'The one thing I would buy for spring is...' – 5 interior design gurus tell all

As the seasons change, we often reevaluate our living spaces, especially as we are spending more time in them currently. Gaps can appear – more storage might be needed, or you want to add a new wallpaper to brighten up a tired looking space. But if you were limited to only one key buy for spring, what would you choose? 

We asked five key interior experts exactly this question and each one mentioned something stylish and distinct. Read on to find out what they would love for their own homes as spring approaches. 

See: Interior design trends – top looks for the year ahead

1. Michelle Ogundehin

Writer, consultant and currently presenter of the BBC’s Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr, Michelle Ogundehin is an interior guru with a wealth of knowledge and a new book, Happy Inside: How to Harness the Power of Home for Health and Happiness.

‘If I could buy one interior item for spring it would be a roll of Lucy Tiffney’s Forest Grande wallpaper, all lush greens and fabulously leafy to bring that optimistic new season feeling right indoors.’

This fabulous wallpaper design is so versatile that it could work in pretty much any room – it looks great in this hallway and it would work for accent walls, in a living room or bedroom. Keep the rest of the scheme neutral so it’s the main focal point. 

See: Hallway wallpaper ideas – smart statement wallpapers for your hall

2. Natalie Papier

Natalie Papier is an artist, designer and influencer and owns the fabulous Home Ec. a vintage and eclectic interior design company based in Chicago.

‘I am loving the pop that marigold yellow brings to an interior.  If I could buy just one thing this spring, I would purchase this overstuffed, marigold yellow reading chair from Interior Define. To be cozying up in that cheerful color relaxing with a book is my idea of bliss!’

For those who live in the UK, this fabulously squishy Cinema chair in burnished yellow clever velvet is a great match. Sink deep down in here with a good book and a throw and while away some time in peace.

3. Julian Chichester

British furniture designer Julian Chichester fuses traditional craftsmanship with contemporary elements to produce stunning ranges that include furniture, upholstery and lighting. 

‘My top buy for spring would be our Pollock drinks' cabinet – we’ve seen a general growth in demand of our drinks' cabinets and trolleys over the last few years, but particularly in the last year and most certainly during all lockdowns we’ve endured! 

'The revival and demand for cocktails and entertaining at home has been steadily increasing. It’s a well thought-out crafted space to treat yourself, the simple act of mixing elaborate recipes visible to all, the basic ritual of entertaining and socializing, all of which brings sheer joy.’

The vellum finish on this stunning drinks cabinet really is special – it is a natural skin so no two pieces are the same, and the physical characteristics may change over time. 

4. Henry Prideaux

London-based interior designer Henry Prideaux has been providing a personalized interior design service for private clients since 2014. He has worked on a number of residential and commercial projects in the UK and overseas. Here, he tells us about his interior buy:

‘Some quirky textured ceramics from Oka to jazz up the dining table for informal family entertaining at home. Creating an informal dining table using multiple layers of eye-catching tableware, combined with a range of textural accessories, and finished with a beautiful floral centrepiece, creates a wonderful setting for informal home entertaining. 

'I love the accessories collections at Oka for adding those unusual pieces that will help to elevate your table, adding personality with items such as the Urchin Jug (used here as a vase) and Cardoon candle holders that I used recently to dress the table in the dining room of our Chelsea Townhouse project.’

One of the things we love so much about Henry’s choice is how he uses the jug as a vase, items that have a double use are always worth their salt. 

Sara Cosgrove

Sara Cosgrove loves to integrate old and new elements in the private residential projects (above) that she undertakes and you can see this in the stunning homes she has worked on. Her interior design and interior architectural practice has bases in both Dublin and London. We managed to have a quick chat about her top interior spring buy in between meetings.

‘This spring I would love to reinvent several spaces in my house, the entrance hall being one! For this area I am coveting the Fenwick console with shelf from Nina Campbell's Oomph range – in Peale green with Faux sand raffia (below).'

'The shape of the piece has a whimsical feel and the shelf offers handy additional storage, it feels like a future classic and has real style. The natural and slightly rustic materials give a relaxed and welcoming feel, ideal for an arrival space.’

Interestingly, this piece was originally a custom commission, but is now a permanent piece and part of Nina Campbell’s furniture collection. It comes in 18 colours and your choice of surface, making it a worthwhile investment as it will work with any existing scheme.