Opt for simplicity when choosing furniture

Opting for a simple look in furniture does not mean everything has to be about sharp angles, writes Carol O’Callaghan.

One of the best furniture buying decisions I ever made was a high stool for my kitchen. I don’t have a breakfast bar to accommodate a run of them, but just this single stool means I can sit while peeling vegetables or whipping up a sponge cake at a comfortable height to access the work surface.

The stool has even found its own little corner near the stove where it naturally fits, and where everyone gravitates, making it a favourite perch for friends who pop in for a coffee.