Portia Carroll
Portia is an interiors writer, stylist and design consultant with a degree in Interior Architecture & Design.
Drawn to the creative industry from a very early age, Portia began her education at art college, specialising in fashion & textiles, before taking a series of part-time interior design courses while working on small construction sites as a labourer, and then moving onto completing her degree.
Having always had a love of magazines and a real interest in photography, a career in interiors publishing felt like a natural fit. She went on to become Style Editor of luxury interiors magazine Essential Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Magazine (EKBB), where she was able to combine her love of curation, styling and storytelling. Working closely with some leading interior photographers, she produced regular editorial shoots, from sourcing locations and props, to styling the homes and many of them featuring on the magazine’s cover.
After taking a break to embrace motherhood, Portia now writes for Livingetc, covering interior trends and house tours, while also working alongside interior brands on creative content, styling, events and renovation projects.
She’s always been greatly fascinated by people’s homes and the stories behind them. Growing up surrounded by layered interiors where antiques featured heavily, she quickly developed an appreciation for mixing the old with the new, and the importance of using natural and tactile materials. Since creating a home of her own, these influences have only grown stronger and they continue to flourish, weaving their way into her creative working projects day-to-day.
Latest articles by Portia Carroll
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6 Plants That Professional Stagers Say Will Actually Help You Sell Your Homeif you're tired of waiting for someone to make you an offer on your home, injecting some leafy green plants may be the secret to finding a buyer…
By Portia Carroll Published
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6 Japanese Organizing Techniques You Need to Know About for a Less Cluttered HomeThere’s plenty to learn and take inspiration from when it comes to Japanese decluttering and organization techniques — here's a breakdown of what they are, and how to apply them to your home
By Portia Carroll Published
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5 Things People With Amazing-Smelling Closets Always do — They'll Help You Avoid Musty Clothes SmellsDelve into the secrets of how to achieve a closet that smells amazing and that makes you feel good every time you open those doors
By Portia Carroll Published
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How to Declutter Ruthlessly — Professional Organizers on the Steps to a More Minimalist 2024What is it we need to do in order to live with just the essentials in our home? A ruthless declutter may be just the thing, by clearing your home and setting it up to push forward once and for all.
By Portia Carroll Published
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'I'd Never Think to Choose That for a Kitchen!' 5 Times Designers Surprised us With Kitchen Color ChoicesForget basic white kitchens, designers are taking big swings when choosing color palettes for cabinetry and walls
By Portia Carroll Published
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5 Genius Ways to Display Christmas Ornaments - None of Which Include a TreeWe’re taking a look at alternative ways to creative a festive mood with ornaments all around the home rather than letting the Christmas tree do all the talking
By Portia Carroll Published
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'It's decorating like The Holiday' - 5 style lessons to steal from English cottages that feel cozy and quaint, yet still modernDreaming of Kate Winslet's charming English countryside cottage in the beloved rom-com? We asked the experts how to capture the essence of this look
By Portia Carroll Published
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What is the "mailbox" decluttering hack? The one-in-one-out method for keeping your home clutter-freeThis one-in-one-out method is an easy reminder to have a frequent little clear out, but is it the most effective way of keeping on top of things? We ask the professionals
By Portia Carroll Published
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Is grasscloth wallpaper outdated? 5 ways designers are using it now, and what else to tryWhile this wallcovering tends to divide interior designers, does it have a place in a contemporary home? Here's what the experts say
By Portia Carroll Published
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10 things professional organizers do daily to make sure their homes are always clutter-freeThese 10 habit changes that professional declutterers swear by will help your curb your home's clutter problem for good
By Portia Carroll Published
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The "5 second rule" is the decluttering technique that will finally help you overcome your decision paralysisIs five seconds really all we need to make a decision on what stays and what goes? We hear from the experts how to streamline and declutter your home using this quickfire rule
By Portia Carroll Published
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How do I identify a paint color's undertone? The trick that helps you pick the right wall color every timeUndertones play a significant role in how a color will appear in its setting. Find out how to pick the perfect one that works best with your overall scheme
By Portia Carroll Published
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4 ways interior designers match paint colors to prints – for more cohesive schemes using wallpapers or fabricsIf you've got a statement pattern you want to include in your decorating scheme, you’ll need to find out how is best to pair colors and create the perfect surrounding palette
By Portia Carroll Published
