Home fun

Kya deLongchamps looks at the increase in fun home interior products and how to make them work well in our homes.

THEY say sales of red lipstick soar during recession as an antidote to the economic gloom, so perhaps recession also accounts for the increasing rise in witty and fun — but essentially practical — home interiors products available to cheer up our domestic environment and bring a smile to our faces.

No aspect of our interiors is escaping the trend, as humour is injected into everything from tablewares and textiles to wallpaper and furniture. As with all trends, it’s best to proceed with caution unless you want to end up with a look that will date quickly. With this trend, brevity is advisable unless you want the house of fun look, bearing in mind that an injection of fun can run from subtle wit to laugh-out-loud ridiculous and requires an approach that is more opportunity led that deliberate. In other words, don’t go hunting for something fun which will seem contrived and probably miss the point. Keep an eye open and wait for the right item to come along.