Style by Magda monogramEst. UKStyle by Magda

The Journal

Interior design & lifestyle blog

Considered writing on interiors, decorating, flowers, style, natural beauty and the art of living well, from UK interior designer and florist Magda Callery, with 15+ years designing homes, pubs, restaurants and bars.

Tall drift of white and pink cosmos flowers with feathery foliage in a cottage garden border in golden evening light
Flowers & Garden10 min read

Cosmos Flower: How to Grow Cosmos From Seed

A florist's guide to the cosmos flower: when to sow cosmos seeds in the UK, caring for cosmos seedlings, pinching, staking and deadheading, the best varieties, chocolate cosmos and cutting for the vase.

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Florist's workbench in a bright flower studio with zinc buckets of fresh cut peonies in blush pink, coral and white, some in soft bud and some fully open, with brown paper rolls
Flowers & Garden

When Are Peonies in Season? A Florist's UK Guide

A florist's guide to when peonies are in season in the UK and around the world, with a month-by-month availability chart, how to buy and open peonies, the best varieties and out-of-season alternatives.

Single yellow flower stems laid in a row on cream linen with blank paper tags: a daffodil, a sunflower, a yellow rose, a yellow tulip, a sprig of mimosa, a yellow chrysanthemum and a marigold
Flowers & Garden

Yellow Flowers Meaning: Victorian vs Modern Guide

What do yellow flowers mean? A florist compares the Victorian and modern meanings of more than 20 yellow blooms, plus cultural traditions, the best yellow flowers for every occasion and season, and care tips.

November birthday bouquet of white, pale pink and soft yellow chrysanthemums wrapped in kraft paper with a green velvet ribbon, beside a small gift box and a blank card on linen
Flowers & Garden

November Birth Flower: Chrysanthemum Meaning and Gifts

The November birth flower is the chrysanthemum. A florist explains its meaning, colours and history, the types you'll find at a florist, November birthday bouquet ideas and how to make chrysanthemums last.

Scandinavian hallway with a slim pale oak console table on tapered legs, a round oak mirror, a ribbed ceramic lamp with a linen shade, a vase of dried grasses, a stack of books and a woven basket underneath
Interior Design

Scandi Console Table: Styling Ideas, Sizes and Tips

How to choose and style a Scandi console table, with standard sizes, where to use one, a simple styling formula, 20 ideas for hallways and living rooms, and what to check before you buy.

Flat lay of 1980s fashion accessories on a turquoise background: black lace fingerless gloves, oversized aviator sunglasses, a cassette tape, a red patent belt, white trainers, neon orange slouch socks and colourful bangles
Style

1980s Outfits for Ladies: How to Dress Like the 80s

14 iconic 1980s outfits for ladies and how to recreate them, from power suits and aerobics wear to acid wash denim, plus 80s accessories, hair, makeup and easy costume ideas.

Solid oak writing desk with slim legs and two drawers beside a sash window, with a cane chair, a brass desk lamp, an open notebook and a vase of pink flowers under a framed botanical print
Interior Design

Writing Desks: Types, Sizes and How to Choose One

An interior designer's guide to writing desks: every type and what it's called, standard sizes, how to choose one for your space, buying vintage and styling ideas.

Industrial style living and dining space in a converted warehouse flat with exposed red brick, tall black steel windows, a reclaimed wood dining table with galvanised metal chairs, a cognac leather armchair, black metal shelving and enamel pendant lights
Interior Design

What Is Industrial Furniture Design? A Designer's Guide

What industrial furniture design is, where it came from, its key materials and design classics, the colours that suit it and how to use it at home without it feeling cold.

Close-up of a woman's hooded eye with soft matte warm brown eyeshadow blended above the crease, curled lashes with mascara and a softly groomed, lifted brow
Beauty

Eye Lift for Hooded Eyes: Options, Costs and Recovery

Every eye lift option for hooded eyes compared, from makeup tricks and non-surgical treatments to eyelid surgery, with NHS guidance on UK costs, recovery and risks.

Vintage oak chest of drawers airing outside in a cottage garden, with its drawers pulled out and stacked beside it and a bowl of baking soda and a cotton cloth on top
Decorating

How to Remove Musty Smell From Wood Furniture

A step-by-step guide to getting rid of a musty smell in old wood furniture and drawers, with the methods that work, what doesn't, mould safety and how to stop it coming back.

Hand-tied bouquet of freshly cut zinnias in peach, coral, lime green and pink with cosmos and grasses in a glass jar on a potting shed bench
Flowers & Garden

How to Grow Zinnias: Planting, Seeds and Cut Flowers

A florist's guide to planting zinnias in the UK: when and how to sow zinnia seeds, planting out, spacing, pinching, the best varieties for cutting and how to make cut zinnias last.

Raised timber deck at golden hour with black metal posts, horizontal stainless steel cable railing and a wide wooden top rail, an outdoor sofa, potted olive tree and a garden view beyond
Flowers & Garden

Deck Railing Ideas: 30 Stylish, Safe and Cheap Options

30 deck railing ideas, from timber and black metal to cable, glass and cheap DIY options, plus US and UK safety rules, a material comparison and maintenance tips.

Contemporary building with a kinetic facade of geometric triangular shading panels, some folded open and some closed, glinting in low sunlight against a clear blue sky
Interior Design

Kinetic Architecture: 15 Amazing Buildings That Move

What is kinetic architecture? 15 real buildings that move, from Paris to Abu Dhabi and London, how they work, and how to bring kinetic design home.

Georgian entrance hall with a black and white chequerboard marble floor, panelled stone coloured walls, a fanlight above a dark front door, a hall lantern and a staircase with slim balusters and a mahogany handrail
Interior Design

Georgian Hallway Ideas: 25 Ways to Style a Period Hall

25 Georgian hallway ideas from an interior designer: what makes a hallway Georgian, floors, paint colours, panelling, staircases, lighting and restoration tips.

Calm living room painted in a soft warm off-white on the walls, panelling and ceiling, with a linen sofa, oak floorboards, a sheepskin and branches in a vase by a sash window
Decorating

Wimborne White Farrow and Ball: A Designer's Guide

Farrow & Ball Wimborne White No. 239 explained by an interior designer: undertone, how it looks in every light, how it compares with Pointing and All White, and what to pair it with.

Calm living room with soft warm grey walls and grey panelling, a cream boucle armchair with a knitted throw, an oak side table and a terracotta vase of dried stems by the window
Decorating

Colour Psychology of Grey: What It Does to a Room

The colour psychology of grey explained by an interior designer: what the research really says, warm vs cool and light vs dark greys, and how to make grey feel calm, not cold.

Japandi home office with a light oak desk facing a garden window with a linen blind, a woven rattan chair, a paper floor lamp, a slatted oak wall panel, a bonsai and a vase of blossom
Interior Design

Japandi Office: 25 Ideas for a Calm Home Office

25 Japandi office ideas from an interior designer: the principles, colours and materials, plus desks, storage, lighting and styling for a calm, uncluttered workspace.

Bright single garage with a glossy light grey epoxy floor, white painted brick walls, an oak workbench with tools on a pegboard and a bicycle hung on the wall, with the up-and-over door open to daylight
Decorating

Cost of Replacing a Garage Floor: 2026 Price Guide

What it really costs to replace a garage floor in the UK and US, with prices per square metre and square foot, cheaper alternatives, hidden costs and how long it takes.

Elegant living room with a large cream textured wool rug under a curved boucle sofa, two armchairs and a round oak coffee table, beside a sash window and a fireplace
Interior Design

Living Room Rug Ideas: 30 Ways to Choose and Style

30 rugs for living room ideas from an interior designer, with a rug size chart in cm and feet, the three classic layouts, materials compared and styling tips.

French café style breakfast nook with a curved green leather banquette, a round marble bistro table with coffee and a croissant, black bentwood chairs, a gilt mirror and a linen café curtain on a brass rod
Interior Design

French Cafe Interior Design: Get the Parisian Look

How to bring French café interior design home, with the key elements, colours, a little history, 25 ideas for kitchens, nooks and gardens, and how to avoid a themed look.

Soft baby girl nursery with dusty blush pink walls and panelling, a white cot with a clear mattress, a cream boucle nursing chair, an oak chest of drawers used as a changing station and a sash window with floral curtains
Interior Design

Baby Girl Nursery Ideas: 30 Rooms She'll Grow Into

30 baby girl nursery ideas from an interior designer: soft colour palettes beyond pink, wallpaper, furniture, lighting and storage, plus nursery safety and a room she'll grow into.

Flat lay of a chic casual outfit on cream linen: white button-down shirt, straight-leg jeans, camel wool coat, tan leather loafers, a tan leather crossbody bag, gold hoop earrings and tortoiseshell sunglasses
Style

Chic Casual Outfits: 25 Effortless Outfit Ideas

How to dress chic casual every day: the simple outfit formula, 25 chic casual outfit ideas for every season and occasion, a 20-piece capsule wardrobe, colour palettes and the fit, fabric and accessory tricks that make the difference.

Made bed with oatmeal linen pillow shams behind sage green flanged pillow shams, matching sage duvet, white sheets and a knitted throw on an upholstered bed in a bright bedroom
Decorating

What Is a Bed Sham? A Designer's Guide to Pillow Shams

What is a bed sham, how is it different from a pillowcase, and what is the sham in a bed set? An interior designer explains sham types, sizes and simple styling formulas for every bed.

Terracotta living room with limewashed terracotta walls, a cream linen sofa with rust and olive cushions, a rustic wood coffee table and terracotta ceramics
Decorating

Terracotta Colour: How to Decorate With Terracotta

Everything you need to know about terracotta colour: shades and HEX codes, the colours that go with terracotta, and how to decorate with it in every room, from an interior designer.

Fresh evergreen Christmas wreath with eucalyptus, pinecones, dried orange slices and a burgundy velvet ribbon on a dark green front door of a brick terraced house
Flowers & Garden

Fresh Christmas Wreaths: Ideas, Care and Faux Alternatives

Fresh Christmas wreath ideas from an interior designer: the best greenery, how to keep a wreath fresh all season, and how to choose faux wreaths and Christmas faux floral arrangements that look real.

Living room with sage green painted walls, a cream linen sofa, oak coffee table, rattan chair, botanical prints, a brass lamp and plants
Decorating

Best Green Paint Colours: A Designer's Guide by Room

The best green paint colours for every room, from sage and olive to forest and emerald, with how to choose the right green for your light and the colours that go with it.

Cosy autumn bedroom with rust and caramel linen bedding, a chunky cream knit throw, warm bedside lamps, dried pampas grass and autumn trees through the window
Decorating

Cosy Autumn Bedroom Ideas for a Warm Fall Aesthetic

How to create a cosy autumn bedroom with a warm fall aesthetic: earthy colour palettes, layered bedding, warm lighting, texture, scent and five complete bedroom looks to copy.

Gaming room with charcoal walls, acoustic slat panels, a wooden desk with a monitor and speakers, an ergonomic chair, purple LED lighting and plants
Interior Design

Gaming Room Colour Ideas: The Best Wall Colours for Gamers

The best gaming room colours from an interior designer: why darker walls reduce glare, how to pair paint with RGB lighting, five gaming room schemes to copy and ideas for shared rooms and teen bedrooms.

Living room painted in a deep muted navy with a warm white ceiling, cream sofa, terracotta and rust cushions, a brass floor lamp and an oak floor
Decorating

Dulux Ink Well: Review, Colour Pairings and Room Ideas

An interior designer's review of Dulux Ink Well: what colour it is, how it looks in different light, the colours that go with it, how it compares to Hague Blue, and the best rooms to use it in.

Street of four architectural styles side by side: a Georgian brick townhouse with sash windows, an ornate Victorian house with bay windows, a cream Art Deco building and a modern glass and timber house
Interior Design

Types of Architecture: 32 Architectural Styles Explained

A complete guide to the different types of architecture: 32 architectural styles from Classical to contemporary, with dates, key features, famous examples, a timeline and how to identify the style of any building.

Freshly moved-into living room with labelled moving boxes, a cream sofa stacked with new linen bedding and towels, a table lamp, potted plants, a round jute rug and a sash window
Lifestyle

Home Essentials Checklist: What You Need for a New Home

The ultimate UK home essentials checklist from an interior designer: what to buy for your first night, first week and first month, room-by-room checklists, safety essentials, moving-in admin and the designer touches that make a house feel like home.

Cosy living room decorated for autumn with a fireplace mantel garland of autumn leaves and berries, small pumpkins, pinecones and candles, and a chunky knit throw on an armchair
Decorating

Autumn Decoration Ideas: 40 Ways to Decorate Your Home

40 autumn decoration ideas, room by room, plus five easy DIY projects, colour palettes, free foraged decorations, budget tips and pet safety advice.

British brick terraced house decorated for Halloween at dusk with glowing carved pumpkins on the front steps, a twig wreath on the door, cobwebs and orange lights around the bay window
Decorating

Best Decorated Homes for Halloween: 35 Decoration Ideas

What the best decorated Halloween homes have in common, plus 35 indoor and outdoor Halloween decoration ideas, easy DIY projects and competition tips.

Woman wearing 80s makeup with electric blue and purple eyeshadow, pink draped blush, glossy fuchsia lips, bold brows and big curly hair against a pastel pink background
Beauty

80s Makeup Guide: Iconic Looks and How to Do Them

Everything you need to recreate 80s makeup: the history, six iconic looks, step-by-step tutorials, shades for every skin tone and how to wear it today.

Basement concrete block wall half painted with white masonry waterproofing paint, with a paint roller in a tray, an open paint tin and dust sheets on the floor
Decorating

Behr Dry Plus vs Drylok: Which Waterproofer Is Better?

BEHR Dry Plus vs DRYLOK compared spec by spec from the official data sheets, with a clear verdict, prep and application steps, and UK alternatives.

Terracotta and cream arch pattern peel and stick wallpaper peeled back at the top corner to show the clean painted wall beneath, next to a wooden chair with a smoothing tool and craft knife
Decorating

Can You Reuse Peel and Stick Wallpaper? An Honest Guide

Can you reuse peel and stick wallpaper? Sometimes, but don't count on it. How to remove, store and rehang panels, and clever ways to reuse them.

Bright small studio flat with a bed in an alcove behind a linen curtain, a grey sofa and round coffee table, an open bookshelf used as a room divider and a compact wood kitchen beside a tall sash window
Interior Design

Small Studio Apartment Ideas: 35 Ways to Make It Work

35 small studio apartment ideas from an interior designer: layouts, bed solutions, storage, the measurements that matter and renter-friendly tips.

Living room gallery wall of framed floral still life paintings in gilt and black frames above a linen sofa, with a vase of fresh garden flowers on a side table
Decorating

Famous Flower Paintings: 20 Masterpieces to Know

The most famous flower paintings in history, from Dutch Golden Age still lifes to Van Gogh's Sunflowers, Monet's Water Lilies and Georgia O'Keeffe, with the story behind each, where to see it and how to bring flower art into your home.

Clean, uncluttered minimalist living room with a cream sofa, low wooden coffee table and soft daylight from a large steel-framed window
Interior Design

How to Prevent Dust in a Room: 15 Designer-Approved Ways to Keep It Dust-Free

Dusted on Sunday, dusty again by Wednesday? Here's how to stop dust getting in, choose furnishings that don't hold on to it, and clean so it doesn't come straight back, from a UK interior designer.

Traditional Japanese washitsu room with tatami mats, a low wooden table and floor cushions, shoji screens open onto a small garden
Interior Design

Japanese House Design: 12 Key Elements and How to Bring Them Home

Calm, light and deeply connected to nature: the principles behind Japanese house design, from the genkan and shoji screens to the idea of ma, and how to borrow them for a British home.

Steaming hinoki wood Japanese soaking tub beside a timber bath stool with a wooden bucket and white towel, in a calm bathroom with slatted wood walls and a frosted glass door
Interior Design

Japanese Soaking Tub: A Complete Guide to Ofuro Baths for UK Homes

Deep, compact and made for slow evenings: everything you need to know about Japanese soaking tubs, from sizes and materials to fitting one in a British bathroom and styling the room around it.

Small, bright living room with a compact linen sofa on legs, a round oak coffee table on a large textured rug, a tall antique floor mirror, alcove shelves and warm table lamps
Interior Design

Small Living Room Ideas: How to Make It Feel Bigger

An interior designer's small living room ideas: how to plan the layout, arrange furniture, choose colours and lighting, add storage and decorate so a small room feels bigger and cosier.

Home office in a British house with a solid wood desk side-on to a sash window, a boucle desk chair, sage green walls, framed prints, a table lamp and alcove bookshelves with plants
Interior Design

Home Office Design Ideas: A Designer's Guide for UK Homes

Home office design ideas for real British homes, from box rooms and alcoves to cupboard offices and garden rooms, with layout, lighting, colour, storage and video call tips from an interior designer.

Budget horizontal slatted garden fence painted sage green, covered in white jasmine and purple clematis, with ornamental grasses, salvia and lavender along a gravel path at sunset
Flowers & Garden

20 Cheap Garden Fence Ideas That Still Look Beautiful

Budget-friendly fence ideas for gardens and backyards, from pallet and bamboo fences to hog wire, hedges and climbers, plus a designer's tricks to make a cheap fence look expensive.

Calm home office with a wooden desk and grey chair beneath a gallery wall of framed abstract artwork in blue and neutral tones
Interior Design

Why Office Artwork Matters: Branding, Productivity and Workplace Design

Artwork isn't just decoration. It's a silent communicator of your brand values, and getting it right transforms how clients and employees experience your space.

Fresh bouquet of white and blush roses with blue flowers in a ceramic vase on a rustic wooden console table by a sunny window
Flowers & Garden

Blossom and Bloom: The Art of Decorating with Fresh Flowers

Fresh flowers can instantly breathe life into a room. Here's how to choose, arrange and care for blooms that elevate your home throughout the seasons.

Warm autumnal living room with rust and ochre cushions, a leather armchair, pampas grass, candles and a garland of autumn leaves
Decorating

Fall for These Interior Design Trends: Bringing Autumn into Your Home

As the air turns crisp, autumn invites a shift in our interiors: warm palettes, textured fabrics, hygge and a touch of the outdoors.

Compact home office nook with a slim wooden desk, round mirror, table lamp and plants tucked beside a window in a small room
Interior Design

Smart Interior Design Tips to Maximise Your Small Space

Maximising a small space begins with understanding its dimensions. From colour and furniture to storage and light, here's how to make compact rooms feel open and inviting.

Neatly styled linen-covered table with a stack of books and a dark tray holding a small plant and everyday essentials
Interior Design

Small Details That Make a Space Feel More Organised

Organisation is not just about what you remove. It is about how everything works together visually, and the small details that quietly bring order to a room.

Charcoal grey wedding suit hanging by a window in a bright dressing room with a wooden chest of drawers and a tall mirror
Style

How to Choose the Right Wedding Suit for Your Big Day

A wedding suit is more than formalwear: it's an outfit that will appear in photographs for years. Here's how to balance fit, comfort and appropriateness for the venue.

Cosy autumn living room with a cream sofa, chunky knit throw, rust and mustard cushions, dried autumn leaves and a lit wood burner
Decorating

12 Cozy Autumn Interior Design Trends to Fall for in 2024

Twelve captivating design trends from top interior designers, from autumn-coloured textured throws to warm minimalism, fireplaces and fire pits.

Interior design mood board of paint swatches, fabric samples, marble and wood finishes in navy, sage and neutral tones laid out on a linen-covered table
Interior Design

Choosing the Perfect Color Palette: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ever found yourself lost in the world of colour while designing your dream project? Here's how to build a harmonious palette, from colour theory and psychology to base, accent and neutral shades.

Wooden sun lounger with a straw hat on a rocky Mediterranean terrace overlooking a calm bay at sunset
Lifestyle

Top 5 Holiday Destinations for British People in 2024

Spain, Italy, France, Portugal and Thailand: the five holiday destinations British families love most, with Magda's picks for beaches, city breaks and culture.

Pastel pink, floral, yellow and blue summer dresses hanging on a wooden rail in a sunlit bedroom with a straw basket bag
Style

Summer Dresses Trends and Styles of 2024

From mini-shift styles to 1990s slips, one-shoulder silhouettes and retro crochet: the expert-approved summer dress trends making a comeback this season.

Grand gilded ballroom with crystal chandeliers, ornate painted ceilings, tall arched windows and a polished marble floor
Interior Design

The Trump Ballroom Extension: A Luxurious Venue Fit for Royalty

A regal new wing that elevates the venue to new heights of luxury and sophistication: ornate detailing, soaring ceilings and grand chandeliers.

Natural skincare ingredients on a marble worktop: honey, oats, avocado, lemon, fresh herbs and olive oil in glass jars and bowls
Beauty

DIY Natural Beauty: Homemade Skincare Recipes for Glowing Skin

Unlock your skin's natural radiance with simple, all-natural ingredients: refreshing face masks, nourishing scrubs and gentle daily rituals straight from your kitchen.

Upcycled vintage chest of drawers painted sage green with hand-painted details, styled with dried flowers and plants in a bright living room
Interior Design

Upcycled Furniture and Interior Design: The Latest Trends in 2024

From transforming salvaged dressers to repurposing wooden pallets, 2024's upcycling trends turn forgotten pieces into sustainable, characterful focal points.

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