Ask a Designer: Jenna Morrow’s Expert Tips on Styling and Design Trends
Interior design is all about creating spaces that are both beautiful and functional. In our Ask a Designer series, we connect with experts to bring you professional insights on creating a home that truly reflects your personal style.
This month, we spoke with Jenna Morrow, Founder and Principal Designer of Morrow Design Studios, a DC-based interior design firm. She’s known for her ability to blend design expertise with storytelling to create distinctive spaces for clients nationwide.
In this edition of Ask a Designer, Morrow shares her perspective on some of today’s biggest design trends, plus practical design tips that you can try today.
What are some current trends you’re loving in interior design?
Two standout trends making a splash in interior design right now, says Morrow, are color drenching and wellness spaces.
Color Drenching
This bold design choice involves committing to a single color throughout an entire room—walls, ceiling, and trim. As Morrow puts it, the technique adds character and makes a space feel bigger by eliminating visual breaks between the walls and ceiling. “’If it’s something you are open to trying’, I always tell my clients, ‘start with something that’s safe, like a navy blue’. It never goes out of style. It’s going to be very bold, but also very sophisticated, so you won’t get overwhelmed and it won’t get dated very quickly.”
Wellness Spaces
More people are tailoring their interiors to support wellbeing. “Maybe you’re someone who loves a quiet moment to read a book so you would love a reading nook in your home, or you’re someone who needs to run a mile every day on the treadmill, and so maybe you have a home gym. Regardless of what it is, I love that this gives us an opportunity to cater to our own wellbeing, whether it be mental, physical or emotional, and really be expressive about what that looks like and means to us,” says Morrow. This trend gives individuals a chance to define what wellness means to them and design their homes accordingly.
How do you incorporate texture and color into a space for depth and dimension?
Accents are the way to go – curtains, rugs, pillows, and even art. Morrow recommends the following:
Curtains. Choose fabrics like linen or woven velvet for an elevated look. This has the added benefit of adding a burst of texture around windows.
Throw Pillows. It’s easy to add even more texture with throw pillows thanks to the materials available these days. You can opt for a richer texture like boucle or take the smooth route with a velvet pillow.
Area Rugs. Like pillows, rugs are another easy way incorporate a variety of textures throughout your home. As Morrow states, “They’re [also] a really great way to introduce another color into a space. Maybe you have a room that is predominantly blue and beige, you can use that area rug to incorporate a third color, like green.” You can even use them to enhance a room with different shapes and patterns outside of what’s already in the area.
What are your best tips for selecting and styling a rug in different rooms?
Choosing the right rug is about more than just aesthetics—it plays a crucial role in tying a room together. Morrow’s key tips for rug styling include:
Size Matters: A rug that’s too small can make a room feel disjointed, while one that’s too large can overwhelm the space. A good rule of thumb is to ensure at least the front legs of all seating rest on the rug, or ideally, all four legs.
Learn more about choosing the right rug size
Consider Shapes: Match the rug’s shape to your furniture. A round dining table pairs best with a round rug, while a rectangular table benefits from a rectangular rug.
Pattern Matters, Too: Rugs aren’t just for softness—they can introduce new colors, patterns, and textures. Try geometric or Persian-style rugs for added dimension.
How do you balance aesthetics with functionality in a space?
Morrow always prioritizes function first: “What does the room need to allow its occupants to function at their best?”
For example, in a family room, functionality might include:
- A comfortable sectional or sofa for relaxation
- Storage solutions for toys, books, or blankets to reduce clutter
- Thoughtfully chosen accents based on the intended use of the space
Once functionality is addressed, she then layers in aesthetics to ensure the space aligns with the desired design style—whether that’s mid-century modern, transitional, or another look.
What is one design rule you swear by that everyone should know?
As Morrow puts it, “every room has to have a lighting plan.”
For a room to function at its best, you need to think beyond the basic lights in your home and what’s filtering in through the windows. “I’m not only talking about the color temperatures of your light bulbs, but I’m also talking about the different layers of lighting,” she continues.
“You can have recessed lighting in a room but you also have to have accent lighting. The reason these layers are so important is because the layers play with the functionality of the space, [as well as] the lighting that’s just outside of our windows. Maybe recessed lighting is what you turn on in the morning or early afternoon when you’re moving throughout the space and then in the evening when it’s time to settle down for the night, you turn to your accent lighting. These layers are important, but so is making sure you have the right style of light fixture. And this is where hiring a design professional comes in! A room’s lighting is important, it should never be overlooked.”
Design tips in action: Jenna’s mood board
Morrow has also created a mood board that helps illustrate her design tips, featuring the Ivory checkered rug from our Serenity Home collection.
Jenna’s approach to design is both practical and inspiring, proving that thoughtful details make a big difference. Whether you’re experimenting with color drenching, layering textures, or refining your lighting plan, these expert insights can help you transform your space with confidence.
For more interior design expertise from Jenna Morrow, follow Morrow Design Studios and stay tuned for the next edition of Ask a Designer!
