For interior design expert Julia Kendell, the traditional measure of a property’s worth – its sheer size – has undergone a significant transformation. When she began her career, Kendell notes, property value was once determined by a single, blunt metric: square footage. "Bigger was better, full stop," she recalls.
For nearly two decades, Kendell, a regular speaker at the Homebuilding & Renovation Show, observed that any extension or new build project invariably revolved around the principle of "let’s build the most we can get away with." This approach was rooted in the belief that "because square footage tends to equal value, therefore that’s what people would assume to do." However, recent years have seen a dramatic shift in how frequently people move house, fundamentally altering this perspective.
"Talking to most people now, even much younger people if they’re lucky enough to get on the property ladder, that’s their forever home," Kendell explains. The prohibitive cost of moving means that individuals are no longer thinking, "‘We’ll move house in five years time’ because it’s just so expensive." Instead, the focus has shifted to "‘How can I afford to get on the property ladder?’ ‘And how can I make this something that’s going to suit me forever?'"
Furthermore, with "build costs per square meter so monumental now," Kendell argues it is far more sensible to construct what is genuinely needed rather than simply what is permissible. This pragmatic shift is accompanied by a broader cultural change. "Also, there’s been a shift away from extravagant living. You know, this whole sort of ‘We’ve got to have a massive house to show off to the neighbours kind of thing.’ It feels a little bit dated to me now. And again, a lot of people I’m talking to, particularly the younger generation, that’s not really what motivates them."
The contemporary aspiration, she suggests, is for a home that functions effectively for its inhabitants and family, providing a profound sense of comfort and security. "And feels all the things that a home should be to you, providing a feeling of safety and security. Like when you get through the door, and can really drop your shoulders." This sentiment, Kendell stresses, is not about expansive space, but rather the meticulous organisation and furnishing of a home to ensure it "supports you and your family on a day-to-day basis."
Kendell, a television designer known for her work on programmes such as 60 Minute Makeover and DIY SOS, and owner of Kendell and Co kitchen design company, asserts that "Clever design can make a compact home feel richer, more luxurious and liveable than a poorly planned larger one." She offers several key strategies to achieve this transformative effect:
Prioritise Height Over Width
Ceiling height, Kendell highlights, is an often-overlooked indicator of quality. "Even a modest increase, from a standard 2.4 metres to 2.6, can transform how a room feels." Taller ceilings enhance light, airflow, and visual breathing space, contributing to a calmer and more opulent atmosphere. "There’s good reason why models are tall; elongated proportions show clothing at their best, and the same is true for interior spaces."
Where structural alterations are not feasible, tricks such as ceiling-mounted curtain tracks, full-height doors, and vertical panelling can effectively draw the eye upwards. Painting ceilings the same colour as the walls, rather than a stark white, eliminates harsh visual breaks, making the space appear taller and more cohesive. "I’m a big fan of colour drenching… a lot of homes don’t have coving anymore, and where you have the junction between the wall and ceiling, it feels very clumsy to me; a white ceiling and coloured wall, it’s not a nice feature." She adds, "And that’s where your eye looks, and you don’t want that to be the thing your eyes are focused on. So having the same colour ceiling and walls means you’re drawn to other pretty things in the room." In design terms, she concludes, height creates drama, while width merely fills space.
Embrace Natural Light as a Luxury
"Light is what makes rooms feel alive," Kendell emphasises. "A small, well-lit space will always outperform a large, gloomy one." Maximising natural light involves careful consideration of window placement and proportions. "Taller windows, even when narrower, feel more elegant than squat, wide ones." She advocates for sheer curtains, shutters, or well-fitted blinds to maintain privacy without sacrificing daylight. Internal glazing, glass doors, or borrowed light from hallways and stairwells can further enhance light distribution. "So basically, internal glazing is where you have a glass panel between one room and another," she explains. "So often the front of a house is south facing and the back is north, and the middle of the property into the back can feel quite dark. If you can potentially steal light from the lighter areas, by virtue of installing some internal glazing between room spaces, and allowing that light to filter in makes a big, big difference. Capturing daylight in a property is everything."
Implement Layered Lighting for Quality
"One ceiling pendant in the middle of the room is a dead giveaway of a space designed on a budget," Kendell states. "High-end interiors always use layered lighting." Lighting, she argues, should be a primary consideration in any room redesign or new build. "Unfortunately, it seems to be the one thing people leave until last, unless it’s a new high-end property with control systems and the like. And they often leave it to their builders and go ‘Oh, you put in what you think’ because it’s one of those things they don’t really understand; or comprehend the impact it has." However, making lighting a priority and planning it thoughtfully "will bring the room to life." She recommends at least three light sources per room: ambient (downlights, wall washers), task (reading lamps, under-cabinet lights), and accent (table lamps, picture lights). "Whatever you want to highlight and draw attention to, it will absolutely transform the space." She warns, "If you spend all the money in the world, and you’ve got a very boring lighting scheme, it’s never going to look fabulous… and won’t feel fabulous to be in."
Opt for Built-in Storage Over Extra Rooms
"Clutter is the enemy of luxury," Kendell observes. One of the most effective ways to elevate a home’s perceived value is to integrate storage seamlessly. Built-in wardrobes, window seats with hidden compartments, floor-to-ceiling shelving, and integrated media units free up floor space and create clean lines. "The TV is always the enemy of a designer… we all want them, and they’re getting bigger and bigger. Inevitably, it’s what your eyes are drawn to when you walk into the room – and from a high-end design perspective, that’s not ideal." Therefore, disguising the television or preventing it from becoming the room’s focal point is crucial. This explains the popularity of media walls, where the TV is integrated into a thoughtfully designed space. "It’s about everything feeling like it’s been thought through, not patched together," the designer explains. "And that’s what makes a room feel comfortable to be in, function well, and look good."
Choose Fewer, Higher Quality Materials
Premium interiors are not defined by a multitude of different materials, Kendell notes. "Designers prefer to use fewer, quality materials to provide cohesion throughout the property." She advises limiting the material palette and repeating finishes across rooms to create a sense of flow. Engineered wood flooring throughout a property, for instance, feels far more luxurious than a mix of carpet, tile, and laminate. "We always use the same flooring throughout the property, the same internal doors. Therefore, if you’ve got oak doors, you’d have an oak staircase; oak in fixtures and fittings, where appropriate." If chosen carefully, this approach need not increase overall costs. In kitchens and bathrooms, she suggests prioritising quality worktops, taps, and handles over expensive cabinets, as "these are the elements you touch daily, and quality shows." Ultimately, "A small room finished beautifully will always feel more expensive than a large one finished cheaply."
Readers interested in exploring these concepts further can meet Julia Kendell for a complimentary one-to-one consultation at the Homebuilding & Renovation Show in Birmingham, running from 19 to 22 March. Further information is available at national.homebuildingshow.co.uk.
Failed house purchases cost Britons £1.5bn a year due to ‘antiquated’ system
The most affordable market towns for first-home buyers
Baby Boomers hold more than half of the UK’s housing wealth
London housing market experiencing stamp duty ‘hangover’
Two ways UK households could save thousands of pounds per year
