Design Principles
Before You Buy Another Pillow,
read this first.
The Editors · July 2026 · 5 min read
It's tempting to believe that a beautiful room is built one accessory at a time. Another pillow. Another candle. Another vase. Another throw. I've learned the opposite is usually true.
The rooms that stay with us — the ones that feel peaceful, timeless, and welcoming — rarely have the most accessories. Instead, they have a strong foundation.
Before I style a room, I ask myself a few simple questions. Not because there are rules to decorating. But because these questions almost always lead to better design.
Question 01
Does the room have enough light?
Natural light changes everything. A beautiful room doesn't have to be bright, but it should feel intentional. Pull curtains higher. Open the view. Let light become part of the design.
Light is one of the most beautiful materials you'll ever decorate with.
“Light is one of the most beautiful materials you'll ever decorate with.”
Question 02
Does the room have enough scale?
Many rooms don't need more decor. They need fewer things that are larger.
One oversized piece of art. A substantial coffee table. A taller olive tree. Longer drapery. Scale creates calm because the eye has somewhere to rest.
“Scale creates calm because the eye has somewhere to rest.”
Question 03
Does the room have enough texture?
Neutral doesn't mean flat. Some of the most interesting rooms use very little color.
Instead, they layer plaster, linen, warm oak, stone, aged brass, woven fibers, and natural greenery. Texture creates depth long before color ever does.
“Texture creates depth long before color ever does.”
Question 04
Does the room have breathing room?
Every beautiful room has something in common. Space.
Not every shelf needs styling. Not every wall needs art. Not every corner needs furniture. Leaving room to breathe allows the pieces you do choose to matter more.
Sometimes the most important design decision is deciding what to leave out.
“Sometimes the most important design decision is deciding what to leave out.”
Question 05
Does the room have one unforgettable feature?
Before buying another accessory, ask yourself what someone would remember after leaving the room.
A limestone fireplace. A dramatic ceiling beam. An oversized piece of artwork. A beautiful arched window. A view.
Every room deserves one moment that quietly steals the show. Everything else should support it.
“Every room deserves one moment that quietly steals the show.”
The Honey & Hems Philosophy
Beautiful homes aren't built by collecting beautiful things. They're built by making thoughtful decisions.
Architecture before decoration. Scale before accessories. Texture before color. Meaning before styling.
When the foundation is right, the styling becomes simple. And often, you discover you never needed another pillow after all.
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