Rhonda Drakeford on finding joy in your home

Home should be a place of comfort and happiness all year round, but in January it takes on an extra special role. Hunkering down indoors is certainly more appealing when we can connect with and find joy in our interiors. Whether through colour, plants, tactile textures or sentimental treasures, there are so many ways to inject cheer into interior design. Just ask Rhonda Drakeford – she’s the founder of Studio Rhonda and an expert at creating mood-boosting interiors that pair vibrant colours with cosy, earthy tones (check out the House of Colour for the epitome of joyful decorating). As we round off our final week of our series The Art of Joy, we caught up with the designer to discuss her favourite ways to create a happy feeling in our homes.

I originally trained and worked for many years as a Graphic Designer, and my love of colour theory was born in that world – colour is such a powerful communicator, it holds memory and stories and can be utterly mood shifting. My first job as a Graphic Designer was at ELLE Decoration magazine doing layout, and it was there where I started to understand the power of colour in interiors.

Back in 2009, I opened a design store called Darkroom where we created a very immersive space using strong colour and form as a backdrop to the products on display. It was here that I really started working in 3D, designing furniture and textiles that has developed into the interior design consultancy I now run.

We start and end our days at home, and frequently work from home these days too, so I feel really strongly about the importance of our homes and their impact on our emotions and wellbeing! My own home is such a sanctuary for me. I feel lucky to be safe, relaxed, and also invigorated by what I’ve surrounded myself with. Some things are purely functional, but so many items hold memories that are dear to me. I live with colours chosen because they are calming and make me happy.

I’m not just saying this because Patch is asking, but 100% it’s plants! They just immediately bring a place to life. For me, the bigger the better too, and I group them in clusters for more impact. All my windows are framed by plants which really helps to connect with the outdoors. The textures and shapes of the leaves really help soften any interior – my design work is purposely quite blocky and Brutalist, and I love contrasting these angular forms with the organic randomness of foliage.

When starting any interior project, I always start building an umbrella palette of colours that will be used throughout the home that can be referred back to at all points. This is usually informed by some key pieces a client may already own that needs to be incorporated, or by a mood intention we’re aiming to achieve. A big question is what will be the ‘neutral’ that is the backbone and canvas for any other colours to be paired with. Neutrals can obviously be shades of white, grey or black, but the most beautiful neutrals are earthy tones — they just look so gorgeous with bolder colours.

I’m a big fan of using colour on ceilings, whether that’s taking the wall colour up onto the ceiling for a fully immersive effect, or simply having a coloured ceiling paired with white walls. Optically, it actually raises the ceiling in most cases.

I also like painting smaller rooms in darker colours. It’s always good to have darker, cosier spaces to contrast with any brighter open spaces. I think humans need both options, particularly at different times of the year.

I feel I can comment here as a semi expert, as I rent my own home but am also a landlord of two properties. At home, I asked my landlord for permission to paint with colour with the proviso that I return it to white when I leave. I have used only colours I found at my local paint recycling depot and tins mixed in error at my local DIY store that they sell cheap. I didn’t want to be spending loads on colour that I’d have to eventually paint over!

If you can’t paint, then you can use textiles like large rugs and wall hangings to create bold, colourful foundations. Also bedding and upholstery are key areas you can experiment with. I’ve always felt comfortable investing in bolder large items of furniture as I know they will come with me wherever I live next.

My dog Lupo. His ever-loving presence is what makes it home. Also my plants, and there are so many!

I’ve used a different colour in each bedroom, one is tan and one is grass green — both are calming but invigorating in equal measure. 

In my living room, I’ve clad the walls in cork tiles that will be easy to remove when needed. Cork is a wonderful natural material that brings warmth and acoustic softness, and looks amazing with colourful art hanging on it.

You can discover more of Rhonda's work on Instagram and her website