Books to introduce a new look into your home in the new year

The Creative Home by Geraldine James is written in five simple chapter divisions, based around different parts of the house and their functions in family life – where you cook and eat; relax and socialise; work and create; sleep and bathe; and store things.

The book is chiefly about finding ways to reflect your personal style in your living space. James’ suggestions are simple and sensible in their approach – for example, she suggests you group trinkets, like ornaments or jewellery, by theme or colour for greater display effect, or set crockery on open shelving to extend its use beyond the functional to something decorative also.

James also suggests creating new focal points in a space, such as creating a home gallery of sorts with floor-to-ceiling artwork and photos, or hanging an assortment of bright-coloured plates on a wall as an unconventional way to decorate an outdoor eating space.