Room guides, room by room

The room that has to host everyone and still belong to you on a Tuesday night.

How to Lay Out a Living RoomWhere everything goes in a living room, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a Living RoomA working lighting plan for a living room — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Living Room Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring living room errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Living Room Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a living room inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

The working lounge: toys, homework, television and dinner-adjacent chaos, daily.

How to Lay Out a Family RoomWhere everything goes in a family room, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a Family RoomA working lighting plan for a family room — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Family Room Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring family room errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Family Room Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a family room inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

The small dark room the house is lucky to have. Lean in; do not brighten it out.

How to Lay Out a DenWhere everything goes in a den, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a DenA working lighting plan for a den — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Den Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring den errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Den Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a den inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

A room built around a screen without apologising for it.

How to Lay Out a Media RoomWhere everything goes in a media room, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a Media RoomA working lighting plan for a media room — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Media Room Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring media room errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Media Room Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a media room inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

Three glass walls and a climate. Furnish for the light, not against it.

How to Lay Out a SunroomWhere everything goes in a sunroom, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a SunroomA working lighting plan for a sunroom — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Sunroom Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring sunroom errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Sunroom Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a sunroom inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

Floor is the furniture. Storage is the architecture. Everything else is negotiable.

How to Lay Out a PlayroomWhere everything goes in a playroom, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a PlayroomA working lighting plan for a playroom — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Playroom Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring playroom errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Playroom Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a playroom inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

Table games need table clearances. The felt is a machine with a service area.

How to Lay Out a Game RoomWhere everything goes in a game room, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a Game RoomA working lighting plan for a game room — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Game Room Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring game room errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Game Room Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a game room inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

One job at night, and every daytime job you let sneak in works against it.

How to Lay Out a BedroomWhere everything goes in a bedroom, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a BedroomA working lighting plan for a bedroom — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Bedroom Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring bedroom errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Bedroom Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a bedroom inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

The biggest bedroom carries the most jobs. Rank them or lose them all.

How to Lay Out a Main BedroomWhere everything goes in a main bedroom, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a Main BedroomA working lighting plan for a main bedroom — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Main Bedroom Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring main bedroom errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Main Bedroom Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a main bedroom inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

Designed for someone with no drawer here and no idea where the bathroom is.

How to Lay Out a Guest BedroomWhere everything goes in a guest bedroom, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a Guest BedroomA working lighting plan for a guest bedroom — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Guest Bedroom Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring guest bedroom errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Guest Bedroom Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a guest bedroom inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

Sleep, play and growing out of things — a room on a three-year design cycle.

How to Lay Out a Kids’ BedroomWhere everything goes in a kids’ bedroom, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a Kids’ BedroomA working lighting plan for a kids’ bedroom — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Kids’ Bedroom Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring kids’ bedroom errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Kids’ Bedroom Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a kids’ bedroom inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

Bedroom, study, social space and sovereign territory, in nine square metres.

How to Lay Out a Teen BedroomWhere everything goes in a teen bedroom, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a Teen BedroomA working lighting plan for a teen bedroom — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Teen Bedroom Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring teen bedroom errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Teen Bedroom Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a teen bedroom inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

Designed for a baby, used by an exhausted adult at 3am. Design for the adult.

How to Lay Out a NurseryWhere everything goes in a nursery, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a NurseryA working lighting plan for a nursery — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Nursery Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring nursery errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Nursery Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a nursery inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

Twelve square metres, zero permanent changes, one academic year. Go.

How to Lay Out a Dorm RoomWhere everything goes in a dorm room, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a Dorm RoomA working lighting plan for a dorm room — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Dorm Room Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring dorm room errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Dorm Room Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a dorm room inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

A commute of four metres and a door that has to mean something.

How to Lay Out a Home OfficeWhere everything goes in a home office, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a Home OfficeA working lighting plan for a home office — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Home Office Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring home office errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Home Office Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a home office inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

The office’s older, quieter sibling: books, a desk, and no video calls.

How to Lay Out a StudyWhere everything goes in a study, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a StudyA working lighting plan for a study — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Study Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring study errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Study Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a study inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

A workshop that happens to be indoors. Surfaces, storage and light — in that order.

How to Lay Out a Craft RoomWhere everything goes in a craft room, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a Craft RoomA working lighting plan for a craft room — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Craft Room Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring craft room errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Craft Room Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a craft room inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

Books by the metre, chairs by the hour. The room where walls become furniture.

How to Lay Out a Home LibraryWhere everything goes in a home library, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a Home LibraryA working lighting plan for a home library — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Home Library Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring home library errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Home Library Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a home library inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

Clearances are safety equipment here. Plan the movement, then place the machines.

How to Lay Out a Home GymWhere everything goes in a home gym, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a Home GymA working lighting plan for a home gym — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Home Gym Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring home gym errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Home Gym Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a home gym inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

A workroom with guests. The triangle still rules; everything else negotiates.

How to Lay Out a KitchenWhere everything goes in a kitchen, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a KitchenA working lighting plan for a kitchen — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Kitchen Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring kitchen errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Kitchen Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a kitchen inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

Two rooms sharing one air. The cook and the seated must both win.

How to Lay Out a Kitchen-DinerWhere everything goes in a kitchen-diner, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a Kitchen-DinerA working lighting plan for a kitchen-diner — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Kitchen-Diner Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring kitchen-diner errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Kitchen-Diner Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a kitchen-diner inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

One table, its orbit, and the best lighting brief in the house.

How to Lay Out a Dining RoomWhere everything goes in a dining room, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a Dining RoomA working lighting plan for a dining room — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Dining Room Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring dining room errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Dining Room Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a dining room inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

The smallest dining room and the most used. Benches, corners and morning light.

How to Lay Out a Breakfast NookWhere everything goes in a breakfast nook, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a Breakfast NookA working lighting plan for a breakfast nook — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Breakfast Nook Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring breakfast nook errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Breakfast Nook Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a breakfast nook inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

The house’s hardest working square metres, specified in millimetres.

How to Lay Out a BathroomWhere everything goes in a bathroom, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a BathroomA working lighting plan for a bathroom — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Bathroom Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring bathroom errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Bathroom Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a bathroom inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

A private bathroom with a bedroom listening. Quiet, warm, and lit for 6am.

How to Lay Out a EnsuiteWhere everything goes in a ensuite, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a EnsuiteA working lighting plan for a ensuite — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Ensuite Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring ensuite errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Ensuite Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a ensuite inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

A process room: sort, wash, dry, fold, leave. Design the verbs in order.

How to Lay Out a Laundry RoomWhere everything goes in a laundry room, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a Laundry RoomA working lighting plan for a laundry room — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Laundry Room Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring laundry room errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Laundry Room Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a laundry room inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

An airlock for the household: everything wet, muddy or dropped stops here.

How to Lay Out a MudroomWhere everything goes in a mudroom, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a MudroomA working lighting plan for a mudroom — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Mudroom Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring mudroom errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Mudroom Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a mudroom inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

A room-sized wardrobe: inventory on the walls, a human in the middle.

How to Lay Out a Walk-In ClosetWhere everything goes in a walk-in closet, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a Walk-In ClosetA working lighting plan for a walk-in closet — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Walk-In Closet Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring walk-in closet errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Walk-In Closet Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a walk-in closet inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

Eight seconds of first impression and a landing strip for everything in your hands.

How to Lay Out a EntrywayWhere everything goes in a entryway, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a EntrywayA working lighting plan for a entryway — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Entryway Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring entryway errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Entryway Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a entryway inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.

The room every other room is judged from. Usually decorated last, seen most.

How to Lay Out a HallwayWhere everything goes in a hallway, and the clearances that decide it before taste gets a vote.How to Light a HallwayA working lighting plan for a hallway — layers, heights and switches, not just a brighter bulb.Hallway Mistakes Everyone MakesThe recurring hallway errors — and what the room wants instead of each one.Refreshing a Hallway Without Moving WallsThe changes that transform a hallway inside its existing shell — surfaces, anchors, light and edit.