Our client … *rereads client details* … Buddy the Elf has a design dilemma and hopes the team can help.
“I live in Santa’s grotto in the north pole and … it could really do with an interior designer. The place just feels so cold (and it’s not because we don’t have heating or electricity) the colour scheme and the design is all rather grey. I’d also like to be able to fit in the room as I am slightly on the taller side. Can you help?”
Buddy, we’ve got you.
With the grotto itself located in the North Pole – which as we know, is very very cold and dark this time of year – having white wood paneling styled walls with fluorescent lighting will create a cooler feel within the house. You don’t want to feel like you’re outside but rather feel like a cosy escape from the harsh winter weather.
Colour Scheme
Image Credit: Warner Brothers Copyright: © 2003 Warner Brothers.
Warm wood tones can instantly transform a space from “ice palace” to “hot chocolate headquarters.” Switching to richer woods such as walnut, smoked oak, or varnished pine brings depth and warmth to the grotto. Wrapping the whole room in a giant cinnamon-scented hug.
Patterned accents help tie the look together. Incorporating warm plaid or Burberry-inspired textiles, through throw pillows, rugs, or upholstery will add both texture and visual warmth. These details introduce a timeless charm that enhances the overall design.
Add a bit of you
Now, this home wouldn’t be complete without a sprinkle of joyful chaos and a dash of Christmas-movie charm.
Add oversized gumdrop stools. Create a hot-chocolate station that refills a little too enthusiastically. Decorate bannisters with peppermint stripes. Include a wall dedicated entirely to your favourite phrases “I just like to smile, smiling’s my favourite” for daily inspiration.
These touches keep the grotto festive and fun without turning it into an overly sophisticated look, if that doesn’t match your personality. It’s playful, richer aesthetic that still keeps that little bit of you.
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Lighting
Without decent lighting, you’re just sitting in a chilly North Pole shed, that will look more like a movie set (funny that). So, start by strategically placing warm, glowing fairy lights around the room. The goal is to banish the harsh, cold gloom and replace it with a toasty, golden shimmer that elevates. Just don’t use this advice to, I don’t know, decorate a department store at 3 a.m…
Then, embrace lighting that adds a touch of theatrical drama because lighting doesn’t need to be boring. You can also play around with the placing of soft LEDs between wood panels and behind wall hanging to give the room a subtle but effective magical glow.
And everyone’s favourite, especially this time of year, candles. (For this client I might prefer the fake kind. This is for a North Pole grotto after all, not a fire brigade training ground). The right lighting turns plain walls into a magical backdrop and gives the whole grotto a warmer and more festive feel.
Image credit: My Bespoke Room
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Furniture
Image credit: Warner Brothers Copyright: © 2003 Warner Brothers.
“I don’t fit my desk the same way my friends can. All the furniture in the house…I don’t exactly fit… at all. Are there any recommendations on furniture for larger limbed individuals?”
Image credit: My Bespoke Room
Consider a spacious layout for your desk. Angled legged desk chairs are a perfect and stylish way to subtly add more leg room to your office space. Opting for desks which don’t have drawers underneath but to the side can also be a useful use to save space for your legs but also a way to keep the effective storage unit.
This style might be slightly more suitable for Buddy as the suggested desk chair works perfectly for taller individuals who need longer back support – you can also shop the alternatives here
As for the lounge, start with an L-shaped sofa, which is practically a gift from Santa himself for anyone who likes to stretch out dramatically (and who doesn’t?). It gives you room to extend, lounge, sprawl, and generally live your best elongated-Elf life.
Image credit: Warner Brothers Copyright: © 2003 Warner Brothers.
When choosing your L-shaped sofa, consider the size of your space: a larger model can act as a room divider in an open-plan living area, while a more compact version fits snugly in cozier apartments. Pay attention to fabric, soft velvets or durable linens can elevate both comfort and aesthetics. Add plenty of plush throw pillows and a soft blanket for ultimate cosiness. And don’t forget lighting: a nearby floor lamp can create the perfect nook for nighttime storytelling.
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Layout
Good layout is absolutely crucial when you’re designing a room for someone blessed with a few extra inches of arm and leg. The goal is to avoid creating a space where long-limbed individuals are forever folding themselves up like deckchairs. For this particular client – think generous gaps between furniture, clear sightlines, and enough wiggle room to glide about without clipping an elbow on something.
Keep big pieces to the edges of the room so the centre stays open, and arrange everything with a sort of calm, practical logic. With a thoughtful layout, the whole room feels easier to navigate, spacious, breathable, and far less “mind-your-ankles” chaotic.
Suggested furniture placement:
- Pop lighting and small tables neatly into corners so the main pathways stay blissfully clutter-free.
- Place storage units to the side, well out of leg-swing territory.
- Keep sofas and lounging pieces hugging the perimeter to maintain a roomy central area.
- Create wide, easy-flow walkways between key zones with no narrow gauntlets or awkward squeeze points.
Buddy’s design dilemma reminds us that even the most magical places need thoughtful, human-centred design. By warming up the colour palette, embracing glow-filled lighting, choosing furniture that celebrates longer limbs, and creating a layout that feels open and inviting, the grotto transforms from a chilly workshop into a space. That Buddy can truly call home. With just a few intentional updates, the North Pole becomes not only festive, but functional – proof. Proving that a good design can spread just as much joy as Christmas cheer.
