For a warm bedroom with an exotic feel, wood is a reliable starting point: parquet flooring, a wardrobe, a bedside table and, above all, the bed. A solid elm bed with an oriental feel, such as the one from La maison de Valérie, has clean, delicate lines and brings simplicity and warmth. A note on availability: some pieces below are from French retailers, so UK stock and delivery may differ. Use them as inspiration and look for similar solid wood, linen or glass pieces from UK homeware shops where needed.

Young woman sitting on a bed, one hand resting on a washed-linen duvet cover, solid oak bedside table

If Indiana Jones is your hero and you dream of travelling the world, a globe bar can bring the world to your fingertips at aperitif time. After a glass or two, you might even be tempted to book tickets. The globe bar from La maison de Valérie is hand-varnished, with solid beech legs, a 16th-century world map on the outside and mythological scenes inside. It makes an aperitif feel like an occasion.

Young woman opening a bedroom window wide, morning light filling the room

If you prefer a more zen mood, with incense and patchouli candles, a lucky knot made from Chinese coins can add a symbolic touch and a sense of calm. It is a traditional symbol to enjoy for what it evokes, not as guaranteed protection. The lucky knot shown here is from Zen avenue.

If you miss holidays, sea air and the smell of warm sand, the four fish-shaped pockets from Décoavenue are a playful way to store bubble bath, clean flannels and bath salts so they no longer trail everywhere. Add two floating rose-shaped candles, ideally in a small bowl, for a calmer bath time.

Wellbeing can come from small, frivolous things, and that is fine. The Bloom-Simplicity vase in stainless steel and glass, planted with an orchid or the prettiest rose, is simple and design-led; it will make an impact in a living room or on a bedside table. Because light can reassure and soothe, create a soft, dim atmosphere with Ouragan tealight holders for summer garden dinners or long winter evenings. These are from Omilieu.fr.

At tea time, Tramontina's stainless steel and wood cups are original, design-led and elegant, with a stainless steel spoon and wooden saucer. For breakfast, aperitifs, an evening glass of milk or hot and iced drinks, bring out the mugs. The glass mugs with stainless steel rims from Univers-maison are undeniably smart.

If you want more colour, wall stickers are a major home décor trend. Stick them wherever you like and enjoy them. Create your own walls, with no bulky wallpaper, just stickers. Pure-deco also has cushions with a rural feel, floral spring-like trivets, star fairy lights and many other décor ideas.

Bedroom corner at dusk: warm lamp, lit recycled-glass tealight holder and a blown-glass vase

For a Sleeping Beauty bedroom, place a Victorian cheval mirror from Conforama next to your four-poster bed. It is wooden, 150 by 60 cm, can be positioned anywhere and gives a full view of your outfit, so no more jumping to see yourself. Sometimes a small change is enough to brighten a room, and even a few square metres can feel good to live in.

But feeling good at home is not only about objects, and this is where wellbeing really matters. Light comes first: let in daylight, open the curtains wide, and in the evening choose soft, dim lighting — tealights and fairy lights work well here — rather than harsh light that can tire the eyes. Materials matter too: wood, linen, cotton, wool and glass add warmth and texture, while very smooth surfaces can feel cold. Clutter and storage count as well: a clear room, where fish pockets and mugs have a place, is easier to relax in. Indoor air is not a detail: ventilate for a few minutes every day, even in winter, and allow volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from new materials (paints, adhesives, boards) to disperse before you spend time in the room.

When choosing, focus on how you use the room rather than trends: the space you have, how much maintenance the material needs, how much light the room gets and the budget you want to spend. Keep the limits in mind, too: a beautiful object alone will not transform the atmosphere, and the prettiest vase will not fix a dark or cluttered room.

Choose your décor carefully, light your rooms well and shape your interior to suit you. Feeling comfortable at home and creating a cosy nest where you can live well is what matters most.

Budget

As a rough guide, expect to pay around £50–£130 for a tealight holder or a blown-glass vase, £18–£50 for a linen or organic cotton cushion cover depending on size, and £90–£260 for an entry-level wooden cheval mirror. Prices vary most by material (solid wood or board, recycled or new glass), how it is made and where you buy it: flea markets, local makers and homeware shops all sit in different ranges, so compare before you buy.