March 22, 2025

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen Criticizes Stacey Solomon’s Home Décor

by
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen denounced Stacey Solomon’s home arrangement by asserting her decoration lacked genuine design elements. His main problem centered on the one-color aesthetic of her £1 million Pickle Cottage. During her BBC show Sort Your Life Out he expressed his opinions as the task involved nothing more than underwear folding but did not qualify as genuine interior design. The critical review sparked widespread discussion about how much minimalism and maximalism should be used in home decoration.

Who is Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen?

The groundbreaking interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen first came to everyone’s attention in the late nineties with the BBC’s ‘Changing Rooms’ where his flamboyant style and cheeky little design choices grabbed the viewers. Often, his design philosophy is described as “full-fat decorating,” which means he’s an opulent, rich and vibrant color, and not a minimalist kind of man. Whilst Llewelyn-Bowen has done work on television, Llewelyn-Bowen has also written books on interior design and worked on a number of product lines including wallpapers and home furnishings.

From ‘X Factor’ Contestant to Beloved TV Personality and Home Décor Enthusiast

Holmes rose to fame after being a finalist on The X Factor in 2009 and then I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2010. By making her a beloved TV personality, especially as a panellist on Loose Women, she became recognizable on the small screen. She started home décor travels, the tip of which she spread on her social media. She then hosted BBC’s Sort Your Life Out to help families declutter their homes with her passion. Coming with a slew of upcoming shows that focus on DIY and entrepreneurial ventures, she is still continuing her influence.

What Exactly Did Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen Say About Stacey’s ‘Pickle Cottage’ Décor?

​Interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is known to criticize Stacey Solomon’s interior design choices – he has openly criticized her £1 million Pickle Cottage, stating that it is just full of grey on grey, which he called ‘incredibly cold and an extremely cold space.’

He also stated that Sort Your Life Out, her BBC show, that which he asserted ‘folds people’s underpants’ is just ‘folding people’s underpants,’ just ‘folding people’s underpants.’ Such trends, Llewelyn-Bowen warned, may be making grey ‘the new beige’, and Solomon’s approach entices at exactly doing the opposite — making grey the most popular — and eventually most boring — of trends. How about he drag Stacey Solomon away from folding knickers and paint everything grey, he offered to show her ‘real interiors” by transforming her home.

Stacey Solomon
Image Credit: closeronline

Laurence’s Aversion to Stacey’s Monochromatic Color Scheme

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen does not like grey and thinks it’s overused for home décor as it makes spaces look dull and inanimate. According to him, grey goes well with bold colors like red or green in order to add some personality. But he singled out the trend for all grey interiors, criticising cold and uninspired. So rather, he encourages the use of color and creativity in the home. His thoughts are warm, inviting, and individualistic.

Laurence’s Take on Stacey’s ‘Sort Your Life Out’ Show

​Stacey Solomon’s BBC program Sort Your Life Out has been openly panned by panelist Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen as nothing more than ‘folding people’s underpants’ instead of interior design. He said such decluttering focused shows offered zero depth and creativity, compared to the real thing. Llewelyn-Bowen even suggested turning Solomon’s own home into the kind of ‘real interiors’ he feels ‘real’ interiors should be based on, trying to persuade her out of minimalist ways and toward a brighter approach to interior design.

A Closer Look at the Décor Choices in Her £1 Million ‘Pickle Cottage’

​Stacey Solomon’s Pickle Cottage has been caught in the crosshairs from the designers’ judge’s mouth, as Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has critiqued the interior design choices of Stacey Solomon, in particular, her excessive use of grey tones in the £1 million cottage. He feels that dependence on grey produces a cold and lifeless atmosphere, with nothing spicy and personal about it. Llewelyn-Bowen also asks Solomon to shed this only in monochrome palette and make use of stronger, more colorful hues to communicate with each individual and to make the space feel more welcoming.

How Fans and Followers Responded to Laurence’s Bold Critique of Stacey’s Home

​Stacey Solomon’s accent home décor has come under fire from Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, who takes aim at her extensive use of grey tones, causing different people to respond on social media. But some users concur with his assessment that too much of this trend gets the customer into grey, cold and uninspired interiors. But then again, lots of fans are making an excuse for Stacey, praising her approachable image and cozy ambiance.

Is the Monochromatic Trend a Passing Fad or a Timeless Choice?

​The grey-on-grey interior design trend gained popularity for its sleek and modern aesthetic, offering a neutral backdrop that complements various styles. However, over-reliance on grey can lead to spaces feeling cold and uninviting. Experts advise that using too much of the same grey shade across paint, furniture, and accessories can result in a bland and unexciting space that lacks depth and contrast. To counteract this, it’s recommended to incorporate warmer tones, varied textures, and complementary accent colors to create a more balanced and inviting environment.

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen’s critique of Stacey Solomon’s home décor choices has ignited a broader conversation about individuality in interior design. This discourse highlights the balance between minimalist trends and personal expression, encouraging homeowners to reflect on how their spaces represent their unique identities.