How To Evoke Moods Through Interiors And Scent

Sophie’s signature lies in her fearless approach to colour and her masterful curation of furniture, textiles and artwork – each element carefully chosen to evoke a specific mood or narrative. Like all Jo Malone London scents, her interiors tell stories, reflecting the lives and personalities of those who inhabit them. Whether working on a city townhouse or a countryside retreat, Sophie crafts spaces that are not just beautiful, but also deeply functional and emotionally resonant.

In 2023, Sophie released her first book, Home, Art, Soul, exploring the intersection of design, personal expression and the power of art within interiors. The book delves into her creative process, offering insight into how she builds homes that feel authentic and full of soul. Beyond Studio Ashby, she also co-founded Sister, a lifestyle brand that focuses on sustainable homeware and handcrafted pieces, further cementing her influence in the world of contemporary design.

We asked Sophie to share how she would approach designing a home that speaks to the different moods that make up our home collection – fresh & energising, joyful & inviting, comforting & relaxing, sensual & warming and tranquil & unwinding – without sacrificing style or practicality:
 
‘There’s no singular formula for making a home feel fresh, joyful, comforting, warming or tranquil. Mood in a space is built through layers – scent, colour, texture, lighting and the interplay between them – but before anything else, I always start with two fundamental factors: the client and the architecture. A person’s lifestyle and needs must be the guiding force behind the design, while the architecture – the light, volume and proportions of a space – determines what will work best. From there, it’s about sculpting the interior envelope, the “hardscape” of the room, before layering in elements that enhance the mood.

A fresh, airy space, for example, often starts with a light foundation. Walls in soft, neutral tones or subtle pastels create a backdrop that reflects and amplifies natural light. A fresh & energising mood, to me, is also about a connection to nature – introducing botanical greens, crisp whites and pops of citrus tones such as lemon and verbena, emphasised by the scent of Lime Basil & Mandarin in a candle, diffuser, room spray or a balance of all three. A room filled with plants, organic materials, breezy textiles such as linen and this bright, citrus scent immediately feels alive and invigorating. Contrast is key: I’m really interested in the sort of tension, push and pull between opposites. Like matte oak panelling that has a sandblasted rawness to it next to a high-gloss lacquered piece, it creates an unexpected vibrancy. The trick is to balance texture and materiality so the space never feels flat.
 
For a room that exudes a joyful & inviting energy, colour and English Pear & Freesia are your best friends. I don’t operate in a world of neutrals alone – every mood can be amplified through colour and scent.

A bright space doesn’t have to be all white; even a predominantly neutral room can be transformed with a great piece of art, a striking yellow cushion, or a patterned rug combined with the luscious fragrance. The simple pleasure of arranging things in a way that makes you happy, that feels curated rather than chaotic, while filling the room with scent, is like creating moments of joy.
 
When designing a comforting & relaxing or sensual & warming space, I lean into rich, enveloping colours – plums, rusts, burgundy, ochre and mustard – alongside Pomegranate Noir and Myrrh & Tonka. These tones and scents instantly make a space feel relaxing and warm. Texture is also just as important: think deep-pile rugs, mohair throws and heavy drapes that add softness and comfort. Lighting, too, plays a major role in warmth. I avoid harsh overhead lighting and instead focus on layering different sources of light – low-level table lamps and candles, sconces and floor lamps with warm-toned bulbs – to bring the feeling of candlelight to more aspects of a room.

For a tranquil & unwinding feel, I turn to the principles of restraint and balance. A tranquil space is one that isn’t cluttered – where each piece has a place and a purpose. Earthy, muted tones, natural wood and soft textiles contribute to a serene atmosphere. I love using off-whites, soft greys and gentle blues, complemented by tactile fabrics such as bouclé, wool and raw silk, all pulled together by the scent of Lavender & Moonflower, softening the scene with its cocooning note of white musk.
 
Of course, rooms rarely serve a single function. A living room, for example, needs to feel bright and fresh on a summer afternoon but cosy and intimate on a winter evening. This is where adaptability comes in – swapping out wool throws for lightweight linens as the seasons change, incorporating dimmable lighting, or reconfiguring accessories to shift the mood. Art is one of the most powerful tools in dictating a room’s emotion; an abstract splash of bright colour brings energy, while a monochrome landscape soothes.

Scent, of course, is an essential layer of interior mood-setting. A home should feel cohesive, not disjointed, and scent is a powerful way to tie it all together.
 
Ultimately, a well-designed home isn’t about one dominant mood – it’s about flow. Spaces should feel connected, with common threads that create a sense of harmony. Whether it’s through colour palettes, shared materials, a curated art collection, or scent, our interiors should be able to traverse, to be different things for different members of the family at different times of day, different times of year and of course, for different moods.’