It’s entirely possible to design a beautiful home by focusing on the interiors first and thinking about the garden later. In many cases, that’s exactly how projects evolve. At Decorbuddi, more than 90% of our work is rooted in interior design, and it’s where most clients naturally begin: rethinking layouts, improving flow, and creating spaces that better reflect how they live.
However, what we’ve observed over time is that when the garden is at least considered early on, even at a very light-touch level, the overall result often feels more cohesive and better resolved. This isn’t about doing everything at once, or shifting focus away from the interiors, but about allowing the outside space to quietly inform key decisions inside.
Often, it starts with spatial flow. As we reconfigure interiors, we’re not just thinking about how rooms connect to one another, but how the home connects to the garden. The positioning of doors, the alignment of thresholds, and the natural routes in and out of the house all play a role. When these elements are considered together, movement flows and the transition between inside and out a seamless aspect of the design enhancing each element.
This naturally extends into how a home is used. Kitchens, dining areas and family spaces often have a direct relationship with the garden, particularly in homes designed for entertaining or family life. By understanding how the outdoor space might function - whether that’s dining, relaxing, or simply providing a visual backdrop- we can make more informed decisions about interior layouts. Even without a fully developed garden scheme, this awareness helps ensure the home works as a whole.
There is also a quieter, but equally important, impact on light and outlook. A garden is not just something you step into; it’s something you see and experience from within. Thinking about planting, levels or focal points early on allows us to position glazing and interior features more deliberately, maximising natural light and shaping views that enhance the atmosphere of a space. In this way, the garden becomes part of the interior experience, even when you’re indoors.
From a design perspective, early consideration opens up opportunities for a more unified aesthetic. Materials, tones and textures can be subtly echoed - flooring that extends towards a terrace, finishes that relate to external elements, or a palette that flows naturally between the two. It’s not about matching everything exactly, but about creating a sense of continuity that makes the home feel calm and considered.
Alongside these design benefits, there are practical advantages that are easy to overlook. In many properties we work on in London, access is constrained, and garden materials often need to pass through the house. If structural landscaping - such as levelling a patio or forming terraces - is left until after the interiors are complete, it can introduce unnecessary risk and disruption. Addressing these elements earlier in the process can help protect finished spaces and simplify the build.
Similarly, coordinating internal floor levels with external ground levels is far easier when both are part of the same conversation. When left too late, this can result in awkward steps, compromised thresholds or drainage challenges. When considered early, it allows for those seamless transitions that clients increasingly value, where indoor and outdoor spaces feel naturally connected.
Another layer to this is the integration of services. Lighting, drainage, and even power for outdoor features can be aligned with the interior scheme from the outset, rather than retrofitted later. This not only leads to a more refined end result but can also avoid unnecessary cost and disruption as the project progresses.
Of course, not every client wants to complete their garden at the same time as their interiors, and that’s completely understandable. What we often suggest at Decorbuddi is simply developing an awareness of the garden early on - sometimes as a high-level plan that can be implemented in phases. This approach helps to future-proof the project, ensuring that when the garden is eventually realised, it feels like a natural extension of the home rather than something separate.
Our role, first and foremost, is to create interior spaces that look beautiful, functional well and are deeply personal to the people who live in them. When the relationship between inside and out is considered - even in a subtle way - the impact on the interior can be significant. Interiors feel fresher and more spacious, views are more impactful, and the home as a whole becomes more connected.
At Decorbuddi, we don’t see this as a rule, but as an opportunity. An opportunity to enhance the interior by considering the wider context in which those interiors sit. And when that happens, the results tend to speak for themselves.
About Decorbuddi
Decorbuddi creates thoughtful, original design that transforms the quality of everyday life. Blending expertise with a warm, flexible approach, we tailor each project to our clients’ individual needs - from focused design consultations to complete interior and garden renovations. With a London based central studio, regionally based designer team and a trusted network of skilled trades, we deliver carefully managed turnkey projects across the UK and internationally, ensuring every element works together seamlessly.
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Amy Dhala, Co-Founder of Decorbuddi, has given her insights into the industry.
My career has taken an interesting route into the world of design, beginning in the luxury travel industry where I spent nearly a decade at Scott Dunn working my way from a travel consultant to Head of Worldwide Sales. During that time, I worked with international clients creating highly tailored experiences across the world, which gave me a deep understanding of luxury, service and the importance of detail.
That appreciation for lifestyle and place naturally evolved into interiors, and in 2011 I founded Lovestruck Interiors, designing and sourcing distinctive pieces while developing a creative studio in Southwest London.
In 2019 I co-founded Decorbuddi, where our work ranges from considered room transformations to full home redesigns and complex renovation projects for clients in the UK and Overseas.
For me, the attraction to the interior design industry came from seeing just how powerful design can be in shaping the way people experience their homes. A well-designed space isn’t just about aesthetics, it can genuinely change how people live day to day, whether that’s creating calm, improving functionality or making a home feel more welcoming.
Every designer brings their own experiences, influences and creative instincts to the table. Those different perspectives are part of what makes the design industry so dynamic and continually evolving. At Decorbuddi, we value that diversity while working together as one collaborative team.
Without question, the most rewarding aspect is seeing the work our designers produce and the impact it has on clients. Interior design is such a collaborative profession - it requires creativity, technical understanding, empathy and strong relationships with clients and suppliers.
I love seeing how our designers take a client brief and transform it into something far beyond what the client initially imagined. Watching that process unfold, from early ideas and mood boards through to a finished space, is incredibly exciting. What makes it even more rewarding is hearing how those spaces improve people’s lives, whether it’s a family home that works better for everyday life or a renovation that finally brings someone’s vision to life.
We have had the opportunity to work on several fantastic home and garden projects this year with clients based all over the world, including Hong Kong, South Africa and even Nepal, as well as the UK. It is impossible to choose just one highlight – it is the variety of projects and clients that inspires our creativity.
Alongside these projects, there have been some wonderful milestones - from winning the Best of Houzz Design Award to having our work featured in The Times Magazine and other industry publications.
Joining SBID has also been a particularly meaningful moment for us. It reflects our commitment to professionalism and high standards within the industry, but more importantly it recognises the calibre of designers we work with. Being part of a respected professional body that champions quality and integrity in design is something we’re incredibly proud of, and it’s exciting for our team to be part of that community.
The projects we enjoy most are those where we work in true partnership with the client to shape the complete transformation of a home. These are often the projects where there are complex design challenges to resolve and where the brief goes far beyond decoration, considering how a home flows, functions and supports the way people live.
We are particularly drawn to projects that allow us to think about the relationship between inside and out - where the architecture, interiors and garden are connected. It’s also a joy to work with clients who have gathered treasured pieces or an interesting art collection we can weave into the design.
Ultimately, the most rewarding projects are those where there is trust and collaboration, allowing us to create spaces that are genuinely loved by the people who live in them.
Interior design can look effortless from the outside, but in reality, it requires an enormous amount of coordination, problem solving, technical skills and attention to detail. Designers are often balancing creative vision with practical constraints such as budgets, timelines, construction issues and supplier lead times.
Another challenge is managing expectations, particularly during renovations where unexpected issues can arise. Our designers must be incredibly adaptable and calm under pressure, while still maintaining the creative direction of the project. It’s a profession that requires both artistic talent, organisation and inter-personal skills - something people often underestimate until they see the process behind the scenes.
One thing that has become very clear is just how complex the design process really is. From space planning and technical drawings through to sourcing, procurement and installation, there are many moving parts behind every finished interior.
I think people sometimes imagine interior design as simply choosing colours and furniture, but the reality is that designers are solving spatial challenges, coordinating with contractors and ensuring every detail works both practically and aesthetically. Seeing that depth of expertise has given me a huge appreciation for the profession and the level of skill required to deliver truly great design.
My biggest advice would be to stay curious and keep developing your perspective. The most successful designers are constantly observing, learning and drawing inspiration from many different places - architecture, travel, art, hospitality spaces and even nature.
Equally important is building strong relationships with clients and collaborators. Interior design is ultimately about understanding how people live and translating that into spaces that work beautifully for them. Creativity is essential, but empathy and communication are just as important in building trust and delivering successful projects.
I think it’s a very interesting moment for the industry, particularly with the rapid development of new technologies. Tools for visualisation, digital collaboration and AI are becoming much more sophisticated and are changing how designers communicate ideas and manage projects.
Where I see the real value is in how these tools improve efficiency and communication. They allow designers to present concepts more clearly, test ideas quickly and help clients visualise spaces earlier in the process. AI can be particularly helpful in supporting workflows, organising information and facilitating the communication of design ideas.
That said, I don’t believe technology should replace the creative thinking of the designer. Interior design is fundamentally about understanding people, how they live and creating spaces with depth, personality and longevity. Those things come from human experience, judgement and creativity.
So, for me, the future of the industry is about using technology thoughtfully as a tool to support designers and improve the client experience while keeping the design process itself rooted in human creativity and expertise.
Being part of SBID is a meaningful step because it represents professionalism, credibility and a commitment to high standards within the design industry. For us, it’s important that the designers we work with are recognised as professionals who bring real expertise and value to their clients.
SBID accreditation helps reinforce that message - that interior design is a skilled profession requiring knowledge, experience and ethical practice. We’re proud for our community of designers to be associated with an organisation that champions excellence and supports the continued growth and recognition of the industry.
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