Welcome to AbFab Rooms

About Our Community

AbFab Rooms started in 2019 when a small group of interior design enthusiasts in Manchester realised they wanted more than just scrolling through pictures online. We wanted real conversations, honest feedback, and the chance to meet people who genuinely care about creating comfortable, stylish spaces without breaking the bank or following every trend blindly.

Today we have over three hundred members across England, Scotland, and Wales. Some are professional decorators, others are students renting their first flat, and many are simply homeowners who enjoy rethinking a tired living room or breathing new life into a spare bedroom. What unites us is curiosity and a willingness to share what works and what does not.

We are not about perfection or showrooms that nobody actually lives in. Our members post pictures of real homes, discuss practical challenges like damp corners and awkward layouts, and celebrate small victories like finally finding curtains that fit properly or painting a feature wall that actually improves the room instead of overwhelming it.

Monthly Meetups and Events

Every month we organise informal gatherings in different cities. Recent meetups have taken place in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Bristol, Leeds, and Cardiff. These are relaxed afternoon sessions, usually in a community hall or quiet cafe, where members bring photos of their current projects, swap fabric samples, or simply chat about colour theory over tea.

We also run quarterly workshops on specific topics. Past sessions have covered budget-friendly upcycling techniques, understanding natural light in north-facing rooms, choosing paint finishes for high-traffic areas, and working with small awkward spaces like box rooms or narrow hallways. Workshops are led by members who have genuine experience rather than polished presenters, so questions are welcome and mistakes are treated as learning opportunities.

During summer we occasionally organise group visits to reclamation yards, local pottery studios, or textile markets. These are entirely optional and self-funded, but they give members a chance to discover materials and suppliers they might not have found alone.

Member Gallery and Inspiration

Our member gallery is the heart of the community. It is a private online space where members upload before-and-after photos, work-in-progress shots, and honest commentary about what went right or wrong. Unlike social media, there is no pressure to stage the perfect photo or pretend everything went smoothly.

You will find terraced houses in Newcastle, Victorian conversions in London, new builds in Southampton, and rural cottages in the Cotswolds. The variety is refreshing because it reminds everyone that good design is not about budget or postcode but about thoughtful choices that suit the people living there.

Members often ask for feedback before committing to a decision, whether it is choosing between two sofa fabrics or deciding if a bold wallpaper is too much for a small hallway. The responses are usually helpful and realistic, balancing encouragement with practical caution.

Resources and Recommendations

We maintain a growing collection of member-contributed resources. This includes lists of recommended suppliers for items like reclaimed wood, affordable lighting, and hard-to-find paint colours. Members also share tips on dealing with common problems such as uneven floors, poorly fitted skirting boards, or radiators that dominate a wall.

Our monthly newsletter features member spotlights, seasonal colour palettes, and reminders about upcoming events. It is written by volunteers and keeps a conversational tone because nobody wants another corporate email filling their inbox.

• Supplier recommendations for reclaimed materials and budget-friendly furnishings
• Practical guides on common decorating challenges
• Monthly newsletter with member stories and seasonal ideas
• Private discussion board for questions and advice
• Seasonal colour palette suggestions from members

Who We Are

Our members range from students in their early twenties to retirees in their seventies. Some have design qualifications, but most do not. What matters is an interest in making spaces feel better to live in, whether that means rearranging furniture, choosing new cushions, or tackling a full room renovation.

We welcome anyone who respects different tastes and budgets. You will not find snobbery about expensive brands or judgement about high-street purchases. If something works for you and your home, that is what counts. The tone in our meetups and online spaces is supportive and down-to-earth, and we work to keep it that way.

Join AbFab Rooms

Membership is twenty pounds per year, which covers venue hire for meetups, website maintenance, and occasional workshop materials. If cost is a barrier, we offer a limited number of reduced-rate memberships each year because we would rather include people than turn them away for financial reasons.

To join, send us an email introducing yourself and mentioning what draws you to interior design or what project you are currently working on. We will reply within a few days with membership details and an invitation to our next meetup. There is no lengthy application process or waiting list, just a simple exchange to make sure everyone understands what kind of community this is.

Once you are a member, you will receive login details for the member gallery and discussion board, plus our monthly newsletter. You are welcome to attend as many or as few events as suits your schedule. Some members come to every meetup, others drop in twice a year, and both approaches are perfectly fine.