big Difference.

As the judges walked into Lucy’s finished Georgian inspired lounge, they immediately noticed a difference.

Sophie Robinson said:

“The first thing that hits me walking in here is due to a quick change in layout, the room already feels a little more cohesive and calm and pared back.”

What You Can Do: If you want to give your room a new look on a tight budget, try changing the layout. Take a look at your room – is there too much furniture? Can you rearrange your furniture to solve a problem (for example, the TV being too close to the sofa, or there not being enough space for the door)? Just swapping things around to see how the room feels can give you a fresh outlook.

3. A Standout Piece Can Bring a Room Together.

When it came to creating their lounges, both Lucy and Sarah created statement pieces. Lucy covered part of the wall facing the door in silver leaf, a touch that Kelly Hoppen loved as soon as she walked into the room:

“I think the use of silver on the chimney breast is absolutely brilliant.”

Meanwhile, Sarah, who Kelly Hoppen praised for her ability to style a room, created a bespoke cheeseplant light that caught Daniel Hopwood’s attention:

“I think the big star of the show is the light fitting. It’s dropping really quite low over the coffee table. It does pull this centre part together.”

What You Can Do: If your room feels empty or uncoordinated, a statement piece can pull all of your different items together. Think about what would link you room best: is there a colour you could reflect, or complement? Is there a blank space you could fill with a picture or a mirror? Sometimes a standout piece is what you need to make a room complete.