Interior designer, room stylist and writer in Kingston Upon Thames
An intriguing 2012 study by psychologists explained something called the IKEA effect. They discovered that when we are involved in creating something (even a piece of flat-pack furniture), we value it much more highly. By investing time and effort…
It feels jarring to talk about joy when our fellow humans are suffering, but if anything we need to celebrate and nurture this feeling more when times are tough. Finding joy in small, everyday pleasures is essential for good mental health. And our homes can …
As we begin to anticipate the end of our winter hibernation, many of us feel an urge to redesign and renovate our homes. It’s as though the lengthening days invite us to adopt the same spring rituals as the natural world around us. And with …
Once the clocks have wound back it’s impossible not to notice the darkening days and slow dwindling of the light. We may not be hibernating animals, but we can still feel winter’s call to retreat, hunker down, and seek sanctuary for the final turn of …
There’s a huge movement within interiors right now that is all about harnessing nature’s healing power at home. It’s called biophilic design. You might not have heard of biophilic interior design. So I’m going to explain what it is and how it can help you. …
Many of us have been much more confined to our homes recently, because of all the measures being introduced to control the pandemic. It’s enough to make even the most resilient human feel the prickly sensation of claustrophobia, particularly if we’re working as well as …
I love using natural materials as part of an interior design for wellbeing. Materials such as wood, stone and cork can be better for our health than their synthetic equivalents; they create a general sense of wellbeing, and are often better for the environment. They …
During the current coronavirus crisis we’re being forced to get more of our needs met by our living space, rather than seeking fulfilment in the outside world. Interior design for wellbeing has never been more important. As our homes become workplaces, we need them to …
I’m not a big follower of interior trends because I think they just encourage us to buy (and waste) more. But there is one theme permeating the interiors world right now that I am paying attention to, and that’s sustainability. I don’t even like to …
I’m a great believer in the importance of designing homes that feel good as well as look good. But that’s easy to say – what does interior design for wellbeing mean in practice? Designing for wellbeing Your living space is an extension of your emotional …