Shopping for someone who favors simplicity in design, practicality in form, and neutral palettes isn't always an easy task. In fact, I'd say it's often more difficult than gifting someone with maximalist tendencies.

"Sometimes, I find that a well-intentioned gift is more of a burden than a joy, especially when you have to find somewhere to store, or worse, display it in your home," editor Hugh Metcalf, a self-proclaimed minimalist, tells me. Finding that sweet spot of minimalist design and actual utility is only tricky if you're not paying attention. And when you don't, you might find yourself brown paper-wrapping an impractical storage accessory, patterned textiles, faux foliage, single-service appliances, or novelty homeware.

When actually, you should be showing up with a thoughtful organizer, tonal soft furnishing, real flowers, hard-working gadgets, and pragmatic designer gifts. So, here's a lesson in minimalist gifting that'll save you from bad gift karma.

1. Impractical Storage

A decorative tray or a purely ornamental box might earn you a hearty thank-you from some people, but minimalists aren't among them. Since they curate their lives around thoughtful organization, you're much better off buying them home storage that genuinely serves a purpose. If they spend a lot of time flipping through glossy pages, consider a sleek book rack. Or, if they're often dishing up elaborate recipes, then a spice rack will serve the space well.

2. Patterned Textiles

"I’d never buy a minimalist a really busy, heavily patterned rug, throw, or any soft furnishing," says Design Lab by Livingetc stylist Iokasti Sotirakopoulou. "It can easily become the main focus of a room, whereas a minimalist is more likely to appreciate something with subtle texture instead. I’d go for a tonal, textured, timeless rug in a neutral shade, which still adds warmth and interest without feeling visually busy."

3. Faux Foliage

Interior designer Samantha-Jane Agbontaen says one of the things you should never gift a minimalist is fake flowers or plants. "They take up space and collect dust, but don't bring the same life to a room as the real thing," she explains. "Fresh stems or a simple plant will fare much better in a pared-back space." And with it, I recommend throwing in an elegant vase or a stylish indoor planter.

4. Single-Service Appliances

I have heard many of my minimalist friends criticize single-use appliances. So trust me when I tell you it's not worth gifting them a culinary gizmo worth a pretty penny that they'll never touch or eventually rehome. Instead, consider quiet luxury appliances that work hard. The 6-in-1 Wonder Oven from Our Place and the stacked cast iron from the M&S x Tom Kerridge collection are unfailing recommendations for your cheffy friends.

5. Novelty Homeware

"If its only job is to sit on a shelf, I would probably avoid it," says Samantha. "Minimalists are usually quite protective of clear surfaces. I'd choose something that gets used instead, such as minimalist scented candles, haute food, fresh flowers, or something practical they already buy for themselves."

If you have friends who throw around words like 'sun', 'moon', and 'rising' (and actually know what they mean), then our zodiac gift guide should be your next scroll. And sign up for the Livingetc newsletter for more design-y advice.

"You're such a changer," my mum said to me as recently as last week. Every time she visits my home, she notices something (or many things, I should say) that I've changed since she last visited. This is nothing new, either — I moved furniture around my bedroom as soon as I was physically able to; my mum was always amazed I could move such large pieces by myself. I was just interested to see if a new layout would look and work better and, in my impatience, just decided to get on with it straight away as soon as the idea sprang into my head.

But this hasn't stopped in my adulthood — much to my husband's dismay, might I add. And it's undoubtedly got worse since I began working in the interiors industry, presented with an endless stream of inspiration and new trends every day (along with the many things quickly going out of style, too). I second-guess every design decision I have ever made in my home, and now often find myself in decision paralysis for any new projects we're due to take on for fear of regret; as there are, unfortunately, many design decisions I've made over the years that I truly do regret (don't get me started on my kitchen).

And it doesn't come down to just simply always wanting to redecorate, but more so that my 'overthinking' brain seems to re-analyze rooms again and again and find fresh faults with them, and what I've now begun to realize in my later years is that this, in part at least, comes down to what other people might think about my home rather than me. As behavioral color and design psychology expert Karen Haller explains, "A homeowner can think they're obsessing over a design decision, when what they may actually be struggling with is what that decision says about them."

How Being an 'Overthinker' Can Impact Design

"For some people, perfectionism can be tied up with how they think their choices will be judged. Will other people like it? Is it tasteful? Am I making the right choice? What if I get it wrong? When they're looking for that external reassurance, it can become very easy to lose sight of what they actually want and need from the space," explains Karen Haller.

This 'reassurance-seeking' is certainly something I can resonate with — there's an element of feeling judged in your home by the choices you've made, which seem all the more poignant when you work for an interiors brand. When I move a table lamp to a different spot in my home, I like to think it's because it's the better spot for it, rather than what guests will think when they next come over — but, truthfully, I think there's a bit of both at play.

"It's not uncommon for a client to come to me with piles of paint and fabric samples, magazine tear sheets and Pinterest boards and tell me they're completely confused or overwhelmed," Karen says. "They may have started with something they really liked, but then they've seen another room, another color, or another fabric and started questioning it. Suddenly the decision they were happy with is being measured against something new. The original choice may not have been wrong at all. They've simply created another standard against which to judge it."

In a world of Instagram interiors, there's a constant source of comparison between our homes and 'picture-perfect' — and, in many cases now, AI-generated — interiors that display a level of perfection that is entirely unachievable. But, thankfully, showroom-esque, highly stylized homes are no longer what we aspire to. In 2026, we seek homes that are authentic, lived-in, and deeply personal. Therefore, in reality, who cares what anyone else thinks? Easier said than done, of course.

What it comes down to, as Karen says, is "bringing the decisions back to the person who is going to live there. When you understand who you are, how you live, and what you need from your home, you have your own point of reference for making those choices rather than continually looking outside yourself for reassurance that you've got them right," she explains.

When Perfectionism Helps Design

Much of my design regrets and overthinking boils down to three things: 1. Making decisions too quickly to begin with. 2. My taste having changed over time. 3. My fear of judgement having increased over time.

As for the former, if you dedicate enough time at the start of a project to pore over the details, you're unlikely to want to change them quickly afterwards.

As Eris Koutsoudakis, co-founder of Meraki Design, explains, "As a perfectionist and an overthinker myself, I have never regretted taking the time to find the perfect color, material or finish, even if that means going through many options. For me, that process is what prevents regret later."

And this is absolutely true. It's also why being beholden to the latest interior design trends isn't sensible for a home that should serve as visual and physical self-representation. While taste can evolve, if you pick something you truly loved in that moment, you'll never truly regret it — it's just part of the storytelling. It's even what I think about my tattoos.

"I also think there is a difference between carefully considering a decision and continually reopening it," says Eris. "Exploring options is valuable when it helps you understand what you want. It becomes unhelpful when every new image makes you question a choice you already loved. This is where having a clear overall design direction becomes essential, as it gives you something to return to and helps you recognize when the right decision has already been made.

"Ultimately, the aim is to feel completely comfortable with your choices and enjoy your home. I see real value in taking the time to reach that point," Eris says.

How to Find the Right Balance

"There is nothing wrong with looking outward for inspiration," explains Karen. "Magazines, social media, trends, and other people's homes can introduce us to things we might never otherwise have considered. The difficulty comes when we start relying on what's outside of us to tell us what's right for us, because there will always be another opinion, another trend, or another beautiful room that makes us question whether we've got it right."

It comes down to having confidence in your decisions, and understanding that you are making them for you and your home. While hosting friends and family is undeniably a consideration for some of those design decisions, it shouldn't define them, and a space that truly reflects you will shine brighter than any copycat design.

"That's also where some of the regret can come from," Karen explains. "Someone can end up living with choices that were influenced more by what other people might think than by what was actually right for them. They may have been influenced by friends, the aunt who visits once a year, worries about future resale, something they've repeatedly seen online, or simply an idea of what a beautiful home is supposed to look like."

So while I won't stop tweaking little bits and pieces in my home, I won't allow regret to define how I feel about it — because nothing will ever look perfect, and it's absolutely not meant to.

And if you're one of those people who always likes to rearrange furniture around your home, psychology says you may also do these five things — which actually highlight the positive side of this otherwise predominantly negatively associated habit.

And for more design advice and inspiration, subscribe to the Livingetc newsletter.

A few weeks ago, we held the inaugural Livingetc Unlocked, a new event that combined real house tours with live workshops and talks. Having walked the houses around the Clapham neighborhood of London myself, I picked up a lot of design lessons. But maybe the one that stuck with me most is that I very much might be buying the wrong size table lamp.

The wrong size? Well, the wrong scale. In my own home, I choose table lamps that I feel are appropriate for the size of my house, but having seen some of the incredible lighting in the Unlocked houses, the majority from our sponsor Lights & Lamps, I think I might need grander ambitions.

But, what's the right size to light a room well? Let's investigate, with the help of our in-house stylist.

Because, realistically, the bigger the lamp is not always the better. "As a stylist, I always judge a lamp’s scale against the furniture beneath it," explains Design Lab by Livingetc stylist Miaad Latoof. Large homes with large pieces of furniture can, it stands to reason, take larger decor, but when you're working in a smaller space, you want to make sure things don't feel out of balance in the interior design.

"You want enough breathing room around the base and shade so it feels balanced, even when you’re going big," Miaads adds. "I like to treat an oversized lamp almost like sculpture, using it to add height, texture, and bold, dramatic shape, especially when the rest of the room feels low or a little flat. It gives the eye another place to land and brings a stronger sense of balance to the room."

What I've taken from the examples I saw? Don't do 'top-heavy', but you can do balanced. An oversized table lamp that has similar proportions to the table it's sat on can work, because it gives you this 'totem pole'-like effect that can work. If you have a big chunky lamp on a table with a slight, thin base, it's going to look uneasy, as if it could topple at any time. And that's the sort of disruptive feeling you don't want for your home.

So, would you consider looking at a bigger size next time you shop for a table lamp?

To learn about our next Livingetc Unlocked, why not sign up now to our newsletter, and you'll be among the first to hear about next year's event?

You know how we love to bring you advice from the most inspiring and inventive designers and makers? And how we always translate their ideas into ways you can improve your own home? Well then it won't surprise you that our Livingetc In Session series does just that, but in real time, bringing together incredible experts in a beautiful setting to discuss ways to make our surroundings more beautiful, more functional and more joyful to live in.

That was the aim of the latest event, in the incredible new Corston showroom at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour. I asked Charu Gandhi, founder of Elicyon (who had used Corston in her show stopping room at year's WOW!house exhibition) and the Corston's own in-house designer Connor Fox to help explain how to craft better atmospheres using lighting as a material in its own right.

The packed audience - people were squeezing in through the door - found the resulting chat to be illuminating; pun very much intended. Here are the key points I took away from the discussion.

1. Lighting is the most important part of a scheme

This may sound like hyperbole, but as Charu pointed out: "A room is nothing if you can't see it!" She says that it's one of the very first thing she considers, and the most major part of any scheme.

"What is the point of choosing beatiful materials if you then don’t light them?" she asked. "Our room in WOW!house was supposedly all about crystal, but it was nothing without light, and we had to get the lighting just right." She says she chose lighting to draw the eye to specific areas, to make the crystal glimmer, to show the texture of the standout leathered alabaster bar. "There were seven different types of light in that space, and that was the main story of it, really," she added.

2. Good lighting is about more than just the lighting itself

Really successfully lit rooms are about not just the lights, but about the specifics. "Good lighting is done by splitting rooms into pockets and specific areas," Connor said. "Then you need to focus on getting the brightness right, and the temperature right. You should be able to walk in and the shoulders just drop. That's when you know lighting is done right. And that comes from always having dimmer switches and warm bulbs. No cold bulbs, ever. No white lights. They don't provide any comfort."

3. Flexibility is everything

Because the light changes in any space throughout the day, and how you want to use the room will alter too, it's important that light can shift with your requirements.

"My favorite thing is to have lots of optionality," Charu said. "I hate rooms that don’t offer the option to be very brightly lit - you should be able to light them up like Christmas if you want to! You won't need to often, but every now and again you will, and if you can't then it's frustrating."

It was at this point Connor was able to point to Corston's brand new Cotswold portable and rechargeable lamp that he designed, the ultimate in adaptable lighting.

Charu then agreed that the other way to make sure lighting schemes are flexible is to have lights you can move around. "Floor lamps and table lamps are useful, but also wall lights and ceiling lights that you can swivel are good. Just by turning them one way or another you can totally shift the atmosphere of a room."

4. Material matters, too

As a lighting designer, Connor is constantly finding new ways to improve the quality of the glow from the pieces he creates. And his thoughts on what work are invaluable for when you're picking products for your own home or a project.

"Materials really do affect the light," Connor said. "Brass is great for reflecting light, which helps to create a richer interior. I love to work with porcelain as if you have that as the shade then the glow that comes through it is muddy, earthy and interesting. At Corston we've also do linen shades, and as well as doing some that are bright white we've been adding in some lines with more variation, a bit of fleck, they're not processed or bleached. They have a bit of character in their imperfection, and a very artisanal feel."

Livingetc In Session will be back soon - watch this space for more details

Do you remember the days when everyone's kitchen was completely unique? A distinct display of personal style, shaped by the person living within it. No? Neither do I.

For so long now, there's been such a clear blueprint for what a modern kitchen should look like, so much so that every design ends up feeling like a copy-paste of one another. Just look at Pinterest or scroll through Instagram; you'll see what I mean. Sure, the dimensions might be different, or the exact materials used, but at the core, they're all just reworked versions of the same model. I don't say this to shame you — quite the opposite. It's just the way the trend cycle works. When you're designing your kitchen, it's only natural to be inspired by the designs you've seen online or in a magazine. What you mightn't realize, however, is that everyone else is looking at the same references.

That's the magic (and in a way, curse) of social media. Once you see something enough times, you start to forget that other options exist. It's something Matthew Andrews, the head of design at bespoke kitchen company Cor Domi, has noticed. "It’s very easy to become too attached to a particular account’s aesthetic, materials, appliance sizes, sink, or tap," he says, "but just because something works beautifully in someone else’s space doesn’t necessarily mean it will work in yours."

So, if designers were to pull out one detail that strongly suggests your kitchen has been copied from a social account, showroom, or particular style, what would it be? What's making our kitchens look exactly the same? I asked designers, and while they shared a few, there was one that they all agree it is time to retire: waterfall edges. Here's why.

Why Designers Are Over Waterfall Edges in Kitchens

I'll be honest, I was surprised to hear how united designers were against the humble waterfall edge, once a signifier of polish and style. But when I really thought about it, it began to make some more sense to me.

It's one of those kitchen trends that became so popular, so quickly, that it practically became the default choice. So much so that I didn't even notice every quiet luxury kitchen sported the same straight-lined edge. But now, I can't unsee it.

Now, this isn't to say there's anything wrong with a waterfall edge; it's more that it's become an 'expected' choice. "The waterfall island has become almost a shorthand for a high-end kitchen, and I think we’ve become so focused on making the safe or expected choice that many kitchens are starting to feel interchangeable," explains interior designer Chanel Sansregret of Studio Miles Design. Instead of taking the time to explore what resonates most with your personal taste, or what would work best in your space, we've all defaulted to the design we think is most desirable, leaving us all with kitchens that lack any real identity or personality.

It's understandable why this happened. There's an obvious appeal to the look of a waterfall edge on a kitchen island. When the trend first came about, it felt like a real statement-maker. It was a way to draw attention to the beauty of the material, turning the island into a real focal point in the kitchen. And when you've invested in a beautiful kitchen worktop, like a natural stone or marble, it makes sense that you'd want it to be the main event.

But, according to designers, it's time to find something new. "They had their moment, but I think we’re ready to move on," argues Brianna Untener, from Brianna Scott Interiors. She always prioritizes her clients' unique point of view for design over trends. "When every kitchen has the same waterfall edge, it can start to make spaces feel a little too similar," she says.

What To Do Instead Of a Waterfall Edge

There are plenty of ways to make your island feel like the main event, or at least a special feature, without having to revert to a waterfall edge.

Chanel suggests treating it like a piece of furniture, rather than a traditional island. "Beautiful legs, thoughtful millwork, an interesting edge profile, or a material with character can make it feel much more considered and specific to the home," she says. Even a subtle fluted or bullnose edge can help elevate it without overpowering your space, and feels much more unique than a classic waterfall edge.

Brianna agrees. "I love a more classic island paired with a beautiful countertop or an unexpected edge detail," she says. "It gives you an opportunity to make the island feel more custom."

Introducing unique millwork is another beautiful way to add more interest to your island, and you can change it according to your style for a truly unique design.

How To Avoid Designing A Kitchen That Looks Like Everyone Elses

Before you even begin to design your space, it's worth taking some time to consider where you've found your inspiration. As Holte co-founder Fiona Ginnett says, "Instagram and Pinterest are brilliant for inspiration, but they can also be a bit of an echo chamber. The algorithms naturally serve up what’s already popular, so before long, you’re seeing the same colors, finishes, and details repeated everywhere. It’s easy to start thinking that’s what a kitchen should look like, when there are so many other directions you could take it."

Instead, go straight to the source and look for the kitchen materials and finishes that speak to you. Zooming in on the specifics can help you get a better grasp on the line between your personal style and the trends you've consumed.

You want your kitchen layout and design to be a true reflection of your lifestyle, so take the time to map out what that looks like. At Roundhouse, this is always the first step. Allison Lynch, one of Roundhouse's many talented designers, says, "I like to ensure the design reflects the client’s personality and will complement the rest of their home. Discussing this from the outset will allow you to produce a design tailored to the individual and follow through to the other rooms."

Diving into what makes your interior design unique, and what materials and finishes appeal most to you, is also a valuable step when designing a kitchen. It may lead you towards things that aren't necessarily 'on trend', but are truly reflective of your tastes, which, ultimately, should be the goal. As Chanel so aptly puts it, "The goal shouldn’t be to create a kitchen that appeals to everyone — it should feel like it belongs to the people who live there."

It's not just a style thing, either; there are problems with waterfall countertops that are really worth considering before you commit, like being more prone to chipping and the lack of seating options.

Want to stay up to date with all the coming and going trends in design? Make sure to subscribe to Livingetc's newsletter.

Adding lighting into your kitchen cabinetry doesn't just make your space more functional; it makes it feel more stylish, too. Providing that lovely, atmospheric warmth after dark and a little extra light to help you identify the abandoned back-of-the-cupboard goods, it's become an absolute must-have for any new kitchen, but that doesn't mean it's always done right.

In fact, perfecting your kitchen cabinet lighting can be trickier than you might expect, requiring some serious attention to detail that's all too often skimmed over or altogether abandoned. As lighting expert Vanessa Macedo from John Cullen Lighting tells us, "LED strips can transform open kitchen shelving, but their position is key to creating a considered look rather than simply adding more light. The best location depends on the desired effect, as even moving a strip a few centimetres can significantly change how the shelf and objects displayed on it are perceived." Should LED lighting go at the bottom or the top? The front or the back? How bright should they be? How many do you need? They're all valuable questions, and ones that can be the line between a perfect finish and one that just about gets the job done.

Thankfully, no one knows this better than our experts, and they were more than happy to lay out the facts for us and lead us towards a better-lit kitchen. They've shared the three essential spots to add a little light, so you can give your cabinetry the upgrade it deserves.

The Most Aesthetic Choice for LED Lighting

In kitchens, your lighting can fulfil either a practical role or an aesthetic one, and in the best designs, there's an even balance of the two. Identifying what lighting is for function and what lighting adds atmosphere is one of the easiest ways to begin to define your design. And when it comes to getting the most visually pleasing effect from your LED lighting, the answer is all in the positioning.

"For a soft, atmospheric glow, I would generally position the LED strip towards the back of the shelf, ideally concealed within a recessed channel where possible," suggests Vanessa. "This allows the light to wash gently across the wall behind, creating depth and a subtle halo effect without making the LED itself the focus. It works particularly well when highlighting decorative objects, ceramics or glassware, giving the shelving a warm, layered quality."

For Matthew Andrews, head of design at Cor Domi, which specializes in creating luxury, bespoke kitchens, atmospheric lighting is all about softness and subtlety. "If the aim is more aesthetic, you can point the lighting upwards to create a soft wash of light on the wall above the shelf," he suggests. Opting for this upward wash, as opposed to a downward-facing light source, can help create a more diffused warmth, ideal for highlighting the material of your kitchen backsplash.

This doesn't have to be done in isolation, though. Oftentimes, Matthew will combine this upward light with some accompanying downlights, too. Or, he says, "If you're clever with the design, as we have been, you can light both up and down from the same LED strip. With a truly floating shelf, where there's nothing connecting it to its surroundings, I'd point the light upwards, which again creates a lovely wash up the wall."

The exact lights you use will also make a difference: "If you choose the right LED detailing, you can also add color temperature control or a dimmer to get exactly the mood you're after."

Where to Position LED Lighting for Task Lighting

While aesthetic lighting will lend your kitchen that inviting, welcoming look, it's task lighting that will make your space function at its best.

Task lighting is all about making the cooking process easier, so finding ways to keep your prep surfaces illuminated will be key. For this, Matthew recommends directing your lights downwards, which he says "is particularly helpful when you’re prepping and cooking food or using the sink."

Installing LED strips beneath your upper cabinets is a technique that almost all designers swear by — you could use something like these Under Cabinet Strip Lights at Amazon. It brings an extra, atmospheric warmth to your room, while also acting as task lighting for the countertops beneath to aid the cooking process.

When the goal is to light your kitchen worktops, it's always best to position your lights towards the outer edge of your cabinets. By positioning the strip towards the front edge of the cabinet, Matthew says, "You get better task lighting, and it shows off your belongings. It can also make the shelf feel deeper than it is, because the light creates depth and shadow where the shelf meets the wall." If you place the strips towards the back of the cabinet, it will do a good job of lighting your backsplash, but will offer you little in the way of functional task lighting. Generally, most experts will recommend somewhere between two to three inches from the front edge of your cabinet.

Strip lighting is often a better choice than concentrated spotlights for this area, says electrical expert Marvin Adams, who frequently turns to LED strips in his kitchen designs. As he explains, "LED strips generally work better than individual spotlights here because they give you a much more even spread of light without creating lots of bright and dark patches." An even spread of light will also prevent any awkward shadows along your countertops, which can quickly detract from your design.

Where to Position LED Lighting in Drawers and Pantries

While almost all experts recommend installing lights underneath your cabinets, opinions aren't quite so united when it comes to adding lights inside your cabinetry.

Unlike under-cabinet lighting, this technique is far from essential, but there are exceptions — most notably, if you have large, deep cabinets where you constantly find yourself losing things. In these cases, adding in some LED lights can be a true game-changer.

Having worked on several luxury kitchen remodels, Shelly Yoder is very familiar with this issue. When faced with deep drawers that don't receive any light, Shelly opts for hidden, sensor LED strips. As she explains, "A motion-activated LED strip inside a pull-out pantry or a base cabinet with deep shelves means the back of the cabinet is visible when the door opens."

By using motion-activated lights, you can cut out any unnecessary energy use while still benefiting from the convenience of a fully illuminated cabinet or pantry. These Motion Sensor LED Lights at Amazon are rechargeable, magnetic, dimmable, and have three color temperatures.

The Most Common LED Lighting Mistakes

First of all, one of the most important lessons you can take from this is that not every kitchen cabinet is equally deserving of lighting. In the aforementioned circumstances, the addition of LED lights can transform your kitchen, but adding lights into every cabinet just for the sake of it can actually end up making your space look more cluttered and confused. Only include lights where it actually serves a purpose.

Shelly explains this point further, saying, "Interior lighting inside solid-door base cabinets for storing pots and pans isn't worth specifying because you open them, grab what you need, and the light makes no practical difference." Instead, focus on fewer, more intentional placements for your kitchen lighting. "The locations that justify the cost are undercabinet strips above work surfaces, interior lighting in glass-front or open display cabinets, and lighting inside pull-outs or pantries where depth makes the back of the cabinet hard to see." These additions make a difference to how your kitchen looks and operates.

Placement and positioning aside, the other element that can make or break your design is the temperature and brightness of your lighting, which is where understanding lightbulbs comes into play. The tone of your bulbs will dictate the feel of your space: "Warm white, between 2700K and 3000K, works with most cabinet finishes and reads as inviting. Cool white at 4000K and above looks clinical in a residential kitchen and creates a visible mismatch if the overhead fixtures are warm," explains Shelly.

Adjustable lighting is key to a successful kitchen lighting design. If you can, it's always best to have your cabinet lighting on a separate dimmer from the rest of your kitchen lighting, so you can control and adjust it for the time of day.

The best kitchen lighting comes down to finding a balance between form and function, blending task lighting with decorative pieces for a space that works hard and looks beautiful. And when it comes to adding a little extra design flair, there's no better place than your kitchen island lighting. Keep it simple with a pendant, or opt for a striking chandelier; this is the spot to get a little creative.

And for more design ideas for your space, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter.

Rugs are an instantly room-altering investment. Whether monotone, patterned, fringed, shaggy, or flat, these floor coverings don't always receive the care they deserve. And while it can seem like a Herculean task, once you understand the basics of rug care 101, you'll wish you'd learnt sooner.

So, I asked cleaning experts and rug professionals about how to clean, vacuum, dry, store, and scent a rug. Plus, you'll find tips on how to remove stains, prevent moths, and care for your rug based on its type, too.

This detailed guide will help you keep your best rugs looking immaculate. So, instead of hiding marks by rearranging furniture or flipping your floor covering around, here's what you should do.

How to Clean a Rug

Delah Gomasi, managing director and cleaning expert at MaidForYou, tells me the preliminary step to cleaning any rug involves checking the label. Consider the material before you begin cleaning the fabric. For less finicky materials, this is a step-by-step approach to follow.

Step 1: Remove — For a thorough deep clean, Delah says it's best to take your rug outside and clean it on a tarp in your garden. "Especially if you don't have access to a professional carpet cleaning machine," he adds.

Step 2: Vacuum — Next up, thoroughly vacuum your rug using an upholstery attachment to comb through deep fibers. This Vax Air Stretch Pet Max Corded Upright Vacuum Cleaner from Amazon is a highly rated choice.

Step 3: Wet and Soap — Once you've vacuumed all the excess dirt, Delah recommends wetting the rug with a solution of pH-neutral dish soap (like this Attirecare Dishwashing Liquid from Amazon) and water. "Or, use a gentle carpet cleaner to spot treat any deep-set stains," he advises. "Then, gently go in with a soft-bristled brush and push out excess water."

Step 4: Rinse and Repeat — Delah suggests repeating the process until the water runs clean.

Step 5: Dry — Last but not least, "leave on a rack in a well-ventilated room, not directly exposed to the hot sun but enough that the rug can dry quickly."

How Often to Clean a Rug

The time between each rug cleaning heavily depends on the kind of household you live in. A home with pets and children might require more frequent cleaning. However, as a general rule of thumb, it's best to clean your bedroom and living room rugs every six months.

For bathroom rugs, wash them every two weeks at the very least. This is important since they trap more moisture than other rooms. And for rugs in entryways and kitchens, consider washing them once every three months.

How to Vacuum a Rug

"Unlike when you vacuum your floors, tending to your rug is a different ball game," says Liza Garrison, rug expert and director of Ruggable.

"Instead of simply running a vacuum over your rug, hang it flat and sprinkle baking soda over the fabric first." Then leave the baking soda to sit in the rug and absorb the grime and bad odors for a couple of hours.

During this time, ensure your room is well ventilated. Then, once sufficient time has passed, slowly run your vacuum cleaner over the rug until all the baking soda is removed.

The V8 Cyclone Cordless Vacuum from Dyson is a sleek choice for low- to medium-pile rugs. And if you live in a home with a combination of high-pile rugs and pets, this Ball Animal Upright Vacuum Cleaner from Dyson is a hard-working alternative.

How to Clean Red Wine Out of a Rug

With most stains, you can follow a spot treatment method by gently scrubbing the stained area with a soft brush and a carpet cleaner or a warm, pH-neutral soap and water solution. But this technique will not help with tough wine spills.

So, to help avoid any rug-cleaning mistakes, here's a step-by-step guide to rescuing your floor covering from wine stains from Daniel Brown, cleaning expert and CEO of Handy Cleaners.

Step 1: Act Quickly and Blot — The key to removing red wine stains is to act as quickly as possible. The longer the wine sits, the harder it will be to remove. As soon as the spill occurs, begin to blot it with a clean, dry cloth or paper towel. Avoid rubbing, as this can spread the stain and push it deeper into the fibers.

Step 2: Apply Water and Dilute the Stain — Pour a small amount of cold water onto the stained area to prevent the wine from setting. Now, blot it again to help dilute the wine. Continue watering and blotting until the wine stops transferring.

Step 3: Apply Cleaning Solution — "There are several effective solutions you can use, depending on what you have on hand," says Daniel. "And in most cases you’ll need to use a clean cloth to apply the solution to the stain."

Dish Soap and White Vinegar Solution
Mix one tablespoon of dish soap, one tablespoon of white vinegar, and two cups of warm water. Then, apply this solution to the stain. Gently blot, working from the edges toward the center to prevent spreading. I'd recommend a combination of this pH-neutral Antibacterial Washing Up Dishwashing Liquid from The Lab Co. and this Eco White Vinegar from Miniml.

Club Soda
You can also try pouring club soda directly onto the stain. The carbon in the club soda helps to lift the wine, while the water dilutes the color. Blot with a clean cloth until the stain fades. "This is the cleanest and most effective method I've found to get red wine out of rugs or carpet," says Lucy Searle, content director at Livingetc.

Baking Soda Paste
If you don't have white vinegar or club soda, mix baking soda (like this Pure Baking Soda from Arm & Hammer) and water to create a paste. Apply it to the stain and let it sit until dry. Once dry, vacuum up the residue.

Step 4: Blot Again and Rinse — After using the cleaning solution of your choice, rinse the area with cold water to remove any residue. Pat the area with a dry cloth to absorb as much moisture as possible.

Step 5: Dry Thoroughly — Once the stain is gone, ensure the rug dries completely to prevent mildew or odors. You can lay a dry towel over the wet area and press down to absorb moisture, or use a fan to speed up the process.

What Should You Consider Based on the Type of Rug?

How to Clean a Shag Rug — Since shag rugs have a fuzzy quality about them, Andriy Neborak, founder and CEO of Luxury Cleaning NY, recommends taking it outside and shaking it to remove any loose dirt. "For larger rugs, use your vacuum's upholstery attachment to scoop up any dust on the floor," he adds.

You can then sprinkle it with baking soda, as usual. And for tougher stains, Andry recommends a vinegar rinse. "Fill a spray bottle (like this Empty Ever Spray Bottle in Kyoto Green from Kinfill) with half water and half white vinegar, and spray over the spot," he says. "Be careful and spot-test it beforehand to make sure it doesn't discolor your shag."

How to Clean a Wool Rug — When it comes to refreshing your wool rugs, Ken Doty, COO and cleaning expert at The Maids, explains that the less you wet it, the better. "You must avoid drenching a wool rug and blot any excess water with clean towels," he says. "I'd use multiple fans or a dehumidifier (like this Arete® One Dehumidifier & Air Purifier from Meaco) for up to 24 hours if needed to ensure that the wool dries fully."

How to Clean a Sheepskin Rug — "For larger sheepskin rugs, you can use a front-loading washing machine on a gentle cycle with cold water to avoid any shrinkage or damage," says Logan Taylor, founder of Dazzle Cleaning Company. "Be sure to skip the spin cycle, as this can also cause damage to the rug."

After the rug is completely dry, Logan recommends using a brush (like this Sheepskin Wool Brush from Amazon) or comb to gently fluff up the fibers and restore its natural texture and softness.

How to Clean a Jute Rug — "Water and jute don’t mix. So try to use as little water as possible when cleaning," explains Samantha Gann, rug expert at Rugs.com. "Jute rugs easily absorb moisture and often hold on to it for a long time. This can then lead to problems with damp and mold since the thick weave of the material takes a long time to dry."

How to Clean an Outdoor Rug — This style might be the easiest to freshen up, considering they're made to withstand rain and shine in an al fresco setting. Cleaning expert Hyacinth Tucker from Laundry Basket explains that you can even go as far as to pressure wash your outdoor rugs. "Just start on a lower setting so you don't damage the rug," she advises. "And test a small hidden spot first."

And if you're not keen on investing in a pressure washer just yet, this CarpetXpert Deep Clean Carpet Cleaner Bundle from Shark is a versatile alternative.

How to Dry a Rug

The best way to dry your rug is by hanging it outside. Putting it on a sturdy clothesline or a heavy-duty drying rack is the best way to air out both sides of your floor covering at the same time.

However, since some rugs are far too large or heavy, the next best thing is to lay them flat in a ventilated room. You can also speed up the process by crowding the rug with fans and dehumidifiers.

Bosch's Dry 1000 Dehumidifier on Amazon is ultra-quiet, energy-saving, and has a 2.5 liter capacity.

How to Store a Rug

Once your rug is clean, you might be wondering whether it's best to roll or fold your rug before storing it. Elizabeth Shields, a cleaning expert from Super Cleaning Service Louisville, says that rolling is always the better way.

"If you choose to fold, expect to see creases. And those lines just won’t go away once they’re there. But if you roll a rug instead, the pressure spreads out evenly, reducing wear and tear. Rolled rugs are just easier to store, too."

As for whether you should store your rug horizontally or vertically, Elizabeth favors the latter. "When you store a rug horizontally, it can get squished and creased from the weight of the rug and anything else sitting on top of it," says Elizabeth. "But if you do it the other way, there’s less chance it’ll be out of shape."

Now, on to the best storage ideas for your rug. "I recommend placing it in a closet or storage room, under the bed or large furniture, in the attic or basement," explains Elizabeth. "Closets, in particular, offer a nice, controlled environment that shields your rugs from sunlight and moisture, which can be pretty damaging."

You can also use these Large Rug Storage Bags from Amazon to keep them from unfurling. And if you don't have a dedicated room to store your floor covering, then you can always use the DIY wall hanging hack to turn your rug into a statement art piece.

How to Prevent Moths in Rugs

After you've given your rug a good vacuum to get rid of surface-level dust, debris, and possible moths, Ken recommends applying a natural repellent, such as cedar oil or lavender sachets. "These scents are unpleasant to moths and can help deter them from returning," he explains.

"If you're worried about moths making a home in the rugs that you've stored away, I'd also add some sticky moth traps. You can also use diatomaceous earth or a specialized carpet moth killer kit, following the manufacturer's instructions carefully."

This Cedar Multi Pack from John Lewis includes hangers, balls, blocks, and rounds. Or, you can use these Inovida Dried Lavender Flowers Bags from Amazon and these Clothes & Carpet Moth Monitoring Traps from Manchester Mothmen as a last resort.

How to Make a Rug Smell Nice

Regularly cleaning your rug is the best way to keep it smelling fresh. Once you've done that, a few other tips can add extra freshness. Believe it or not, spritzing your rug with an equal-parts recipe of white vinegar and water is ideal for getting rid of bad odors. These Green Cleaning Spray Bottles from Amazon are the perfect accessory for this home remedy.

Alexander Matson, owner of Shine Pros, explains that the strong scent of vinegar doesn't last long and it takes the other smells with it. "Steam cleaning your rug is another trick to maintaining a fresh, unworn smell that's long-lasting," says Alexander. "This treatment tightly packs and warms the fibers, further removing dirt and bad odors."

Jarred Fajerski, cleaning expert at Stratus Clean, recommends using essential oils to finish things off. "Add a drop of your favorite essential oil to the baking soda for a pleasant and lasting fragrance," says Jarred. "Not only does this trick remove any musty odors, but it also replaces them with a subtle perfume."

Pair this Duzzit Amazing Baking Soda from Amazon with this Essential Oils Blends Bundle from Nikura or this Daily Wellbeing Essential Oil Gift Set from MUJI for an unbeatable combination.

And of course, airing out your rug in the sun is a brilliant way to naturally refresh your rug and make your living room smell good.

FAQs

Can I Steam-Clean a Rug?

Delah strongly recommends checking the label of your rug first to determine if it's safe for steam cleaning. In general, synthetic fibers like nylon, polyester, and polypropylene can be steam cleaned. This Upright Steam Mop from Russell Hobbs is Amazon's choice.

On the other hand, natural fabrics like seagrass, jute, and sisal are prone to shrinking and warping when exposed to steam. Although wool rugs can be steam cleaned, it's best to operate your cleaner on a low heat level.

Can I Put a Rug in the Washing Machine?

Unfortunately, most rugs are not machine-wash compatible. However, some brands, like Ruggable, are adept at designing floor coverings that can be thrown in the washing machine after the slightest mishap.

Can You Clean a Rug Without Carpet Cleaner?

Yes, you can clean a rug without carpet cleaner. As mentioned earlier, a sudsy solution of warm water and pH-neutral soap or detergent (like this Wool & Delicates Detergent from Clothes Doctor) can be used in its place. Or, you can use baking soda as a cleaning agent for less offensive stains.

Does Beating a Rug Work?

While it might seem unusual, depending on where in the world you live, beating your rugs outside is a brilliant way to rid it off dirt that's sitting below the surface. You can hang it on a clothes line and hit at either side to remove as much trapped dust as possible. And in the winter, you can clean your vintage rugs in the snow.

How Often Should You Vacuum a Rug?

Rugs in rooms with high foot traffic should be vacuumed at least twice a week. For other living spaces with less commotion, you should tend to vacuuming your rug once every seven to ten days to keep dust and allergens from embedding further into the fabric.

Are Rug Pads Really Needed?

Yes, rug pads are a small but impactful addition to your home, and you only need to replace them every five to ten years. Picking the right rug pad can protect your floors from scratches and prevent your rug from sliding at the slightest contact.

Next, before your home opens its doors to hosting, read our guide to cleaning a sofa to cover all your bases. And sign up for the Livingetc newsletter for more tips to keep your designer home in tip-top shape.

"Color drenching has really landed: walls, mouldings, ceiling, and maybe the joinery too, all in one shade, rather than color being confined to one surface," says Jessica Gibbons, an interior designer whose spaces are often full of bold color. And it has; since color drenching took hold, we've become more and more daring with its application. Darker hues, tonal variations, bolder finishes — so why is your color-drenched room not reading as stylishly as you imagined?

As seemingly simple as this approach appears (slap a color across every surface and call it a day, right?), it actually requires clever technique and nuance. Neutrals can easily read as flat, and strong saturations quickly become overwhelming, so what's the fix? Well, leaning into the more contemporary variations of color drenching is a good way to start — adding trim in a slightly different tone, adding accent finishes on the doors or ceiling, and styling decor that ties the color around the room.

For design lovers like you and me, there is a universal experience of constantly seeing interiors you admire and garnering inspiration for your own space. For me, I've always loved a bold color-drench, but it's a hard one to really pull off. So, if you're not quite satisfied with how your drench is sitting, here are a few expert tips and tricks for getting it right, according to designers.

The first part of nailing a beautifully color-drenched room is understanding where it can go wrong. Interior designer Jessica Horton, founder and creative director of London-based studio Deorling, explains, "A lot of people think that drenching a room will work in every color, but color choice is so important. Get it wrong, and drenching can feel overwhelming and claustrophobic."

So, the color you use for color drenching matters. Nature-inspired greens will create a grounding space that feels serene yet vibrant, while a deep brown or aubergine drench is for those who want a more maximalist space. Think about the mood you want to create or the environment you want to exist in within the room.

And another easy trick is to choose a shade slightly lighter and darker for detailing. "I like a slightly darker shade on the skirting, architraves, and ceiling," says Jessica. "This gives the eye a break without using a different color." Many paint brands do shades in different strengths to easily achieve this (Little Greene's Portland Stone comes to mind).

"Another tricky thing is making sure the 3D space doesn't feel 2D, which can easily happen," warns Jessica. Switching up paint finishes throughout the room creates contrast and visual depth. A glossy finish here, a matte or limewash there — these subtle variations will keep a room from feeling flat.

"My typical rule of thumb is eggshell on the walls, satin on all millwork, and flat on the ceiling," says interior designer and founder of Silo Studio, Gabriela Eisenhart. This combination builds a livable base, but you can always increase the intensities if you want something bolder.

And, more than just choosing between the aesthetics of a gloss versus matte finish, think about how it will sit in the room. "If you're using a darker color, I like to lower the opacity of the ceiling paint by about 30-40 percent to help reflect more light and keep the room from feeling too heavy," says Gabriela.

Next, you want to think beyond just the walls — a truly effective color drench will bleed into every part of a room's design. "Adding textiles, architectural detailing that matches the heritage of the house, and raw, natural materials are a great way to add depth to the design while complementing the cocooning feeling of the drench," says Jessica.

For instance, "patterned fabrics, tiles, wood, cornicing, and rattan can all add contrast to a drenched scheme without feeling too stark," she adds. These also help to break up the room visually so that your design details don't get lost in the drench.

Lastly, pay attention to the details. "You can't have white recessed can lights staring down at you in a rich, dark color-drenched room," says Gabriela. "Make sure you're painting vent covers and recessed lighting to blend in, and change your switch plates to a finish that works with the wall color you selected." Those small details make a huge difference in how finished the space feels.

And just because you are doing a color drench doesn't mean you can't experiment. Sometimes, a characterful element, like a tented ceiling, colorful carpeting, or a bold sofa, is what really brings the space to life. "And don't forget the window treatments. I love to go monochromatic with those as well; it adds so much texture, depth, and drama to the room," says Gabriela.

Color drenching is a beautiful paint technique when done well, and these expert tips make for a more nuanced application.

For more inspiration and design tricks like this, be sure to subscribe to the Livingetc newsletter.

Once an absolute go-to design feature in almost all kitchens with an island, it seems that when it comes to ways to light this space now, the trio of pendants are becoming less necessary and more of a safe option. But don’t panic! We aren’t saying that pendant lights are suddenly bad; the issue lies in how predictable and sometimes dated this look is, especially above the island.

“The mistake is treating the island as the starting point. I look at the ceiling first, because its height and the way daylight moves across it decide if pendants belong there at all,” says Artem Kropovinsky, founder and principal designer of Arsight Studio. So rather than automatically opting for the trio of pendants above the island, you should first consider the overall design of your space, followed by your lighting scheme, including your kitchen island lighting ideas.

Furthermore, today’s kitchen lighting is most certainly leaning into a more atmospheric era. So making it flexible is key to tailoring your setting to different times, and using different light sources that can work together, complement each other, or work independently will contribute in such a positive manner. With this in mind, we’ve called on the experts to talk us through how to approach lighting this area now.

1. Layered Lighting Is Key

The secret to making a kitchen feel beautifully lit isn’t necessarily choosing the perfect pendant (or three) — it’s making sure you have more than one source of light to work with to give you options for different moods at different times. Rather than relying on a trio of the same fixture to illuminate the kitchen island and provide the room's main decorative feature, designers are increasingly looking at the kitchen as a space that needs several layers of lighting, each serving a different purpose.

“Good kitchen lighting sits at three or four different heights, not one. Once you have under-cabinet task light and something decorative on the wall, the ceiling stops needing to prove anything,” reassures Artem Kropovinsky. Once the practical lighting is covered, there’s more freedom to think about the atmosphere you want to create.

Wall lights are highly recommended to add plenty of character and a warm glow wherever they’re placed, and the next layer should ideally consist of a few occasional lights for added ambience. “A little pool of light in a dark corner is the perfect way to create lovely little spots in a room; an unexpected light and a little styling in an otherwise dark corner can be the making of a room,” says Helen Parker, creative director of deVOL Kitchens.

Rechargeable lamps, plug-ins, or even LED candlelit areas will transform supposedly gloomy spots into inviting low-lit, cozy corners. Helen explains, “The ability to plug in a light source without the need for permanence can really enhance a room for a special occasion or a specific purpose; but our guess is that once you have created an extra corner of moodiness in your home, you won’t want to take it away!”

Erik Munro, founder of Munro Design, agrees, suggesting, “You could also use architectural lighting tailored for function and cleverly concealed, like LED strips under floating shelves or hidden uplighting behind ceiling cornices, which wash surfaces in a soft, ambient glow.” This, of course, depends on your unique space, but think outside the box.

“Then introduce a sculptural or decorative light above the island to anchor the space. That contrast between practical lighting and a statement piece creates both atmosphere and focus.” It's not about cutting off the island lighting altogether, but ensuring there are other layers of light present is a good idea; then you can view the island pendant (singular) as an artistic element instead.

2. Opt for TWO Pendants

If you are set on including pendant lighting, Helen suggests keeping them subtle: “Even though the urge to really make your mark with these is hard to resist.” She says, “Try to be less obvious and go for simple, understated, and beautiful.” Aiming for a timeless design should keep the kitchen from feeling dated as well as dominated by them. She also recommends dimmer switches for ultimate versatility.

“Two larger pendants read as intentional where three read as a formula,” says Artem, “And in a lot of kitchens the honest answer is none at all; just recessed light doing the work quietly and a beautiful sconce somewhere you'd actually notice it.” Hearing this from a designer like Artem totally simplifies the process for a lot of homes.

3. Opt for Alternative Lighting Over the Island

If you want to avoid the generic three pendants over an island, but you feel the need for some kind of illumination up there, Chelsea Tallentire, senior designer at Makers Furniture, suggests installing directional spotlights on a track or a linear adjustable bar.

“Both options provide flexibility while creating a more considered and contemporary look.” This can also act as your task lighting, so you won't need so many inset ceiling lights, if any. However, it is quite a different look, so be sure it's in keeping with your style goal before the final decision is made. Either way, there are many alternatives to kitchen grid lighting so that your space doesn't end up feeling like a dentist's office.

4. Relocate the Pendant Lighting

Whereas Tom Raffield, creative director and founder of Tom Raffield, suggests using a pendant over the dining table instead, “The soft glow of a pendant over a dining table or the subtle downlighting from wall lights can add a sense of intimacy and depth, not to mention that dimmable lighting can allow for even greater flexibility to create the desired ambience.”

Depending on the size of the light and the size of the table, you may even get two over it without it looking overcrowded, but I'd always map out the options before committing.

Lighting is a vital part of any design, yet is often a bit of an afterthought. It should be layered and interchangeable, so that you're able to create different moods and appropriate lighting for different tasks and events throughout the day. Moving away from the predictable trio of pendants doesn’t mean your kitchen has to be any less considered. In fact, taking the pressure off the island as the star of the show allows that area to breathe, opening up more potential for a layered space, way more personal, and the ambience you really want in your own home.

Think about how you want the kitchen to feel at different times of day, and build your lighting around that. A well-placed light, softly illuminated shelves and architectural features, or even a small table lamp in an overlooked corner will have just as much impact as a statement pendant, or perhaps even more. And if you do decide to hang something above the island, it doesn't have to come in a three!

The key is to stop thinking of kitchen lighting as separate items to tick off the list. By combining practical illumination with softer, more decorative light sources, you can create a kitchen that works hard when it needs to but feels warm and inviting when the evening rolls around. This is exactly what will make the space feel timeless.

If you want to see how lighting trends are shaping up for 2027, we delve into how this decorative element is evolving in all the best-designed homes.

And for more design ideas, subscribe to the Livingetc newsletter.

I've always been especially envious of Carrie Bradshaw's iconic writing desk window and her tendency to productively WFH with all the manic excitement of New York happening right outside her window. But turns out, it can actually be a productivity booster.

I spoke to psychology and behavioral experts about the work habits shared by people who favor a window-anchored layout in their home office. If you can relate, you probably favor micro-breaks, rely on natural light as a cue, and prefer less enclosed spaces.

And just like that, let's get into what each of these habits has to do with what might have been just a convenient study setup.

1. You Take 'Micro-Breaks'

"Working in front of a window gives people an opportunity to stop periodically and watch something outside (trees, clouds, other people, cars, etc.) for just a minute," says licensed psychologist Dr. Shannon Franklin.

"This is a natural way to take a mini-break while you are working, and it can help your mind get ready to focus again on what you are doing." So even closet offices can stimulate short resets if they have a window to spare.

2. You Use Natural Light as a Cue

Dr. Robert Davies, a certified psychiatrist at Chroma Wellness Center, tells me that people who face the window in their study tend to use natural sunlight as a cue to organize their WFH routine for the day.

"This layout allows them to make the most of the sunshine," he adds. "It's one of the main environmental cues that provide signals to your body's circadian rhythms as to when you should be awake or asleep."

So, when winter rolls around, rethinking your home office lighting to include sun lamps is a clever idea. The Halo Light Therapy Lamp from Lumie is my favorite design-y desk feature.

3. You Prefer a Less Enclosed Space

"For many remote workers, having a window to look out of their home office space is as much, or even more, about giving them an open feeling than it is about reducing distractions," says Robert.

"A view from outside helps create the feeling that you are not 'stuck' in your house. This is highly beneficial if you aren't used to spending multiple hours seated in one spot."

In such a case, brighter seasons might feel more uncomfortable than productive. This is where decorating with sheer curtains comes in handy. It offers a splash of sunshine with a diluted harshness.

Decor for Your Home Office

On the other hand, if you can't relate and you prefer a layout with no distractions, people who face the wall when working from home also share some work habits.

While you're here, subscribe to the Livingetc newsletter to learn more about design and its relationship to you.

From personal experience, I can truly say that the renovation projects I have carried out have been some of the most exciting and rewarding parts of my life. In the same breath, however, I'd also point out that they have been amongst the most financially and, subsequently, emotionally draining too.

While living on site with kids while renovating contributed to the stress, so too did the overspending. The budget — which was hazy at best to begin with — just kept getting stretched. According to the 2026 UK Houzz & Home Report, I am not alone in failing to stick to my original financial plan. The report found that 38% of homeowners exceeded their initial home renovation budgets, while only 3% of renovators completed their project under budget — and approximately 26% started their renovation with no set budget at all.

To get to the bottom of all this overspending, I spoke to a leading psychologist as well as a couple of experienced project managers who explained to me the leading causes of going over-budget — as well as the steps renovators can take to remain in control of their finances while enjoying the experience of creating their dream home. Here's what you need to know.

1. Set a Realistic Budget From the Offset

It sounds so simple, yet it is surprising how few people actually sit down and set a firm budget for their project, be that a renovation or extension. Shamefully, I am one of them — rather than having a fixed amount to spend, we just kind of took a 'pay as you go' approach, which, as you can imagine, meant we overspent horribly.

According to Dylan Gould, founder and director of design at Cargo Workshop, when setting a budget, some really honest, perhaps uncomfortable, conversations need to happen. "Overspending is usually a clarity problem. Homeowners sometimes hesitate to share their actual budget, believing that by lowering the target, they’ll protect their investment. But that muddies the water for the design process. A budget is as much a design tool as a Pinterest board is. Knowing the parameters lets the design team help the homeowners understand where spending will actually change the experience within the home and where it won’t."

"A strategy we use to solve this is to test costs while the design is still active," continues Dylan. "The traditional project process is to design the entire project, bid it, experience sticker shock, redesign it, and re-bid it. We’d rather have some of those uncomfortable conversations while the ink is still wet. It’s much simpler to erase a part of a drawing than to move an entire wall filled with framing, electrical, and plumbing. In a design-build process, decisions are made with the desired outcome in mind, rather than designing the dream first and then cutting pieces away to make the spreadsheet work."

NYC-based neuropsychologist Dr. Sanam Hafeez, founder and director of Comprehend the Mind, agrees that having a set figure for the renovation before any work gets underway is key to staying on budget. "The best thing you can do is decide on a firm budget before the project starts and be very clear about what that number includes. Give yourself a number you will not go beyond."

2. Do Nothing Until You Have a Clear Plan

In all the excitement of getting started on a renovation project, it is all too easy to rush the planning stages, yet it is this stage that determines how likely you are to be successful in sticking to your budget.

As Anna Vasiltsova, founder of Anna Design LA, an architectural interior design studio in Los Angeles, explains, "I'm currently building my own home and ADU, so I'm going through the budgeting process as the designer and the client at the same time. My biggest piece of advice on budgeting? Plan it first, build it after. Everything needs to be planned on paper first — and precalculated. What exactly are you doing? When you know that, you will be able to stay within the budget. This is the most important rule."

"When you don't have a plan, that's where you start having a lot of extra spending," continues Anna. "Homeowners overspend because they only have half a plan — or sometimes because they don't have a plan at all. So they are just going with the flow, then later they find something better or something different and try to change it. Or they have an 'open budget', start spending, and then realize they are going way above the figure they set. It's simple — no plan in the beginning will leave you overspent."

Dylan Gould also highlights how early planning allows you to prioritize and break the project into stages. "Renovations are ultimately a series of consequential decisions, and the design phase is the place to weigh up which consequences are worth it," he says. "It’s also worth designing around what can be changed later. You can always install the beautiful chandelier or stand-out kitchen lighting next summer, but the wiring needs to happen now."

"Emotional stress comes when homeowners feel surprised or trapped by decisions they didn't fully understand when they made them," adds Dylan. "That’s when excitement turns into anxiety, resentment, or decision fatigue. Spending more than you originally anticipated can still feel like a good decision if you understand what you’re gaining in return and have consciously chosen the trade-off. The goal shouldn’t be to spend the least amount possible — it should be to avoid surprises and spend deliberately on the things that matter most."

3. Have a Contingency Fund With a Clear Purpose

A contingency fund should really be non-negotiable during a renovation project, or even when remodelling a small kitchen — it will prevent the project from grinding to a halt in the face of unexpected yet unavoidable expenses and gives peace of mind as the project progresses, too.

Whitney Hill, a licensed general contractor and CEO of SnapADU, suggests organizing your budget into distinct categories to prevent overspending. "The best protection is to divide the budget upfront into three buckets: committed scope (what you have actually decided to build); contingency (money reserved for true unknowns); and optional upgrades (the things you'd like, but can cut without compromising the project.) The mistake is letting the contingency become an upgrade fund."

"I'd also set a clear scope-freeze point," continues Whitney. "After that, every new idea has to replace something already in the budget rather than simply adding to the total. Otherwise, a series of seemingly small decisions can turn into a very large overrun."

Dr Sanam Hafeez wholly agrees that a contingency fund is vital to keep a project on track financially. "Renovations rarely go exactly as planned. Decide ahead of time which things are most important to you and which upgrades you can/cannot live without," she says. "Once work begins, it can be tempting to think, 'It’s only another £500,' but those smaller decisions can quickly add up. Try to avoid changing plans halfway through the project unless there is a real reason to do so."

4. Try To Not Let Emotions Over Rule Good Sense

Renovators tend to fall into two categories — those that are simply aiming to make a quick profit before moving on and those designing a forever home, with a view to living in it for a good chunk of time. If you fall into the latter category, you may well find yourself letting your emotional attachment to the house cloud your good financial judgement.

"A home is very emotional for people, so decisions about it are not always made based on money alone," picks up Dr Sanam Hafeez. "They picture their family living there, entertaining friends, or finally having the kitchen or backyard they have always wanted. Once they become attached to that picture, it can be difficult to scale it back."

"Social media can add to the pressure because people are constantly seeing beautiful homes and renovations that make their own space feel inadequate," adds Dr Hafeez. "Whether it is worth it really depends on what someone can comfortably afford without sacrificing their financial security."

5. Avoid the "We've Already Spent This Much..." Trap

We've all been there (I certainly have anyway) — you've got so used to pouring money into your renovation project that it can become really easy to think 'what does a little more matter?'

According to Whitney Hill, this is a common cause of going over budget. "Once someone has already committed six figures and months of disruption to a project, another few thousand can start to feel insignificant in isolation. That's where homeowners can get themselves into trouble. Each individual decision feels reasonable, but the cumulative total isn't."

Joe Matejka, founder of Walk Your Plans, fully understands the emotional connection homeowners have with their project, but also points out the effect this can have on their budgets. "Buying a home is a very emotional purchase. It’s where you’ll raise your family, celebrate holidays, and spend a significant part of your life. This emotional connection causes budgets to become flexible because people say to themselves: 'If we're already doing this, we might as well...'".

"Those extra costs might not seem significant at the moment, but they compound quickly," continues Joe. "And the few thousand here and upgrade there means that suddenly the project looks extremely different from what was originally planned. Are the decisions intentional or reactive? It’s worth it if it’s intentional, and it usually isn’t if it’s reactive."

The Real Impact of Overspending on a Renovation

Whether you are budgeting for a bathroom remodel or renovating a home for life, it seems that the main causes of renovation overspends are a combination of poor planning and emotional attachment to a property. Once you are aware of this, it should, theoretically, be easier to catch yourself in the act of either — but if you still find yourself pushing your budget's boundaries, understanding the psychological impact it can have might help.

"Financial stress has a way of following you around because money affects so many parts of everyday life," explains Dr. Sanam Hafeez. "Someone may start feeling anxious every time another bill comes in or another unexpected expense appears. It can also cause regret, especially if they begin wondering whether the renovation was really worth what they spent."

"People may become irritable, have trouble sleeping, or find themselves thinking about money throughout the day," continues Dr Hafeez. "Overspending can also create tension between partners. In some cases, the home that was supposed to make someone happier can actually become a reminder of the debt or stress they are carrying."

"Financial stress takes away the most rewarding experience and instead of enjoying this process, homeowners find themselves second-guessing every decision, arguing over priorities, and wondering whether they should cut corners to make numbers work," adds Joe Matejka. "I’ve also seen decision fatigue become a real challenge — by the time people are making their 100th decision, they're mentally exhausted, and that is when rushed decisions happen. The ones people regret the most."

While living on site while renovating might sound like a good way to keep a budget under control, it is vital to ensure that by doing so, you are not slowing the process up by getting in the way of any contractors or trades trying to get their jobs done quickly and efficiently — good communication is key.

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I made a strange discovery recently. I'd have thought the social media app I spent the most time using on my phone would be Instagram, surely, or TikTok, perhaps. But upon checking my phone's app usage, it turns out it's actually Pinterest.

Pinterest doesn't lead to endless doomscrolling as much as the previously mentioned apps, and it feels a little more additive to life. It's about inspiration more than comparison, and I often use it to moodboard my own home projects.

However, it's not without its own problems, especially when it comes to designing a space like a kitchen. Yes, we're all, often, served a lot of the same images algorithmically speaking (and if we're all taking the same inspiration, that specially curated kitchen color moodboard is going to look awfully similar to a lot of other people also in the process of planning a kitchen), but Pinterest only gives you the inspiration, not the 'context', kitchen designers warn.

"Relying too heavily on Pinterest or Instagram rather than letting the house speak for itself is a risk," says Matthew Andrews, head of design at kitchen design studio Cor Domi. "There's a real tendency to try to recreate something you've seen online because you can see it works — but it works for that space, which might face a completely different direction, in a different part of the world, with completely different lighting."

So, how do you choose a scheme that will really work for your space, while feeling personal, original, and right for the context of your home. Let's figure it out.

What Does the 'Context' of Your Home Mean?

Ignoring the context of your wider home is one of those kitchen color mistakes you'll come to regret. " Not considering the flooring, worktop, and tiles alongside the color is one example," says Allison Lynch, senior designer at kitchen design brand Roundhouse, of the biggest mistakes she sees. "Not considering daylight, evening light; north vs. south facing. Not considering the rest of the home; the colors do not have to match other rooms, but they should speak the same language."

It's not quite as simple as just whether you have a north-facing kitchen or south-facing space — it comes down to details including how the light enters at different times of day, how it reflects off of other materials and colors, and how the colors that sit near it change your perception of it.

Ignoring the 'context' when choosing a color is one of those things that sometimes works out; sometimes it doesn't. "Going into a project with your heart set on one specific color or aesthetic before it's even begun can go either way," Matthew Andrews of Cor Domi explains. "You're either thrilled because you got exactly what you pictured, or disappointed because the reality doesn't quite live up to the image in your head, and that's heartbreaking after everything a renovation can take to get over the line. You can be standing in a beautiful, brand-new kitchen and still feel deflated."

How to Choose a Color With Context in Mind

Figuring out what a color will look like in your kitchen isn't really something you can do with imagination alone, unless you've got a lot of experience. "My advice is always the same: trust the professionals you appoint to assess the site properly and advise on a scheme that actually works with the house," Matthew suggests.

If you're not working with a designer, or a studio that offers home visits for the design consultation, then you can often borrow sample packs to assess the colors at home yourself, though you're still at the mercy of fluctuations of light at different times of day and year, and what you already have in your kitchen. However, you will get a better read on how a color will feel, and which undertones are most prominent in your space.

You might think that the answer lies in AI mock-ups, as many people turn to generating images of what their kitchens might look like in different colors; however, the issue remains the same. "AI can be helpful too, up to a point, but its idea of 'photorealistic' is fairly loose," Matthew says. It will faithfully recreate whichever color you feed it, but again it can't recreate the lighting context of your home. Well, yet, anyway.

But most of all, you need to keep an open mind. "Some of the most successful kitchens I've designed ended up completely different from what the client walked in wanting," Matthew says. "We found what actually worked for the space as we went through the process together. That's the fun part."

How to Detach Your Moodboard From the Algorithm

Relying on Pinterest isn't just an issue of context though; it's about separating your own taste from what the algorithm is feeding you. "The current bold kitchen color trends are here today and gone tomorrow," says Jayne Everett, founder of Naked Kitchens. "Yellow reared its head recently; this can look fresh and vibrant, but I'm not sure you'll feel the same about it in a few years. It's not easy to change the color of a kitchen, and it can be quite a costly exercise, so you need to be confident with your choice."

My advice? Try to figure out if you really love the color and it appeals to your personality, or it just feels right for now. If you find a color that has meaning to you, or is ingrained in a memory, then you'll be able to make choices that skirt the Pinterest machine.

And look for that inspiration away from your phone screen. "At art exhibitions, I’m drawn to color combinations that shouldn’t work on paper but do in real life," suggests Design Lab by Livingetc stylist Iokasti Sotirakopoulou. "Deep, saturated tones next to something faded, how a single color is given space to breathe."

"When I travel, I focus on light and material, how the sun warms up surfaces, how shadows move across a room, how stone, wood, or plaster picks up tone throughout the day. That's where depth comes from, not from adding more, but from how everything interacts," she adds. It's those real world interactions that give you more of a sense of how it feels to live with a kitchen color palette, not just how it looks.

Timeless kitchen colors are, perhaps, what you want to look for, but only if they're timeless for you. Often, those colors referred to as timeless are the least adventurous, too, which might not suit your own decorating spirit.

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I've been dreaming of courtyards all summer. It's a common architectural element in many traditional Asian homes, but it takes on a different style depending on where it lands on the map. And tsuboniwa is the Japanese iteration of this grounding design moment.

Essentially, it gifts the middle of your home the warmth of light, breathes fresh air into the space, and offers a view that begs a pause. The best part of this Japanese design idea? It does not unfairly discriminate on the basis of square footage.

In fact, interior designer Yoko Kloeden reveals that a recent project measured in a tsuboniwa at around four meters. So, let's talk about what a tsuboniwa is and its ability to improve a living space.

What Is a Tsuboniwa?

"A tsuboniwa (坪庭) is a courtyard garden of only a few square meters, set at the heart of a building rather than at its edge. The name is literal, where tsubo is an old unit of area, roughly 3.3 square metres, and niwa means garden," says interior designer Yoko Kloeden.

"The idea is more than a thousand years old, but became essential in the Edo period, from the seventeenth century, when Kyoto’s density forced townhouses wall to wall with no access to open ground.

"Walk through one of those houses, and the effect is striking. The building is narrow — sometimes barely four metres wide — and deep; the rooms dim. Then, halfway back, the walls fall away to a pocket of sky, a stone, a single tree. It was never decorative. It was a device."

What's the Purpose of a Tsuboniwa?

Yoko tells me that a tsuboniwa serves three purposes at once, which is how it earns its footprint. First, she considers it a light well that brings daylight to the middle of a deep plan, reaching rooms a rear window cannot serve.

"Secondly, it acts as a ventilation shaft by driving the stack effect. Shaded ground and planting stay cool, warm air in surrounding rooms rises and escapes through the opening, and fresh air is drawn in behind. A continuous draught with no mechanical system and no running cost," she notes.

"This matters more each year. The UK passed 40°C for the first time in 2022, and summer 2026 brought three more widespread heatwaves in what was provisionally the hottest UK summer on record. Period houses built to hold warmth now trap it."

And aside from it being a clever design trick to cool homes in hot countries, she commends its ability to channel a view. "It gives an enclosed room a borrowed horizon," she adds. "Even a metre and a half of planting changes how a room reads: the eye travels past the wall and registers weather, depth and movement."

Does It Work in a Small House?

If you live in a small home, then you might have begrudgingly ruled out the possibility of a quaint courtyard, but Yoko explains that a tsuboniwa might still be in the cards for you.

"This style of courtyard in a recent project measures 2.5 by 1.6 meters — four square meters — and serves three rooms. Namely, a door from the second reception room, a bathroom window beside it, and a picture window from the new dining area. It sits where a side return extension would normally begin: the building pauses, then resumes two and a half metres beyond the original rear wall," she explains.

"The obstacle is rarely space. It is the willingness to leave part of the footprint unbuilt when every instinct says to fill it. One objection to our planning application called the courtyard alien to the area. The council’s approval noted that it allows for improved light penetration and reduces the perceived sense of enclosure to the adjoining property. Four square metres left open, giving three rooms light, air and a view — and improving the house next door."

The key is to avoid looking at this small garden as lost space. Instead, treat it like a visual pause gained. Once you have a tsuboniwa, you'll wonder how your home ever lived without it.

Courtyard Decor to Shop

If you're taking in the end of the outdoorsy weather, then tsukimi, the Japanese moon-viewing festival, is a beautiful opportunity to bring meaning to this turn of the season. And it'll further inspire you to design a tsuboniwa.

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Growing up on the southern coast of India, my dining table was no stranger to the touch of glimmering chrome thalis accompanied by stainless steel katoris with a tumbler to match. So when the chrome serveware trend began to monopolize my feed, it tugged at a buried sense of nostalgia.

And then, more recently, my chrome decor-obsessed algorithm proposed the latest Scandinavian jewelry organizer — which happened to be none other than a traditional thali (a typically stainless steel plate with molded compartments so each course has its own spot). That's when I was met with the late realization of the material's Eurocentric rebranding.

This viral video caused enough of a rustle that, on one hand, I saw plenty of South Asians correcting the internet that while you could adorn a thali in rings, necklaces, and bracelets alike, it wasn't born to fulfil this purpose. On the other hand, it was enough to spark a nascent wave of commercial branding where my Vinted homepage was a chock-a-block with brushed steel and beaten chrome thalis with product tags reading 'viral/trendy/modern Scandinavian jewelry bowl'.

And while I like the idea of repurposing these storied plates, I'd be remiss not to admit that its stripped identity nagged at my conscience. So, here's an exploration of the significance of this metallic material's rise to fame and how to practice and promote cultural exchange in design. So, let's talk about it.

What Is the Significance of Stainless Steel Serveware in India?

"I can really only speak from my own experience of growing up in a South Indian Tamil household, where stainless steel was simply the material of the kitchen," says Ananth Ramaswamy, founder of Arall. "We cooked with it, served with it and ate from it. It's inexpensive, hygienic, incredibly durable and completely practical for Indian food."

He explains that stainless steel dinnerware became increasingly commonplace in Indian homes in the decades after independence, as industrialization made it more widely available, often translating familiar Indian vessels and forms that had previously been made in brass, bronze or other metals into this new material.

"What I particularly love is how it ages. It starts highly polished and reflective, but over years of washing, handling and eating, it develops this wonderful soft, brushed surface. There is something very beautiful about seeing that use," he adds.

"There is also a strange classism around stainless steel, including within India. Glass, porcelain and ceramic can sometimes be perceived as more sophisticated or aspirational, while steel is seen as cheap or utilitarian. I find that quite absurd. To me, stainless steel is one of the most sensible and beautiful ways of serving and eating Indian food."

How Has Cultural Rebranding Changed Its Reputation?

"What interests me is what gets lost when an object is removed from its original context. If an Indian stainless steel plate is sold as a ‘chrome jewellery dish’, you might see it simply as a fashionable design object without knowing anything about where it came from, what it was made for, or the much longer history of these objects in Indian homes," Ananth notes.

"For me, it comes back to who gets to tell the story. Cultures have always borrowed from one another, and I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. The problem is when we pick and choose what we find aesthetically desirable while leaving the history and provenance behind.

"Something considered completely ordinary, or even cheap, in one context can suddenly become desirable once it has been renamed and presented through another cultural lens. That is where I think recognition and authorship really matter."

And I couldn't agree more. In curating your own taste, you will find yourself falling in love with designs from coordinates across the map. Not to mention, the beauty of modern design is the way traditional motifs, materials, and silhouettes take on new lives depending on the era they're in. However, as Ananth aptly put it, taking a moment to appreciate its lore will inspire an authentic relationship between you and your space.

How Should You Explore Cultural Exchange in Design?

"I actually don’t think we can put all of that responsibility on the consumer. People buy things because they like them, find them useful, or, in part, to its trend-led fame. We can’t expect everyone to research the depths of cultural history for every object they buy," says Ananth.

"I think the greater responsibility lies with the businesses and brands selling them. If you are taking an existing object or design tradition, reframing it for a new audience and commercially benefiting from it, then I think it is incumbent on you to communicate where it comes from and what it was originally used for."

"That doesn’t mean these objects shouldn’t travel or be used differently. Cultural exchange is an important part of design and always has been. It is simply about being transparent about provenance and giving recognition where it is due. In fact, knowing that your ‘chrome jewellery dish’ has another life as an everyday Indian object makes it far more interesting."

But until this shift translates to mainstream design, my advice is to listen when discussions erupt. Much like the thali, when the dupatta (re-identified as a Scandinavian scarf) became a topic of conversation among the virtual masses and Indian designers raised awareness about the garment's history, it became a moment of learning and transparency for the fashionable.

So rather than giving up designing it into your lifestyle, I recommend setting your dinner table in stainless steel serving dishes with the intention of extending an informed backstory to anyone who offers a compliment. And trust me, these traditional plates and their reimagined contemporary iterations will beckon a handful of compliments from a design eye.

Shop the Look

Just like the Japanese tabis dating back to the 15^th century and the mandarin collar shirts born during the Qing dynasty, these traditional plates have a history that long predates their current hype. And the simple act of appropriately labeling an item boasts a sense of cultural appreciation that no one could fault you for.

So, while you cultivate layered vignettes in your home, adorned with memorabilia from your travels or even just borrowed from the zeitgeist, style it with pride and a bookmark of knowledge to earn your salt as a truly global design enthusiast.

One evening you realize you're reaching for a blanket before you've even thought about it. The lamps are going on earlier; there's a chill in the air, and the evening that might have stretched outside a few weeks ago is now happening indoors. It's that familiar desire to hunker down in our homes that we often describe as wanting to hibernate.

We don't hibernate in the literal sense, of course. But as the weather and daylight change, we may start using our homes differently without really thinking about it. And those changes in how we're living can tell us something about what we're looking for from our homes.

So before changing anything for autumn, I'd start by asking: what do you need your home to give you as the season changes?

Why Are We Drawn to Hunkering Down in Our Homes?

Wanting to hunker down can mean very different things. We might be looking for comfort, warmth, connection, or time on our own. None of those needs belong exclusively to autumn.

What changes are the conditions we're living in. Research into seasonality suggests that changes in daylight, temperature, weather, and our routines can all play a part in how we think, feel, and behave. It isn't a single universal ‘hibernation instinct’, and we won't all respond to those changes in the same way.

We can start to see our own response in the small ways our behaviour at home changes. A living room that was part of life spilling out into the garden during summer can become somewhere we now spend the whole evening.

You might find yourself choosing the same chair each night because it's tucked into a corner, close to the fire or beside a lamp, somewhere you can have a little time to yourself. Or perhaps you find yourself lingering in the kitchen while something cooks on the stove, drawn to the warmth of the room.

Those small changes matter because our relationship with our homes can change with the season too. We experience our rooms at different times of day, under different light and potentially for much longer stretches of time.

So pay attention to how you're actually living in yours. Where are you naturally choosing to spend your time, and what are you seeking out when you're there? The clues can be in the things you find yourself doing without really thinking about them.

How Can Your Home Support the Desire to Hunker Down?

What you notice can give you a starting point for thinking about what might need to change at home. You might find yourself craving greater physical warmth, seeking out more light, wanting to spend more time gathered around the table with other people, or looking for something to lift a gray day.

For me, one of the first things I notice when the days start getting shorter is how much I seek out light. During the day, I'll make the most of the natural daylight. Then, as the daylight starts to fade in the late afternoon, I'll put the lamps on. As the evening progresses, I'll light candles too and prefer warmer light to bright overhead lighting, which I find too intense.

It's also worth looking again at the colors you already have. As the daylight changes and the lamps come on earlier, you're experiencing them under different light and at different times of day. A color you loved on a bright summer afternoon may look quite different when you're sitting with it for several hours on an autumn evening, so look at your colors at the times you're actually using the room.

The Best Colors for Hunkering Down at Home

I also look at color in terms of what I might need from the space. Understanding colors' psychological qualities can help you think about what you choose in relation to what you're seeking. And the nuance matters. Changing the depth and intensity of a color changes how we experience it.

You might be drawn to deeper, richer colors as the season changes, or you may find yourself wanting lighter colors around you as the daylight diminishes, so this isn't about everyone reaching for the colors traditionally associated with autumn simply because the season has arrived.

Here are just a few examples of how that might translate into the colours you choose.

Red

If it's physical warmth you're seeking, think about that moment when you come in from the cold and all you want is to feel warm again. Decorating with red relates to the physical and can create a psychological sense of warmth, even though the temperature in the room hasn't changed. You might be drawn to the richness of brick red or oxblood, a livelier tomato red or a softer watermelon red.

Soft Pink

For something more nurturing, there's pink. I often say that if cuddles were a color, they'd be pink. Pink is red, but its softer quality can bring a more nurturing experience of physical comfort. Wrapping yourself in a soft pink chunky cable knit throw can add to that feeling of being warm and cocooned.

Orange

As we start spending more time together indoors, decorating with orange can bring sociability, fun, and joy into the experience, from everyone gathering in the kitchen while dinner is cooking to friends lingering around the table long after dinner has finished.

You might bring in rust or burnt orange through cushions or table linen, something as simple and seasonal as pumpkins, or, if you want something livelier, persimmon.

Yellow

And if the shorter, grayer days leave you wanting a lift, yellow can support feelings of optimism, bringing some of the cheeriness that can feel particularly welcome when the days are gray. You might prefer the softness of butter or primrose yellow, a richer golden yellow, or something brighter and sunnier.

I notice this in my own home. When the days become grayer, I find myself buying sunflowers. Having that burst of yellow in the room feels a little like bringing the sunshine indoors when there isn't much of it outside.

Before deciding what to change, come back to what you've noticed about yourself. Are you looking for more physical warmth, more light, more connection, or something to give you a lift? Supporting that might be as simple as bringing out a favorite textured throw, moving a lamp closer to where you now find yourself sitting, or changing the way the furniture is arranged.

How Else Can Your Space Help You Hunker Down?

There's another thing to consider when you're spending more time indoors: the same room may need to support very different parts of your day.

If you work at the dining table or have a desk in the corner of your living room, for example, at ten o'clock in the morning you may need that space to help you concentrate and stay focused. By eight o'clock in the evening, you may want the same room to help you switch off, settle down for the evening or spend time with other people.

This way of starting with the person, what they need from a space and what needs to happen there is what I call my 'Behaviour First' approach. I then consider how the colors, lighting, and other design choices can support the way that person needs to use and experience the space.

So as the days become shorter, notice the little changes you're making, whether you're following the daylight around your home, pulling a blanket around you in the evening, or, like me, coming home with a bunch of sunflowers on a gray day. Understanding what you're seeking from your home gives you a much better starting point for deciding what, if anything, needs to change.

At this year’s Livingetc Unlocked, we offered two days of one-to-one consultations with us, the stylists from Design Lab by Livingetc. Our VIP guests could book a slot and bring along any design dilemma they were struggling with, from kitchens and bathrooms to challenging layouts and those awkward corners that never feel quite resolved.

Every consultation was different. Some guests arrived with floor plans and moodboards, while others brought photographs of rooms they simply couldn’t make work. We sat down together to explore layouts, color palettes, furniture choices and the smaller decorative details that can completely change how a space feels. So many of the same questions came up that we decided to share our answers here, because chances are, you may be wondering about them too.

1. My living room is quite large, but it always feels empty. How can I make it feel more inviting?

We would start by dividing the room into smaller zones, each with its own purpose. A generous rug can anchor the main seating area, while an armchair with a side table and floor lamp might create a separate reading spot. Bringing furniture closer together, rather than pushing everything against the walls, will also make the space feel more intimate.

Color and pattern can help a large room feel warmer and more enveloping. Deeper shades work particularly well, while wallpaper can bring texture and character to expansive walls. A large-scale pattern or mural could even be used to define one area of the room. Finish with layered lighting at different heights to create softer pools of light after dark.

2. How can I give my kitchen or bathroom more character without renovating?

Focus on the elements that have a strong visual impact but are relatively easy to change. New cabinet handles, a characterful light, painted joinery or an unexpected wall color can shift the mood of a kitchen. In a bathroom, try a decorative mirror, softer lighting, framed artwork or a fabric shower curtain instead of another hard, clinical surface.

These practical rooms often feel unfinished because we decorate them less than the rest of the home. Bringing in art, color and objects you genuinely love can make them feel much more personal, without needing to replace the expensive foundations.

3. My home is very white and feels a little boring. How can I become braver with color?

You don’t have to begin with a brightly painted room. Start with colors you naturally respond to and introduce them through pieces that feel easier to change, such as a rug, artwork, cushions or an occasional chair. Once you see those shades in the space, you’ll feel more confident about taking them onto the walls.

Wallcoverings are another lovely middle ground. A soft pattern or a linen- or silk-effect texture in a neutral shade adds depth without demanding too much attention. Color doesn’t always need to be loud — sometimes it's the subtle variation in tone and texture that makes a white room feel richer.

4. How do I find the right layout for an awkwardly shaped room?

We begin with how the room actually needs to be used, rather than where the furniture is traditionally expected to go. Look for an architectural feature, such as a fireplace, bay window or particularly beautiful view, that could become the room’s natural focal point, and build the layout around it. Then position the largest piece, usually the sofa, dining table or bed, and consider how you will move through the space, keeping doorways and natural walkways clear.

Before committing, we recommend marking out each piece on the floor with painter’s tape or sheets of newspaper. It's a simple trick, but it lets you experience the proportions and circulation of a proposed layout far more accurately than judging it from a floor plan alone.

5. How can I make an open-plan space feel connected without making everything match?

We like to create a visual thread that travels through the whole space. This could be one color repeated in different strengths, a timber finish that appears across several pieces, or a material such as brass used in the lighting and smaller details. The different areas should feel related, but they don’t need to be identical.

Each zone can then have its own identity. Rugs, pendant lights and changes in furniture arrangement can define where one area ends and another begins. For something less obvious, look to the floor — a slim marble threshold or brass floor inlay can create an elegant transition between two materials, subtly marking the move from a kitchen into a living area while still connecting the spaces architecturally.

6. How do I make a small room feel bigger without painting everything white?

White isn’t the only color that can make a small room feel spacious. We often recommend using a tonal palette on the walls, woodwork, and even the ceiling, as fewer visual breaks let the eye move around the room more easily. Soft earthy shades, muted blues, or warm neutrals can add depth while still making the space feel inviting. Curtains hung close to the ceiling and extended beyond the window frame will also exaggerate its height and width while allowing in as much natural light as possible.

Try to avoid filling the room with lots of small furniture. One generously sized sofa or statement chair can make the layout feel calmer and more confident than several undersized pieces. Furniture raised on legs keeps more of the floor visible, while a well-positioned mirror can carry light further into the room. Ultimately, it's good proportions and a clear layout, rather than white walls, that make a small space appear bigger.

7. I have sentimental furniture I want to keep, but my room no longer feels like me. How do I make it feel fresh again?

I always start by asking what you genuinely want to keep, a sentimental piece doesn’t have to dictate the whole room, but it can spark a fresh direction. That might mean reupholstering an armchair, moving a piece to another spot in your home, or pairing it with more current furniture.

Once you’ve settled on what’s staying, look at the room as a whole. For example, you could rethink the focal point or where the TV sits, and play with the layout by adding a larger sofa or extra armchairs for a more inviting setup. If your space is open-plan, try carrying some of the color from adjoining areas into the living room to make it feel cohesive. You don’t always need to start from scratch — sometimes a few key changes can completely transform how your existing pieces feel.

8. How can I make a low ceiling and short window feel taller and more generous?

Curtains can do a lot of the visual work here. Rather than stopping them at the width of the window, I’d take the curtain rod or track across the full wall and hang the fabric from ceiling to floor. It softens the architecture, makes the window seem much bigger, and pulls your eye up so the room feels taller.

For the low ceiling, I’d keep the walls and ceiling in the same soft color, no harsh contrasts. That way, your eye doesn’t immediately land on the line where the wall stops and the ceiling starts. It’s a simple trick that makes the whole space seem more open and even gives that cozy, cocoonlike vibe my clients always ask for.

9. My living room doesn’t have an obvious focal point. How do I create a layout that feels anchored?

You don’t always have to let the architecture dictate the layout. In this room, the walls were sharply angled, so instead of following those angles with the furniture, I created a clear square seating zone within the irregular footprint.

I turned the largest sofa toward the main window, where the client naturally wanted to look; then I grouped the rug, coffee table, and armchairs around it, almost like an island in the room. That immediately gave the living area more presence while opening up a much clearer circulation route around it.

And don’t feel you need to fill every awkward corner. Here, the sharpest angle became a small reading nook with a chair and a larger plant, turning what could have felt like dead space into something intentional.

10. My room has all the furniture it needs, but it still feels unfinished. What am I missing?

Before adding anything else, I’d always look at scale first. Often, a room doesn’t need more things; it just needs the pieces already there to have a little more presence. A larger rug that properly anchors the furniture, artwork that feels generous enough for the wall, or lighting at different heights can completely change how finished the space feels.

Then I’d look at what’s tying everything together. Repeating a color, material or shape in a few places helps your eye travel around the room and makes everything feel more connected. Sometimes the final layer is as simple as a floor lamp, a larger piece of art or a few well-chosen objects. It’s not about filling every empty space; it’s about making sure everything has enough visual weight, and the room feels balanced overall.

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British interior designer Minnie Kemp has little interest in rooms that are merely tasteful. For the Design Director of Firmdale Hotels, the best interiors are the ones that make you smile, make you look twice and reveal something about the person who lives there. Her own home, she says, has been compared to "a Roald Dahl novel", which feels about right.

What makes her rooms memorable is not simply the color or pattern, but the way ideas are layered together, from hand-painted tiles that reappear as rug motifs to orange candlesticks that should not work but somehow make the whole room sing.

These are the decorating lessons behind that approach.

1. "You Always Need a Starting Point"

When Minnie was given a blank dining room for the Kips Bay Decorator Show House in New York, she began with Virginia Woolf's A Room of One’s Own. "I think it's very important that we all have a room of one's own," she says. Everyone needs their space to be creative."

That idea gave everything else a direction. The dining table evoked the forest floor, a mural referenced Duncan Grant, and art was borrowed from New York galleries. "You always need a starting point." For Minnie, that might be a book, a place, a painting, or a memory. Something strong enough to stop a room from becoming a collection of unrelated good ideas.

2. "The Trick Is Adding Another Layer"

Minnie's rooms always go that extra step. For example, the Julian Chichester basket lights over the Kips Bay dining table were already striking due to their oversized scale, but Minnie took embroidered leaves from Natasha Hulse and added them to the shades. "My trick is adding a layer so that every time anyone comes in, they spot something different."

At home, she does the same thing, albeit more quietly. A motif from a hand-painted tile might reappear later on a rug or somewhere upstairs. "There's a running thread that runs through the house that echoes back to something that you've seen before."

The key is repetition with purpose. Layering works when details speak to each other, not when a room simply contains more things.

3. "Don't Get Bogged Down With Being Too Chic"

For the same Kips Bay room, Minnie chose vivid orange candlesticks. "I was thinking, 'Oh my God, is this going to look Halloween?'" She used them anyway. "Having the orange candlesticks kind of made the space because it was one of those things that was so unexpected and really made people smile."

That instinct is central to the way she decorates. "Don't be too bogged down with being too chic. A room can be beautifully composed and still have room for something funny, bright, or a little bit wrong."

4. "I Try to Mess With the Algorithm"

Minnie is wary of what happens when everyone takes inspiration from the same places. "We're all on Instagram, and we all have the algorithm. So there is a trap that you fall into seeing the same thing over and over again."

Her solution is active resistance. "I often try to mess with the algorithm." Look at what you loved before you knew what was fashionable. Look at craft, art, fashion, childhood memories and places rather than only at other interiors. "What did you like growing up? What turns you on now?" She is particularly suspicious of rooms assembled entirely from the things that happen to be fashionable at that moment. "Try not to be led by interior design trends."

5. "You Do Have to Have a Sense of Place"

For a house in Roquebrune on the French Riviera, Minnie began with the history already around her. "You see across the bay is Eileen Gray's house, and already the mind is bubbling."

Pebble mosaics are part of the local visual language, which led to a 20-meter pebble mosaic running through the property, with a representation of Zeus blowing the wind down the path and a Tree of Life motif at its end. Minnie then planned hundreds of fiber-optic lights to be embedded within it to make it sparkle.

Inside, artist Julie Bolisano created recycled-glass windows that referenced stained glass (Matisse's chapel is also in the area) but felt lighter and more contemporary. "It's a new take on an old idea."

6. "It All Has to Be Curated"

Minnie loves a layered home, but she is clear that there is a point at which layering becomes clutter. "In your own home, when you're collecting and you're building over time, it does tend to become more layered than one might want."

The answer is editing. "Sometimes you have to strip it all back and start again."

Her test for whether you have gone too far? "The smell. If you start to smell dust, you've got too much stuff."

7. "Make the Most of What You Have"

At Bloomsbury Publishing, Minnie inherited a space with an ugly suspended ceiling and two awkward structural columns. Rather than conceal them, she made them more obvious. The ceiling was stripped back and sprayed Yves Klein blue. The pillars were painted with bold graphic arrows. "Sometimes if there's a horrible thing in the room, celebrate the horrible thing. It is like dressing. Make the most of what you have and show off all your lumps and bumps."

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There are few people who understand how color changes a room quite like Joa Studholme.

After decades spent creating colors for the feted British paint brand Farrow & Ball and helping people transform their homes, her approach is surprisingly simple: trust your instincts, embrace the colors you love, and stop worrying about getting it "right".

From choosing warmer neutrals to painting ceilings, using unexpected flashes of color, and allowing rooms to become darker and more cocooning as the day goes on, these are the decorating lessons Joa returns to again and again.

1. "What Do You Feel Comfortable With?"

This, for Joa, is where every successful color scheme begins. Not with interior design trends. Not with what your neighbor has done. Not even with the color everybody is suddenly talking about.

"What do you feel comfortable with? Because that's the most important thing. You live with these colors."

After decades of visiting people's houses, she says she can often start to understand someone's palette before she has even stepped through the door. "From the color of their garden gate or front door, I can pretty much work out what palette somebody is going to like. I also look at what they're wearing."

Memories can be equally revealing. A color might remind you of a childhood room, a holiday or a landscape. And if you are struggling to articulate what you love, Joa suggests looking at the images you instinctively save.

"I'm a great believer in Pinterest. Although, funnily enough, most of the time people show me pictures of white rooms, that's fine because I'm not necessarily looking at the colors. I'm looking at the spirit of the room."

2. "We're Going Warmer"

If there is one clear shift Joa is seeing in interiors now, it is away from cooler neutrals and towards colors with more warmth and complexity.

"Neutrals were my big thing when I first came to Farrow & Ball," she says. "The last lot that were really popular were the stony ones. A little less grey than previously. But now the really popular neutrals are much warmer, like Stirabout and Jitney."

Stirabout takes its name from a nourishing Irish porridge, while Jitney was named after the bus that carries New Yorkers out to the Hamptons. "I wanted Jitney to be really uplifting. I might have been watching Gossip Girl at the time," she laughs.

For Joa, decorating with neutrals works precisely because they do not shout. "Jitney is all about being quite laid back and letting everything else take centre stage," she says.

Another favorite is Au Lait, originally created through Farrow & Ball's collaboration with designer Christopher John Rogers. "Warm but not creamy, it is just the easiest color to work with. Keep quiet about it. It's everybody's secret."

3. "I'm a Huge Believer in Going From a Lighter Space During the Day to a Darker Space at Night"

One of Joa's most useful principles for decorating with color has nothing to do with coordinating colors and everything to do with how we move through our homes.

"I'm a huge believer in going from a lighter space during the day to a darker space at night,” she says. “I think it's really good for the soul."

A light kitchen or hall can feel energizing during the day. Then, as evening comes, she likes moving into a deeper, more enveloping sitting room. "It gives you a great big hug."

A Joa-approved sequence starts with Scallop in the hall, moves into Dead Salmon in the sitting room, then uses something lighter, such as Au Lait, through the kitchen or on recurring woodwork.

4. "The Thing Most People Are Concerned About Is Flow — It Doesn't Bother Me in the Slightest"

Ask Joa what homeowners worry about most, and one word comes up repeatedly: flow.

"It's the word I hear more often than anything." Her response is surprisingly liberating. "It doesn't bother me in the slightest. I don't care if I have a red room, a blue room, and a green room."

Rather than repeating one palette throughout an entire house, she prefers individual spaces designed around individual needs. There is, however, one trick that can stop a collection of different rooms from feeling chaotic: keep the colors at a similar "weight".

"If I'm standing in a hallway and seeing into three rooms, they should somehow work together even if they are red, blue and green."

By weight, Joa means intensity. A deep green and a similarly saturated red can sit comfortably beside each other even though the hues themselves are completely different. "It's really the intensity of the color," she says. The result is continuity without sameness.

5. "A Little Shock Is Fun"

Some of Joa's favorite uses of color are also the smallest. She loves painting the jamb of a door in an unexpected shade, creating a tiny flash that appears as you pass through a room. "It doesn't necessarily have to correspond with anything. It's just about having a kind of shock." She compares it to a pocket square or a brightly colored sock. "It's that same feeling. Just a little tiny thing which you see and then it's gone."

In one hallway, she ran a checked wallpaper across the ceiling and slightly down the walls, then framed three doorways with bands of the three different colors from the paper. "It sounds ridiculous when you describe it. But nobody notices it. It just feels like it should be there," she says. This leads to one of her most interesting decorating philosophies. "Good decoration isn't noticed. It's when it's wrong that people notice things."

6. "Ceilings, Always. Ceilings."

"I personally hate a big white ceiling because I think they completely ruin any paint scheme," Joa says. Instead, she treats the ceiling as the fifth wall, either carrying the wall color upwards or using another shade entirely. And when she wants to bring light into a darker room, she goes one step further.

"I'm a huge fan of the gloss ceiling. Gloss creates reflection, allowing light to bounce around the space. If you've got a dark room, paint the ceiling in gloss. Pink Ground gloss is one of my particular favorites," Joa says. Again, the effect of decorating a ceiling in this way does not necessarily announce itself.

"You walk into the room, and you don't think, 'Oh God, the ceiling is pink and glossy.' You just think it feels really nice."

7. "It’s Fantastic That Colors Change"

One of the greatest anxieties people have about paint is that the color they chose in the shop suddenly looks completely different at home. Joa thinks that is exactly what makes good color beautiful. "Some people get very freaked out because it looks green in one light and dark brown there and gray somewhere else. But that's what makes it alive. A shade might feel warmer in south-facing summer light, then greener or greyer in cooler northern or winter light. Embrace it. It's alive. It's fantastic."

Rather than fighting those variations, Joa believes they should become part of the room. Her own favorite Farrow & Ball color, Light Blue, is a perfect example. "It's a fabulous bedroom color because it's silvery blue when you wake up and then much more silvery and gray at night."

8. "You Can Use Finish Almost Like Another Color"

Joa's obsession is not only with color, but with what happens when the same color is given two entirely different finishes.

She loves Farrow & Ball's Dead Flat for its chalky, almost velvety quality. "You feel like you can dive into the walls. Because it can be used across walls, woodwork and ceilings, it also makes color drenching simpler. One pot of paint can do the whole thing."

But her favorite trick is pairing that softness with gloss. She might paint the bottom metre of a wall in gloss, then use exactly the same shade in Dead Flat above. "The gloss is super durable for dogs, suitcases, prams, whatever. And it creates this sparkle, with the light bouncing off it, while the Dead Flat sits above."

9. "If You’re Wary of Color, Just Use a Tiny Bit"

Despite her reputation for color, Joa has no interest in forcing anyone into a maximalist home.

"If you're wary of color, it doesn't matter. Just use a tiny bit."

Children's and teenagers' rooms are perfect places to experiment. "If you live in a very neutral, contained house, it's quite fun to let your child put color inside the cupboard or on the back of the bedroom door. "They're often in there with the door shut, but you're not, so they get their boost of color, and you get your neutral home."

She also likes split color in children's rooms, taking a stronger shade to around hip height and using something lighter above. "This is so great with younger children. When the child is playing on the floor, it feels really cosy down below, but the lighter color above makes the room feel as though it opens out."

10. "Isn’t It Lucky We All Like Different Colors?"

For all the forecasting, color charts, and decorating advice, Joa ultimately believes taste should remain deeply personal.

She herself struggles with lilac. "I find it a difficult color to decorate with. Even the darker purples. But isn't it lucky we all like different colors? The world would be really boring if we all liked the same thing."

Personally, she is currently drawn to colors that feel warmer, richer, and more grounding: Etruscan Red, Duster, Marmelo, Broccoli Brown, Reduced Green, and Dibber. That's what she is decorating with at home at the moment. In fact, she's doing a whole project with just two of these colors. 'These are all colors that feel like they're keeping you safe, but they've got a little bit of excitement as well," she says.

And perhaps that is the best summary of Joa's approach to decorating: create a home that gives you security without becoming predictable. One that feels comforting, alive, and unmistakably yours.

Because, as she puts it, the aim is really very simple. "Choose color that makes you smile. Color that makes you feel good about yourself."

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It can be overwhelming trying to sift through all of the different decorating techniques, especially when you just want to create a home that feels right for you. Recently, I've found that it helps to get creative with your approach. So, instead of building your lighting scheme around strict rules and regulations, why not choose your lamps and fixtures based on your personality? Does your home need an introvert- or extrovert-friendly lighting scheme?

Sure, it may sound a little out of the box, but this approach is more about appealing to the senses. Introverts typically need a lighting scheme that regulates the nervous system and is gentle on the senses (no big light in sight), while extroverts usually like to incorporate lights conducive to entertaining or a statement piece as the focal point (does a chandelier count as a big light?).

Every stylish home will have some variation of a layered scheme; however, how you experience lighting at home — the kinds of fixtures you gravitate towards, how you zone your lighting, and even whether or not the 'big light' is right for you — all can be defined by your personality. So, introvert or extrovert, below is what you need to know before you buy your next table lamp.

Lighting That Works Well in an Introvert's Home

Just as introverts and extroverts choose different paint colors, they tend to gravitate towards lighting that reflects the atmosphere they want from their space. Think of the typical characteristics of an introvert: soft, indirect, and dimmable lighting works best because it prevents sensory overstimulation and creates a calm space to recharge. So if you align with this personality type, you might want to invest in lots of overhead lighting alternatives.

Interior designer Prudence Bailey built her studio based on the idea that environments should not only look exquisite but also resonate deeply with your essence. She shares with me, "Lighting has such an emotional effect on a room. Lower, softer sources of light naturally make a space feel more intimate and inviting." Basically, ambient lighting is the bread and butter of an introvert-friendly sanctuary.

And there are many different lighting types, beyond the overhead, that can help capture a calming mood and relaxing environment. For instance, concealed lighting and low-light schemes are perfect for creating a warm glow that will never feel too harsh. Prudence adds, "The key is dimmers! Controlling the light in a room is integral to creating the right mood."

Lighting That Works Well in an Extrovert's Home

While introverts thrive in quieter, low-lit interiors, extroverts, as you may have guessed, thrive in vibrant, sensory-rich spaces. The lighting in an extrovert's home probably reflects this, but don't worry: just because you identify as an extrovert doesn't mean you should have a high-wattage overhead on or flashing LED strip lights. Instead, to support a high-energy, entertainment-friendly lifestyle, an extrovert's lighting setup should prioritize visual impact, flexibility for hosting, and clear zoning for connection.

What does this look like in actuality? Typically, an extrovert's home should plan living room lighting and dining room fixtures around their hosting habits. Spotlighting a game table or home bar idea might be more essential to your lighting scheme than in an introvert's space.

Plus, an extrovert might spend a little more time on lighting in communal spaces — kitchens, dining areas, living rooms, entryways, etc. For this, "Overhead lighting works especially well in spaces where you need good overall visibility, but even there I prefer to layer it," says Prudence. In a kitchen, for example, you might have pendants, layered recessed lighting, and under-cabinet lighting. In a living room, "I would almost always favor lamps, a chandelier, and sconces in the evening because they create a much softer atmosphere," says Prudence.

Or, the extrovert is probably more drawn to statement pieces like oversized table lamps and sculptural chandeliers (an interesting chandelier is never out of style). "A chandelier or pendant can be an incredible focal point and almost act like jewelry for the room, but I think of it as part of the composition rather than the sole light source," says Prudence.

What It All Comes Down To

No matter whether you're an introvert or an extrovert, layered lighting gives a room depth. "I always think a space feels flatter when it relies on one source of light. A mix of lamps, sconces, picture lights, and decorative fixtures creates little pockets of warmth and makes the room feel much more considered," says Prudence.

Choosing lighting based on your introvert or extrovert personality type is more fun, but it also helps connect your decorating scheme to your individuality on a more personal level. You can better understand how you connect with your home from an easy-to-understand perspective. But really, all you need is a curated blend of stylish table lamps, sconces, and pendants that can change as you move through the day to bring a room to life.

How you light a room should include a mix of stylish fixtures, practical pieces, and a general sense of how you intend to use and live within the space.

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Just-been-for-a-nature-walk earth tones have become the neutral shade of choice in the home of late, with the likes of clay, mushroom, sand, and fawn making themselves comfortable in every room of the house. Yet the winds of change are blowing in the earthy decorating department, with the soothing aesthetic becoming increasingly boosted with boldness — retaining its inherent nod to the wild and calm personality, while amping up impact and mood.

When we say ‘earth tones’, we’re generally talking browns and tans, shades that exude the energy of found-them-in-the-forest materials such as soil, timber and stone, from palest putty to deepest mahogany. While we’ve perhaps relied upon these earthy color palettes to support a more vivid scheme or create a pared-back, pale palette, now the volume is going up.

The intensified, earthy hues we’re ushering indoors — those along the lines of terracotta, ocher, paprika, rust and cinnamon — are infused with oomph and power. They embrace our walls like the long-lost cousin we never knew we were missing, making quite the impression while maintaining their status as a visual that our bodies and minds can’t help but feel at ease around. Want to get involved? Here’s how the designers bring boldness with built-in balance, so you can decorate with earth tones in confidence for 2027.

WHY EARTH TONES WORK

Walk into a room dipped in elevated earth tones and there’s the initial ‘wow, look at that’, but then as you spend more time within the palette, its impact softens and melts into a general feeling of warmth, wellbeing and understated indulgence.

Thought natural hues were can’t-go-wrong and reassuringly inoffensive? That’s in the past. “Earth tones have been traditionally approached in a safe manner, with spaces rendered in more muted browns and beige-washed tones,” says interior designer Greg Natale. “Now, we’re approaching them with more confidence and embracing richer tones, which bring an indulgent heat to cocoons and add depth to a space.” Shake off the restraint that classically came with the shades in favor of a look that’s experimental, free, and celebratory — as well as a tonal, tranquil tribute to nature.

What makes earth-rooted colors special is their connection with the landscape, and as such each shade brings a narrative into the home, an effect buoyed by a souped-up level of saturation. “Rich earth tones immediately transport you to their place of origin in a grounding, authentic way,” agrees Kasia Kronberger, founder and principal designer of Studio Bosko.

For too long have such elemental tones equated to the quiet and the unobtrusive — the organic palette renaissance is here, and it’s packing a surprising amount of punch. “Taking your inspiration from nature does not oblige you to tone it down,” explains Anna Chițan, founder and principal designer at Annterior Studio. “Nature is not muted; it is soothing and embracing at full intensity, and interiors are allowed the same license.”

Forgettable? Not these colors. Juicy earth tones are statement-making while also ticking the comforting and livable boxes — precisely the trick tonal minimalism never quite pulled off. “We’re moving away from the idea of earthy colors being muted or neutral and really embracing their warmth and depth,” agrees Jenny Gnadl, associate at Collective Works.

THE HOW-TO

Feeling slightly edgy? Good, that’s how you keep this palette fresh and fun. The organic origins and intrinsic richness of different earth-tinged hues foster a delicious friction, which pulls between drama and quietude. “What feels exciting now is taking earth-derived colors and pushing them somewhere less expected,” agrees Ruby Shields, principal interior designer and founder of Studio Shields. “Rather than building an entirely tonal earthy scheme, it’s about creating tension between colors — something muddy beside something vibrant, warm against cool… taking cues from nature, but rather than harmonizing everything, disrupt the palette a little and give it an unexpected twist.”

Earth colors are known for that feeling of engulfing a room, which is why they have such an effect when used liberally around a space; try this in bolder tones to step it all up a notch. “Don’t be afraid to commit to them — be brave, have fun,” says Jenny Gnadl. “Use several complementary tones rather than one uniform color to create a much richer and sophisticated palette.”

Not sure how to get the ball rolling? Get in the tone-on-tone zone and mix in multiple earth-ish colors — a bit of burnt sienna here, a bit of brick red there, maybe some turmeric over there — and layer the earth’s most exciting spectrum together. “Carrying unapologetic earth shades across contrasting textures is what keeps it contemporary and progressive, and at the same time timeless,” says Anna Chițan. “Take them across walls and ceiling, not into an accent wall or scattered around the room as decorative afterthoughts. Intentional and courageous, or not at all.”

LET’S BEGIN

Unlike paler neutral colors, these full-bodied hues thrive in the rooms we relax in, such as living rooms, snugs, and bedrooms — areas that could do with feeling a little honeyed and heavy.

Starting in one space? Make it the bedroom. The palette’s rustic take on pigment is innately restful; the tones remain interesting without that jolt that less centered shades can bring. “A dark, earthy bedroom is delicious — think nutmeg, olive green, tobacco or a beautiful burgundy,” says Ruby Shields. “We’ve been taught for so long that bedrooms need to be light and bright to feel restful, but depth of color can create an entirely different kind of calm; one that feels warm, intimate and protective. There’s something incredibly enveloping about sleeping in an earth-tinted space.”

To mix things up a bit, bring earth into somewhere more off-kilter. “Bathrooms are particularly interesting as they can often feel sterile and cold,” explains Jenny Gnadl. “In a bathroom, a darker, softer earth palette can create a warm, calming atmosphere and give the room much more character.” And because so much of a bathroom is hard surface, hues do more heavy lifting than they would elsewhere in the home. Out goes function, in comes feeling.

“Powder rooms, dressing rooms, family rooms, bedrooms, entertaining spaces…” muses Anna Chițan. “I wouldn’t shy away from bold earth colors in any room.”

COLOR COMPANIONS

Thanks to their soil-based roots, these colors find it easy to work with other shades as there's a natural harmony at play, but there are certain tones that bounce off and vibe with them more smoothly — and interestingly — than others.

“A fresh way to apply earthy shades is to explore their saturation and texture by pairing them with cooler tones such as sky blue, lilac or mauve,” tips Kasia Kronberger. Cooler shades bring a hit of air and a little conflict to an earthy space, cutting through density, letting the scheme breathe and banishing predictability.

Some colors work precisely because they're there to interrupt and inject unanticipated energy. “Sticking to the same bold, earthy tones can risk being one-dimensional,” warns Greg Natale. “Play with accent colors that work like a staccato in space, including greens, blues, and burgundy. Experimenting with the tonal variations of these colors, whether dense or soft, depends on how you want to steer the mood of each space.”

Not every pairing needs to make immediate sense. “Introduce tension with burgundy or oxblood, orange, powder blue, muddy green,” advises Ruby Shields. “It’s often those slightly strange, unexpected combinations that make earthy colors feel interesting, and grounding tones often allow more vibrant hues to sing.” The earth tone lends its vibrant partner a sense of context, while the brighter shade gives the earth tone its moment of drama.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR

Few color families are as easy to get right as this one, but there are a couple of things that can flatten its impact. “Avoid pairing them with beige and sand tones and other pale neutrals,” recommends Kasia Kronberger. “The result could be very common, or even dull.”

“There’s almost nowhere bold earthy colors don’t work; their grounding quality works in nearly every room,” says Ruby Shields. “Where you can get stuck is confusing earthy with bright. Use anything incredibly vibrant or in-your-face sparingly in peaceful living spaces and bedrooms — save those brighter, saturated moments for bathrooms, powder rooms, transitional spaces, or as little pops of joy throughout the home.”

It’s not the shades that have changed — it’s us; we’re finally allowing them to be something rich, exciting, and fulfilling, less background and more ‘oooh look at that’.

Need a helping hand? Get inspired by the more expressive end of the neutral color wheel, then kick off your own avant-garde, earthy adventure.

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I'll admit I began scenting my home for fall a little early this year, in part to manifest the end of an uncomfortably sultry summer. And there's nothing like fragrance to put you in the mood for this crisp time of year.

Since autumn typically feels like a moment to pause after a vibey summer and just before a festive winter, the scents you choose should evoke a similar ambiance. So, I recommend fall-inspired candles, cozy simmer pots, room sprays, incense for evening rituals, styling fragrant foliage, baking seasonal treats, and opening your windows to make your home smell good this autumn.

Without further ado, let's get into these tips to cap off your autumn reset and bring you into the spirit of the season.

1. Burn Fall-Inspired Candles

Scented candles are by far the most popular way to channel fall. But the key is to choose fragrance blends that layer together for a cozy, understated aroma. Warm woods are a classic choice for these months. However, I also recommend balancing these resinous scents with rich spices.

This turn of the year is also the best time to bring out your favorite gourmand notes. Steer clear of artificial-smelling saccharine candles and opt for natural, nostalgic sweet candles instead. And if you're wondering where to look, Anthropologie's autumn scented candles are my go to.

2. Put on a Cozy Simmer Pot

Even more than Christmas, I tend to associate fall with deliciously aromatic simmer pots. The hints of spice cut with citrus are a clever way to make your kitchen smell amazing in a pinch. And if you're wondering what to boil to make a home smell good, a mix of apple, orange, lemon, cinnamon, cloves, and a dash of vanilla makes for delightful stovetop potpourri.

If you'd prefer a hob-free approach, try studding your fruit. A couple of cloves pierced into a ripe orange, grapefruit, or clementine work just as well.

3. Spray Your Soft Furnishings

Regardless of the time of year, room sprays remain a clever and quick way to perfume a space. However, with all the plush throws that find themselves laid out across an abundance of couch cushions, fall might be the best time to spray your soft furnishings.

This Citrus & Cedar Fabric Spray from STEAMERY and this Baies Room Spray from Diptyque are perfect if you need to make your living room smell refreshed.

4. Light Incense by Dusk

Doesn't incense naturally feel autumnal? If you ask me, the ember of an incense cone, the whisper of wafting smoke, and the earthiness of this ritual feel right at home in a fall home.

Considering rensning is one of my favorite Scandi wellness rituals for these months, it feels like an opportune time to get creative with scented incense. I recommend these P.F. Candle Co. Milky Santal Incense Sticks from Urban Outfitters and the new incense sets from Jo Malone London.

5. Bake Cinnamon and Vanilla Recipes

Unlike the aforementioned ways to make your home smell like autumn, this is not a quick and effortless trick. However, it is definitely worth all the effort and time that goes into it. Especially if you prefer scenting your space naturally, a vanilla or cinnamon recipe is a heartwarming touch.

Plus, it's the kind of offline ritual that will make your fall kitchen feel so much more authentic. Cozy Café Cookie Recipe Book by Libby Silbermann or Morning Baker by Roxana Jullapat are worth a flip.

6. Style Naturally Fragrant Foliage

There's an abundance of autumn flowers that make a home smell nice. I'm currently loving this Purple Bloom & Ilex Bouquet from M&S and this British Mixed Dahlia Bouquet from Arena Flowers.

And if you're lucky enough to have a blossoming fall garden, then there's nothing like a quick daily forage for a subtle but altogether enriching arrangement of stems.

7. Open Your Windows

As the seasons cool, we forget to open up our windows and let our homes breathe. However, it might be one of the most important things you can do to let your space's scent make a good impression.

It cleanses the home and welcomes in a natural green scent of crisp leaves and petrichor that's tough to emulate. So, remember to cross ventilate your space, even if it momentarily disrupts your cozy mood.

The most important thing to consider when perfuming your space for autumn is to avoid layering in unseasonal notes. And the cheat code to a perfect fall vibe is woody home fragrance.

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Underneath every good-looking rug is, likely, a rug pad. In fact, the rug pad is really the styling detail that can make or break how your rug exists within a room. It helps prevent pesky problems like bunching or slipping, holds everything in position, and protects the rug and floor from excessive wear and friction from movement. Plus, when a rug lies smooth and even, the style or pattern is better showcased — investing in a rug pad is a win, win, win. But are all rug pads the same?

When choosing a suitable rug pad, rug expert Lizzie Mosley, creative director at Hug Rug and Phoenox, says, "It's important you look for a product that is compatible with your flooring type and the intended purpose." It's not necessarily a matter of whether you need a rug pad, but rather what kind of rug pad you need. There are many options available; some provide extra cushioning, while others are simply designed to keep your rug in place. "You also want to make sure that the size is correct, so the rug pad works discreetly under your rug," adds Lizzie.

When choosing a rug pad, there is room for error, and I want to help you get your floor covering perfectly sorted before the cozy season is in full force. Below are Lizzie's top tips for choosing the best rug pad to make your rug look its very best.

1. "Thickness Affects Style and Comfort"

The thickness of your rug pad is probably the first thing you want to think about in relation to the kind of rug you have and how you want it to look. Tufted versus flatwoven rugs, or even shag rugs, will all look best with different levels of thickness. Basically, "the thickness of the rug pad you choose is important, as you don't want it to interfere with the look or design of the rug you are pairing it with," explains Lizzie Mosley.

For flatweave rugs, "a thinner profile is required to maintain the slim style effect, whereas a thicker pile can be paired with a thicker pad for added comfort," she adds. You don't want a thick foam pad bulging beneath a minimalist flatweave rug.

However, where you are styling your rug also matters in terms of thickness. For a living room or bedroom rug, you'll typically want a plusher pad for added comfort, while a rug under the dining table needs to be more flush with the floor for better chair movement.

2. "Some Materials are Better Than Others"

Just like with the rug itself, the material of the rug pad can affect the way everything lies. In short, you want to choose a high-quality rug pad in a material that complements the material and thickness of the rug.

Depending on the intended use, the materials can vary. However, "Felt is a great option as it provides underfoot cushioning and comfort, with enough grip to stop slipping and bunching," Lizzie says. Plus, felt is generally pretty thick, so it's great for thicker rugs and plusher areas.

Waffle grip pads are another solid option. They are kind of the bread and butter of rug pads — focusing solely on grip and keeping the rug in place, they work under majority of rugs.

3. "Yes, Size Matters"

Lastly, and perhaps the best advice when selecting the right rug pad, is that size matters. You definitely don't want a rug pad that's so big it sticks out from under your rug, or a square pad under a round rug. It seems obvious, I know, but it's always good to have the right preparations in place.

"We'd suggest choosing a rug pad that is smaller than your rug, or one that is designed to be cut to size, leaving a small border," says Lizzie. Then, "Once in place, smooth out the rug on top, hiding the rug pad underneath," Lizzie adds.

If all this sounds too complicated, you can always opt for a rug with built-in grip, like Ruggable's all-in-one technology. This way, you can ensure your rug and rug pad fit perfectly.

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Just down the road from where I live, there is a renovation and extension project underway. The house is a beautiful old Victorian waterworks, and when it came onto the market a couple of years ago, we actually went to view it. It was completely uninhabitable and buying it would have meant living on-site with our two teenagers in some kind of temporary set-up. Our last project saw us camping out in variously damp, draughty, cold spaces while work went on around us and, despite the fact that we finished it around 10 years ago now, the memories of some of the really dark days had not yet diminished enough to persuade us to take the plunge again.

The thing is, as work progressed and I drove by, seeing this dilapidated house being restored to its former glory, I began to feel really envious. Not just of the beautiful home it was clearly being transformed into thanks to the owners' sympathetic extension plan, but also, strangely, because of the mobile home that stood in the garden, where a young family was clearly living — evidenced by the crayon drawings stuck to the windows, the string lights that were hung around the caravan at Christmas, and the swings and slides in the construction site of a garden. Maybe I'm now seeing things through rose-tinted glasses, but we actually had some really happy times living on-site ourselves — it was a proper adventure, and I know the kids now look back on it really fondly.

That said, there were plenty of stressful, frustrating, and difficult moments too — yet, on reflection, many of these could have been avoided if I knew then what I know now. So if you are planning on embarking on a project that will mean living on-site while renovating with your kids, I want to share with you everything I now realize would have made our own experience so much better.

1. Choose Your Build Team Really Carefully

Even though we carried out the majority of our renovation and extension project on a DIY basis, there were certain jobs that required professional input — namely the actual construction of the two rear extensions, as well as some elements of the more skilled tasks such as plastering, plumbing, and electrics.

We quickly came to realize that the people you have working on-site make a huge difference. For example, our builder (who, admittedly, also happened to be my brother-in-law) went out of his way to include the children where he could, and our plumber, who had children of his own, would ask when was a good time to carry out noisier elements of his work.

While you can't expect all trades to tip-toe around you, hiring people you have a good rapport with and who seem to understand the set-up will help hugely, as Mia Spencer, founder at House by Mia, explains. "Get a good builder — a good builder will not only do a great job but will also respect your house and minimize mess. They might even work with you to schedule certain aspects of the worst of the work when you can be out of the way."

2. Make Everyone's Safety Your Number One Priority

I'm all for letting kids help out during a build project — but that doesn't mean I don't advocate site safety. If you are going to live on-site with your children, you need to ensure their home isn't dangerous — doing so will ensure everyone feels more relaxed.

Andy Gibbs, remodeling expert and founder of RemodX, suggests starting with a 'child-safety' plan. "A remodeling site is not merely messy — depending on the scope, it can become an active, hazardous construction zone inside the family home. My advice is simple — one can't create a child-safety plan until the project’s actual scope and hazards have been defined.

"Identify every room, hallway, entrance, yard, and utility area workers will use, not just the rooms being remodeled. List the work performed in each area and inventory the hazards," continues Andy. "Determine how children will access bedrooms, outdoor spaces, and living areas without crossing construction paths, and create physical separation. You should also establish operating rules. Require controlled tool and chemical storage, secured ladders, dust containment, HEPA filtration, daily debris removal and an end-of-day hazard inspection before workers leave."

Vanessa Larsson, architectural and interior designer at Planner 5D, also points out that hazards can change on a daily basis. "Your house is different every evening. A building site changes shape daily. You childproof it once, and then the floorboards come up in the hallway, a banister gets taken off, there's a window opening with no glass in it yet. So do a walk-round every evening once the contractors have gone, and look at it all from about three feet off the ground, because that's the height your child sees it from. Tools locked away, ladders down, skip covered. Five minutes, and it's the most useful five minutes of your day.

"Sound is the hazard nobody thinks about," adds Vanessa. "A breaker, a saw, a floor sander — these are genuinely loud enough to damage hearing, and small children have far more sensitive ears than we do. Get a set of children's ear defenders." These Dr.Meter Ear Defenders for Children from Amazon come in some really fun colors.

3. Keep One Comfortable, Mess-free Area at All Times

One of the biggest renovation and extension mistakes we made was to rush in, without a proper schedule of works or plan, and start tearing out all the things we hated — moth-eaten carpets, champagne-colored basins, even the odd wall or two. What this resulted in was an almighty mess — everywhere. A methodical approach, whereby we moved around, room-by-room, would have made life so much easier. As it was, we ended up confined to pretty much one room while work went on around us — and we're not talking a comfortable room either. It was stacked full of all the things we needed to get out of the way, with bare, cold floors and crumbling walls.

Vanessa Larsson suggests creating at least one retreat within the mess — a safe space that you look forward to being in when it all gets a bit much. "Renovate in stages. Keep one room sacred at all times, one room free of renovation dust and mess. Even if that means the entire family sleeping in one room together, it would be worth it, just to have a clean space. If possible, even keep one half of the home renovation-free, finish it, then switch to the other half."

Mia Spencer agrees that creating one or two clear spaces is key to a happy project. "When doing a single-storey extension, I always recommend that families create a living area on an upstairs floor so that there is a living zone away from the mess. Dining can still happen downstairs (as it's messy anyway), but after a quick meal you can retreat to comfort upstairs."

4. Have a Plan in Place for How You'll Cook and Wash

If you plan on living on what is, essentially, a construction site, full-time, with kids, you are going to need somewhere to cook meals for them, and also the facilities for everyone to wash.

At the very least, you need a source of clean water, a sink, and somewhere to cook food, be that a camping stove, air fryer, or microwave. We retained the old ground floor bathroom, despite it being pretty grim, while we put our modern bathroom ideas into action on the first floor and set up a temporary kitchen from an old trestle table, kettle, and two-ring electric tabletop stove like this VonShef Portable Electric Hot Plate from Amazon.

Vanessa Larsson has a good tip on how to approach the cooking and washing situation. "For the rooms that really run your daily life — basically the kitchen and the bathroom — always do them one at a time, never both at once. Losing one is manageable; losing both is not ideal."

5. Get the Children Involved as Much as You Can

Some people might say that kids and construction sites don't mix — I happen to disagree. Having grown up with an architect for a Dad, we moved from project to project, and I loved seeing our houses progress through the various build stages, climbing up ladders, having a try at spreading the mortar onto bricks, even swinging the odd sledgehammer at walls that were no longer needed.

In short, if you want everyone to enjoy the process of renovating, you need to let them feel a part of it from time to time — not just a spectator. I'm not suggesting that you let your toddler loose on a digger, or entrust them with your kitchen remodel or wiring, but just letting them see the fun side of it all helps. Somewhere behind the skim coat and paint on our walls are giant, scribbled, felt-tip murals, and the day my son was allowed to sit in the bucket of the digger to eat his lunch remains forever etched in his mind.

"Let them see the fun side of renovating," agrees Vanessa Larsson. "Often we dream of renovating, and once we're finally there, we're complaining. Your children pick up on these cues. Try to remember why you're doing it, that you're excited for the change, and that the temporary messy living will be worth it in the end. Make the temporary living fun, and let the children be part of it all. They'll love a good 'eating pizza on the floor' moment."

6. Don't Feel Guilty About Taking Time Off

During the 'renovation years', holidays were pared-back affairs, and days out with the kids usually meant one of us stayed at home to carry on with the work. However, on the rare occasion that we all downed tools, those moments away from the house meant we all returned feeling refreshed and motivated. Don't feel guilty for taking some time out — it does everyone good.

While taking time off does mean that work gets put on hold, taking a slower approach can be a good thing, according to Vanessa Larsson. "Let the renovation take time. It's better to move slowly, at a feasible pace, but to always keep it moving. Otherwise you might burn out after a couple of months and give up.

"I have many clients with half-finished projects that weigh them down on a daily basis," continues Vanessa. "So, renovate slowly, but always keep the work in motion. Baby steps. One week you might be painting trim, another day it's just ordering the tiles from the sofa once everyone's finally asleep. Some weeks nothing visible happens at all because you're waiting on a window to arrive — and that counts too, as long as you know what the next small thing is."

7. Try Your Best to Keep Dust Under Control

More than the rubble, more than the noise, even more than the fact that for a period of time we had no actual roof, meaning it would be raining in the middle of the house, it was the dust that really got to me — or, more accurately, got everywhere.

Putting dust containment methods in place makes living on-site with children so much easier and is definitely something I plan on paying more attention to next time around — it's one of those things I regret skipping during my renovation the most.

"Clearing out the dust is one of those jobs that feels endless and thankless while you're doing it, but it matters more than almost anything else, because it's not good for you or your children to be breathing it in," points out Vanessa Larsson. "Use proper zip-door protection all around the spaces that are in renovation, taped floor-to-ceiling, not just polythene hung over a doorway." (Guilty). "Get a proper dust extractor — and a HEPA air purifier so you can breathe clearly at night."

This Meaco Deluxe 202 Air Purifier & Humidifier at John Lewis is an on-site essential, working not only as a humidifier, emitting a fine mist (which can be infused with an aroma) to reduce the effects of dry air and dust, but also includes a HEPA filter that retains 97.3% of particles 0.3 micrometers in diameter.

As for zip-door sheets, I have no idea why we didn't use them during our project — they would have helped so much. This BRACKIT U-Shape Zipper Door Dust Sheet on Amazon comes with everything you need to fit it, is made from thick, sturdy plastic, and, thanks to a strong zip, prevents dust from travelling from room to room while you work.

8. Know When It's Time to Vacate the Premises

Finally, there is no shame in bailing out at certain points during the project — whether it is for your physical or mental health, there are just times when being on-site is not going to work.

For us, this point came when the floors were being dug up and the walls being stripped back to brickwork in the main ground floor areas — we decamped to the grandparents' house for week.

"The day you feel that you can't protect your children from the dust, or the day the noise is too loud to bear, that's your signal to go," says Vanessa Larsson. "Spend the day somewhere with clean air and a floor you can put a baby down on, or even make a daily habit of being out as much as possible during the stretches the contractors are on site. Living through a renovation can be uncomfortable — that's the deal you've signed up to — but it should never be unbearable. The moment it tips over, you leave, and you come back to it tomorrow."

Not all projects have to be hugely disruptive to everyday life. If you want to make changes without the stress, take a look at the minor home renovations that can make your home more quietly luxurious, minus the mess.

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Many moons ago, a TV served a single purpose: to entertain all those glued to its screen. But in today's modern homes, that's no longer the case. Instead of simply serving as a source of sit-down entertainment, a TV has become part of the interior — so its placement and design should feel considered and intentional, rather than an afterthought.

That said, maybe you want your TV to enhance a room without dominating it? Or perhaps you want a flush design that blends in, rather than stands out amongst your walls? Whatever it is, just hanging a screen in the middle of a wall and having some sofas facing it is one living room TV mistake to avoid now.

Instead, clever design tricks can help a TV feel part of the room's architecture once and for all. To help get a clearer picture, we spoke to experts. Here's what they have to say about the new rules to live by when it comes to designing a TV into your space and what you should never, ever do.

1. First, Establish the Room's Purpose

According to Charlie McCourt, co-founder of design-led smart home and technology company Equippd, the first rule of thumb is to define what the room will be used for — as this will determine what to do with your TV.

“If it's a dedicated media room, concentrate on getting the screen size, height, and viewing distance right,” he says. “There's no real benefit in hiding the TV if watching it is the reason the room exists."

If the space is more formal or multifunctional, you might take the opposite approach and use a mirror TV, hidden storage idea, or artwork to conceal your big black box. “This will make the screen less prominent when it's not being used,” Charlie adds.

Or maybe, once you’ve come to a decision on what the room will be for, you might realize that you don’t need a TV there at all. “Many times, our clients want something because they think it's standard or customary,” Ginger Curtis, founder and CEO of Urbanology Designs, tells us. “Instead, give yourself permission to go against the status quo and really think through alternative spaces where a TV could live beyond a living room or over a fireplace.”

2. Conceal the Cables, Not Necessarily the TV

Let’s face it: nothing quite kills the vibe of a room than having your cables and other TV paraphernalia on show. And according to Charlie McCourt, it's one of the biggest mistakes made when designing a room around a TV.

"People think about the TV itself, but not necessarily power, data, ventilation, brackets, cable routes, or where the equipment is going to live," he explains. "If you're building bespoke joinery or concealing a screen, all of that needs to be resolved early. It's much harder to fix once the room has been plastered and decorated."

Which is why Charlie suggests sorting out the infrastructure from the get-go, at first fix. “That's true whether you're hiding a TV behind a moving stone panel or just putting one on the wall. Trying to deal with those things after the room has been finished nearly always means either undoing finished work or accepting a compromise,” he adds.

3. Have Your Remote Under Control

It’s all well and good designing a smart-looking space to watch TV, but not if you can’t easily use the screen. Which is why Charlie recommends giving some thought to how you will control your TV and keeping the control appropriate to the room.

“In a dedicated media or cinema room, bringing the TV, lighting, blinds, and cooling together can make a lot of sense. You sit down, press one button and the room is ready,” he says.

But if you’re designing a living room, you probably don't need that level of integration. “A single remote, like the Crestron Cevo, or even just a beautifully designed Apple TV remote controlling TV and sound, might be exactly the right answer," he adds. "You can have an incredibly sophisticated system, but if watching TV involves finding three remotes and remembering which input everything needs to be on, something has gone wrong. It should be simple."

4. Prioritise Viewing Comfort

Another design no-no? Prioritising aesthetics over viewing comfort. Instead, designing a TV into a style-led space is quite the opposite.

“For example, mounting a TV too high, such as above a fireplace, may look visually appealing but can lead to an uncomfortable viewing experience over time,” James Thomas, senior product manager for media solutions at LG Electronics UK, tells us.

Instead, he suggests positioning your TV so that the center of the screen is roughly at eye level when seated. “This creates a more natural viewing experience and helps avoid any strain during longer viewing sessions,” he says.

5. Consider the Size of the TV and Location of Furniture

In the world of TVs, bigger doesn’t mean better. “We see this a lot with giant TVs over fireplaces that are smaller than the TV itself,” Ginger says. “It doesn't scale; it's too top-heavy, and the proportions are wrong, so it looks awkward.”

And James agrees. “A larger screen can often enhance immersion, but it needs to be matched to the room,” he adds.

The same goes for the seating distance and room dimensions when selecting your TV. "Many people underestimate the size of TV their room can accommodate, resulting in a less immersive viewing experience," James explains. "As a guide, viewers should sit approximately 1.5 to 2.5 times the diagonal screen size away from the TV.”

6. Elevate the Space Around Your TV

If there's one more rule worth knowing, it's making your TV (and the space around it) work harder than it used to. "Try to get one that's framed," Ginger suggests. "Or if you can't upgrade, you can paint the wall behind it, turning it into a darker, moody color so the TV blends in and feels framed and elevated.”

If you'd rather your TV isn't in sight at all, that's where brilliant media wall ideas step up to the plate, as some conceal your big screen in its entirety.

"We love hiding the TV behind a tapestry with an automatic Roman shade," Ginger says. "You press a button, it pulls the tapestry up so you can watch TV, and when you're not, you have this amazing wall hanging. We also love the gallery wall for those who love the framed TV option. It's a nice surprise and delight if done right."

So, as you can see, designing a TV into your home takes a little more thought than shoving a screen on the wall and hoping for the best. The good news is that these design ideas can work no matter whether you're working with a small or large space. But if it's the former, do read up on where a TV should go in a small living room.

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Even if gardening isn't your passion, creating an outdoor oasis to spend time in with family and friends, or even just to gaze out from the comfort of indoors, is pretty appealing to most of us. I most certainly do not have green fingers, yet that doesn't stop me from appreciating beautiful garden schemes.

Where my own outdoor space really falls flat is when it comes to my garden lighting ideas — or, more precisely, the complete lack of a properly planned scheme. Two wall lights stuck to the extension might do the job of lighting the patio table, but that's about as exciting as it gets. I long for more but have no idea where to start.

Planning a garden lighting scheme from scratch can feel overwhelming, so I approached some top designers who, helpfully, have broken the process down into easy-to-understand stages and what and when to factor in when buying garden lighting for your space.

1. Decide exactly what you want from your garden

While there is a sea of inspirational modern garden ideas easily accessible, understanding how to translate them into your own space is not always so easy.

Mike Kazer, founder and design director at London Lightworks, explains that the starting point should be to ensure everyone knows the end goal, be that something to enhance your small patio ideas or a grander scheme. Even if you're not planning on using a lighting designer, his approach definitely makes sense. "We want to understand the overall landscape concept: What are the feature areas? What are the key views? Which elements should draw attention, and how will the garden be experienced after dark?

"We also want to understand the client's personal preferences," continues Mike. "Do they enjoy a garden with lots of light and dramatic features, or are they looking for a delicate and minimal garden, with subtle pockets of light that create atmosphere without overpowering the landscape?

"And there's one piece of information we're rarely given up front but always ask for — the budget," adds Mike. "Understanding the budget from the outset allows us to develop a lighting scheme that is realistic, considered, and in line with the client's expectations, rather than designing something that looks great on paper but isn't achievable. Once we have this information, we can begin to develop a lighting approach that complements the landscape, enhances the architecture, and creates the right atmosphere for the people using the garden."

2. Plan the scheme in layers

With a clearer idea of what it is you are aiming to achieve with your lighting, your next step should be to get to grips with how to plan in a layered garden lighting scheme — this will ensure you are maximizing the space you have to work with.

Travis Hogue, owner of Outdoor Lighting Perspectives , explains just why this approach is so important. "A garden lit with only one layer reads flat — no matter how good the fixtures are. I approach it like a designer might light a stage. For the foreground, use soft step and pathway lighting, in the midground opt for accent uplighting on trees and focal features and, finally, in the background use architectural wall washers or silhouette lighting." Map everything out and ensure you have covered all bases.

Mike Kazer has some further advice when planning layers into your scheme. "Ideally, each layer should be controlled independently, rather than having everything switched on at once. This allows the lighting to respond to different uses and moods. Where the budget and control system allow, we also recommend making these layers dimmable, giving even greater flexibility to adjust the atmosphere." Factoring all of this in from the start will avoid headaches further down the line.

3. Choose the right fittings for the job

Now the stage is set for your lighting scheme; you need to select the right type of light fittings to get the job done — and it isn't just a case of looking at the latest garden lighting trends.

Garrett Cunnington, founder of Loudoun Lighting, says that the wisest place to begin is by focusing on your hopes for the end result. "Start with the lighting effect you want and work backward to the fitting. Think about beam angle, output, glare control, mounting position and adjustability — all are usually more important than the fitting itself. You generally want the fixtures to disappear into the landscape anyway. In most gardens, you should notice the lighting effect before you notice the equipment creating it."

Mike Kazer is keen to emphasize the important role the climate should play in the fittings you choose too. "The environment needs to be carefully considered. When working in coastal locations, for example, we look for fittings with appropriate materials and specialist finishing processes that can withstand the more demanding conditions created by salt-laden air.

"We also favor 24V light fittings over constant-current LED systems, as these systems can share drivers more easily and give the client greater flexibility to add further fittings to the installation in the future," continues Mike. "Maintenance is another important consideration. We look at how easily fittings can be accessed and serviced, and whether LEDs can be replaced without having to disturb or replace the cabling.

"A well-designed lighting scheme should look good when it is installed and then stay practical to maintain over many years. The best fittings are those that combine durability, flexibility, and ease of maintenance with careful optical control, allowing the landscape to take center stage."

4. Work out the best installation routes

Installation and cabling might not be the most glamorous aspect of garden lighting, but according to Raine Clarke-Wills, principal designer and director at Raine Garden Design, early planning is essential for any scheme to be a success. "We always try to think about lighting before the hard landscaping goes in. You really don’t want to finish beautiful paving or build a wall and then realize you need to run cables underneath it.

"You might not know exactly where every light is going at that stage, but it’s worth planning where power might be needed and thinking ahead. It just makes life so much easier later and means the lighting feels like it belongs in the garden rather than something that has been added afterwards. The electrical side should, of course, be planned and installed by a suitably qualified professional."

Landscape designer Caroline Ervin of Caroline Ervin Landscape Design explains that hard landscaping ideally needs to be put in place before any wiring. "Hardscaping should be mostly completed before lighting is installed — so that there is no chance of construction damage to wires in the ground — but conduits should be planned and installed underneath hardscapes (such as paths and patios) before any concrete is poured so that lighting wires can be run through them afterwards. One important exception is any lights that are built into walls or steps — these would need to be installed in conjunction with the installation of the hardscape."

Mike Kazer's approach is very much a collaborative one, where everyone involved communicates. "We begin by producing a circuited lighting drawing, as not all fittings will be switched on together. As almost all of the fittings we use outdoors are low-voltage systems, they require remote drivers.

"The next step is to work closely with the contractor and landscape designer to identify suitable locations for driver hubs," elaborates Mike. "These need to be discreet and out of sight, while still remaining easily accessible for future maintenance. Drivers should always be installed within waterproof enclosures to ensure long-term reliability and protection from the elements. Finding the right locations for these enclosures early in the design process helps avoid compromises later in the project. This coordinated approach means the electrical infrastructure sits neatly within the landscape and gives the lighting scheme a solid, maintainable foundation," adds Mike.

5. Prioritize mains-powered lighting but don't discount solar

Anyone keen to avoid too much disruption when it comes to installation, perhaps because they are retrofitting, may well be toying with the idea of solar-powered lighting.

Caroline Ervin says that while solar has its place, it rarely works as the sole solution. "Solar power is a great option for accents such as lanterns or portable table lamps, as they are easy to move as needed for charging. On a larger scale though, the unpredictability of sunlight makes it difficult to charge every fixture to the same degree of brightness and longevity. Technology is improving constantly, however, so this will hopefully change in the near future."

For Mike Kazer, however, mains-powered wins hands down. "We don't use solar-powered lighting in our garden projects. In the UK, we generally don't have sufficient hours of strong sunlight throughout the year for conventional solar lighting to provide the consistency and performance we expect from a lighting scheme. For solar power to work properly, we would typically be looking at a larger, professionally designed solar panel system with battery storage, with the stored energy then feeding the lighting system electrically. At that point, however, it becomes a much more substantial installation than the small standalone solar fittings often used in gardens.

"The lighting we use is already LED and extremely low in power consumption. A surprisingly small amount of light goes a long way outdoors, particularly when the lighting is carefully positioned and controlled," points out Mike. "For us, it is less about using as little power as possible and more about using the right amount of light, in the right place, at the right time. A well-designed garden lighting scheme can create a dramatic effect without using much energy at all."

6. Make controlling your scheme a breeze

The way in which you control your newly-installed garden lighting needs not only to be uncomplicated but should also allow for creating the right ambience for the moment.

According to Caroline Ervine, thanks to modern advances, it is easier than ever to set up flexible lighting controls. "It seems as though each year there is new technology available to make it easy for homeowners to control their outdoor lighting. I recommend clients use an astrological timer which will automatically turn on at dusk and shift throughout the year as sunset moves. The timer can then be set to keep the lights on as long as is desired, making it something the homeowners just don’t ever need to worry about when the lights turn on and off."

"I'd also recommend a digital astronomic timer, with a battery backup at minimum, so it adjusts automatically with sunrise and sunset," picks up Travis Hogue. "Beyond that, app-based smart controllers with independent zones let homeowners build scenes — outdoor dining and entertaining, everyday, holiday and so on — and to control each area separately. We can also work with the home automation integrators to bring the landscape lighting under the control of the home automation systems, which is preferred for most of our projects."

FAQs

How many lights does a garden need?

While it's tempting to think in numbers when it comes to lighting, particularly when trying to budget, according to Caroline Ervine, the number of lights you'll need totally depends on the size of your space as well as the effect you're aiming for. "Start with a plan that achieves the basic goals of safety and creates soft and subtle light. From there, layer additions as needed, always keeping balance in mind. Typically, lights on a path are placed about eight feet apart. If trees are properly spaced (another topic altogether), uplights would be spaced every 12 feet or more. Additional accent lights in the garden should be spaced similarly to how tree lighting is spaced."

Travis Hogue feels that the size of the garden doesn't always have to dictate how many lights are used. "Size matters less than what needs to be lit. We design to focal points and safety-critical circulation, and leave deliberate darkness between since contrast is what makes a scheme feel dimensional. A well-planned quarter-acre property might use 15 to 25 fixtures and outshine a larger one lit with twice as many but without a plan. Typically, a greater number of lower output and intentionally placed fixtures look worlds better than fewer, higher output fixtures."

Finally, Hazel Park, lead lighting designer at John Cullen Lighting, points out that the garden's location plays a part too. "In urban gardens, more light may be needed to compete with ambient light pollution, whereas in the countryside very little light can have enormous impact. It is about putting light in the right places rather than lighting everything."

Should all trees have uplighters?

There is no denying that placing uplighters at the base of trees can result in some stunning effects — but a little restraint and consideration are required here if you don't want your garden lighting to look cheap or over-lit, says Raine Clarke-Wills. "I definitely wouldn’t light every tree. I think you need to be quite selective. If there’s a really beautiful trunk, interesting bark, or a lovely shape to the canopy, then absolutely make something of it. Sometimes a tree at the end of a view can look incredible when it’s lit at night. But if every tree is illuminated, nothing really stands out anymore."

"Multi-stem trees look particularly beautiful when up-lit from close to the stems," adds Mike Kazer. "The light picks out their structure, creating texture, depth and interesting patterns of light and shadow," advises Mike. "Larger trees, such as oak or beech, can also be beautifully illuminated, but we tend to use this approach sparingly. Rather than lighting every tree, we select individual trees or small groups that contribute to the views through the garden and help create depth."

That said, Mike adds that there are instances where a braver approach works best. "There are occasions where lighting every tree, or every alternate tree, can be very effective. For example, where there is a formal, manicured and symmetrical avenue of trees leading up a drive — repeating the lighting creates a strong rhythm and reinforces the geometry of the landscape."

What color temperature is best for gardens?

Just as when developing a lighting design scheme for the interior of your home, it pays to think about light color temperature in the garden.

Garrett Cunnington reveals his strategy. "For the majority of residential garden lighting, I prefer warm white light in roughly the 2700K to 3000K range, with 3000K being a very useful starting point. Warm light is generally flattering to foliage, natural stone, wood and residential architecture, and it tends to produce the comfortable atmosphere most homeowners want from a garden after dark."

Don't miss the opportunity to moonlight your garden too — using a cooler temperature can create some ethereal results according to Garrett. "If I'm installing fixtures high in mature trees to create the effect of moonlight filtering through the canopy, I may use 4000K or potentially a cooler source. As with almost every aspect of lighting design, color temperature is a tool rather than a rule. It should serve the effect we are trying to create."

To ensure plenty of atmosphere in your outdoor spaces, spotlights are perfect — but take the time to consider the best position for garden spotlights before popping them randomly all over the place. Located thoughtfully, they can highlight focal points and add a rich sense of depth to even the simplest of spaces.

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Bay windows are a sought-after feature in living rooms. And for good reason — who doesn't want all of the extra natural light they provide? But while bay windows are stunning architectural features, they can make living room furniture arrangements a bit tricky.

"A bay window brings a natural focal point and is a wonderful architectural feature, establishing character and depth to a room before anything else is introduced," says designer Ali Childs. "A bay window can easily become the feature around which everything else is arranged, but a successful room should feel considered as a whole."

To help you understand how to make the most of bay windows without compromising your living room layout, designers share their dos and don'ts when it comes to decorating those tricky angles. Thankfully, from where to place the sofa to opting for a built-in window seat, there are plenty of stylish (and functional) ways to arrange your living room with a bay window.

DO: Make a Cozy Nook With a Built-In Seat

Often, the best approach to a bay window in a living room is to turn it into a window seat. Not only is this a clever use of otherwise underused space, but it keeps the room feeling open and light, since you don't need to add freestanding furniture in front of it.

"We have worked on many different styles over the years, from round Georgian bays to Edwardian boxes, adding bespoke joinery where needed to make them feel as though they were always part of the room and sumptuous cushions to relax into," says interior designer Natasha Lyon, founder of Appreciation Project.

This approach also allows you to add interest with pattern and color through the upholstery. "It’s the perfect area of a living room to be playful with shape, color and texture — adding an interesting feature that’s a little unexpected," she says. "They are also an ideal spot to hide away toys if you have children.”

DON'T: Overdo the Window Treatments

That said, if you do go for a cozy seat nook, be careful not to overdo the window treatments for bay windows, warns Natasha. “Window treatments are of high importance as the final touch, but I wouldn’t add more than three Roman blinds," she says. "If your bay has more than three windows, I would consider cafe curtains and full-length curtains."

"Only add in floor-length curtains where they fit appropriately, as you don’t want to overcomplicate the space or your budget," she adds.

DO: Style a Well-Positioned Curved Sofa

In some living room configurations, placing a sofa in front of the window makes the most sense. That said, it's important to choose the right sofa so it works with the bay window, not against it. Here, a curved sofa works well because the soft silhouette counters the sharp lines of the window.

"I think the key is to make the bay window feel like part of the room, rather than something you have to work around," says designer Alicia Meireles, creative director at OWN LONDON. "Furniture can absolutely sit within or against it — it’s more about making sure the proportions feel right, and you’re not compromising the flow of the space."

DON'T: Add a Bulky Sofa

And while a well-chosen sofa frames a bay window nicely, anything too heavy can block the natural light and disrupt the sense of flow.

"I’d avoid anything that feels too bulky for the bay or blocks too much of the light," says Alicia. "For me, it’s about using the shape of the window to inform the layout, while still keeping the room feeling comfortable and natural."

DO: Add a Loveseat in Narrow Bay Windows

In small living rooms, it can be tricky to know what to do with a bay window, especially if the space isn't long enough for a sofa. That said, loveseats can work well. Crucially, they work with the room's smaller proportions and allow for space on either side, which is key to keeping the room feeling balanced.

“This bay window was both narrow and shallow, so we chose a compact loveseat that sits neatly within the space, maximizing the available floor area without compromising on comfort," explains designer Josie de Guzman, co-founder of Studio Jey.

"The key is choosing furniture scaled to the bay itself rather than trying to force in a standard-sized sofa or dining set, which almost always ends up overcrowding the space and disrupting the flow of the room,” she adds.

DON'T: Obstruct the Space With Tall Furniture

Just like you don't want to go for an overly bulky sofa in front of a bay window, you'll also want to avoid any furniture that's too tall. Not only will this block the light, but it distracts from the bay window altogether and cause an awkward layout.

"We'd steer clear of placing tall or bulky furniture — like a large armchair or bookcase — directly in front of the window, as it cuts off the light and makes the bay feel like an afterthought rather than a feature,” explains designer Jess Murphy.

DO: Turn a Bay Window Into a Cozy Reading Spot

In living rooms with ample space, there's more opportunity to get creative with your furniture layouts, and bay windows can afford to become a cozy area in their own right. "I love treating a bay window as a destination rather than something to work around," says designer Zoë Feldman.

Allowing more seat space than a window seat would, a sofa that fits snugly into the alcove works especially well in square bay windows, while an asymmetrical, curved design helps add softness.

"Here, the curved sofa follows the architecture, creating an intimate seating moment while keeping the windows and natural light central to the room," Zoë adds about the space shown above. You could also add a small side table to further make it feel like its own zone.

DON'T: Choose Furniture That Fights the Architecture

If you're going for this approach of making the bay window its own seating moment, focus on the architecture of the space and avoid choosing furniture that fights this. "The goal is to respect the architecture, rather than forcing a conventional furniture plan into an unconventional space," says Zoë.

DO: Allow Negative Space

You may find that the best approach to a bay window is to not overdo it. Rather than feeling like you need to transform the bay window into its own seating area, it can work just as well with negative space.

Here, a large sofa fills the length of the living room, and along with an ottoman, there's no real need to have extra seating at the window. Instead, there is plenty of space for the whole room to flow nicely, while the column radiator, layered window treatments, and contrasting paint shades keep it feeling interesting.

"It doesn't always need to become a functional area," says designer Ali Childs of Studio Alexandra. "It depends on the flow of the wider room and the home, and how much seating is genuinely needed. Sometimes keeping it simple and allowing the space to breathe a little creates a more elegant result."

DON'T: Fill the Space With Unnecessary Furniture

"There can be a temptation to put a chair, console, or piece of furniture into every available inch, but the negative space is often what makes a bay window feel special and luxurious," says Ali.

Whatever bay window ideas for living rooms you choose — from creative seating to simply highlighting it as a stunning architectural feature — there's no reason it should disrupt the flow of the room. Just make sure to avoid any furniture that's too bulky, and allow some space for furniture to breathe.

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There are some design techniques we're so used to seeing that we can forget that other options exist. It becomes the natural default, and if you can't do it, it can feel as though your space is wrong. Take the dining room pendant light, for example. When you picture an elegant dining room table, chances are there's a striking light hanging directly above the center. But what happens when this isn't a possibility?

There are plenty of reasons this typical dining room lighting idea may not work for your home. Perhaps your ceilings are too low, or you simply can't wire the light into that exact spot. No matter the reason, stepping away from the pendant doesn't mean sacrificing your design. In fact, not being able to do the default often leads to the kind of creative thinking that results in more interesting spaces.

But when you go against the grain, it can be easy to feel slightly lost. Without endless inspiration to scroll through, you're left to come up with your own solution. Luckily, our favorite design experts are here to help. We've asked for their favorite pendant-free dining table lighting ideas. And I'd go so far as to say that these ideas are far better than any pendant light could ever be.

A Pendant-Free Guide To Dining Room Lighting

If there's one thing designers will advocate for when it comes to your home lighting, it's a layered lighting scheme. In almost every room, designers will encourage you to include a combination of light fittings, blending soft, low lighting with brighter, functional lights for an adjustable, atmospheric effect. Yet, for some reason, when it comes to the dining room, we all seem to default to the singular pendant light. When this is off the table, however, we're suddenly forced to see how much better your space can be with a more complex, layered approach. So take it as a win!

Even without restrictions, many designers have already begun to move away from this look. For Janelle Patton, founder of Lark Interiors, the single pendant light approach feels incongruous with the soft, inviting spaces she's known for; "We rarely, if ever, use pendant lights over a dining table," she tells me.

1. Wall Sconces

Instead, Janelle brings together various light fittings, warming up the room with layers of illumination. Rather than starting with an overhead ceiling light (which can often feel harsh and uninviting), she looks to overhead lighting alternatives instead.

The walls are a good place to start, and there are surprisingly vast ways to tackle wall lighting. For example, "Sconces flanking a piece of art on a main wall can be beautiful, or even a fun art light over something special," Janelle says. "It adds warmth and layers that you just don’t get from overhead lighting alone."

By lighting the perimeter of the room, you can create a cozier, more inviting effect, which can be especially effective in small dining rooms.

2. Cantilevered or Long-Arm Floor Lamps

That said, in rooms with larger proportions, where the table is further away from the walls, relying solely on sconces may not cut it. You'll need something a little more concentrated, so you don't feel as though you're dining in complete darkness. But without the option of an overhead light, this can feel slightly trickier to achieve.

Luckily, through his years of experience designing problem-solving light fittings for Quorum, David Patton has found the perfect answer for this exact issue. "For rooms where the ceiling electrical isn’t ideally positioned over the table, I love the idea of a cantilevered or long-arm floor lamp."

These adjustable designs allow you to control the direction of the light, so you can dictate exactly where the illumination is concentrated. And, even better, bring a striking sculptural element to your space, much like a good pendant light does.

3. Wireless Lighting

Thanks to the growing market for wireless lighting, working around electrical issues is easier than ever before. Rechargeable table lamps are a particularly useful tool when lighting your dining room, as "there are no trailing cables to interrupt the tablescape, and they can be moved around depending on how you’re using the space," explains ValueLights product director, Jula Barnes, who is constantly looking out for new, innovative and stylish lighting designs.

But no matter what type of light fittings you go for, the most important thing is how you layer them. "Whatever the solution, I wouldn’t rely on a single source of light," agrees David, going on to say, "Layered lighting is increasingly important to how we design for both atmosphere and wellbeing. Adding sconces or portable lamps gives you the ability to shift the mood throughout the evening and allows the lighting to work beyond the dining table itself."

It may feel as though this should be a relatively simple decision to make, but with so many dining room lighting mistakes to watch out for, finding the right fittings for your space can be surprisingly time-consuming. Your lighting dictates the atmosphere of your space, and in the dining room, where socialization is paramount, it's always worthwhile to spend a little extra time making sure you've found the right design for you.

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Tsukimi (月見) is the Japanese practice of moon-viewing. On one evening in mid-autumn, a household sets out rice dumplings and pampas grass as an offering, then gathers at the window to watch the harvest moon rise. The night is called jūgoya (十五夜), the fifteenth night. It follows the lunar calendar, so the date shifts each passing year. And in 2026, it falls on 25^th September.

The custom arrived from Tang China and was taken up by the Heian court in the ninth century. Even today, tsukimi plays a key role in the way Japanese homes change with the seasons. The details, however, are rarely reported accurately — the number of dumplings, why the shape differs between Tokyo and Kyoto, where the offerings are set and which way they face, and how little ceremony is involved. I grew up with it in Kyoto, where my mother made the dumplings and set them on an east-facing windowsill, and I have never lost the habit of checking the September moon.

So if you wish to bring this ritual into your space or simply borrow its lessons in autumnal hosting, let's take a closer look at the fabric of tsukimi.

What Is Tsukimi?

Outside Japan, tsukimi tends to be written up as a festival. However, at home, it is not one. In fact, it is one of many Japanese rituals a household marks across a year, most involving no guests.

In February we eat ehōmaki, a thick uncut sushi roll, facing whichever direction is auspicious that year. On 3 March, Girls’ Day, there is chirashizushi and diamond-shaped hishimochi. On 5 May, Boys’ Day, carp streamers go up outside, and kashiwamochi wrapped in oak leaves appears indoors. On 7 July, at Tanabata, children write wishes on paper strips and tie them to bamboo. At the winter solstice, whole yuzu are placed in the bath to complement the ritual of ofuro. There are dozens more, and no household keeps them all.

Local festivals are public and regional. These are domestic, near-universal, and not laborious. Supermarkets stock the right food in the right week, people buy it on the way home, and the day gets marked. That casualness is the point. The calendar is woven into ordinary life rather than staged.

What Do We Do for Tsukimi?

Picture fifteen dumplings, for the fifteenth night, stacked in a pyramid of nine, then four, then two. In Tokyo they are round, to echo the moon. In Kyoto they are elongated to resemble satoimo taro, because the older name for the night is imo-meigetsu, the taro moon.

Beside them goes susuki, Japanese pampas grass, standing in for rice stalks not yet cut. It signifies gratitude for a harvest still in the ground. Chestnuts and edamame sit alongside, and afterwards we eat the dumplings — an offering nobody eats is simply decoration.

Some years my mother set them in the genkan, the sunken entrance where shoes come off, instead of the window. Then came the part we cared about as children — finding the rabbit. Japanese children are told that the dark patches on the moon are a rabbit pounding rice cakes with a mallet and mortar — a story that travelled from India through China and reached Japan in the seventh century. Once it has been pointed out to you, you can't look at a full moon and not see it.

The Home Hosts the Season, Not the Guests

This is the part most worth borrowing. The offerings are not arranged for the room. They face outward, toward where the moon will rise. This way, from inside, you're looking at the back of them.

This layout is intentional since the offerings are for the autumn moon and are required to be laid out as such. If you take in a moon-viewing of your own, remember to keep the lights low. After all, a bright room turns the window into a mirror, and the moon disappears behind your reflection.

As for the rest of your space, consider a calm, curated ambiance. Decor that supports the moment without distracting from the moon-viewing. Think textured vases of pampas grass, a beautiful tray for the offerings, and soft lamps tuning you into tsukimi.

How Has Tsukimi Lived On?

None of this is heritage. Nobody in Japan treats it as folklore to be preserved. It survives because it does something, and because it asks almost nothing. There is no religious observance involved, and nothing to prepare beyond a plate of dumplings.

Most of us live in the recent past or the near future — what happened at work, what must be dealt with tomorrow. A seasonal observance interrupts that, briefly, on a fixed date, and asks you to notice where you are in the year.

You stand at a window on one evening in September, look at one particular moon, and for a few minutes nothing else needs attention. It is a small, repeatable, entirely undemanding way of being returned to the present tense.

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If you have a small bathroom, choosing between a bath and a shower is one of those design dilemmas we come across so often here at Livingetc. You want a luxurious, spa-like bathroom for morning and nighttime routines — but is ditching the tub and replacing it with a shower the right move in a small space? It's a swap that might seem like an obvious solution. BUT a tiny bathroom is a tiny bathroom, right? And if you forfeit the tub for a shower, are you simply replacing one compromise with a worse one, and giving up the opportunity to enjoy a luxurious soak in the process?

The bath vs shower conundrum in a small bathroom is a tricky one. So I thought I'd go straight to the designers for their take. Louise Ashdown, head of design at West One Bathrooms, explains, "Losing the bath is a conversation we have with clients all the time, particularly in London homes where space is often tighter and a bath simply isn’t practical. My advice is always the same: a shower shouldn’t feel like the compromise — it can and should still be the star of the room.

"Even without a bath, you can still create that sense of everyday luxury. A beautifully designed shower with great water pressure and tactile materials can feel every bit as restorative as a long soak, if not more," Louise says. The trick, according to designers, is knowing how to plan your shower in a teeny tiny bathroom so that it feels like a luxurious wellness retreat rather than a bog-standard compromise to a bath. Here are five expert-approved ways to get that elevated shower experience even in the smallest bathrooms — so you won’t feel shortchanged without a bath.

1. Look at your lifestyle first

Do you shower more often than take a bath? If the answer is yes, that’s the best starting point for deciding whether to ditch the tub and create a luxury shower experience instead.

"Think about why you take a bath in the first place; usually it’s to relax," says Ali Childs, founder of Studio Alexandra. "But can you truly relax in a small, poky space? A bath is certainly useful when you have young children, but otherwise I think it’s far more luxurious to give that space over to a really generous shower."

This is a design decision the experts agree on. "I would absolutely give up a bathtub in a small bathroom if it meant creating a beautiful, generous shower," adds Vanessa Katzen, founder and principal of Vanessa Katzen Design. "Trying to squeeze both into a limited footprint can make the entire room feel compromised."

2. Size up your shower

Once you’ve decided to ditch the tub in a small bathroom, the key is to be as generous as possible with your shower. And that means choosing either a wide shower enclosure or a walk-in wet room.

Because, as the experts say, there’s no point replacing a bath with a cramped shower enclosure — it’s a compromise that won’t give you the luxury experience you crave.

"If you take out a bath and put in an 800mm square cubicle with a door that swings open, you have swapped one compromise for a worse one and given up a bath to do it," says Natalie Bird from Roca. "A shower only earns the bath space when it is genuinely generous: 1200mm or more of a walk-in, one fixed panel of glass, and no door swinging into the middle of the floor."

One trick to steal from the five-star hotels is to visually trick the eye into thinking your bathroom is bigger than it is by going big with a wet room or walk-in shower.

"A wide shower can feel really elegant and make a space feel more luxurious, as generous shower enclosures are often associated with spacious bathrooms and luxury hotels," says Niamh O’Sullivan, founder and creative director of Studio Kiri.

3. Keep it simple

In a small bathroom, keeping the look simple is a foolproof way to create a luxurious shower experience.

Busy patterns and lots of different materials will make a shower feel more enclosed than it actually is. Instead, pare everything back and allow the shower to feel luxurious in its simplicity.

"A frameless glass enclosure, large format tiles, continuous flooring, recessed storage and thoughtful lighting can make the shower feel luxurious and intentional rather than like a compromise," says interior designer Rebecca Hughes.

Choose concealed valves for a clean architectural silhouette and a simple glass screen to enhance the visual openness.

"Continuing the same tile across the floor and into the shower creates a more seamless visual plan and allows your eye to travel through the room," adds Vanessa Katzen. "To me, luxury isn’t about how many features you can fit into a bathroom; it’s about giving the elements you use every day enough space to feel really good."

4. But introduce a design moment

A luxe shower experience doesn’t mean giving up personality and character. You want your shower to feel simple and spacious but never bland.

So look at introducing design elements to make your shower feel really special for you. Simple but still striking is the answer say the experts.

"I often encourage clients to treat the shower as its own design moment, perhaps with a feature stone wall, textured tiling or even waterproof wallpaper, so it feels intentional rather than like a scaled-back version of what they really wanted," says Louise at West One Bathrooms.

One of the best ways to make a shower feel more luxurious but still interesting is with large stone slabs.

"Stones such as marble, quartzite and limestone bring natural color and movement, so the shower still feels interesting without needing lots of extra detail," says Oli Webbdirector at Cullifords. "And fewer grout lines can make the space feel cleaner, calmer and less busy, which is especially helpful in a compact room."

As with any stone used in a bathroom, it should be properly sealed and installed by a specialist, so it's both suitable for a wet area and will last.

"We would recommend a honed or satin finish over polished in wet areas," adds Oli.

5. Turn your shower into a wellness retreat

Losing the tub in a small bathroom has another potential benefit: it might free up budget for a few spa-like features. This way you’ll get a more immersive, luxurious bathroom experience, even without the bath.

"If the budget allows, turn it into a steam shower and include a heated stone bench so you can sit and get the indulgent relaxation that usually comes from a bath," says Manuela Hamilford, creative director of Hamilford Design. "I’d specify a ceiling-flush rain panel with different water pressure settings — it gives you a much more immersive shower.

"And if you’re including steam, it has to be designed from the start, as it affects the waterproofing, ventilation, ceiling and water pressure."

"Go larger than you think with the shower head," says interior designer Abigail Ahern. "I'd also build in a niche or ledge for bottles so there's nothing cluttering the floor."

Small bathrooms can be notoriously difficult to keep calm and clutter-free. If there are bottles, brushes, and cleaning products littering every surface, you'll lose that luxe look you painstakingly put together in seconds. That's where clever storage is king. But where to start in a mini bathroom? Never fear; many small bathroom storage ideas can help you unlock more space in even the most compact bathroom. Here's to culling the clutter and restoring calm and order while you get ready for the day or unwind at night — in style, of course.

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We all know the kitchen is the heart of the home, the central hub of activity, where friends and family naturally gravitate — and for no one is this communal space more important than an extrovert.

For an extrovert, this social, convivial energy isn't just nice to have; it's essential, and finding ways to support this in your design process can have a profound impact on how your modern kitchen feels. It may all sound slightly abstract, but for designers like Johnny Grey, this idea is nothing new. "There are simple ways of creating a kitchen for an extrovert, a person who likes dynamic environments where conversations happen easily," says Johnny, who has been designing kitchens for extroverts for over forty years now.

When designing a kitchen, the space is led by the client's personality and habits, and when you're designing for an extrovert, a few surprisingly simple tricks can make all the difference. So, we asked the experts to share their favorite tips for ensuring your kitchen is the kind of space people want to sit around and chat in, and I'm already thinking of ways to include them in my own design.

1. Central Island

A classic design feature, and for good reason, when it comes to creating a social layout, nothing will make quite as much of a difference as a centrally located kitchen island.

In fact, Johnny goes so far as to call it "the most effective design intervention." And it makes sense why. By providing a centralized location for completing the majority of your kitchen tasks, it allows for a constant, uninterrupted flow of conversation.

With many regular prep surfaces, where the cook stands facing a wall, with a central island, they can look out into the room. Ensuring the majority of your kitchen prep space is orientated towards the rest of the room should be a key consideration when designing a kitchen for an extrovert. "You can’t have a proper conversation if your back is turned, so obviously a cooker or even a sink facing the wall are likely to be no-nos for an extrovert," says Johnny.

2. Island Seating

So, we've established that a central island is key, but it doesn't end there. If you really want to foster a sociable atmosphere in your space, you need to make sure people feel comfortable, providing plenty of opportunities for them to perch and make themselves at home. Which is exactly why Claire Watson, a kitchen designer at Harvey Jones Harrogate, always recommends carving out some space for kitchen island seating, too.

"An extrovert should prioritize features that make it easy for people to gather and spend time together," says Claire. And, to do this, ample seating is key. "Generous island seating works particularly well because it allows family or guests to sit and chat while someone is cooking, and the space can shift effortlessly from an informal breakfast in the morning to drinks with friends in the evening," she explains.

There's a casual informality about a bar stool that makes it perfect for socializing. It allows you to pull up a seat wherever you please, shifting it around to suit the flow of conversation. It allows the chef to remain part of the conversation while offering your guests a comfortable place to rest.

3. Bar Area

Now, I'm by no means saying all extroverts have to drink, but chances are, if you're a frequent host, a dedicated drinks area might get quite good use.

The benefit of a home bar area is that it offers your guests a space to congregate and enjoy themselves without disrupting the host. "A dedicated drinks area is another great addition because guests can help themselves without interrupting the main cooking zone," explains Claire. It's a way of making your own life easier, while ensuring your guests are having plenty of fun.

It's all about creating as many opportunities for socialization as possible; "Ultimately, the most successful sociable kitchens give people several places to gather rather than expecting everyone to congregate in one spot."

4. Colorful Finishes

It may sound silly, but there is proof that extroverts and introverts choose different color palettes. For an extrovert, being surrounded by brighter, bolder colors and finishes can actually help improve energy, so it only makes sense to include them in your kitchen design.

Of course, you can create a colorful kitchen by painting the walls, but there are several more creative ways to integrate color into your space too: "Eye-catching chairs, artwork or decorative patterns for the walls and furniture, and a cleanable rug on the floor" are just a few of Johnny's suggestions.

It's all about finding new ways to communicate your personality and character through design, and, as Claire says, "A confident color on an island, luxurious natural stone or a display area for glassware and ceramics can give the kitchen a sense of character without overwhelming it."

Color doesn't always have to be in your face either; these accents can be just as powerful when done subtly, and even just a small pop of boldness can be enough to wake up a space.

What good is a kitchen designed for socialization if you don't make good use of it? Knowing how to throw a dinner party is key, and our experts have all the best tips for leaving your guests feeling wowed.

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A beautiful sofa is the jewel in the crown of your living room — a focal point that draws the eye and a social hub around which everyone gathers, whether to kick back and relax or host drinks and nibbles.

Because of its importance in the home, both aesthetically and practically, it’s a real investment (especially as it’s something you don't want to replace every year), so it’s essential to choose a sofa style that’s right the first time. And, sorry to say, it's not just as simple as knowing where to buy a sofa.

We ask the experts how to pick the right sofa — with key considerations including everything from the size to its shape and fabric — to help you do just that. Here's what they shared.

How to Choose the Right Sofa Size

There’s a sofa for every space and taste, from compact, armless styles for tight or awkward rooms, to five-seater and modular designs for large or open-plan layouts — not to mention different combinations to help you create somewhere that’s as comfortable as it is convivial.

It sounds obvious, but the best place to start really is the size your lifestyle requires, and the room can accommodate. “I often think people go too small with sofas when a generous one can actually make a room feel much more comfortable and well-balanced," says Claire Sá, co-founder of De Rosee Sa, the architecture and design studio. "Consider the depth of a sofa and how the space will be used — too deep, and it can be extremely uncomfortable in a more formal environment, for example — then measure its footprint to visualize the proportions. I recommend leaving at least 45cm between the ottoman and coffee table, with breathing room around side tables. A well-sized sofa should feel integrated into the space rather than squeezed in.”

How to Choose the Right Sofa Shape

Shape follows size, advises Claire, who also designs her own sofas as part of her practice. “A straight design is incredibly versatile and can even be placed at the end of a bed or in a narrow hallway if smaller in size, while a corner or modular style works well when you want a relaxed arrangement," she says. "Likewise, a low-profile sofa can be equally sociable, while a shallower one will feel more formal.”

The designer warns against curved sofas as, despite their contemporary look, they can make other furniture placement quite tricky.

My advice, as an interiors journalist? From fixed to modular, traditional to trendy, choose a design that’s true to your style and suits your needs, rather than chase fleeting here-today, gone-tomorrow trends. In my living room, I’ve gone for a country-house design with a timeless form and enduring colorway that’ll look as good down the line as it does today — in fact, the more battered, the better.

How to Choose the Right Sofa Fabric

“When choosing a fabric for your sofa, after determining the size and shape, the first thing to think about is durability,” explains Micaela Sharp, the specialist upholsterer behind her eponymous company. “If the sofa is going to be used frequently by the entire family, then a fabric with a high Martindale score — a test that scratches the fabric until the first thread breaks — is a good option. A score of 20,000 is low and suitable for headboards or chairs in less-used rooms, while over 200,000 is high and perfect for the main sofa in a high-traffic living space.”

Different materials such as wool, linen, cotton, and blended fabrics should also be considered, Michaela suggests, with natural fibers best in terms of performance and being able to wash and steam when required.

The upholsterer does point out that the majority of modern sofa fabrics are blended, however, which ensures the fibers are more hardwearing. “If you’ve got kids or pets and are concerned about spills and scuffs, you could also opt for a stain-resistant finish on the fabric,” she adds. “This ensures liquids do not seep in and that you can wipe them away with a cloth, but it does mean that the covers aren’t washable. This finish also uses a lot of chemicals, so the more sustainable option is to go for natural fibers that can be washed and a patterned fabric to conceal any marks.”

If you're concerned about sustainability, there are many factors to consider when looking for a sofa that uses eco-friendly fabrics. Delyth Fetherston-Dilke, a sustainable furniture consultant who advises interior clients such as Lorfords Contemporary on low-toxicity sofa builds, says: “Our indoor atmosphere is more toxic than outdoors in part due to certain chemical treatments on things like sofas and floors becoming airborne due to volatile chemicals, wear, or abrasion.”

Most sofas are built with foam made from petrochemicals, explains Delyth, with the foam treated with chemical flame retardants to adhere to strict UK flammability requirements that don’t apply in the rest of Europe or the US. And now, fabrics have ever-more ‘performance’ specs — flame-resistant, stain-resistant, anti-microbial, anti-crease — each bringing another chemical treatment.

“To avoid unnecessary exposure to toxins in your home, avoid fabrics that offer these characteristics; look for a sofa built from natural fibers with a wool or natural cover together with a wool interliner," she says. "Better still, work with an upholsterer to rebuild an existing piece in a natural fabric you adore with a natural filling.”

How to Choose a Quality Sofa

We’ve talked about the bits you can see on your sofa, but what about the bits you can’t, such as the frame? Interior design expert Alex Dauley thinks it’s the most important part. “We can all be seduced by beautiful upholstery and a lovely shape, but if you’re investing in something that you’re going to sit on every day for years to come, you need to understand what’s beneath it,” she says. “Look for strength, good construction, and stability. Traditionally, a well-made hardwood frame has always been a marker of quality, but engineered steel frames offer incredible consistency and longevity without the natural movement you get with timber.”

King Living, the Australian furniture company that Alex is a fan of and has used in many client projects, features these frames and comes with a 25-year warranty, an indication of how seriously the business takes its internal construction.

Alex also suggests that suspension — something we don’t think about until a sofa begins to sag — has a huge impact on comfort and how long it lasts. There are two kinds: springs and wadding. “The latter can work perfectly well when it’s high quality and properly tensioned, while the former can give a more structured and responsive feel," she says. "I’m less interested in saying one system is universally better than another and more interested in how the whole sofa has been engineered to work together. Ultimately, you want support that feels comfortable when you first sit down but will perform exactly the same way after years of everyday use.”

When it comes to the quality of cushion fillings, it’s all about how you like to live, Alex tells me. “Feather gives you that wonderfully soft, relaxed, sink-in feeling, but it needs plumping and looking after. Foam provides more structure and shape retention, while fiber gives softness without as much maintenance. Personally, I prefer a combination rather than one material doing all the work, with different layers and densities giving you initial softness with enough support.”

Upholsterer Michaela agrees. “I like half-way house with foam wrapped in feather. It gives you the structure of the former with the fluffiness of the latter — and without the daily zhuzhing. Naturally, over time, all cushions will get softer, so do bear this in mind!”

In terms of the level of comfort different sofa heights and depths afford, she urges you to be honest with yourself about how you usually sit or lie on a sofa. “A low back will offer less support but might look better in the space. If you're a lounger, like me, a higher back and deeper seat depth offers the most space to relax. If you prefer sitting upright, the height of the arm will be important for your comfort. These measurements will be relative to the depth of the cushions around them as well, so it's best to test the sofa in a showroom when you can.”

How to Choose the Right Sofa Color

Finally, what about color? “Neutral sofas always feel timeless and can be layered with lots of other shades and textures in cushions and throws,” explains Chess Darby, the co-founder of Darby Holmes, the integrated build and design company. Better still, she reveals, they give you the flexibility for changing things up down the line in soft furnishings and fun accessories, although they do tend to show stains and marks more easily — "especially if you’ve got pets and children."

Chess advises that a colorful sofa can be like the bow on top of a present, tying the room together while leaving plenty of opportunity for layering patterns and textures on top. “They’re more forgiving when it comes to concealing kids’ mucky fingers,” she adds, “and if you have a neutral room, you can use the sofa as a hero accent.”

And how about patterns? “They do a lot of the heavy-lifting in a room, just like adding a jazzy jacket to a plain outfit,” Chess says. “They’re also great for pulling in lots of the colors elsewhere in your scheme and are the most forgiving in hiding a multitude of sins. Why do you think the London Underground has patterned seats on the Tube?”

But if you'd prefer we just cut to the chase and share a specific sofa you should buy, Livingetc's editor took the time to head in-store to sit on every John Lewis sofa he could find, and he rounded up the ones he'd actually recommend buying, which should help.

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Since the pandemic, working from home has become a routine part of most people's 9 to 5's. Maybe you work fully remote, on a hybrid schedule, or you might have a side hustle that feels like working from home. But no matter what your days look like, we all need a home workspace that is comfortable and engages the senses, and at the center of that workspace is typically a quality desk that's the right size and height for your space.

I, for one, have always struggled to balance form and function when selecting a desk for my home office. I end up choosing a desk I like aesthetically, only to find myself swapping between uncomfortable positions throughout the day. But in 2026's wellness-centered world, this negligence (no matter how innocent) simply won't do. A comfortable desk is level with your elbow when sitting and large enough to fit everything you need within a comfortable reach. And believe me, a desk of the proper size can still be a stylish addition to your home office ideas.

So, if you've been adjusting, readjusting, and swapping seating positions (especially for the couch) more than usual lately, it might be because you have the wrong desk size. To get our home workspaces in tip-top shape before the cozy season starts, I asked a spinal doctor and ergonomics expert to help explain the importance of a well-sized desk and what to look for when making your next upgrade.

What Makes a Desk Size More or Less Comfortable?

First and foremost, if you are really experiencing discomfort at your desk, it is more a posture issue than anything else. Dr. Edward Scheid, lead spine surgeon and founder of NeuroSpine Plus, shares, "'Comfort' is merely a side effect of what occurs structurally inside the spinal column. The height of a desk affects the posture of the cervical and lumbar spines, which in turn determines the distribution of weight on the spinal column."

If the desk is too high, "the shoulders will raise, and the neck goes into an extended position to reach the computer keyboard. If the desk is too low, the spine will round, putting excessive pressure on the lower lumbar discs."

It sounds complicated, but basically, when the desk is at the right height, the spine retains its proper curves, "and the weight is distributed evenly among several vertebral segments," says Dr. Scheid.

What does this mean for the design of your home office? The most important thing is finding a desk that allows you to sit in a natural and level position. And, of course, having enough room depth-wise to fit laptops, papers, and — duh — the most stylish desk accessories. Basically, the most comfortable desk size (for the Livingetc reader) will accommodate both a stylish space and your own wellness.

So, What's the Best Size Desk?

Comfort while working from home comes down to one measurement more than any other. "It's whether your elbow height matches your desk height," says Alex Krajewski, founder of Future Mobility, a UK-based company that fits ergonomic and wearable support equipment for people whose jobs put strain on their bodies day to day. "When it's off, even by a couple of centimeters, your body compensates through shoulders lifted, wrists bent, or forward neck posture toward the screen. Over 40 hours a week, this is what generates a repetitive strain injury, and therefore discomfort," Alex adds.

So you want a desk that is level with your elbows when seated in your desk chair and your screen roughly at eye level. Obviously, for us design-obsessed individuals, 'comfort' also comes from a fabulous-looking space (sorry, I don't make the rules). So, when trying to merge form with function, adaptability is the easiest way in.

"If there's one upgrade worth the money, it's a sit-stand desk [try this one from Leandesk], and the research behind that holds up better than most wellness advice," says Alex. Being able to change positions from sitting to standing tends to help both comfort and productivity. So a standing desk is widely regarded as one of the most comfortable options to optimize desk-size comfort. But there's room to get creative — a swivel desk or fold-out desk tends to offer adaptability in layout and design.

But if you can only get one right, "make it height," says Alex. "Width mostly affects how much fits in front of you and how far you sit from the screen. Height decides your joint position for every single hour you're there. A smaller desk at the correct height will beat a generously sized one that's a few centimeters off, every time."

So adjustable, spacious, stylish... got it. Below are a few desks that I think would make a fabulous addition to your home office refresh.

For more inspiration like this and home office organization ideas that will elevate and optimize your space, be sure to subscribe to the Livingetc newsletter.