We’ve been Decorating for 10,000 years

I’d recommend listening to the BBC’s new radio series “A History of the World in 100 Objects”. It’s on radio 4 each weekday and has been made with the British Museum, presented by its director Neil MacGregor

Today’s object was a bird shaped pestle which was used by early farmers in Papua New Guinea, probably to grind the vegetable taro in a mortar, sometime between 4000 and 10,000 years ago.

Ten thousand years ago we, humankind, were making objects that did not just perform a useful function, one that allowed great expansion of the population, but that were made to look good as well. Evidence, if it were needed, that we humans have always desired to live not by bread alone, but by enhancing our everyday lives with beautiful objects.

10 Tips on How To Present Your House To Sell It

Once you decide to move, you must mentally move out and allow your prospective buyers mentally to move in. Here are a few tips for making your house appeal to the most number of people.

1. First Impressions count – our minds are made up in 30 seconds. Sad but true, it seems we make up our minds about people and houses almost instantaneously, make it count. Paint the door, put some pot plants out. Tidy the garden if you have one.

2. Make an Entrance – If you have a hallway, make the most of it. Good lighting makes it feel welcoming, mirrors & artworks will all help. A small table or shelf, somewhere to put keys/phones, makes it look practical.

3. De-clutter and de-personalise – people can not see past clutter or mess. Yes you do need to tidy up before very viewing. Put stuff in storage if necessary, including clothes

4. Clean up Cleaned windows makes a huge difference. Clean kitchens and bathrooms are a must. It seems that people prefer the smell of disinfectant to fancy candles or home fragrances.

5. Add good lighting Lamps can be brought with you when you move, so buy some more to create a great mood in each room. You should even switch them on for viewings during the day.

6. Re-paint if necessary People are not capable of seeing past your décor, whether it’s too personal or just tired. Assess the ‘canvas’ you are presenting to potential buyers. They need to imagine themselves living in the property. Make it as attractive as possible to the most number of people.

7. Make each room serve its purpose Make the spare bedroom look like one. If it looks like a storage room they won’t ‘see’ a bedroom.

8. Make your bed Your bedroom should look as much like a hotel room as possible as people like this look – clean sheets, a made up bed, cushions, bedside lamps and
no clothes on view.

9. Pets and pet smells are out Some people hate them, even if you can’t live without them. Farm out your beloved pooch to a friend if necessary.

10. Fix anything that looks broken or damaged – not doing so makes the whole property sem neglected in the buyer’s eyes, even if this is untrue.


Remember most people can not visualise the space in any other way than the way in which is it presented. If it is unclean, untidy, looks unloved, is not well lit, or does not look inviting, they will not see beyond this.

Trends Schmends

Trends – I’ve never been one for trends, in interiors or anything else, preferring to plough my own furrow. Who needs to hear that their latest handbag, sofa or wallpaper is “so last season” and who cares anyway as long as it makes you happy? And yet, it’s always interesting to observe trends and it’s undeniable that there sometimes seems to be a global consciousness at work. Here are five trends I’ve observed recently, many possibly resulting from our financially austere environment. I have to say for once – I like them!

1. Quality - Investing in objects and materials that will last.
2. Handcrafted - Knowing that someone has made an object with skill and love.
3. Colour - Hurrah!
4. Eclecticism - Particularly mixing old and new.
5. Product lifecycles – Interest in where, by whom and how a product is made, how does it get to me, how long does it last and what happens to it at the end of its life?