Finding the joy in colour with Jack D. March

Yorkshire local and self-confessed tea addict (he's in the right place, then), @jackdmarch has made a name for himself in the world of interiors. From flower arranging hacks to local guides of his hometown York, Jack D. March is forever reimagining his home and sharing useful tips and tricks along the way. A dab hand with a paintbrush, we caught up with Jack in his recently renovated York townhouse to find out more about the man behind the makeovers, the route to discovering his personal style, and how he uses colour to express himself.

What does self-expression mean to you?

To me, self-expression is all about being able to show your true and genuine self. It’s being comfortable in your own skin and feeling confident and safe to express yourself in your surroundings. There are so many avenues of self-expression - whether that be through what you wear or how you style your home.

How has your relationship with the way you express yourself changed over the years?

I think we all go through phases and different styles. Due to a rough time at school for years, I would check myself. I would watch how I dressed or how I worded things. How I expressed myself back then is very different to how I express myself now - I was retrained. As I’ve gotten older, however, I’ve developed the confidence to be bold and unapologetic in how I choose to express myself. Confidence is a superpower!

What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to express themselves in a way that feels authentic to their sense of self?

I would say, do you! Trends come and go, and fashions become fads. If you love it, do it. If you love it, buy it. Life is too short. Surround your home with things that bring you happiness. It’s your space, your sanctuary - treat it as a canvas on which to express yourself creatively. Once you’ve put all the elements of things you like together, it will work because it will represent you and your personality. The best way to be authentically yourself is to be it unapologetically.

How do you use colour to express yourself?

It’s no secret I love colour. Even if it’s just a slice or pop of a vibrant tone. Colour makes me happy and that’s why I enjoy injecting it into my home and the clothes I wear. I always say a home should represent you! Don’t decorate for the trends, decorate to bring yourself joy.

Which colours do you gravitate towards when you need to shake up your mood?

I go through phases, but at the moment, for me, it’s all about green! I just love a vibrant punchy green. It instantly lifts my mood. I’ve recently decorated my hallway in green. It’s the first thing I see when I walk through the door and it greets me with so much energy!

Which colour do you feel best represents your personality? And why?

Oh, this is hard, but I think I would go for blue. It is a colour that can be used in many different ways to represent different moods: a sunny light blue or a moody petrol blue. It’s versatile, bold, and loud. Ring any bells?!

If you could describe your personal decor style in one word or phrase what would it be?

I would say I am a maximalist! I love the bold, more-is-more aesthetic, and the layering of old and new. I do this to create a juxtaposition between the styles from history I love, with a modern edge to make it fresh and current for today.

You move into a new home completely unfurnished, which three items do you buy first?

I would get the three hardest items out of the way. The ones that are my biggest wormhole when searching. The sofa, the bed, and the lighting.

Tell us a story behind a piece of furniture in your house that you adore?

I was 24 when I bought my first home. I bought it alone, unlike most of my friends, so the money was tight. I remember saving and saving to buy a sofa. I didn’t want any more direct debits, so I always saved to buy something. It took me a year, and I sacrificed a holiday with friends, but I got my cream linen Laura Ashley sofa. I still have it now, and it feels like brand new (because nobody is allowed near it).

What is one thing you’d love to raise awareness of?

That's a hard one. As a family, we support lots of different cancer charities. My grandma (92 this month) has been a Marie Curie volunteer for 30 years. In my opinion, any cause that helps to give people a chance in life or a sense of dignity at the end of life is worth supporting.

And finally, if you could only decorate with or wear one colour for the rest of your life, which would it be?

This is like Sophie’s choice! I think it would be white or blue. White is a great base or background on which to make colourful items pop. And I would have to say blue because I am obsessed with it and I wear a lot of navy.

Follow Jack’s journey on his blog or discover more gorgeous York interiors at the art-filled No.1 GuestHouse hotel.