Inspiration / How To / ABC's of Design with Amanda Jane Jones

ABC's of Design with Amanda Jane Jones

By Elizabeth Yunmi Published On April 28, 2026

Sunlit upstairs landing with black metal stair railing, a wooden children’s table and chairs on a small rug beside sliding glass doors to a balcony

One of the most rewarding parts of moving into a home is making the space your own. Whether you rent or you own, there’s something innately comforting about exercising your creative muscles through arranging a space with intention.

Lately, we’ve found that pausing to practice something tactile brings positivity and some much-needed joy and lightness. As a celebration of creative expression, we asked illustrator, interior expert (and the designer behind our charming Alphabet Print, opens in a new tab), Amanda Jane Jones, opens in a new tab, to share some styling tips. Below, she outlines out a few ABC's for creating a thoughtful and well-balanced home.

Built-in white shelves styled with cookbooks, a wooden bowl, ceramic dishes and a small clock in a bright modern kitchen

Bright modern kitchen with island and faucet, black pendant light, white shelves, and framed poster reading ‘CLASSIC BOOKS AND MODERN ART’

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A

Add personal touches. Our home is minimal in style, but it's full to the brim of tactile memories. We used to travel quite a bit pre-covid, and for our souvenir, we always looked in the local toy or antique store—the goal was to find something made locally that we'd actually use. Our bookshelves are full of little games, books, toys, & wooden tchotchkes from our travels that are beautiful to look at, but also serve a purpose and remind us of a specific time and place.

Armchair with orange pillow beside a mid-century wooden sideboard displaying a framed photo collage and white lamp, sunlit balcony window

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B

Be you — it's your home. So, design it for you. Pick what you like—not what others say you should pick. Your home is where you will spend most of your time, so make it a place you want to be.

"As a general rule of thumb, I like to sway timeless over trendy."

Shelf with wooden stacking toy, paper-mâché fox head, wooden block castle, and two framed children’s drawings on a pale wall

Bed with blue-and-white stripes, red throw pillow and stuffed toys in a bright white bedroom with wooden headboard and pendant light

Mid-century wood dresser topped with toys and a framed lowercase alphabet poster, green jacket and tote hanging on the wall in a bright kids’ room

C

Color pops are key. I like to keep my basics—walls, beds, couches, floors—neutral, then as my style and preferences change, I can add or subtract pops of color as desired. To me, this is so much easier and financially attainable to do in the form of a throw pillow or a new piece of art, than it is to repaint a whole wall or reupholster a couch. The colors, I like to decorate with today are certainly not the colors I would have chosen three years ago, so I like to keep that in mind when designing my spaces.

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D

Don't Buy It If You Don't Love It. After 12 years of marriage, my husband and I have learned that if we don't' LOVE it, we shouldn't buy it. We always regret those "tide me over" purchases.

"Our home has slowly filled up with pieces we've been patiently looking for."

We are pretty picky, so this helps immensely with budget, but it also means our home has slowly filled up with pieces we've been patiently looking for. We keep a wish list on our phones, so every time we go thrifting, we know exactly what we're looking for. I find that I'd rather save my pennies and own less, if that means the pieces we purchase will be made well enough to last a lifetime.

Bench topped with a red-striped pillow and yellow throw in a sunlit room by a large window overlooking distant hills

Framed poster reading WORK HARD and BE NICE TO PEOPLE on a white stair landing with black metal railing and a hanging white pendant light

Neutral sofa with blue and mustard pillows in a bright minimalist living room with wooden coffee table, floor lamp, and yellow chair

E

Even Is Boring. In my opinion anyway! I like things off center and always prefer an odd number grouping over even. You can create interesting design without sticking to symmetry. In a space, this can look like: using three pillows instead of two or four, positioning a lamp slightly off center, or experimenting with asymmetrical art.

Desk with an orange task lamp, pencil cup, and decorative objects beneath a large black-and-white calendar poster with bold numbers

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F

Final thoughts. When all is said and done, just remember, there isn't a one-size-fits-all template because the decor of the room, how the space is used, and personal preference play a major role in how a room should be styled. At the end of the day your space is your own to play and making a house a home is a process, so take your time, and (at the risk of sounding cliché) have fun.