Consider Flossie Hughes (@flxssie) – winner of Best Design Advice in House Beautiful's Real Style Awards 2026 – your stylish, interior design-savvy friend, dispensing whip-smart advice and inspiration to help navigate the sheer volume of decisions that come with home decorating. From her 1930s semi-detached house in East Sussex, she offers targeted advice on everything from elite colour combinations to doorknob finishes – and she’s never steered us wrong.
What’s your decorating style in three words?
Considered, tailored and elevated.
What’s the most important interiors lesson you’ve learned over the years?
Work with the character of your home. For example, in period properties made of breathable materials, freestanding furniture often works better than built-ins as it preserves airflow. Thoughtful interiors balance beauty with practicality, ensuring the home remains healthy and timeless.
What’s your favourite interiors-related hack?
Using a dustless Mercer hand sander paired with a Henry Hoover is a game-changer. It’s budget-friendly and massively reduces dust!
Can you share your best piece of advice about creating a chic home?
Invest in a few pieces you absolutely love and don’t be afraid to mix them with the unexpected.
That’s when interiors start feeling truly elevated and considered: a bold red Persian rug in a minimalist modern room or a contemporary painting against traditional wainscoting. Finding that creative tension is what makes a home feel effortlessly lived-in and utterly chic.
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What stage of decorating do you dread? Which makes you do a happy dance?
The stage I dread is mist coating – nothing drags quite like it. The happy dance stage happens when all the furniture is back in place and the room finally feels like the vision in my head.
What’s one simple change that instantly makes a home feel more put together?
A vase of statement flowers! It’s such a small and easy change that immediately breathes life into a room.
What’s the decorating hot take that might surprise people?
There’s no such thing as an ugly colour, only bad colour palettes! Once you crack the right combination, even shades you might have dismissed as ‘dated’ or ‘ugly’ can look stunning. It’s all about considered pairing and proportion.
What does ‘home’ mean to you?
Home is where the kettle is always on and the sofa is ridiculously comfy.
