The power of an image

A picture paints a thousand words, so the saying goes, and while it’s a cliché that has been used many times, we wholeheartedly agree.

From the ancient beauty of cave paintings to the current community of snapchat, humans have been using images to communicate with one another since time began.

Images can be so powerful because the brain absorbs and processes visual information faster than any other. And while we are passionate about the importance of all the senses, there is no denying the way a beautiful piece of art or photography can move you.

Van Gogh is currently touring the UK and this immersive exhibition demonstrates the enduring popularity of old art. The same can be said for famous photography such as the VE Day kiss, or the workers having lunch on top of a skyscraper. These images have been seen by millions of eyes and evoke new feelings in the viewer each time.

Sometimes it can just take one picture to spark an idea. Decorating is a hugely personal thing and yet it’s fine to be influenced by others. That’s why social and traditional media are so fantastic: they open up other worlds, they let us draw back the curtains and peek into other people’s lives, and homes, to get ideas.

Here at Zhoosh, we love looking at inspirational images. These can be of skies, fields, walls, trees, animals - anything. They all impact on our tastes. Trends do return in various guises, but new colour palettes can also emerge; different textures mixed and unique patterns designed.

As our designer Jo says: “Images play a huge part in the interior design process, from taking shots of the empty space, to sharing existing ideas, to putting together an illustration then bringing it to life. It’s a wonderful process.”

Did you know, people remember 10 percent of what they hear, 20 percent of what they read and 80 percent of what they see? So when you decide to change a room, or an area within your home, look at lots of images. Browse the wonderful home magazines, peruse Pinterest’s fantastic curations, and explore Instagram’s influencer content. Make notes of what you like – cut, clip, sketch.

Create your own moodboard – digitally or in real life – and take your time to look at the light in your room, the way the shadows fall and how your furniture will fit. By collecting as many images as possible, you will soon start to create your own.

Enjoy!!