Designer Spotlight

Designer Spotlight: Lauren Liess

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Lauren Liess is an interior designer and author who is known for her use of natural textures, materials, and colors, and who let’s the architecture of a home shine. Where others let the décor do the talking, she let’s the beautiful, natural elements have their ever lasting peaceful moment. I am thrilled that I got the chance to pick her beautiful brain in this Designer Spotlight Q&A.



There are many who try, but few are as successful as Lauren is in styling a space or vignette so well and understanding that you don’t have to have a lot there to make an impact. I love her work. You can see her portfolio here and check out her book, Habitat: The Field Guide to Decorating, here. Season 2 of her show “Best House on the Block” with her husband David premieres on the DIY Network Thursday, Nov. 8, and on HGTV in the new year.

Lauren and David Liess / Photo courtesy of LaurenLiess.com

Q. When did you realize you wanted to be an interior designer and how did you get started in the business?

A. It was after I’d graduated from college and moved into my first apartment and began decorating it. I realized I loved doing that more than my actual job, so I enrolled in a distance-learning design program and eventually opened up my own firm.

Q. You have a way with natural materials and neutral colors. How did you develop your aesthetic? How early in your career did you develop your aesthetic?

A. I’ve always had a thing for nature and, to me, there’s nothing more beautiful than what’s outside. I’d say I spent that first year of decorating in my first apartment trying out just about every style under the sun. I cannot tell you what an awful mash-up I made of that place! But it helped me get to know myself design-wise and, as I began questioning myself about what I truly loved as opposed to what I was interested in, I began to hone in on my style. It took a couple of years and I’m still working on it!

Bohemian Loft Project / Photo Courtesy of LaurenLiess.com

Q. What are elements that you find you are consistently drawn to in interior design?

A. I LOVE natural materials and objects, items and materials with interesting textures, sculptural elements, warm woods, and collected pieces that tell a story or have history. I like for a home to feel like it has soul, so I think it’s really important that only meaningful and interesting things are brought in.

Smokey Mountain Project / Photo Courtesy of LaurenLiess.com

Q. How did you cross paths with HGTV? What has surprised you about this entire process?

A. A casting director from our production company reached out to us about the possibility of doing a design TV show. We had a fun Skype call with her, and then we got started with filming a sizzle reel that the network saw, then a pilot episode and then a full season. The entire process has been a whirlwind!! I think I was most surprised about how much I would enjoy the whole thing. When we first were contacted about it, we had no idea what to expect, but as my husband and I got to start spending days together filming, we realized how much we loved it and how fun it was to get to be together so much for work.

Q. What can viewers expect from the next season?

A. Eight houses (one home per episode) all with their own unique styles and clients. I had a lot of fun getting to know the clients and their styles and so they all look and feel very different.

Lake Gaston Project / Photo Courtesy of LaurenLiess.com

Q. You style everything so beautifully. What are your top styling tips?

A. Thank you!!
  • Start with objects that you love.  (I’m not a fan of books you’ll never read that just look pretty or mass-made knick-knacks.) Take time to collect things that speak to you.
  • Go with objects that really fill up the space and, often, larger is better so a surface doesn’t feel small and cluttered.
  • Mix textures and materials for interest.
  • Add a bit of live greenery. I love love love fresh greens and often pull weeds from my yard in to get a little jolt of it in a composition.
  • Layer things so that they feel artful and sculptural, varying heights and shapes in a composition. Let different interesting silhouettes play against one another.
Styling perfection / Photo courtesy of LaurenLiess.com

Q. Is there any one or two things that you see people consistently do with their spaces that, if you had a magic wand, you would fix immediately?

A. Rugs that are too small!

Q. Who or what inspires you?

A. My grandmother. She’s incredibly creative and busy and is so strong. She loved to paint, set beautiful tables, and is so good at displaying art and objects. She never let me say the words “I’m bored” when I was a kid and this has always been in the back of my mind. I refuse to be bored because of her.

Q. Anything else you want to share about your work?

A. I’m working on a new book to come out Fall 2019 that is all about how to achieve a “down-to-earth” vibe at home.



Thanks to Lauren Liess for spending time with The 256 Project and for providing these great styling tips! To see more of her work and get to know her more, check out her site here and follow her on Instagram here.

To read more about what inspires interior designers and stylists, and see their tips, check out other interviews in the Designer Spotlight series here, including fellow HGTV star Leanne Ford.

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