Where to get interior design advice: experts are on hand at John Lewis, while IKEA, Designers Guild and BoConcept also offer help in-store
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Despite the ease of online shopping, Londoners still want one-to-one design advice for expensive items such as sofas, as well as real-life, real-time inspiration. Stores are queuing up to help.
John Lewis has long offered free in-store advice sessions, but the company recently asked 3,400 people how they use their living rooms.
Watching TV is top, but while more than half spend whole days glued to the set, a fifth are on the phone at the same time while a third fall sleep.
From eating to downing cocktails, to exercising, painting our nails, grooming pets and “snuggling up with a duvet”, we do everything in our living rooms, so we want furnishings that adapt.
To help visualise all this, the store has commissioned five living room capsules, on show at the Oxford Street flagship for 10 weeks with the designers on hand.
Artist Morag Myerscough’s flamboyant room has vibrant pink walls, a mustard sofa and giant footstool. It’s a lot like her Hoxton home – she has even raided her own walls for artwork.
“Don’t be afraid of what you like, whether bright colours or patterns. Just go for it.” Myerscough will do workshops in store on April 18, tickets £15.
The living room next door is by Emily Coxhead. She created The Happy Newspaper, with issue 13 out this month and 8,000 copies printed (thehappynewspaper.com).
Coxhead has replicated the desk and shelving of her Lancashire home office, with dark grey and pastel pink walls, plus neat sofas with rainbow cushions. Meet her in store this Friday.
The room by Shoreditch’s Geffrye Museum of the Home has strong midcentury vibes. “Home is a treasure store of gifts, heirlooms, purchases,” says Vanessa Meade, Geffrye curator. A museum team will be in store on March 29.
London DJ and TV presenter AJ Odudu offers luxe, with green velvet sofa, velvet curtains and a marble table, perfect for entertaining, while John Lewis home design stylist Jacqueline Dalgarno fills her space with soothing natural materials, neutrals, and plants.
Customers can book a free 90-minute session with home designers at John Lewis, talk through ideas and problems, go on a shopping tour and use in-store blinds and curtain makers and carpet fitters.
The store also has a “home solutions service” to recommend vetted tradespeople (homesolutions.johnlewis.com).
Scroll through the gallery above to see the John Lewis capsules and discover more London stores offering free face-to-face interiors advice.