- Rolland armchair Soho Home
Oh, I know, I know it’s expensive – but just look at it. It’s curvy, it swivels and it’s absolutely the piece that will nail the room. Keep the sofa plain and unassuming (in oatmeal), and just add some vintage pieces (check charity stores to save the money you’ve spent on the chair). Two would be twice as nice, but why not just have one and pair it with a plain black chair for contrast. It’s more versatile than you think and you'll love it forever. I know I would.
- Liz rattan task lamp Anthropologie
I've been wary of jumping too wholeheartedly into the rattan trend for it will surely pass. But if you stick to small objects where it is used in a slightly unexpected way, it has more longevity because it comes across as more considered. So, this pretty lamp will soften a work environment and is perfect for those WFH spots which have to share functions – such as bedroom offices and sitting room desks.
- Set of three vintage style numbered tables Rockett St George
Made from metal and covered with a high gloss lacquer, these are a fun design but the fact that they nest means they are also space-saving. Table nests were regarded as rather old fashioned for a while - spindly antique leggy tables that wobbled (perhaps those were just the ones that belonged to my grandmother). But this is a modern version that will sit in any interior, whether restrained minimalism or riotous maximalism, and isn't it always useful to have a spare table or two?
- LEXI IVORY BOUCLE SOFA Graham & Green
Yes, you’ve got to be brave to tangle with a cream sofa. But if you have no cats and your children have reached the age where they only come into the sitting room to ask for your Amazon password, then you might be at the point of considering this. It’s a very pretty shape – curves are in but these lines originate in the Art Deco movement of the 1920s, so it’s hardly a fad. And the cushion is removable and washable. You might have to introduce a “no-jeans” policy, however.
- Fortuna metal floor lamp OKA
One of the keys to getting your décor right is lighting – and one of the ways to get the lighting right is to layer it. That means you need several sources at different heights. Here’s your floor lamp. The small base allows you to tuck it next to a chair or at the end of a sofa and it won’t take up much space at floor level. The shade is big but the room is emptier up there, so you have more room to fill. The colour – dark grey - is classic and will always be friends with all the other colours in the room. Simply change the shade to refresh the décor. And if you have a small desk (or a desk in the corner of another room) then using a floor lamp instead of a task light will give you more working space.
- Wall-mounted ladder drying rack Not On The High Street
I have a rather unattractive metal drying rack fixed to the shelf between my boiler and washing machine and it’s completely invaluable. It’s used not only for drying things in winter, but for keeping damp tea towels out of the way and can even be pulled out and used as a shelf for clean folded laundry to sit on. This version looks far nicer than mine. It comes in two sizes and a choice of natural wood or white painted. And if you’re trying not to use your tumble dryer as much then you need one of these.
- Elizabeth Sofa Love Your Home
I haven’t traditionally been a fan of the armless sofa, but rebrand it as a daybed, take it out of the sitting room, and I’m in. If you have a large kitchen with room for a sofa (the oft-stated goal of the extension) then putting one of these in will still give you a comfy spot for a morning coffee and a chat, but also mean you use the more traditional sofa in the sitting room in the evenings. I know so many people who extend their kitchens to allow for a sofa and then abandon their perfectly nice sitting rooms because they're already too comfy. The candy-stripe fabric is perfect as well.
- Rander ceramic stool OKA
You'll never go wrong with a black and white stripe – it loves to add playfulness to a minimal scheme and slices through a floral one with delight, stopping it from becoming too overwhelming and fussy. This ceramic table is hand-painted (which softens the stripes a little) and has a glazed finish so it can be used in the garden. Use it as extra seating, or for drinks, or even as a footrest. Totally classic, totally versatile.
- Marrakech towel collection M&S x Fired Earth
Continuing the trend for high street and high end collaborating, we have the somewhat unlikely partnership of tile company Fired Earth working with M&S on a collection of soft furnishings. This patterned towel is, for me, the highlight among a sea of cushions and throws that are all very pretty but not necessarily ground-breaking. I’m a fan of a patterned towel though, because: a) it hides the dirt well and I’m not suggesting you use dirty towels but when you get the smudge of mascara on it on the first day out of the cupboard that doesn't really justify washing the whole thing; and b) because bathrooms are often low on pattern and texture and a towel like this can really bring it.
- GREYSON FLOOR LAMP Soho Home
A good floor lamp is hard to find. So often they are angular metal, which tends to look a bit more officey or contemporary than you might want. Or they have a wide base, which means they take up too much room to be tucked at the end of the sofa, or the lamp is so wide it sticks out too far from the corner. I know this because I have a beautiful standard lamp that has all these problems and I may have to move house just to accommodate it. But this one has a narrow base, a narrow shade, and its wooden bobbin form makes it an instant classic. If you’ve solved your sitting room lighting problem but are struggling with a small WFH desk, put this to one side instead of a task lamp and instantly win back more space for that essential clutter.
- Nelson side table Soho Home
Soho Home has perfected the knack of producing furniture that looks as if it ought to be vintage but isn’t. And while it’s expensive, this design style means it will last forever and work in any interior or be passed down/around the family. So it’s investment shopping that’s worth it. This is also a brown and cream calacatta marble, which I predict will be ousting the most classic Cararra as it’s warmer in appearance – where all the best-dressed interiors are going these days. There is another coming too, which rather than the 'white with red' here, is a more red with white version. So if you were in the market for an unmatching pair, this is the way to go.
- Wilma table lamp in ebony pooky
Lighting is one of the areas where you can make a huge statement – and you should do. But you also need those classics that can move around the house and work as ambient light in the sitting room, a bedside light – or even, if you have space, in the kitchen. In line with the fashion for the un-kitcheny kitchen, so comes the unkitcheny light – good for when you've turned down the spotlights (because you did fit a dimmer, didn’t you?) and just want something a little softer to light the bowl of pasta. This one isn’t breaking any design ground, but it will still look good in 20 years' time when your family will be raving about the vintage lamp you bought so long ago. It comes in ebony (my choice) but you might prefer the hot pink or lime green. And, of course, you can change the shade to match your mood or current décor.
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