Are you thinking of redecorating or reshaping a room in your home? Whether you’re planning a full renovation or simply upgrading your space to include beautiful bespoke pet furniture, the relaunched The Great Indoors Podcast has launched a Back to Basics mini series, your guide to navigating home design from start to finish.
Hosts Sophie Robinson and Kate Watson‑Smyth kick off Episode One with, “Where to Start”, giving a fantastic deep dive into what to consider before you pick up a paint brush.
Our Top Takeaways from Episode One of The Great Indoors Podcast Back to Basics Mini Series
1. Start with How You Feel, Not Just How It Looks
Ask yourself:
- How do I want to feel in this room?
- Who will I be spending time with here?
- Is the space for entertaining, relaxing, or both?
From a sociable kitchen for dinner parties to a peaceful nook for post-walk cuddles with your dog, the emotional intention behind your room shapes every design choice you make.
2. Mood Boards are Magic
Use Pinterest, cut up magazines, or screenshot your way through Instagram. Pull together colours, patterns, furniture styles, lighting you love, even textures and finishes. Mood boards make the intangible, tangible.
Pro tip: Start building a vision before fixating on colours or paint samples.
3. Design the Space You Use
Think about the everyday actions:
- Where will your dog’s crate sit?
- Will you be grabbing a coffee every morning from the same corner?
- Do you need storage for leads, toys or towels?
Great design is practical before it’s pretty.
4. Draw It Out
Get old-school with graph paper, a ruler, and a pencil. Map out your layout to scale. This helps you work out flow, clearance for chairs and drawers, and how furniture (especially larger pieces like crate furniture or built-ins) will sit in the space.
Bonus: If you’re planning electrical work, this gives your electrician a head start too.
5. Don’t Start with Paint
This is one of the episode’s golden rules. Pull your colour palette together with your soft furnishings, accessories and patterns in mind. That includes tiles, rugs, prints, and, if you’re designing for pets, cushions and covers too!
6. Understand Colour Nuance
Just because two colours are both “green” doesn’t mean they feel the same.
- Emerald Green vs Sage Green
- Plaster Pink vs Fuchsia Pink
Your emotional connection to a colour and how it works with light, textures, and materials in your home matters more than its name.
Explore friends’ houses, hotels, restaurants and curated spaces. Get to know the colours that calm or energise you.
7. Follow the 60:30:10 Colour Rule
When picking a palette:
- 60% = your main colour (walls or large furniture)
- 30% = secondary colour (cupboards, sofas, curtains)
- 10% = accent colour (art, lampshades, soft furnishings)
This simple guide helps you build a layered and balanced look.
Where The Pet Carpenter Comes In
Every design decision, from layout to lighting, can work with your dog’s needs too. Whether it’s a crate island that doubles as a breakfast bar, or a snug under-stairs den, thoughtful planning makes your home beautiful and functional.
We’re big fans of The Great Indoors Pod because it aligns so naturally with our philosophy: form and function, working in harmony for people and their pets.
🔗 Listen to Episode 1 of The Great Indoors Podcast: Back to Basics wherever you get your podcasts and let us know how your home design plans are evolving.
Ready to commence your own pet furniture design journey? Start my design today