INTERIORS AUGUST BATH.qxp_Layout 1 21/07/2026 17:24 Page 1
HOMES & INTERIORS
The soul of a home:
Creating interiors that tell your story Why do some homes feel special the moment you walk through the door? Katherine Raderecht explores how memories, collections and well-loved possessions create interiors with warmth and personality, giving a house its heart and soul.
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t isn’t necessarily about beautiful architecture, expensive furniture or the latest colours and fabrics. In fact, some of the most memorable homes break almost every conventional decorating rule. They contain furniture that doesn’t match, slightly faded rugs, shelves crowded with books and walls filled with art, photographs and objects that mean something to the people who live there. These are homes with soul. The difficult thing is that soul can’t be ordered online or created during a weekend makeover. It comes from the gradual accumulation of possessions, memories and experiences: the things we inherit, discover, make, collect and refuse to part with. In a world of perfectly styled interiors, there is something refreshing about a home that feels genuinely lived-in. A real home doesn’t have to be immaculate or follow a particular design style. It should tell you something about the person who lives there.
Let your home tell your story Our possessions often carry stories that have very little to do with their monetary value. “The most successful interiors don’t begin with a shopping list; they begin with the things that matter most,” says interior designer Clair 72 THEBATHMAGAZINE | AUGUST 2026 | ISSUE 282
Strong. “A favourite painting, a grandmother’s chair or a collection gathered over decades gives a home a sense of identity that no trend can ever replicate. These personal pieces become the foundation of a room, with the colours, textures and furnishings evolving around them, creating a home that feels authentic rather than simply well styled.” The battered armchair that belonged to a grandfather may be worth far less than the beautiful new one sitting beside it, but it has a history. A chest of drawers from a childhood home, a mother’s china teacup, an old family clock or a collection of much-read books can connect us to people and places from the past. These pieces give a home an emotional depth that new furniture simply cannot provide. That doesn’t mean a home has to become a museum. The most successful interiors mix different periods and styles. An inherited Victorian table can look wonderful with contemporary chairs. An antique chest can sit in a modern bedroom, while an old oil portrait can bring wit and character to a boldly decorated room. And if a piece of furniture doesn’t work but it can’t be thrown out, turn it into something new. Reupholster a chair in an unexpected fabric, paint a dark piece of furniture with chalk paint, change the handles on an old chest or find a completely different use for something – a wardrobe