Designer Selena Lewis: 5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy

Color, color, color! Don’t be scared to add it in your home. If you love red, then put it in your home. If you love green, then I am finding a way to add pops of green here and there. There are so many ways to incorporate color in your home and it’s easy to do. Pillows, curtains, wallpaper, rugs, to name a few. Just trust me on this one.

As part of our series on the “5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy”, we had the pleasure of interviewing Selena Lewis.

As a professional interior designer based in Atlanta, GA, Selena Lewis prides herself on her thriving business that is built on client testimonials. Her outstanding work has recently been recognized in Atlanta’s My Home Improvement Magazine as a Top 10 Rising Star in the home improvement industry. Selena’s design style is best described as eclectic, with a penchant for incorporating playful wallpapers, rich textures, and bold patterns to elevate spaces. She is skilled in blending different styles to create unique and personalized interiors for her clients.

Outside of her profession, Selena enjoys discovering new restaurants, listening to music, and spending quality time with her family. She currently resides in Cumming, GA with her husband, two children, and two dogs.

Thank you so much for joining us in this series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

Design is my true calling, and I have dedicated my life to perfecting every aspect of it. From grand renovations to subtle adjustments, I find joy in the power of design to create remarkable changes within a room. With a keen eye for detail, I take pleasure in incorporating little touches like captivating wallpapers, stunning artwork and exquisite pillows, resulting in rooms that evoke a genuine “wow factor.”

Design has become such an integral part of my life that I can’t help but constantly envision ways to elevate any space I encounter. Whether it’s a single room or an entire home, my mind brims with ideas on how to take it to the next level.

With the unwavering support and encouragement of my loved ones, I took the leap to establish my own design business in 2020, giving birth to Selena Lewis Designs. Since then, my passion has only intensified, propelling me forward on an incredible journey of creativity and transformation.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started this career?

I can’t pinpoint a specific moment that I found interesting, but that is probably because I think the job “designer” in itself is very interesting. I have learned a lot along the way, I’ve worked with many clients with different tastes from my own, and my personal style has evolved over time. Everyday is interesting when you are working with people, learning their stories and styles. Some may even say it’s fascinating!

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I make mistakes every day. I can’t really say any of them have been funny or crazy, but everyday I learn and strive to push myself to do it better the next time. The next time isn’t always perfect either, but I can always say that it was better than the time before. To the young designers out there…give yourself grace, always strive to do better and soon you will start to see that you are perfecting your craft everyday, meeting your goals, and evolving into the designer you want to be.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?

All aspects of interior design gives me a thrill, if I’m being honest! But it’s extra special when I can volunteer my time and make a space more beautiful and enjoyable for others. I was able to do this with my kids’ school. What started as a few pillows here and a little rug there to refresh a space, became an entire design project. I’ve gotten to put my personal touch in the office, library, and hallways of my kids’ school. Knowing that all the kids get to feel good in their learning environment brings me a lot of joy.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

Never say never.

I think we all say at one point in our lives that we would never do something. It’s easy to do, especially when it’s your self doubt talking. I always find that even in thoughts where I believe that I’ll never do it, or I can’t do it, it always comes back to me later. Timing is everything. I said that I wouldn’t do a lot of things because I never imagined that my design business would grow to where it is today. But now that I’m here, I see the power in saying “yes.” I wish I would have listened to me sooner.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

For years I have had friends and family tell me that I need to start my own design business, but I always let life get in the way. When I would think about taking the plunge, all I could see was the never ending list that comes with having a family and I would quickly talk myself out of it. My friends and family continued to encourage me. I was flattered, but I just did not see how I could make it happen. One day, I got a call from a friend saying that she got me my first design client. Mostly not wanting to disappoint my good friend, I found the time and went through with the consultation. I’ve always loved designing my own home, but designing someone else’s home, making them love the space, making them feel even more proud of their home was unmatched. I have learned that when you love something, you make the time for it. Some days are hard, but we get it done! I will always be grateful for my friend that gave me the final push that I needed.

Thank you for that. Here is the main question of our discussion. What are your “5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy” and why. Please share a story or example for each.

1 . Put your own sparkle and character into your home. If you want cheetah print throw pillows, peacock wallpaper, or a wine fridge in your bedroom, you should. These are the things that stand out in your home, make guests ooo and ahh, and make you really enjoy spending time in that space.

2 . Create an inviting space for friends and guests. When others walk into your home and feel comfortable and happy, you will feel so much joy! There is nothing better than getting to share a space that you already love and have friends and family love it too. It feels good to be proud and to share the joy your home brings to you.

3 . Color, color, color! Don’t be scared to add it in your home. If you love red, then put it in your home. If you love green, then I am finding a way to add pops of green here and there. There are so many ways to incorporate color in your home and it’s easy to do. Pillows, curtains, wallpaper, rugs, to name a few. Just trust me on this one.

4 . Design your home the way you want to design your home. I get asked all the time how I have white walls and white furniture with kids. I just do because that is what I like. We make it work. Your home will bring you a lot of joy when you don’t worry about colors or what others will think about the color and just go with what you have always dreamed of for that space.

5 . Put something fun on your walls. I am not just talking about art, although I do love a fun piece of art! Wallpaper your walls. There are so many fun patterns and textures that can really take a space to the next level. You’ll feel joy whenever you walk by. Your friends will love it too!

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

I think to make the biggest impact, we need to start with our youngest generation. It’s true, children are the future! So, we should put as much energy as possible into making their lives better and more meaningful. I often think about my love for design and how it is not only a job for me, but also a creative outlet. Even before designing was my job, I still had this creativity in me and designing just for fun brought me a lot of happiness. I was always a creative soul, but I was given countless opportunities to tap into my creativity throughout my education. I’m grateful for those opportunities because I believe they are part of the reason that I am able to call myself a “Designer”. Many school districts across the country have had to cut or lessen their art programs leaving children with fewer opportunities to tap into their creativity and use their imaginative minds. I encourage every artist to give their time to a local school or community. Whether your craft is design, music, painting, photography…share it! You never know who is watching you, soaking up every word like a sponge, feeling the same sense of joy that you feel.

We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this, especially if we tag them :-)

I would feel lucky to spend time with any strong woman figure, but Oprah has to be at the top of my list. She has always been very inspiring to me. If you think about it, she was the first influencer out there. There is so much to learn from Oprah. And of course it would be cool to spend time with some of the amazing designers out there such as Kelly Wearstler.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

I would love for you to follow along with me on instagram @selenalewisdesigns. You can also visit my website www.selenalewisdesigns.com.

Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational!