How to Style a Bookshelf: A Step-by-Step Method
Style bookshelves that look considered, not cluttered: edit first, anchor with books, mix vertical and horizontal stacks, use triangles, odd numbers and space.
Home design journal · Guides · Tools
Spaces that inspire. Living that matters.
Clear, practical guides to designing a home that works: the measurements, materials and decisions behind calm, comfortable rooms. Written for people furnishing their own homes, not for showrooms.
Browse by topic
Find the guide for the room you are working on.
24 in-depth guides so far, organised by room and by subject. New guides are added every week.
Latest from the journal
New and recently updated guides.
How to Choose and Hang Curtains: Width, Height and Length
Hang curtains like a professional: how far poles should extend, how high to mount them, fullness ratios, lengths, heading styles, linings and how to measure.
Layered Lighting: How to Light Every Room Properly
Plan layered lighting room by room: ambient, task and accent layers, lumens per square metre, colour temperature, CRI, dimmers and where to place lamps.
How Much Paint Do I Need? A Step-by-Step Calculation
Work out how much paint you need for walls, ceilings and woodwork: coverage rates, deductions for doors and windows, coats, primer and a full worked example.
How to Choose White Paint: Undertones, LRV and Light
Why white paint looks grey, yellow or blue on your walls, and how to choose the right one using undertones, LRV, room orientation and proper large swatches.
Paint Finishes Explained: Matt, Eggshell, Satin and Gloss
Matt, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss or gloss? How paint sheen affects durability, washability and how flaws show, plus which finish to use in each room.
Free planning tools
Do the maths before you shop.
Most decorating mistakes are measuring mistakes: a rug that floats in the middle of the room, curtains that stop short, or a third trip to the paint shop. These calculators give you a sensible starting figure in seconds.
Paint calculatorLitres and tins for walls and ceiling, with doors, windows and coats taken into account.
Rug size calculatorThe right rug size for your living room, dining table or bed, with the nearest standard size.
Curtain calculatorPole width, curtain drop and fabric width for your window, based on how full you want them.
What we believe
“A beautiful room is not the one with the most things in it. It is the one where everything has a reason to be there.”
Specific, not generic
Our guides give real dimensions, clearances and quantities, and explain the reasoning so you can adapt them to your own room.
Independent
We do not sell furniture, accept paid placements or run affiliate links. Recommendations are about principles, not products.
Kept up to date
Guides are reviewed and corrected when readers point out errors or when standards change. Each article shows when it was published and updated.
Inspiration
A mood of quiet, natural luxury.
A curated selection of interiors with soft light, warm neutrals and honest textures, grouped by room. Images are illustrative inspiration from Unsplash, credited on our Image Credits page.
