Overcoming Creative Blocks as an Interior Designer

Have you ever stared at a blank page on your computer or in your sketchbook and felt overwhelmed by panic, emptiness, or apathy? Creative blocks can crush your confidence, making you question your skills, the quality of your ideas, and even your sense of worthiness in the industry. Whether it’s a comforting thought or not, creative blocks are common for interior designers, but many have developed ways to dig themselves out.

This week, we spoke to three industry leaders, Rose Murray, Founder of These White Walls, Claire German, CEO of Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, and Piyush Suri, founder of Handmade in Britain and co-founder of Design Mumbai, to hear about their unique approaches to navigating these moments and recouping their creativity.

Rose Murray

Rose Murray challenges the notion of creative blocks altogether. “You are never blocked creatively; you are simply not allowing yourself to tap into the full potential of your imagination,” she says. To her, what feels like a block is actually an opportunity to redefine your creative approach, employing curiosity rather than frustration that you don’t seem to be generating your own ideas. “Curiosity opens the mind to creativity, so hone in on that as a first step,” she says.

To get back into your creative swing, Rose recommends getting away from your studio. “Change up your environment,” she says. “Take yourself out for a walk to contemplate the problem, and if possible, get yourself into nature, which always proves inspiring.”

When stepping out isn’t feasible, she suggests altering the energy in your current space. “Clear your desk, light a candle, or spray some scent, open the window, and put on some music, particularly a track you really resonate with right now. If you shake up the energy in your space, it helps to shift the feeling of being stuck to something more inquisitive.”

Rose also emphasizes the importance of disconnecting from digital distractions. “Close the laptop, put your phone on airplane mode, and grab a pen and paper,” she says. “Engaging in tactile activities like sketching or mapping ideas on post-its helps stimulate visual thinking.”

Claire German

Claire German, the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour’s CEO, engages with lots of interior designers on a daily basis. She understands the struggles of generating consistently compelling, creative work, and can see a clear connection between creative output and our overreliance on smart phones. “We’re all guilty of being glued to our devices, but carving out time away from desks is crucial,” she says. Claire advocates for cultural immersion instead, such as visiting libraries, theatres, and exhibitions as powerful sources of inspiration. “Such outings are never wasted as they often spark new ideas,” she says.

“Visiting showrooms and seeing new collections in person is also integral when it comes to overcoming a creative block,” Claire says. “You can pull things together and have a play with colours, textures, and patterns in a way we just can’t fully replicate over a screen.” With London Design Week on the horizon (10th-14th March 2025), there is no better time to start planning an enriching trip to the showroom at the Design Centre.

Piyush Suri

Piyush Suri sees creative blocks as a natural part of the design process. As a designer himself, as well as in his position as a founder of various design events, the key to overcoming periods of creative drought lies in travel and cultural immersion. “Travelling and exploring different cultures can rejuvenate the creative spirit,” he says, in a nod towards the second edition of Design Mumbai, the second edition of which will take place on 26th-29th November this year. Attending design events helps interior designers and architects stay connected to the broader creative community. “It’s about continuously learning and exploring new perspectives,” he says.

Overcoming Creative Blocks as an Interior Designer

Rose Murray

Claire German

Piyush Suri

Anya Cooklin-Lofting

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