For renters, owners and nest-makers

A cosier home, one room at a time.

Simple guides to light, colour, texture and layout, planners that size your rug, sofa and curtains, and cosy picks at three price points.

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How big should a table lamp be? Resize it and see This week's Guide How big should a table lamp be? Resize it and see A lamp can be lovely and still look wrong on your table. Usually the problem is proportion: a shade too wide for its base, too wide for the table, or a lamp… BudgetEglo Tafellamp Prestwick Hout E27 40w€18 Sweet spotHome Sweet Home Tafellamp Billy Hout E27€36.79 SplurgeLucide Tafellamp Magius - Rotan - 28cm - E27€87.20 Read, then compare the picks →

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Every guide →
Can you overwater a houseplant? Pour the water and see Plants & Balcony · Explainer · 5 min Can you overwater a houseplant? Pour the water and see Most houseplants that die indoors don't die of thirst. They die of too much water, because roots need air as well as water, and a drowning plant looks a lot like a thirsty one…
Dining & Kitchen · Tool How big should a dining rug be? Pull the chairs out and see Is your dining rug big enough? A good rug lets the chairs slide in and out without catching its edge, and the… 4 min Small Spaces · Tool Which shelf height is easy to reach? Drag the shelf and see Not every shelf is equally easy to reach. The golden zone between your waist and shoulders is best for things… 5 min Colour & Walls · Tool How far apart should shelves be? Plan the gaps and see Shelves look wrong when the gaps are wrong. Enter your wall height, choose what each shelf holds, and see… 4 min Textiles · Tool What size throw fits your sofa or bed? Drag it and see Is your throw too small for the sofa, or so big it swamps the bed? The right size is simple geometry, and you… 4 min Bedroom · Tool What bed size fits your room? Drag the bed and see Bed sizes are sold by the mattress, but you live with the gaps around it. Pick a size, enter your room's… 4 min

Bring your tape measure.

Planners that turn your room’s measurements into the right rug, sofa, curtains and lamps.

01 How big should a dining rug be? Pull the chairs out and see Is your dining rug big enough? A good rug lets the chairs slide in and out without catching its edge, and the… Open → 02 Which shelf height is easy to reach? Drag the shelf and see Not every shelf is equally easy to reach. The golden zone between your waist and shoulders is best for things… Open → 03 How far apart should shelves be? Plan the gaps and see Shelves look wrong when the gaps are wrong. Enter your wall height, choose what each shelf holds, and see… Open → 04 What size throw fits your sofa or bed? Drag it and see Is your throw too small for the sofa, or so big it swamps the bed? The right size is simple geometry, and you… Open → 05 What bed size fits your room? Drag the bed and see Bed sizes are sold by the mattress, but you live with the gaps around it. Pick a size, enter your room's… Open → 06 Round or rectangular table? Seat the guests and see A table that "seats six" can still leave your elbows colliding. What decides it is how much table edge each… Open →

On our shelf

The picks our guides come back to most.

Sweet spot€36.79
Home Sweet Home Tafellamp Billy Hout E27
E27 fitting · Wood finish · Mid-range price
from “How big should a table lamp be? Resize it and see” Praxis
Budget€18
Eglo Tafellamp Prestwick Hout E27 40w
E27 fitting · Max 40 W · Wood-colour base
from “How big should a table lamp be? Resize it and see” Praxis
Splurge€87.20
Lucide Tafellamp Magius - Rotan - 28cm - E27
Ø 28 cm · 52 cm high · Rattan shade
from “How big should a table lamp be? Resize it and see” Praxis
Sweet spot€35.99
Micao Kant En Klaar Inbetween Gordijn Linnen 145 X 240 Cm
145 × 240 cm · Inbetween · Beige
from “How full should curtains be? Slide the fullness and see” Praxis
Budget€16.32
Inbetween Gordijn Julie - Wit - 140 X 240 Cm
140 × 240 cm · Inbetween · White
from “How full should curtains be? Slide the fullness and see” Praxis
Splurge€59.99
Verduisterend En Isolerend Gordijn Alaska - Wit - 140 X 240 Cm
140 × 240 cm · Blackout · Insulating
from “How full should curtains be? Slide the fullness and see” Praxis

Topics

Bedroom6 Beds, bedding and a calm place to sleep. Colour & Walls6 Palettes, paint finishes, art and shelves. Dining & Kitchen6 Tables, chairs and the everyday table. Lighting6 Warm bulbs, lamps and layers of light. Living Room6 Sofas, rugs and a layout that feels right. Plants & Balcony6 Greenery, pots and a balcony to sit on. Small Spaces6 Storage and furniture for studios and rentals. Textiles6 Throws, cushions, curtains and rugs.

How we pick

Each guide explains the idea first: why a room feels cosy, cramped or cold. The picks at the end are examples that fit, at three price points.

  1. 01We don’t claim hands-on testing. Picks are examples, not reviews.
  2. 02Links are affiliate links and marked as sponsored. We may earn a commission, but your price doesn’t change.
  3. 03Each product page lists every shop we track, with live prices.
  4. 04Measure before you buy. Every guide says what to measure, so returns stay rare.