The Insider: How to inject soul into an empty shell

Kate Burt
Sunday 19 June 2011 00:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A friend has just moved into a box-fresh rented flat – nice. But even with pictures up and Ikea purchases in, she said: "Looks a bit sterile, doesn't it?" It did. So how to banish that just-moved-in sheen?

Choices, choices

Resist Ikea overkill. Try twentytwentyone.com (for modern classics); bodieandfou.com (online chic), anthropologie.eu (especially its statement cushions) and rockettstgeorge.co.uk (oddities new and old).

Space oddity

Interiors editors hunt for homes with unique details: buy the thing that repels as much as it intrigues – try vintage taxidermy (thepeanut vendor.co.uk); unusual art (Jonathan Gould's "Bams" are an affordable risk, bamz.biz); or Katy Leigh's kooky plates on a wall (culturelabel.com).

Lean on me

Don't just hang pictures – prop them, overlapping, against walls.

Something old

Vintage softens sterility – but if secondhand isn't your thing, add new old-school touches from labourandwait.co.uk: an enamel ladle set (£40) in the kitchen, say, or beautifully packaged Portuguese cosmetics (from £2.50) displayed in bathrooms.

Slim shady

Make lighting a talking point: I love madeleineboulesteix.co.uk's inventive chandeliers and – less pricey – Folly & Glee's vintage fabric shades (notonthehighstreet.com, from £25).

Outside in

Re-appropriate: a wrought-iron garden chair indoors is striking.

Hello flower

American interiors guru Martha Stewart suggests displaying flowers (or try little houseplants) in unusual food tins from cool delis.

Further reading

Decorate by blogger Holly Becker (Jacqui Small, £30) is a beautiful book of practical but quirky professional decorating tips.

Find Kate's blog on affordable interiors at yourhomeislovely.com

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in