Review: Home

How to make your space SO much nicer Text: Catherine Barritt

Too many interior design books make the same mistake as many cookery books. They make every project seem like too much hard work as you go through the check list and think, no, I don’t have that, nor that, what the hell is that? no, no idea about that and gosh where on earth would I get that? Close book, walk away and do something else. The latest book from home loving Geneva Vanderzeil on the other hand does get the creative juices flowing because her projects are quite manageable - I particularly like the section on how to paint a wooden spoon because heck, I can definitely do that. And if I can paint a spoon handle, that will give me confidence to move on to slightly more demanding tasks such as taking squares of white linen and dyeing them a pale shade of pink using an avocado skin (waste not want not). Geneva succeeds in not alienating those who don’t feel themselves to be naturally handy or creative. She is motivating without being chivvying and her How Tos are eminently followable. The book is laid out room by room with useful checklists - for example a checklist for an inviting living room reminds you that you need plants, shelving, good lighting, a great rug and nice cushions. As well as projects of varying degrees of difficulty (I would say anything that involves drills and rawplugs is at least A Level standard), this lovely friendly book offers Q&As, tips on buying rugs and a list of the best houseplants (best meaning easiest to look after). It’s not about having a lot of money, it’s about giving it a go. Home is Where you Make it is published by Murdoch Books, £11.99