Wait, What Is a 'Pocket Garden'? I Asked Experts Why These Small Gardens Are So Important, and How You Can...
Pocket gardens are compact, intensively cultivated green spaces that transform underused urban nooks—like alleyways, balconies, or rooftops—into thriving, aesthetic oases. Studies link limited green access to a 55% higher risk of mental‑health issues, while adding vegetation helps curb the Urban Heat Island effect. Experts stress that these micro‑gardens boost biodiversity, provide low‑maintenance relaxation spots, and can be designed with simple layering, focal points, and vertical planting. The article outlines a step‑by‑step approach for city dwellers to create their own pocket garden, regardless of space constraints.
I Typically Hate Pastels, but This New Wave of Spring Decor Has Completely Changed My Mind
Design writer Olivia Wolfe notes a shift in spring décor as pastel‑toned glassware and tableware move beyond basic baby‑blue cushions to sophisticated, frosted and ombré pieces. The new wave emphasizes sculptural shapes, retro finishes, and elevated materials, positioning pastels as...
12 Cleaning Tools That Are Actually Beautifully Designed — These Are Perfect for the Tidy Aesthetic Home
A wave of design‑forward cleaning tools is reshaping home‑care aesthetics, with brands like Northern, Zara Home, and Dyson offering sleek brooms, brushes, and vacuums that double as décor. The article highlights twelve standout pieces, from a rust‑finished cane broom to...
Curated Finds for Emma — Pendant Lights for Your Living Room
Design Lab by Livingetc delivered a curated selection of pendant lights for Emma’s Helsinki apartment, blending sculptural presence with soft, atmospheric illumination. The edit spans modern classics like Tom Dixon’s Melt LED, adjustable glass pieces from Westwing, and brass‑accented Nordic...
Curated Finds for Lisa — Bathroom Lights
Interior design curator Iokasti delivered a tailored edit of seven bathroom wall lights for client Lisa, honoring her 20 cm diameter limit and love of mid‑century modern, eclectic, and art‑deco aesthetics. The selection balances affordable pieces like Pooky Lighting’s Helios with...
Curated Finds for Matt | Sofa Options
Design Lab’s stylist Miaad delivered a curated edit of three‑seater sofas for Matt, focusing on budget‑friendly options that balance modern farmhouse and minimalist aesthetics. The selection includes DUSK’s Malibu sofa with sleek lines and dark wooden legs, Daals’ Brigette offering...
'These Pieces Are Just Fantastic!' Livingetc's Editor Chooses New Season Homeware For An Instantly Elevating Update
Livingetc’s editor has curated a new summer homeware lineup from Next Home, spotlighting a "new coastal" aesthetic that leans toward softer hues and refined textures. The selection features five standout pieces—rugs, lighting, hardware and accessories—designed to give interiors an instantly...
Blue and Red Is the Unlikely Color Combination of the Moment — Here's How to Style the Looks
The interior‑design world is embracing a softer blue‑and‑red palette in 2026, swapping bold primary hues for muted tones like oxblood, burgundy, washed indigo, and navy. These deeper shades create understated contrast that feels grown‑up rather than noisy, allowing designers to...
Beware of ‘Wellness Washing’, Warns This Biophilic Designer — How to Spot When It Has Been Reduced to Styling Rather...
The interior‑design world is seeing a surge in "wellness" spaces, but many are merely aesthetic veneers—a phenomenon Reena Simon calls “wellness washing.” True biophilic design, she argues, integrates light, air, texture, scent, nature, space and ritual to create measurable wellbeing....
"I Want My Home to Feel Subtly Expensive" — These Are the Quiet Upgrades I'd Recommend as a Stylist
Interior stylist Iokasti Sotirakopoulou outlines six low‑budget upgrades that make a home feel subtly expensive without a full remodel. She advises swapping harsh overhead lighting for layered warm fixtures, introducing heavier fabrics, upgrading hardware, decluttering surfaces, repeating materials intentionally, and...
This Selfridges-Stocked Fragrance Diffuser Range Might Be the Most Chic on the Market — It's My Under-the-Radar Go-To for Rich-Smelling...
Evermore, the London‑based fragrance house known for its candles, has expanded into reed diffusers with two new scents—Venus and Ember. Both products feature meticulously crafted vessels and premium packaging designed to sit as décor pieces rather than disposable items. Ember...
Is 'Hairy' Furniture the Hot New Trend or Totally Heinous? Please, Settle Our Design Debate
Hairy furniture—pieces draped in long fringe—has moved from avant‑garde runway shows to boutique interiors, sparking both excitement and skepticism. Designers highlight its theatrical, high‑fashion vibe, citing limited‑edition chairs and lamps that turn rooms into conversation starters. Critics warn that the...
5 Feng Shui Rules for Your Front Garden You Should Really Learn to Make Sure Your Home Has a Welcoming...
Front garden Feng Shui emphasizes that the entryway’s exterior shapes the home’s energy, much like an interior foyer. Five core rules—curved pathways, clutter‑free zones, sensory engagement, movement‑focused planting, and softening sharp edges—guide homeowners in creating a welcoming, chi‑rich entrance. Experts...
Gozney's Dome XL (Gen 2) Pizza Oven Takes Outdoor Entertaining to a New Level — It's the Biggest, and Most...
Gozney’s Dome XL (Gen 2) pizza oven is the brand’s largest, premium outdoor cooker, measuring 39.3" high and weighing 73 kg. It reaches cooking temperature in roughly 40 minutes and can bake an 18‑inch pizza in about 60 seconds, or handle multiple smaller...
5 Rooms With Patterned Curtains That Prove Sticking With Plain Is Limiting Your Space's Potential
Interior designers are urging homeowners to move beyond solid‑color drapes and embrace patterned curtains as a focal point. Experts like Anna Haines and Iokasti Sotirakopoulou highlight how prints—ranging from subtle sheers to bold plaids—can add depth, tie together colour schemes,...
H&M Home's Just-Dropped Summer Riviera Collection Makes Bringing a Beachside Holiday Aesthetic Home, a Cinch
H&M Home has unveiled its Summer Riviera collection, a Mediterranean‑inspired line that brings beach‑side aesthetics to the home. The range features striped towels, terry robes, parasols, canvas bags, and playful game sets, all echoing the relaxed luxury of coastal resorts....
That 'New Home Smell' Isn't a Good Thing — This Wellness-Inspired Designer Explains Why Choosing Antiques Is Good for You
Interior designer and wellness expert Lisa Sternfeld of WLLW Studio argues that heritage design—using antiques and vintage pieces—offers a natural path to environmental wellness. She cites her son’s respiratory issues as a catalyst to examine how off‑gassing from new furniture...
Biophilic Design, Beyond Greenery — How Tabitha Organ Creates "Spaces That Echo Nature's Rhythm and Materiality Rather Than Simply Referencing...
Tabitha Organ, founder of the London‑based studio Tabitha Isobel, is redefining biophilic design by emphasizing natural materials, texture and nuanced colour rather than merely adding plants. Her recent projects—including the Conductor co‑working hub in East London and an Islington townhouse—use...
Did IKEA Just Quietly Launch Its Most On-Trend Kitchen Door Fronts Yet? They're Giving High-End Designer Looks, but Without the...
IKEA introduced the TERRSJÖ textured kitchen door fronts for its METOD line, featuring a warm terracotta wave pattern that mimics high‑end designer cabinetry. The collection includes matching knobs for a seamless look and is positioned as an affordable way to...
Modular Garden Sofas Are the Secret to a More Functional Outdoor Space —These Are My Favorites This Year, as Someone...
Modular garden sofas are gaining traction as the go‑to solution for adaptable outdoor living. Designers highlight their ability to be broken apart, rearranged, and restyled, letting homeowners shift from a sunny lounge to an evening entertaining zone without buying new...
Wait, the Specific Angle and Height of Your Wall Light Makes a Massive Difference to the Mood of Your Bedroom?...
Sleep specialist Dave Gibson and lighting buyer Claire Anstey explain that bedroom wall sconces, when positioned at the right height and angle, can significantly improve sleep quality. Unlike overhead fixtures, sconces cast light horizontally at eye level, reducing stimulation of...
8 Kitchen Tile Trends for 2026 That Perfectly Balance Form and Function — From Contemporary Twists on the Classics to...
The 2026 kitchen tile forecast highlights a shift toward texture, artisanal craftsmanship, and bold applications. Trends include diamond‑pattern checkerboards, hand‑crafted Zellige, floor‑to‑ceiling installations, large‑format seamless slabs, and experimental placements such as tiled islands and statement terrazzo floors. Designers stress mixing...
I Always Say, 'It's Not About Buying More, It's About Choosing Better' — These Are the 3 Ways I'd Spend...
A stylist outlines three distinct ways to spend a £500 (≈$640) budget to refresh a living room, emphasizing strategic piece selection over wholesale redesign. The "soft and layered" approach adds texture and warmth with rugs, cushions, and lighting. The "sculptural...
Everything We Love From Milan Design Week, As It Happens — This Is Your Ultimate Livingetc-Curated Guide to What We're...
Milan Design Week, the premier event on the global design calendar, kicked off with a flood of installations, showroom openings, and product launches. Livingetc’s editors are curating a live guide, updating daily with highlights such as Poliform’s immersive "Multitude" installation,...
5 Ways to Make Your Kitchen Extension Feel More Expensive, Without Necessarily Spending Much More
The article compiles expert advice on how to give a kitchen extension a high‑end look without inflating the budget. It stresses that proportionate layout and seamless continuity with the existing house outweigh flashy finishes. Homeowners are urged to add one...
IKEA's Space-Saving Garden Bar Table Set Is Perfect for Balconies and Patios — It's Stylish, Versatile, and Could Even Be...
IKEA has introduced the NÄMMARÖ Bar Table and two stools, a compact outdoor set designed for balconies and small patios. The 120 × 40 cm acacia‑wood table features a slim frame and a storage‑friendly design that tucks the stools underneath. Priced affordably and...
Selfridges' New Private Members' Club Is an Interior Design Moment — Here Are the Style Ideas You Can Steal, Even...
Selfridges has opened 40 Duke, a 25,000 sq ft private members’ club and luxury retail hub inside its Oxford Street flagship. Designed by Nice Projects, the space fuses home‑inspired interiors, curated art, scent and sound to create a multi‑sensory shopping experience. It operates under...
Such a Genius Trick — Professional Organizers Say Buying This One Style of Towel Will Help You Fold Them Into...
Professional organizers Ellen Van Dusen and Di Ter Avest recommend striped towels as a simple visual tool that makes folding and stacking towels consistently effortless. The alternating stripes act as built‑in measurement guides, allowing anyone to line up edges and achieve hotel‑style...
5 Things People Always Ask Me to Find as a Stylist for Design Lab by Livingetc — From Statement Lighting...
Livingetc’s Design Lab offers a free FIND service that sources individual décor pieces for clients. Based on hundreds of requests, the five most‑asked‑for items are sculptural side tables, chenille accent chairs, layered lighting, compact island stools, and appropriately sized rugs....
Should Kitchen Cabinets Go All the Way to the Ceiling? It's Not Just About Storage — Experts Share the Factors...
Extending kitchen cabinets to the ceiling is generally recommended for a cohesive, high‑end aesthetic, but the decision hinges on design, storage, budget, and ceiling architecture. Experts note that full‑height cabinetry eliminates visual breaks, adds valuable but less accessible storage, and...
Burl Wood Furniture Is the Biggest Trend on the High Street Right Now — An Interior Stylist Handpicks the Best...
Burl wood furniture has graduated from a fleeting comeback to a permanent high‑street staple, driven by its organic grain and rarity. Interior stylist Miaad Latoof curated 24 pieces ranging from mirrors to sideboards, with prices spanning roughly $70 to $3,500...
Out of the 19 Pink Paint Colors Farrow & Ball Has, Interior Designers Say These 3 Are Their Favorites to...
Farrow & Ball’s palette of 19 pink paints is gaining traction as designers gravitate toward muted, versatile hues. Interior designers highlighted three favourites—Peignoir, a near‑white pink with gray undertones; Folly Pink, a soft terracotta that adds grounded warmth; and Tailor Tack, a delicate...
Curated Finds for Joanna — Bookcase
Stylist Iokasti Sotirakopoulou recommends three affordable wardrobe solutions to help Joanna block a doorway while adding clothing storage in her newly renovated apartment. The options include two IKEA Pax sliding‑door wardrobes priced at €566 ($623) and €495 ($545), and a...
20 Small Things That Will Make Your Home Feel More Designer-Y, Instantly
The article outlines how swapping everyday household items for designer‑scale pieces instantly upgrades a home’s aesthetic. It lists 20 specific accessories—from Arcs salt grinders to Alessi corkscrews—that add shape, colour, and presence to kitchens, living rooms, and tables. The author...
This Clever 'Shape-Shifting' Outdoor Sofa Set Is Essentially Three for the Price of One — Make It Into Sun Loungers,...
Habitat’s Multi‑Way Garden Modular 4‑Seater Sofa Set lets owners reconfigure the piece into a straight sofa, two loungers, or an L‑shaped corner for roughly $560 (£450) plus a modest $12 delivery fee. The gray set includes removable cushions, eucalyptus side...
I Love the Trend for Tiling Coffee Tables, but Probably Wouldn't DIY One Myself — This Designer-Look Style Does the...
The tiled coffee table has become a fast‑growing interior‑design trend, offering bold color, texture and a handcrafted feel that can anchor open‑plan living areas. Social‑media videos showcase DIY versions, but many shoppers prefer ready‑made options like Dunelm’s Lavina Glass Tiled...
Curated Finds for Graham | Hallway Unit
The Design Lab stylist curates four hallway storage options that fit under a dado rail, stay within a 70 cm width limit, and blend Victorian warmth with modern clean lines. Selections include M&S Dempsey Compact Sideboard, M&S Cove Compact 2‑Door Sideboard,...
How to Shop the 'Soft Celeste' Color Trend and Bring a Softer Kind of Blue Into Your Home
The Soft Celeste hue— a pale blue with a subtle violet undertone—is being championed as the season’s most versatile interior colour. Stylists at Design Lab by Livingetc showcase the trend through curated living‑room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom pieces, with prices...
The Japanese-Inspired Bathtub Is Right in the Middle of This Flat on London's 'Silicone Roundabout' — With Windows Onto the...
A Grade‑II listed fifth‑floor flat on London’s Silicon Roundabout has been transformed by architect Micah Sarut, who placed a Japanese‑inspired communal bathtub at the centre of the living space. The 1 m × 2 m tub is surrounded by three windows that look into...
The Best and Most Expensive-Looking New Homewares on the High Street This April That Will Help Your Home Welcome Spring
Livingetc’s Olivia Wolfe highlights 24 fresh home‑ware pieces launched across high‑street retailers this April, positioning them as spring‑ready décor upgrades. The collection spans ombre wool blankets, bold glassware, rattan lamps and colourful ceramics, with prices ranging from roughly $13 (Zara...
Milan Design Week 2026 — Your Guide to the Event Setting the Mood for Design the Year Ahead
Milan Design Week 2026 kicks off April 20‑26, featuring a packed program of installations, exhibitions, and pop‑up experiences across the city. Highlights include Artemest’s L'Appartamento at Palazzo Donizetti, Marimekko’s floral‑themed Osteria Fiori, Isola Design Festival’s tenth‑anniversary "TEN: The Evolving Now,"...
Is a House Stager Worth It If You're Selling Your House? Here's When You Should Really Consider One to Help...
A house stager prepares a property to appeal to the broadest buyer pool by decluttering, rearranging rooms and adding rented furniture. Experts say staging is most valuable for vacant homes, odd layouts, dated interiors, or listings that aren’t generating interest,...
Sorry Sofa Beds, but These 'Chair Beds' Are a Much Better Use of Space in a Small Home — They're...
Chair beds are experiencing a resurgence as a stylish, space‑saving alternative to traditional sofa beds, especially in compact apartments. Interior stylist Miaad Latoof highlights how modern designs now resemble statement chairs while offering a hidden sleeping surface. She advises shoppers...
5 Japanese Homes That Are Uniquely Expressive, Creative, and Effortlessly Grounded — They're "Rooted in Tradition Yet Designed for Modern...
Gestalten’s new coffee‑table book *A House in Japan: Lessons in Living* showcases five distinct Japanese residences that fuse traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design. The featured homes range from a Tokyo apartment with araidashi plaster and shoji screens to a Nagano...
Forget Integrated Hobs and Ovens, Range Cookers Are Having a Renaissance in the Most Stylish Kitchens Right Now
Range cookers are experiencing a resurgence as homeowners seek the tactile control of gas alongside the convenience of integrated ovens. Dual‑fuel models pair a responsive gas hob with a steady electric oven, offering ample capacity for multi‑dish cooking. Modern designs...
5 Plants That Will Overpower Your Garden With Scent — You Might Find These Too Strong, Sickly, or Off-Putting
Gardening experts warn that five popular plants—valerian, lantana, sea holly, crown imperials and star jasmine—can overwhelm a backyard with off‑putting or overly strong scents. Valerian’s roots emit a dirty odor, while lantana smells like gasoline and is toxic to dogs....
Pamela Anderson Just Released a Furniture Collection, and It's Designed to Age Just As Gracefully As She Has
Pamela Anderson has teamed with Los Angeles lifestyle brand Olive Ateliers to launch her first furniture line, "The Sentimentalist," on April 8. The collection offers 40 indoor‑outdoor pieces—including loungers, loveseats, tables and accessories—crafted from natural rattan and teak with ivory‑blue striped...
Where to Buy Freestanding Kitchen Units for a More Versatile Layout — From the High Street to the Design Studios...
The Livingetc piece spotlights a growing niche of freestanding kitchen units that let homeowners—especially renters—reconfigure layouts without permanent alterations. It profiles ten options ranging from Neptune’s oak‑and‑marble Borough island to IKEA’s budget‑friendly Knoxhult cabinet and high‑design pieces from Vipp and...
I Never Guessed This Modular IKEA Sofa Was Hiding a Secret Storage Compartment Until I Saw It in Person —...
IKEA’s JÄTTEBO 1.5‑Seat Module blends a sleek, modern look with a hidden storage compartment that lifts easily thanks to a built‑in mechanism. The sofa feels surprisingly soft for a boxy design, though the low back may limit long‑term comfort for...
These Screens Are Such a Clever Way to Add Plants, Privacy, and a Touch of Pretty to Your Garden, All...
Garden privacy screens are evolving into stylish planters that blend aesthetics with function. Scottish Everlastings leads the trend with metal screens in beige and sage, ranging from 90 × 50 cm to 120 × 45 cm, each featuring built‑in planters for foliage. Other brands like Dunelm,...