Meet Our Next in Design Winners: Sophie Garland

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A split image. On the left, designer Sophie Garland sits in a pink-walled living room with a black fireplace and potted palm. On the right is a vibrant child’s bedroom with a patterned bed, snake toy, and red-and-white curtains.
(Image credit: Ellen Christina/Stuart Ovenden)
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Our Next in Design 2025 winner, Sophie Garland, only launched her studio in 2023 after training at KLC, but interiors have been part of her world for much longer. ‘I grew up surrounded by color,’ she says. ‘I love using it, but I’ve learned that if I paint every wall red, it’s harder to introduce pattern – which I also adore – so I tend to keep the backdrop neutral in order to layer in prints, texture, and fun.’

That balance between joy and practicality defines her work. Most of Sophie’s clients are families, so her spaces not only look beautiful but also stand up to everyday life. ‘If a dog is going to climb all over the sofa or kids are going to spill juice, then I’ll choose scrubbable outdoor fabrics for indoor upholstery – they’re amazingly good these days,’ she says. Storage solutions are also key, ensuring rooms are functional as well as playful.

An eclectic, light-filled living room with large, green-backed bookshelves framing a view into a kitchen and dining area. Red patterned armchairs and various colorful decor items create a maximalist, bohemian atmosphere.

(Image credit: Stuart Ovenden)

Her love of textiles is clear – Clarence House’s woven, vividly colored fabrics and Svenskt Tenn’s pictorial patterns are current favorites; purple is also starting to appear more often, adding richness to her schemes. Projects range from London homes to family houses in Ayrshire and Argyll, with briefs that can be a detailed full renovation or a four-day blitz to rework layouts and refresh color palettes.

What ties them all together is Sophie’s belief that homes should be made to be lived in, loved, and enjoyed.

3 Key Design Rules with Sophie Garland

1. Mix and Match Old and New
My first rule is to mix and match vintage and antique pieces with new pieces. This creates a feeling that a space has been added to over time.

2. Use a Variety of Materials
My second rule is to use a variety of materials, from wood, stone, and metals to linens, cottons, velvets, and woven fabrics. This will create the feeling of a layered space with lots of depth and variation.

3. Confirm the Layout and Function First
The third rule is to always decide on the function and layout of a room first. This will keep you focused and on track when designing a scheme for a space and sourcing items. It's so important to make sure that it doesn’t just look beautiful, it definitely functions as well.

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Pip Rich
Pip Rich

Pip Rich is an interiors journalist and editor with 20 years' experience, having written for all of the UK's biggest titles. Most recently, he was the Global Editor in Chief of our sister brand, Livingetc, where he now continues in a consulting role as Executive Editor. Before that, he was acting editor of Homes & Gardens, and has held staff positions at Sunday Times Style, ELLE Decoration, Red and Grazia. He has written three books – his most recent, A New Leaf, looked at the homes of architects who had decorated with house plants. Over his career, he has interviewed pretty much every interior designer working today, soaking up their knowledge and wisdom so as to become an expert himself.