Styling

How to put a dining room together

Three things decide whether a dining room works: the color of the furniture against the room, the size of the pieces against the space, and how well the style matches the rest of t…

Matching five-element furniture to the seasons

A traditional Chinese guide to the five elements in furniture: which materials count as wood, earth, metal, water and fire, and what people born in different seasons are advised to…

The five elements and colour in furniture

In traditional Chinese thinking each color belongs to one of the five elements. Here is how that maps to sofa colors, and how to work out which colors suit you.

Furniture placement: what to watch for

Traditional feng shui has a lot to say about where furniture goes. Here are its main rules for living-room shape, mirrors, sofa position, beams and matching styles.

Arranging sofas in a new home

A sofa can settle the study-or-guest-room question, turn an attic loft into a retreat, and keep a small living room feeling open. Three ways to place one in a new home.

A guide to choosing your Bosheng style

A comparison of six furniture styles, from modern minimalist and Scandinavian to New Chinese, European classical, light luxury and minimalism, to help you pick a fit for your home.

How to choose doors for a renovation

Three checks for choosing interior doors: inspect finish, certification, material and workmanship; tap and listen for solid wood; and understand the paint finish.