EACH WEEK, WE ask someone based in Ireland with a passion for interiors to share one photo of their favourite spot in their home.

Sharon Swanton lives in a split level bungalow with her husband and two children in Co Cork. 

“We moved in two and a half years ago after a couple of months of renovation work,” says Sharon. “It was three days before Christmas and even though we didn’t have a kitchen, we had a Christmas tree! I have been slowly decorating the house, bit by bit, ever since.”

This week, Sharon (@aoibhneasliving) chatted us through her favourite spot: her bedroom.

Sharon Swanton Sharon Swanton

What do you love about this part of your home?

I love that it’s the one room in the house that’s not overrun with toys. Ironically, this was my least favourite room in the house for a long time. This wall had a bank of very large built-in cupboards which absorbed the light and made the room feel quite dark, in spite of a very large window. I was reluctant to remove them due to the huge amount of practical storage they provided, but once we did, the bedroom became a lovely light and airy space.

What’s your favourite object in here and why?

I would have to say the wallpaper. I knew I wanted a bit of a feature wall in this room, but not too much of a feature. This print adds a bit of interest without being too overwhelming.

What was your inspiration when you were putting this room together?

We are lucky enough to have quite a large window in this room with lots of greenery right outside, so it was that outdoor space that very much inspired the style of the room. I’ve used the colour green, indoor plants and wood to try and bring the outside in. The wallpaper is quite a natural print and I’ve gone for some pink accents as I think it works really well with green – and it’s my favourite colour. Most of the items in the room were things we already had. I do like to work with what I’ve got as much as possible and enjoy up-cycling and tweaking things to make them fit in better.

Be honest: how much tidying did you do before taking this photo? 

Not a lot, actually. This room tends to remain largely undisturbed throughout the day. Although, I haven’t included my bedroom chair in the photo. This can sometimes function as a bit of a gathering spot for clothes, and is area where the clutter tends to build up. 

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