Truth is, we’re all a little weird in the bedroom (no, not like that…). We’re talking about the good stuff, the real, unfiltered, between-the-sheets quirks that make us who we are. The doona hogging, midnight snacking, late-night Googling, and questionable PJ choices we’d probably never admit out loud.
Because if we’re honest, the bedroom is where the magic and the mischief really happen. It’s the place for whispered confessions, outrageous dreams, and those little rituals that never make it to the outside world.
This time, we’re pulling back the doona with the endlessly creative Petrina Turner. Interior designer, stylist, maker, educator, and not-so-secret tap dancer. With over 30 years of experience crafting spaces that nurture comfort, connection, and beauty, Petrina’s work is full of curiosity, compassion, and a love of storytelling. From award-winning projects to giving back through community design initiatives, Petrina brings both heart and expertise to everything she creates.
Petrina is letting us peek behind the curtain to share the quirks, comforts, and inspirations that shape her world. Welcome to Between The Sheets, where the only rule is: there are no secrets between the sheets.
Hi Petrina, thank you for letting us peek inside your bedroom! For those who haven’t met you yet, can you share a little about who you are, who you share your bedroom with, and what a typical day looks like for you?
Hello, and thank you for dropping by! I’m Petrina, an interior designer (I always wanted to be one, even before I knew it was a real job), colour lover, storyteller, and, as you’ve already shared, a regular tap dancer. I share my bedroom with Clancy, my cheeky ginger cat, who owns the house. I just rent it from him. He’s a professional bed maker and insists on a morning snuggle under the covers on the weekend.
A typical day for me is always a little different. It might involve meeting clients, sourcing the most fabulous finishes, drafting and documenting plans or 3D renders, talking details with trades on site, teaching design students, or dreaming up colour palettes. No matter what, my mornings usually start with a quick dopamine scroll on Instagram… equal parts inspiration and guilty pleasure, and my evenings end with Clancy curled up beside me on the sofa.
The House of Colour celebrates the idea that our homes tell our stories through the shades we choose. What colours tell your story and how do you use colour to shape emotion, memory, and meaning in your own space?
Colour is all about memory and emotion for me. It’s the red and white leotards I wore as a young gymnast. It’s the teal silk curtains and striped velvet dining chairs in my grandma’s early 80s home. It’s the yellow of wattle and the pure joy it sparks, and the jacaranda tree I climbed as a child. It’s the pink of sunsets that linger just long enough to make you stop and breathe. It’s red, my mum’s favourite colour, woven through so many memories. Every shade I surround myself with holds a story, and together they create a sense of home that is both deeply personal and endlessly inspiring. In my home currently, colour is inspired by my memories and my happy place, the local beach, with its shifting aquas and greens, golden tones, and rosy-lilac skies at dusk. My favourite time to walk or swim. All layered with nods to the 1970s bones of the house. And a lot of blush pink… which is a neutral, right?!
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Your interiors are known for combining beauty, comfort, and a touch of the unexpected. How do you balance functionality with playfulness, especially when designing for adults who might be hesitant to take design risks?
I believe playfulness should always have a place in our homes, even in the most refined spaces. Functionality may give us the bones, but play is the soul. I love weaving in colours that tell a story, textures that invite touch, artworks that ignite the imagination, or a cheeky colour accent where someone least expects it. It’s these elements of joy that transform a house into a home. One that feels deeply personal, meaningful, and alive. Not just practical, but full of delight.
You’ve had a 30-year career full of award-winning projects, published interiors, and high-profile commercial work. Looking back, what would you say has been the key to your success, and how have you maintained your creativity and passion over the years?
For me, success is about finding joy in what I do, staying open and inquisitive, and truly listening and responding to the people around me. That sense of wonder keeps me moving forward. I never stop asking questions, exploring ideas or learning from others. I genuinely love my work, and I think that comes through in everything I do and create. I feel incredibly fortunate to have built a career that feels authentic to who I am, grounded in joy, compassion and creativity. I also deeply value the trust people place in me to design their homes or businesses, and I take that responsibility to heart. It’s a privilege I never take for granted. When my creativity needs refuelling, I turn to the things that inspire me most, like visiting art galleries, spending time in nature, chatting with other creatives or diving into my extensive design book library.
Colour is clearly your sweet spot! How do you help clients find the right palette, one that feels personal, joyful, and uniquely theirs?
Every interior, whether it’s a home, a workplace, or a hospitality space, is an opportunity to tell a story. And that story always begins with my clients — really understanding their brief and the feelings they want to experience in their space. From there, I start uncovering the cues that can inspire a truly meaningful palette. Sometimes it’s the faded blue of a grandmother’s China, the vibrancy of a much-loved café, the excitement of a favourite holiday destination, or even the colour of a cherished piece of clothing. These memories and emotions spark the direction for colour in my projects, creating interiors that feel authentic, joyful, and deeply connected to the people I design them for.
Welcome to Between The Sheets, where the only rule is: there are no secrets between the sheets.
What’s on your bedside table right now?
A favourite photo of my mum, who we lost just over a year ago, along with her rings. They’re a daily reminder of her love and strength. There’s also a colourful little tray that catches whatever jewellery or hair ties I’ve taken off at the end of the day, the latest book I’m dipping into, my glasses, and my favourite perfume. A notebook also sits close by for those inevitable late-night ideas. And if I’m honest, whatever shoes I’ve kicked off usually end up at the base.
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Do you have a pre-bed ritual that sets the mood for sleep?
It usually starts with chasing Clancy around the house to get him to his bed. Then it’s some self-care with something light and nourishing for my face and feet, and a lavender sleep patch. I’ll read a chapter or two of whatever book is on my bedside, and finish with a sleep meditation to quiet my mind and drift off, while I’m wrapped in layered linen like my own little cocoon. I think that’s a throwback to my love of being tightly swaddled as a baby.
If your bedroom walls could talk, what story would they tell?
They’d tell the story of being the very first room I renovated when I bought my home 10 years ago. On day one, with my mum and dad also on the brushes and rollers, we colour-drenched every surface in soft blush tones, and then I capped it off with a beautiful large scale botanical wallpaper designed by my dear friend Ashley Woodson Bailey. It’s such a joy to look up and see it every morning and night. With its perfect north-facing aspect, the bedroom is bathed in refreshing afternoon light, making it the ideal spot for chatting with friends, reading, listening to music, watching the literal fruits of my gardening labour grow outside the window, or sneaking in a nap. It’s my sanctuary, and to me that’s exactly what a bedroom should be.
What’s the most creative idea you’ve ever had lying awake at night?
Oh, so many! I’m a light sleeper, so ideas often tumble in at 2 or 3am. Whole colour palettes, room layouts, even business ideas. But it’s not all work, sometimes it’s dreaming of travel adventures, what the next showgirl costume will look like and how I’ll make it happen, or how I’ll convert the living room ceiling into a feline penthouse.
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If you could swap bedrooms with anyone in the world, whose would it be?
Oh I wouldn’t swap. I truly love my bedroom, it feels completely me, and that’s the magic I wouldn’t trade for anything.
Biggest bedroom splurge?
It’s hard to call it a splurge because it brings so much joy, but my amazing locally made Grazia & Co bedside tables and Dowel Jones armchair. I just love being surrounded by Australian design. And of course, beautiful bedlinen. I’m very particular about my sense of touch, so I always gravitate toward organic cottons and linens and soft, brushed finishes that feel enveloping and comforting. I also love changing up my bedlinen with my moods, so I need all the combos! My secret superpower is mixing patterns. The trick is always finding a colour thread that ties everything together, and balancing scale. Layering small, medium, and large patterns until they sing in harmony. It keeps my bedroom feeling fresh, and uniquely me.
If we opened your wardrobe right now, what colour or item would we see the most of?
All the colours! All the patterns! I can never resist a bold print or a playful clash. And an indulgent number of shiny shoes. I can’t help myself, I love how they can completely change the mood of an outfit. Some people collect wine, I collect fabulous shoes.
What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve ever done in PJs?
Tap danced live on stage. Many times! So not really unexpected… for me anyway!
What is your go-to midnight snack?
I’m not really a midnight snacker, but I do love a sweet treat before bed. Frozen mochi is my weakness. There’s something about that chewy, creamy bite that feels like a tiny celebration before sleep.
What’s your secret trick to make a bedroom feel effortlessly styled?
It always comes back to making it personal. I love layering textures and creating a space that feels lived in and loved, not staged for show. A bedroom should hold pieces of your story, whether that’s a much-loved artwork, a vintage treasure you’ve carried with you, or even a colour that sparks a memory. I like to mix textiles, patterns and objects that speak to the person and the space, so everything feels connected and intentional. And controversially, I’m not a cushion chopper. I much prefer them to fall in their natural, relaxed way. When a space reflects you honestly and brings you joy, it will always feel effortlessly styled.
