Evie Kemp has styled her home to be a colourful, joyful place she truly loves. Now she's helping us do the same

Decorating your own home is one of the most fun and exciting things we get to do in life, and yet when we're about to begin we're often stopped by doubts, confusion and tight budgets.

Evie Kemp is on a mission to change this by encouraging everyone to take a step towards transforming their spaces to look and feel like their own no matter their skill level or finances.

The artist and interior stylist has such an inspiring philosophy on decorating the home, you'll soon be painting the wall that colour someone said was too bold, adding those mismatched chairs that don't go with anything just because you love them or simply treating yourself to that one cushion because it feels good.

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These are just some of the decisions you might feel free to make after flicking through the pages of Kemp's stunning new book Much: A Maximalist's Guide to a Creative Home.

"Much came about first during one of our long lockdowns when we were all stuck at home and I started writing out a guide to creating and designing your own home. It's grown from there," she tells 9honey Living.

"I really wanted to create an interiors book that focused on joyful living and self-expression regardless of circumstance. I hope it's a book that gives permission to others to really have fun with their style and create one-of-a-kind homes that make them happy."

Though maximalism is referenced in the book's title, Kemp isn't suggesting you go to extremes with every piece of décor, paint colour and pattern, it's about adding more of what you love to the home.

"It can be living amongst a lot of colour, or walls filled with art, or an apartment packed with plants, or it can be a home bursting with patterned cushions, rugs and fabrics, or it can be a combination of all those things," she explains.

"Similarly the level of excess varies a lot, I'm definitely not anywhere near the highest end of the spectrum of maximalism. It's a bit like Goldilocks, and finding that point that is 'just right'."

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If you've been wanting to decorate your home a particular way but feel hampered by what other people think, Kemp wants you to resist societal expectations to embrace the décor, colours and furniture that make your space feel welcoming and special to you and only you.

"I don't think we ever need to bring anyone down on their personal style – more I want to encourage people to really dig deeper into what their own style really is," she says.

"When you love the things in your home, and how you've put it together it really doesn't matter if someone else doesn't like it. It comes down to confidence and trusting your instincts when it comes to what you do and don't like.

"Ultimately those people aren't living here and we probably wouldn't want them in our lounge anyway."

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After that pep talk, it's likely you're feeling emboldened to start styling your home your way, but it's understandable if you're a little unsure where to start.

Kemp says all we need to do is just take the first step and the rest will follow.

"Building confidence in your own style doesn't happen overnight but each little step adds up. When you feel really drawn to something – for example, an artwork, a cushion, a wall colour – start saying yes and giving things a go."

So make, purchase or find that item you stashed away years ago and simply start putting it somewhere you think it might like good and if it doesn't, try it somewhere else or tweak it slightly to suit the space.

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One concept Kemp talks about in Much that makes it easier to think about expressing yourself through your home decorating and styling is having your home tell a story – your story.

So what does Kemp's colourful home in New Zealand with its thrifted finds, DIY projects and stunning sculptures tell?

"Ooh that's a good question," she says.

"I like to think my home shows my love for colour and pattern, my favourite design eras (70's, arts and crafts, contemporary), my British upbringing, my sense of humour and love of animals, art and fashion.

"Right now it reflects the stage of life my husband and I are in, and has lots of pieces from our lives together. It will keep evolving and I love that."

Much: A Maximalist's Guide to a Creative Home is available online and in stores now.

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