The Art Curator team have picked out our favourite 5 interior design blogs. for inspiration in home décor. The word curate is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as ‘to select, organise, and look after the items in a collection or exhibition.’ The blogs were selected because akin to us, they curate. You’ll notice that the writers select the most inspired art, décor, furniture and fabrics for your home. Editors organise it, making it easier to browse and enjoy. They also look after it; constantly updating, improving and maintaining their collections. We couldn’t possibly put them in any order, this article simply comments on content and style so you can decide what catches your interest.

Above: Modern Etsy: Jessedirk, on 2modern

Live.Learn.Share.Design

blog.2modern.com are concerned with everything that’s modern, hip, trendy, innovative and cool, showcasing the best and brightest ideas from all over the world. Their friendly, welcoming site is easy to navigate and the informal, insightful writing style keeps you wanting more. It has an amazing Art and Graphics section which features different artists, more or less daily. From the vibrant collages by Brandi Strickland to the eerie dystopias created by Lekan Jeyifo, it’s packed full of stimulating posts. The DIY and How-to section is terrific; clever home ideas for anyone who wants a worthwhile Sunday afternoon project. Check out the mini laptop desk and house-brick planters/candle-holders and you’ll be bursting with enthusiasm.

Above: I Spy – Vanessa Arbuthnott… on Dear Designer

Dear Designer

deardesigner.co.uk by London based interior designer Carole King is a lot more personal. You really get a sense of who Carole is through her writing, a lover of anything aesthetically pleasing, she simply writes about what she likes. This blog is particularly relevant to those who live in the UK, with primarily UK based stockists and including many high street items. Brilliant if you want to put your ideas in to practice straight away. Her finds are truly amazing; we loved the post featuring shiny mercury glass items. Her post-card blog was brilliant, a collection of inspired ways to display your postcards – (also complements a piece we’ve just written on art and travel). Check out the mood boards section too. There’s not much written content but Carole seems to be bursting with such vision and creativity – you get the feeling she just doesn’t have time for words.

Above: Inspired By Riikka Kantinkoski, on Decor8

Fresh Finds for Hip Spaces

decor8blog.com by American author, journalist and interior design consultant, Holly Becker is sublime. Holly lives in Northern Germany and posts feature the very best of European chic from Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland. You could spend hours browsing her eclectic mix of featured artwork, furniture, stationary, lighting and ceramics. Her passion for everything handmade and unique really shines through, particularly in the Etsy section where every Tuesday, she blogs about her best finds on the world’s handmade marketplace. If the blog leaves you wanting more, you can check out her hugely successful book; ‘Decorate: 1,000 Inspirational Ideas For Every Room In Your Home,’ which has claimed the no.1 Interior Design spot on Amazon for months now.

Above: Modern Residence Flooded With Natural Light in Southern Luxembourg, on Freshome

Interior Design and Architecture

freshome.com is more focussed on architectural aesthetics so if you love Grand Designs – this is the blog for you. Posts feature inspiration from around the world that is interesting, eye-opening and unexpected. We were incredibly shocked by the Average Home Sizes of the World Chart. We Brits have the smallest sized spaces to work with at 818sqft, compared to Americans who enjoy a massive average of 2300sqft. The post – 30 Contemporary Bedrooms That Will Rock Your World – certainly did. The blog is heavily concerned with Scandinavian design so if this isn’t something that interests you, Freshome may be one to miss. Although the blog may be a little removed from the real world and it probably isn’t the best if you’re looking for a few practical design tips, it is extremely enjoyable to read.

Above: Sunset Cabin on the shores of Lake Simcoe, on Materialicious

Shelter, Materials and Objects

materialicious.com is unimpressive at first glance but persevere because we’re now addicted. The simple design means it’s all about the imagery. The best way to navigate is through the browse tags section; find what you’re interested in and viola. All related pictures are then displayed on the left hand side, which means no scrolling. The blog is fantastic for browsing, just pick out what you’re drawn to and click on the image. We discovered the amazing map pictures by Matthew Cusick and fantastic Spanish Colors by Coni Della Vedova. It allows you to really get in-tune with your artistic tastes by concentrating solely on the visuals. The downside is, there is not much to read and if you want to find out more, you’re shot off somewhere else.