Amber Lewis is known for giving her clients – and 2 million Instagram followers – extremely sound advice. Last week, the Los Angeles-based interior designer showcased her skills on the beauty and fashion podcast Lipstick on the edge, Featuring actresses Molly Sims and Emese Gormley as co-hosts, and plenty of thoughts on everything from salad servers to pattern mixing, here are five we’ll be remembering.
Only buy what makes you happy
Only spend your money on things you’ll still covet years from now. “If your home doesn’t evoke feelings when you literally open your eyes in the morning, what’s the point,” Lewis muses. Often, she says, it’s vintage finds that shine the brightest. The designer enjoys scouring 1stDibs and flea markets, and likes to fill shelves with books that are a little older or have a story. She also looks for “quirky things like the brass sculpture that makes no sense but whose patina she loves.”
Spend most of your budget on upholstery
Quality dining tables and chairs are certainly a worthwhile investment, notes Lewis, but the impact of a well-made upholstered piece is undeniable. A well-made sofa will last a long time, she adds, so you don’t have to start from scratch even if the fabric is crying out for a refresh. “If you like the shape, don’t be wasteful, remake it.”
All four furniture legs belong on the carpet
Lewis enjoys filling rooms with rugs that extend well beyond the edges of the bed or sofa. She also likes to place them in dining rooms, which exude a formal atmosphere. But “absolutely avoid having the legs of a rug hanging in your living room,” she advises, because it makes the room look unfinished and unsettling. It’s almost as if “your chair is taking a walk,” she adds.
Bring something unexpected to a dinner party
Candles have long been a popular hostess gift—and if you want to play it safe, Lewis recommends the stunning candles from Harlem Candle Co. But she also suggests less predictable gifts, like eye-catching salad servers, chic cloth napkins and, for an upscale look, water carafes. The latter, according to Lewis, is an “underrated accessory that everyone should have.”
Choose timeless patterns and textures
Instead of following trends, Lewis recommends grabbing classics that can easily be updated over time, such as with new pillows or artwork. “We’re hopefully seeing a movement toward more patterns and textures. I think the sterile is over,” she predicts. That means it’s time to let go of the hard edges and move toward what’s “soft and comfortable.”
