InteriorDesign concepts: Sydney Home Show 2026
It was a great experience working with TAFE NSW on a display for the Sydney Home Show – 6-8 March 2026.
The exercise was part of a collaboration between an industry professional and 4 up and coming designers – based on a brief from the Home Show to create a contemporary space, leaning into colour trends and biophilic design.
To arrive at the outcome required patience and refining between several creative visions. The timeline was short. The designers each created mood boards independently. We then shared and recreated our mood boards considering the influences from each designer.
We then took those collaborative moods boards and created a final boss mood board which we were in love with.
The Mood Board - 2026 trends, curves, movement, transparent glass, warm tones, greenery
Following that, we had a very tight scope to bring this vision to life. A budget of about $1500, plus any items or furniture we owned, could acquire or borrow from a supplier for the event. We had about 3 weeks to achieve the procurement and arrange all the pieces of the display. The installation had to be delivered and set up on 1 day and be removed in the evening of the last show day.
We created a concept board with selected furnishings and décor - including selected rugs and wallpaper that would be supplied by other exhibitors. However, during the process of procuring furnishings, the fundamental aspects of the design - the rugs and wallpaper - were no longer an option.
The concept was leaning retro 70s
The furniture was all flatpack from various marketplaces – we needed to focus on what would be in budget, fit the space and arrive on time to enable us to build the pieces, test the layout and transport the set to the exhibition centre.
During the planning and implementation of a design vision – there are bound to be pivots, adaptations and changes. There are bound to be minor errors and trials which fail. A great designer is not only creative – they are also adaptive, flexible and skilled at continuing toward the mission and vision with a cool focus. Being able to problem solve on the fly. To correct mistakes and communicate with transparency.
My career background as a ‘senior business partner’ for the NSW Ministry of Health, really gave me the grounds to practice and refine my natural leadership and problem-solving skills. I’m excellent at working under pressure and keeping a project moving to a non-negotiable deadline.
We worked through about 50 changes to rugs and wall finishes, and at the eleventh hour, had to change course again and find a rug from our own personal collection and to paint existing banners which were used in a previous home show.
Pivoting on the original concept - spinach and caramel walls and a jute rug - for better or worse? We got it done.
A powerpoint render of the room concept
Our coffee table order was lost in transit. Our first cabinet selection was delayed. So we had to cancel and change direction - ordering cabinets with an orangish mirrored finish rather than the transparent glass in the original selection.
The install was great fun. There is a real energy involved in building and assembling within the ICC and a great buzz all weekend.
Our display was warm and inviting, exhibiting a multi functional – music listening and creative space.
Warm and inviting music listening and creative space
On the day of installation, the artwork would not adhere to the banner walls we had just painted. We had to choose to lean them on the cabinets and against the wall. We also chose to turn the table to face the front of the display, as it gave more of a visual line to the double cabinets in the back.
To save on costs, we selected plant stands to act as bookshelves. We also decided to use one larger rug rather than 2 smaller rugs - originally intended to delineate the two halves of the room - in the 4m x 3m space the larger rug was a better choice.
Detail image of the display room.
I would like to pay greater attention to scale in the next installation. For me, scale is where design really emerges from simply putting a room together - to showing how design can impact an experience.
Many lessons were learnt and I look forward to the next Home Show in October which I already have the jump on preparing for.
I’m proposing a ‘prayer sanctuary’ – a sacred space in the home for honouring, intention setting, being at peace and meditation. I’m also proposing an entrance space that makes an impact - possibly with a mud room. I’m also considering a theme specific room – to interpret a poem or a film without being overtly obvious but in a stylish way.
Singing bowls create frequencies that calm the nervous system. Image from Pinterest.
Let me know your thoughts and what you might like to see on display?
I would like to create more walk throughs on the process of achieving space design. Please sign up for my Alchemical Creatives newsletter to stay in touch for upcoming workshops.
