Find stories to inspire you, ideas from people we admire and our expertise for a home well curated, a wardrobe well put together, a life well lived.
With one in five of us privately renting in the UK and a third of people aged between 34 and 44 still signing up for tenancies, the foundations of the forever family home are in flux. As a mid-life renter with two young children in tow, I well-know the challenges that come with temporary abodes. When you’re potentially packing up every year or so, the idea of investing time and money into a home that isn’t yours can feel like a waste of time.
On the other hand, there is no substitute for the sense of wellbeing that your very own sanctuary can offer you. If your home is your anchor, expressing yourself within its four walls isn’t just valuable, it’s fundamental. Creating a space which immediately relieves the burdens of the world outside the minute we cross the threshold is essential for our mental health, as well as our sense of self.
So where to start? There’s no point beating about the bush – there will be large-scale furniture and bespoke fixtures and fittings that don’t make for wise investments for renters. But anything portable, which can be carefully bubble wrapped for a future relocation, is absolutely feasible. Outside of the essentials – beds and sofas and so on – I focus on the pieces that will make the most impact and conjure up that feeling of coziness, warmth and personality.
One of my biggest tips is to stretch blankets and fabrics over large frames to create large-scale artworks which are both visually meaningful and contribute to softening the auditory atmosphere of a room. Often when you rent, you’ll be advised to simply buy scatter cushions to juzh your living space and while I love a soft landing as much as the next gal, I do believe you need to think about texture and color more holistically. Blankets, rugs, tapestries, artworks on canvases, the use of raw materials, like wood, linen, jute and marble all contribute to a layered sense of depth which is what really elevates your décor. Cushions are great, but if you want to create a truly cozy space, it’s in the mixture of fabrics and natural materials.
I have also become a professional collector of bedding and table linen, because both have the power to totally transform a room. Dressing a bed and dressing a table are quite similar in that way and I always go for the highest quality of fabrics to add quiet luxury to the everyday (it has to be pressed and yes, I understand that ironing is a drag – I do mine in front of the TV to help pass the time). The best part about these investments is they can simply be folded up and packed into suitcases when it’s time to make the next move.
Finally, I am a diehard fan of florals and arrive at every home with a range of vases to work with all kinds of arrangements, from a fancy bouquet to a simple handful of tulips. Fresh-cut flowers bring joy to any and every room and table so, for me, my vases – from the tiny bud styles to the larger glazed ceramics – are non-negotiables no matter my address.
Katherine Ormerod is a fashion and décor journalist, author and ghostwriter living in London with her two children and fiancé. Her new book, “Your Not Forever Home”, is available for pre-order now and on general release from 2nd May. You can follow her @katherine_ormerod on Instagram or sign up for her Substack newsletter ‘Every Shade Of Grey’.
Gifts to welcome them to the world. Outfits for any adventure. Everything for the sweetest dreams.
