From House to Home
Interior designer, Niamh McKenna shows us how to instantly make your new space feel like your own
Sunday Independent (Ireland)
23 Mar 2025
You’ve finally got the keys to your new place! You’ve got the deeds, the Wi-Fi is (hopefully) working, and there’s a pizza box on the counter because who has time to cook while unpacking? But now comes the tricky part – how do you turn this house into a home that feels like yours?
Niamh McKenna, founder of NMcK Interior Design (nmckdesign.com) recommends playing with the space. Niamh moved from a career in clinical research to interior design after working on residential projects with her husband, an estate agent. Now, nearly five years later and living in Galway, she works on homes across Ireland and hopes to expand into commercial design this year.
“I really love playful interiors that feel like your happy place,” says Niamh. “It’s not just how you live in the space, but how you want to live in the space and create that desired lifestyle using design.”
STEP 1 – UNPACKING YOUR MEMORIES
Before you even think about paint colours or gallery walls, start with what matters most, your personal touches.
“Home is where your family is, and I would look to get my family photos out on display to say, ‘here we are’,” says Niamh.
Even if you’re still surrounded by half-unpacked boxes, pulling out those sentimental items such as photos, your favourite books, and even those quirky souvenirs you picked up on holiday, can immediately make a space feel more personal.
But don’t worry if things aren’t in their final place yet. “Get it all out, even if they don’t fit the space perfectly yet. Living in a space is the best way to know what you want to do with it because the best way to get it right is to get it wrong first.”
So, throw some cushions on the couch, prop up a few framed photos, and see what feels right. You’ll figure it out as you go.
STEP 2 – STYLE WITHOUT CHANGING
If you don’t want a full-on DIY renovation, Niamh says styling alone can completely transform a room. A room with a neutral base
can be taken in many different directions with the type of soft furnishings and accessories you choose.
Some top tips:
Use bold colours – “If you like lots of colour in your home and the space has a very neutral base, I would bring colour and personality to the space in soft furnishings like rugs, cushions, window treatments, artwork and accessories.”
Go for a minimalist look – If you are more into neutrals and a clean line aesthetic, Niamh says she would “accessorise with lots of black and white/off-white accessories, pops of green in plants, and use metals in your preferred colour.”
Create a layered but cosy vibe – Play with different materials, shapes, and accessories to add depth and personality. You can add personality in smaller furniture pieces like side tables or footstools and in lighting.
STEP 3 – BUDGET-FRIENDLY HACKS
A home makeover doesn’t have to mean emptying your savings account. Here are Niamh’s top three budget-friendly decorating tricks:
♦ Move things around
“Change up the styling either by buying new furnishings and accessories, or simply moving your existing accessories around your home,” says Niamh.
You’d be surprised how different a space can look just by rearranging what you already own.
♦ Give it a fresh coat of paint
“Paint is always a powerful tool that can make a huge difference.”
If painting an entire room sounds like too much effort, start small - paint your front door, skirting boards, a cupboard or even kitchen backsplash tiles if they are dated, for a quick refresh.
“If the floor is a warm tone and the furniture is a warm colour also, I would go for a paint colour with a cool undertone to achieve that balance. On the other hand, if the floor is cool toned and the furniture is also cool, I would be looking to warm the room up with a paint colour with a warm undertone.”
♦ Switch up the lighting
“Change up ceiling light shades, change any bulbs that are visible to be more aesthetically pleasing and emit a warmer dimmed light, add lamps, move lamps around, or even add plug-in wall lights for an elevated feel without the need for an electrician.”
Never underestimate the power of good lighting – it can completely change the mood of a space. Warm bulbs (between 2500k-2700k) can create a cosy glow, low brightness bulbs (under 600 lumens) are used to avoid harsh lighting, and a mix of ceiling lights, lamps, and wall lights can be used for balance.
And Niamh’s biggest paint game-changer? “Painting the ceiling the same colour as the walls to make the room feel bigger!”
STEP 4 – AVOID COMMON MISTAKES
While there’s no wrong way to decorate, some rooms can feel a little off.
“As interior designers, we are trying to achieve balance with furniture, colour, contrast, proportions, scale, lighting, and texture,” says Niamh.
It’s not about symmetry; it’s about making sure everything works together in harmony. Play around with scale, shapes, and materials until things feel balanced.
But Niamh’s most important advice is to ignore popular trends and just do what makes you happy!
Rather than redecorating every time a new trend pops up, she suggests focusing on timeless pieces you love and updating your space with on-trend colours through soft furnishings and accessories.
As Niamh says, “Bringing your own personality into your home is of utmost importance.”
Article Name:From house to home
Publication:Sunday Independent (Ireland)
