A lack of space is something that many homes have in one room or another. From cosy cottages to compact city-centre flats, we’ve got clever storage ideas for every corner of your home.
Keeping control of clutter is just the start of small space storage solutions. Select a combination of designs that will showcase your prized possessions and others that will store them out of sight.
Up the wall
Wall-mounted shelves and configurable shelving units create the perfect storage for your small space. When floor space is scarce, often the best choice is to opt for taller units that make use of vertical space.
The customisable Tower Shelving Unit is a go-to for sophisticated storage. Shelves can also be places over doors and within alcoves to make the most of awkward spaces.
Exposed bathroom storage
Exposed storage in a bathroom will prevent it from feeling cramped and dark. If you’re worried about the room looking cluttered, invest in a collection of baskets to store toiletries. We recommend combining a collection of open-storage options to create a decorative, yet practical, display. These can range from wallhooks to open shelving, such as the Brunel Lean-To Shelves.
Wall-mounted lights
Table lamps and desk lights can take up a lot of space in much needed storage areas. By placing carefully chosen wall lights next to your bed, sofa or workspace, you free up additional room for storage.
Compartmentalise a small space
With space a hot commodity these days, many homes feature open-plan living areas with kitchens and living rooms in close quarters. Storage can be used to create broken-plan living and separate your rooms a little. Select from dedicated room dividers or get creative with sideboards and freestanding islands.
Embrace Natural light
Nothing makes a small space feel larger and less cramped than natural light. When selecting your furniture, opt for open pieces that won’t obstruct the sunlight. Similarly, light curtains and reflective surfaces go a long way to making sure your room feels more open.
"People think you're limited when a space is small, but I think the key is seeing everything as somewhat in flux, never standing still, always shifting, realigning." Mario Nievera
Under-bed storage
Having guests to stay is always a pleasure, but finding room to store bedding can be a nightmare in a small space. If you’re looking to invest, choose a divan bed with fitted storage for a clean aesthetic. If you’re happy with your current bed, the Brunel Rolling Under-Bed Drawers are a versatile alternative. Combined with vacuum-packed bags, you’re onto a winner.
Get creative
If cupboard or drawer space is lacking, you have the opportunity to get creative with your storage. Hang dust pans, brooms and dusters in full display and make a wall feature out of your cleaning kit. Clever designs such as the Vitra Uten.Silo create ready-made displays. To personalise it, pack it full with craft supplies, toiletries or kitchen utensils.
Use baskets to tidy away
Baskets and storage boxes provide ideal functional storage when time is not on your side. Children’s bedrooms, bathrooms and crafting areas benefit from having baskets on hand to tidy up in an instant. Even better, they can be stacked together when not in use.
Small space desks
Looking to create the perfect home office for working from home but low on space? A compact deskcan provide the perfect amount of storage and work surface to get the job done. A folding chair completes the scene and also provides additional seating for guests. Alcoves, under-stair recesses and hard-to-use spaces are the ideal spot to create your workspace.
Storage underfoot
Like storage beds, a living room can also provide additional storage in a small space. A storage ottoman is ideal for keeping cushions and additional throws. When placed in the hallway, a blanket box also creates practical shoe storage.
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[ INSPIRATION ]
Trends & Lifestyle
The Heal’s Modern Craft Market is back and this year our focus is on the exquisite crafts from the ancient Japanese city of Gifu. Delicate and expertly-made crafts have been synonymous with Japan for centuries, and today there is still the same emphasis on intricacy, legacy and tradition.
Our celebration of Japanese crafts aims to shine a light on the independent makers from Gifu as well as the beauty of their products – by connecting creator and consumer, we hope to paint a picture of “authentic Japan” in all its beauty.
Besides crafts, Japan is known for its recognisable design aesthetic. Closely tied to the principles of its ancient crafts, many designs from Japan are made from natural materials and tend to feature traditional elements and pared back forms.
In this blog, we’re taking a closer look at what makes Japanese design so special.
What is Japanese Design?
When people think of Japanese design, they envision minimal, uncluttered spaces with a few select designs scattered throughout. Sliding doors, natural materials and low lying furniture are all synonymous with the country’s interior design.
Contemporary Japanese designers, whether consciously or not, have carried on the legacy of Japanese arts and crafts, and this enabled them to create their particular code - simple, white, delicate and meticulous - now seen by the world as Japanese design.
When it comes to furniture, the approach is similar – natural materials, organic shapes and a pared-back aesthetic tend to be prevalent.
The Noguchi Table, designed by Isamu Noguchi in the mid-20th century, channels the Japanese-American designer’s fascination with surrealism and zen gardens. It was developed using traditional Japanese materials and remains one of his most iconic designs. Its asymmetry owes much to Noguchi’s Japanese artistic education.
Our Japanese Craft Market also features select furniture from Hida. The Kinoe Chair and Bench, designed by Ibuki Kaiyama for Hida, are both made from cedar wood and feature delicate yet sturdy spindles that shape around the body.
Another piece of not is the Seoto Chair designed by Motomi Kawakami. It perfectly balances beauty and functionality and is made from white oak, making it light in colour and in form.
The Kinoe Chair and Bench by Ibuki Kaiyama for Hida
More than just an aesthetic
But Japanese design is more than just an aesthetic – it’s a philosophy rooted in ancient ideals and schools of thought. These ideals include wabi, sabi and yugen.
These three main principles, as well as a handful of others, underpin the Japanese aesthetic which elevates it an integral part of daily life rather than just a way of thinking.
Wabi (rustic simplicity) and Sabi (taking pleasure in the imperfect) refer to a mindful approach to everyday life. Over time their meanings converged to form wabi-sabi, an intuitive way of living that encourages you to find beauty in the imperfect, impermanent and incomplete. It inspires you peacefully embrace the natural cycle of growth and decay. It is made up of seven core principles follows:
Kanso — simplicity or elimination of clutter
Fukinsei — asymmetry or irregularity in design
Shibumi — understated aesthetic
Shizen — naturalness without pretence
Yugen — showing more by showing less
Datsuzoku — freedom from habit
Seijaku — tranquility, stilness or solitude
When it comes to applying it to interior design, think of earthy colour schemes in well-balanced rooms that are free from clutter and chaos. Wabi-sabi spaces never appear ostentatious or overly decorated.
The Hiiro Sky Pot by Talk features a 'flame colour' which wraps around the centre of the pottery. It is a natural interaction during the firing process which balances against the matte glaze and clay.
These ancient principles are still seen in modern Japanese design. MUJI, for example, sells a wide variety of quality products which embody Zen design. With the help of Japanese graphic designer, Kenya Hawa, MUJI has strengthened the concept of “emptiness”, whereby their products and packaging enlighten people’s daily lives by wasting no energy or resources on non-fundamental, non-essential elements.
Naota Fukasawa has also been instrumental in the brand’s development and has a talent for making designs feel just right. Fukasawa has designed for a number of eminent design companies all around the world yet all retain his signature pared-back style. Fukasawa compares his work to that of a chef:
“I’m always trying to make good soup. The seasoning of the broth differs according to different countries, cultures, and brands, but I always end up with delicious soup.”
Hon-minoshi paper is made through a series of ancient techniques such as soaking it in clear shallow waters.
The future of Japanese Design
Designers such as Hara and Fukasawa solidified the idea of Japanese design as a minimalist exercise. Traditional craftsmanship and a minimalist aesthetic have found favour amongst Western audiences as the shift towards well—made, deeply cultural products overtake cheaply produced, disposable items.
By leveraging Japan’s key cultural resource and traditional aesthetics, Japan has a bright future in design. Japanese designers are increasingly looking to the past and their roots to inspire designs of the future.
Baku Sakashita is a Japanese designer summed it up well in a recent interview: “The spirit of adapting something from the past is not about it being old or retro — it’s good design. It’s taking good components of older design and incorporating it into something new.”
Unfortunately, the Heal’s Japaense Craft Market has now finished. Luckily, you can still view the edit online.
Lighting is one of the most important aspects to get right when furnishing your home. It dictates the atmosphere and feel of your space, as well as proving beautiful designs to complement your existing furniture. There are some types of lighting that won’t ever go out of style (classic glass pendants or functional table lamps, for example) but there are new styles pushing the boundaries of lighting design that are definitely worth our attention. Our buyers travel all over the world visiting design shows to identify the latest trends in home and lighting. From Stockholm to Milan, they’ve gathered their insight and curated a list of three lighting trends set to rise to prominence over the coming year. -
White Lighting
First on the list is white lighting. It’s often thought that cooler ‘white light’ makes a home feel cold and clinical. But developments in technology have allowed beautiful white finishes to emit a softer, warmer glow allowing us to bring these stylish pieces into our home. Copper and brass have dominated pendant and floor lighting for many years and still prove to be popular. But white offers a contemporary alternative – designs look particularly stylish against a dark, coloured backdrop or are equally perfect in minimal spaces with a restrained colour palette. For Spring/Summer 2019, we introduced a brand new range of white lighting that is gentle, feminine and perfect for minimal interiors. With finishes such as hand-blown glass, brushed brass and delicate tassels, this collection ticks all the trend boxed whilst remaining quietly understated.
The Silk Pendant
Celestial-inspired lighting
Designers have long looked to the skies for inspiration when it comes to lighting. It’s an easy jump to make – the ultimate sources of light are the sun, the moon and the stars. But now the trend is evolving from simply referencing their look to exploring the paths these celestial bodies trace across the skies. These designs play with proportions of vertical and horizontal space and incorporate modern chandeliers and multi-arm designs. These are meant to mirror the trajectories of planetary and lunar orbits, rather than the reference the planets themselves. The Mega Junction Chandelier and Joule Collection are perfect examples of the trend with bright orbs of light sitting at the end of linear arms, alluding to the movement of the sun, moon and stars.
The Balance Multi-Arm Chandelier references the paths the sun and moon takes across our sky
Layered Lighting
Linear pendants over kitchen tops and dining table will remain popular but a new way to style lighting is also emerging. Hanging pendant lights at different heights, in different sizes and in clusters are a much more striking way to draw the eye. Think of it as layering but for lighting. Hanging differently sized pendants at different heights is an interesting alternative to simply hanging 0one oversized design above a dining table or bed.
A stylish layered lighting configuration featuring the Kyoto pendant range and Madrid dining table
Our new collection for Spring/Summer 2019 has arrived at Heal’s. This season we’ve been inspired by the simplicity of Japanese design as well as colourful, characterful pieces that encourage you to explore your creative side.
Having visited the major design shows across Europe, our buyers developed two collections based on the key colours and trends that were coming through. The result was two different but complementary collections - Urban Sanctuary and Creative Escape.
We’re taking a closer look at the ranges, from concept to completion, discovering the inspiration and ideas behind some of our signature pieces.
Urban Sanctuary
Inspired by the simplicity of Japanese design, the neutral tones of our Urban Sanctuary collection create a sense of calm with uncomplicated craftsmanship and a minimal aesthetic.
We wanted to encourage people to see their homes not just as a place of shelter but also of sanctuary, where they could shed the stresses of daily life and switch off from the outside world. Matte surfaces are offset by texture and hints of pattern while architectural elements add a sense of drama and scale.
Below are a few images used on the buyers' inspirational mood board that they used to shape the collection.
Luna
Handcrafted in Italy, the beautiful Luna sofa has voluminous dimensions, generous soft seating, and on-trend slim metal legs. The sofa can be arranged in multiple configurations to suit any space or style, allowing large open spaces as well as compact homes to enjoy the comfort of Luna.
We wanted to create a sofa that was highly contemporary without compromising on comfort. Its elegant silhouette gives it a truly modern feel but the high back and supportive seat make it more than just a beautiful piece to look at.
The Luna Modular sofa can be arranged in any configuration
Eden
Our Eden bedroom collection was created with Japanese design in mind. We’ve seen the Japandi trend slowly begin to dominate the pages of interior magazines and Instagram feeds, so we wanted to create a calming bedroom collection that focussed on uncomplicated craftsmanship and a minimal aesthetic.
We collaborated with bespoke furniture maker Emile Jones, the designer behind our popular Clifton range, to create this simple yet considered range. Comprising a bedside table, dressing table, floor mirror and bed with leather headboard, the Eden range is perfect for creating your very own sanctuary.
The Eden Bedroom Range is made from solid oak and features crafted peg detailing
Creative Escape
In contrast, the energy of our Creative Escape collection encourages exploration of our more playful side when it comes to interior design. Centred around a warm colour palette, creativity comes from the mixed materials, tactile layers and unique forms of the designs.
Drawing upon Spanish farmhouse influences, the range gives you the freedom to express your individual style through colour, pattern and texture.
Monroe
The new Monroe headboard has joined our collection offering a statement winged design that wraps around the edge of the bed, cocooning you as you sleep. Designed in house, the headboard effortlessly mixes generous proportions with feminine, sweeping lines creating a sense of scale and drama.
Senior Upholstery Buyer, Kris Manolo, says, “the Monroe is one of my favourite pieces from the new collection. Its winged headboard is as eye-catching as it is understated, combining the ultimate in comfort with elegance.”
The Monroe Headboard is available on this Columbus Linen Mace and all other Heal's fabrics
Lighting
Our new lighting collection sees colour updates to classics such as the Cohen lighting range and new statement pieces from some of the world’s most impressive designers. Highlights include the new Diploria and Ginkgo range, created exclusively for Heal’s by East London design duo Vezzini & Chen.
These ethereal pieces draw their inspiration from nature and are handcrafted from Parian porcelain, evoking a beautiful interplay between light and shadow.
The Cohen Pendant by Heal's
To explore our new collection in its entirety visit our Spring Summer 2019 collection page.
What does dinnertime look like in your house? Do you all sit around the table and chat about your day, or are you all on the sofa, plates perched on your laps, as you eat?
If the second scenario sounds familiar, you’re not alone. More of us are living busier lives, largely thanks to smartphones increasing connectivity and many of us working longer hours. We believe the dining table is an important feature of any household.
As well as providing a space for homework and crafts, families can also sit together and enjoy a meal or discussion around them. With so many of us distracted by technology these days, we believe meal times at the dining table are a good opportunity for the family to bond and share stories from the day.
With many finding it difficult to come together as a family for dinner, Heal’s wanted to look at what’s happening at mealtimes and explore the significance of the dining table in the modern home. Does having a table make a difference to relationships? Can something so simple bring a family together? Here’s what we found.
All Together Now
It seems many of us think it’s important to share mealtimes together yet it is still a contentious topic within families. In fact, one-third of families are getting into disagreements about not sitting at the dining table each night.
Women would prefer more time together with their partner at dinnertime, with 38% feeling unhappy if their partners opt to sit elsewhere, and those in the 35-to-44 age bracket are especially frustrated.
The Blake Dining Table with Marble Top Attitudes to sharing mealtimes vary from city to city, too, with Mancunians being the most likely to be around the table for dinner. Manchester is one of the strictest cities when it comes to sitting down together, with over half of residents (51%) choosing to do so.
Interestingly, London was second on the list (44%). As the busy capital where everything is fast-paced, it’s heartening to see so many families taking the time to share a meal.
Well Connected
While many of us are trying to get everyone to sit together at mealtimes, there’s one major factor that seems to be building barriers to helping families do this: the mobile phone. We seem to be a nation of phone addicts, with almost one-third of us (32%) using them at the table and over a quarter (28%) admitting to not switching off their mobile at mealtimes.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s younger people that find it the hardest to switch off during dinnertime, with 46% of 25 to 34-year-olds being the worst for using their phones at the table, closely followed by the 18 to 24-year-olds (44%). This drops significantly to 29% for the 35 to 44-year-olds, however, this is the age group who struggle the most with being away from their phone during dinner. Of those asked, more women than men find it harder to leave their mobile.
Over half (54%) think it’s difficult to keep it away from the dining table. In addition, if you happen to be in Manchester and you can’t resist bringing your phone with you to the table, you’re not alone. This was the worst city (44%) for keeping the mobile next to the dinner plate at mealtimes.
The Lisbon Dining Table, part of Heal's Bespoke Dining range
It’s not all black and white
As well as lots of us struggling to keep our mobiles away while we eat, there’s some deceptive behaviour among parents when it comes to who’s allowed their phones at the table. Of those asked, 11% admitted to checking their phones mid-bite, even though their children aren’t allowed to.
Fathers are the biggest culprits, with 13% banning mobiles at mealtime but hanging on to their own anyway. Parents in the 25 to 34 age group are the most likely to do this, while those in the 55-to-64 age bracket are the strictest, imposing a blanket ban on phones at the dining table.
Overall, however, almost a quarter (24%) allow children to keep their mobile with them. Should you be a child or young adult in Bristol, you’re least likely to be able to combine sending to your WhatsApp group with dinner as 72% of parents don’t allow it. And if you’re in Belfast, your parents are the biggest culprits. A quarter use their own phones while not allowing the kids to do the same.
Get Together
As more of our time is taken up by our phones, it seems we’re less likely to sit down together and enjoy a meal as a family. Perhaps it’s time to turn off our devices, enjoy each other’s company, and bring back the dinner table.
Materials are the building blocks of design, forming our most loved and most iconic pieces of furniture. A large part of what makes a design popular is the materials that it is made of. While many materials have lasting appeal, there are recognisable trends to what we choose to use in our homes.
For example, dark woods such as walnut have become more prominent in furniture design and we’ve seen velvet make a huge comeback when it comes to materials for upholstery. We’ve chosen a handful of materials that we think will start to make their way into homes over the coming year and - most likely - beyond.
Biophilia
Biophilia refers to designs or buildings that utilise natural materials to form them. Popularised in the 1980’s by American psychologist Edward O Wilson, the term addresses the increasing rate of urbanisation and the resulting disconnect we have with the natural world.
In 2019, we expect to see even more natural influences within our home. Our society is more focussed on health and wellbeing than ever before and people are turning to greenery and natural materials to act as a calm and restorative force.
According to Pinterest, searches for ‘vertical gardens’ were up +287% on last year and cactus arrangements up 235%.
Tom Raffield utilises the traditional craft of steam-bending wood to create expressive and practical lighting Not only will we see the rise in popularity of house plants, but also of furniture made from natural materials that connect us to the outside world. Biophilia is based on the idea that humans have innate connection to nature, so it’s only natural that in our digital world we crave more exposure to natural materials.
Designs that utilise natural materials span a wide range of styles, from ‘Global Nomad’ to ‘Minimalist Modern'. Biophilia can incorporate everything from smooth marble stone to timber flooring to natural fragrances filling a space. When it comes to designs, the trend will go beyond traditional wooden chairs and glass tableware. Think wooden lighting by Tom Raffield, rattan sofas and chairs and clay tableware.
Unfinished interiors and surfaces
Building upon the Japanese-inspired trend of wabi-sabi, which celebrates the beauty of imperfection, is a new take on the style – unfinished interiors and surfaces. This look has been popular within hospitality spaces for a short while, but we predict it will start to make its way into our homes throughout 2019.
The Eden Bed, launching later this year, set against a backdrop of raw concrete
The trend is likely to be most prevalent within kitchens, where raw concrete is a stylish alternative to glossy surfaces and worktops. When it comes to other living areas, peeling plaster and dangling wires add lots of character to a space.
Not only can it reveal a home’s history but also create an authentic and intriguing atmosphere. In a time where we are encouraged to celebrate our imperfections, unfinished homes are the perfect antidote to over styled, overthought spaces.
The trend works in everything from rustic farmhouses, where bare walls and ceilings can highlight a house’s raw country charm, to ultra-modern homes where sophisticated, polished furnishings contrast well with bare concrete surfaces.
Terrazzo
Although not necessarily a new trend, terrazzo seems to be here to stay. The versatile composite has been appearing on Pinterest boards for a while now but has since gone from strength to strength. Its endless potential means it can be used on everything from kitchen surfaces to decorative accents and its hardwearing properties mean it’s likely to last a lifetime.
Terrazzo used for a kitchen surface
In a time where we are bombarded with digital information, homeowners are craving something more tactile and tangible in their private spaces. Terrazzo does just that, allowing people to express their creative side through colour and texture. We see its influence extend past its use on flooring and surfaces into soft furnishings and even onto walls and upholstery, highlighting its longevity.
Read about terrazzo in more detail here.
Soft Touches
When it comes to putting the finishing touches to our home, we are seeking out tactile surfaces like never before. From fluffier rugs to bold and bright wall hangings, we predict an evolution to our soft furnishings throughout 2019. We are likely to see more variation in colours, materials and finishes with the aim of telling more of a story through their design.
Modern rugs may have different pile heights or use metallic threads to create a different finish. Retro wall hangings are becoming much more popular, thanks to the resurgence for all things 70s, yet they are mixed with brass and silk elements to bring them into the modern age.
The Bandas Rug by Gandia Blasco feature oversized stitching and use a mix of materials and colours.
While larger furniture and lighting have changed with the times, soft furnishings have more or less stayed the same for centuries. 2019 might be the year when textiles finally catch up with technology. At Milan design week in 2018, Google commissioned designer Kiki can Eijk to create six custom-designed wall hangings for its first ever presentation.
Each depicted a cosy scene with traditional everyday objects alongside more modern elements such as virtual reality goggles, mobile phones and smart speakers. It gives a new perspective into how this traditional art form can be modernised while adding deep tactility to the home.
For more material inspiration, visit our Materials for Living guide.
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