Interview with Schereleimpapier

Luisa, could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your work as a blogger. How did you turn your hobby into your career?

I’m from Berlin, I’m 31 and I actually studied architecture. My degree also helped guide me in the direction of blogging on interior design. I started my blog after moving into my first flat. As a student on a tight budget, I started to create my own items for the home. My best friend was already a fashion blogger and encouraged me to start my own blog. It was thanks to her that I started blogging as a hobby at the end of 2013. After my degree, I decided to do the blog full time. Initially, I worked as a draughtsperson on the side, but as the blog became more popular and the workload increased, I dropped the side job. Now, I’m mainly active on social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube. I focus on video content and work in a team with my partner Adrian.

Where do you get your ideas from?

It varies. Of course, I’m on social media a lot and see what others are doing and what DIY projects or interior design trends are hot right now. So when I see, for example, that fluting is in fashion at the moment, I try to do something with it. I also get inspiration from magazines. I might see the expensive pieces of furniture being advertised, for example, and then think about how I could make something similar yourself for a fraction of the price. Sometimes I’m just walking through a DIY or furniture store, and I see a product that gives me ideas about what I could make out of it.

Do you plan your projects carefully in advance or do you see something and then simply go for it without much planning?

A bit of both to be honest. With big projects like that with Komar, for example, I take more time with the planning, of course. But with my own projects, I often just go for it immediately. Sometimes, I have an idea, but don’t have the time to realise it there and then. In that case, I add my ideas to a list. If an idea doesn’t come to me spontaneously, I’ll check the list. But I never really run out of inspiration. Adrian has lots of ideas too, so we tend to bounce off each other to come up with something new.

Do you only pick up on trends or do you sometimes do something completely different?

Actually, I’ve always been someone who likes to do my own thing. But, at some point, I realised that it goes down better and I reach more people if I also pick up on trends. I try to maintain a balance between trends and my own touch. But I also regularly tackle projects that are close to my heart; in other words, something that might not necessarily be on trend, but that I like. Over time, you also notice what goes down well with the community and what they like, and that’s what I orientate myself by.

Do you have a favourite DIY project of which you are particularly proud?

In December, I made a mini plant stand completely by hand. I really enjoyed that project and remember it fondly.

Do you also get feedback from the community?

It depends on the project. Not so much with the more complicated projects, but I certainly receive feedback on the simpler DIY hacks; especially Ikea-related ones. I find Christmas to be a popular time for handicrafts for many people, even those who wouldn’t normally craft. So at this time of year, I try to show simpler ideas. And that’s when I tend to get a lot of feedback.

Have you also done any disaster projects didn’t quite work out as you imagined? And would you also share this type of thing with the community?

Yes, I’ve had my fair share of those too. And I’ve recently started sharing these. In the past, I avoided it as I felt that everything had to be perfect. Now, however, I’ve started sharing the disasters too as I think it helps take the pressure off people when they can see that things don’t always have to work right away. One of our latest projects didn’t work out so great in fact, and I shared it on YouTube.

Which materials do you prefer to work with?

I love working with wood. In general, I like to work with natural materials. I also like to integrate plants into my projects. It’s probably because I like the colour green

Did you find it difficult to create your own mural? Did you already have something in mind?

I did have an idea in mind and, since you have such a great design team, I didn’t have to draw anything myself. Since I knew that the mural was destined for my mother’s bedroom, it made it easier for me to design. It was important to me that the mural coordinate with the location and surroundings, so I chose the colours and design accordingly.

How much of the furniture in your home did you create yourself?

It’s a mix, I would say. I haven’t built any of the larger furniture so far. Our dining table and sofa are bought, for example. When I make furniture myself, it’s really only the smaller items. But you can find my DIY projects in every room of our home. I also gift a lot. At Christmas, for example, all the presents were homemade.

Which projects would you recommend for beginners?

You probably shouldn’t start with anything too big, such as entire pieces of furniture. It would be better start with painting or varnishing. Repainting an old chair or table, for example, often makes a big difference visually and there’s little you can do wrong. Something that is also a major trend at the moment is gluing together basic items like glass bowls or glass vases and decorating them beautifully. It’s pretty quick and easy.

What projects do you have planned for 2023?

We have a really big project planned this year. Adrian and I are moving abroad, so will be looking for a new flat or a cottage to refurbish. I already have some ideas about how it should look. But it will also be influenced by the local area.

What is the best thing about your job?

Being creative and being able to design and implement the projects myself. Right now, I’m also working on something for a client, and I really enjoy the fact that I can sit down, design something and then implement it directly. That’s the best thing for me; that I am able to create and realise my own designs.