abigail ahern masterclass
How To Read A Room
Before you change a room, learn to understand it.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when decorating is rushing straight to solutions. They buy a new sofa, repaint the walls, replace the lighting and add accessories.
But often they’re solving the wrong problem.
Where To Start - What Questions Do I Ask?
Whenever I walk into a room, I start by observing and looking and this is where I ask questions because every room is trying to tell you something.
What’s The First Thing You Notice?
Where does your eye go to first?
Is there a focal point?
How do you feel?
Tip: If your eye doesn’t know where to land, the room probably lacks focus.
What Questions Do I Ask?
What’s The First Thing You Notice?
Where does your eye go to first?
Is there a focal point?
How do you feel?
Tip: If your eye doesn’t know where to land, the room probably lacks focus.
Focal Points, Not Enough or Too Many?
One of the biggest elements that can be overlooked is focal points, one is not enough but you can also have too many. If you walk into a room and your eye doesn't naturally know where to land it's either too flat or too busy. A common culprit is furniture floating without purpose.
To create a space that feels subtly curated, welcoming and grounded you need more than one focal point commanding the narrative. Whether that's a supersized mirror, a beautiful fireplace or a jaw-dropping piece of art, your room needs at least 3 to catch the eye. A dramatic light, an abundance of foliage or an eye-catching sculpture will all act as visual anchors.
Art That Wows
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Reverie Canvas Art
Regular price £280.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Romer Abstract Canvas
Regular price £120.00Regular priceUnit price per£150.00Sale price £120.00 Save £30.00 (20% off) -
Hearst Canvas Art
Regular price £280.25Regular priceUnit price per£295.00Sale price £280.25 Save £14.75 (5% off) -
Namora Canvas Print
Regular price £218.50Regular priceUnit price per£230.00Sale price £218.50 Save £11.50 (5% off)
How Does the Room Make You Feel?
What Is Missing?
To bring a flat room to life, ask yourself what is truly missing: personality, texture, lighting, contrast, colour, or scale? Often, a space feels incomplete not because it lacks furniture, but because it lacks soul and dimension. You can inject personality through curated personal accessories and styling, and introduce rich tactile variety with layers. Layered lighting and soft furnishings creates mood, while contrasting textures and colours prevents the eye from glazing over. Finally, a pared back palette and playing around with scale breathes energy into the space.
Discover accessories designed to inject character into the everyday.
What Is Competing?
Sometimes the problem isn’t what’s missing, it’s what’s shouting too loudly. Does the room have too many colours, accessories, contrasts or focal points? Or are you trying to feature too many ideas in one space. The aim is to create your environment to convey a cohesive narrative that feels peaceful, curated, and intentionally balanced.
Tip: Introduce an element that creates tension – throw in some metallics, darker accents, a vintage find, an oversized lamp, a sculptural object, a bold artwork.
Some of the Biggest Mistakes
Is your room guilty of any of the following?
A few repeat offenders that will instantly make the room feel uninviting.
Furniture pushed against walls.
One ceiling light.
Tiny rugs.
Lack of texture.
No focal points.
Your room looks and feels more like a showroom.
Is The Scale Working?
How Does Your Room Feel After Dark?
Lack of atmosphere is often a lighting issue.
The goal is for your evening retreat to feel cosy, glowing and welcoming, like you want to snuggledown for the entire evening.
Lighting can instantly transform any space but there are elements to avoid such as:
- A single ceiling light.
- Bright, uniform illumination.
- No intriguing pools of light.
Transformational Tip - Use multiple light sources at different heights to create mood, shadow and intimacy.
After Dark
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Compton Portable Table Lamp
Regular price £42.50Regular priceUnit price per -
Velma Leopard Table Lamp
Regular price £40.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Ortega Ceramic Table Lamp
Regular price £67.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Walker Dome Table Lamp
Regular price £138.00Regular priceUnit price per
What I Always Add
Quick Fixes
Every space needs a curated mix of the elements below to make it feel inviting.
- Rugs
- Artwork
- Botanicals.
- More lighting
- Introduce contrast
In Summary
Shop Abi's Masterclass Must-Haves
Discover the furniture, lighting and decorative pieces from Abigail’s 'how to read the room' toolkit.
