In an era when Fear of Missing Out has its own universally understood acronym, recuperative rest and relaxation are not always regarded as the intensely worthwhile pursuits that they are. Instead, we are harrassed into believing that we must be constantly available to be of value, that peak productivity and performance are directly related to presenteeism, and that to snooze is to lose. This couldn’t be more wrong.

Sadly kitchens often fall into the decorative trap of defaulting to basics: plain white units, tiled splash-back behind the sink or hob and possibly a large jolly-coloured standalone fridge-freezer as the one note of individuality.

Looking at a plain wall is akin to staring blankly into space. We have a fundamental need for visual nourishment and stimulation in our homes, for our eyes to dance lightly over surfaces and not find them wanting.

Nothing makes me sadder than seeing pristine children's rooms decorated in the same style as the rest of the adult home – it's as if the children are not really allowed to exist.

Home-making is not frivolous, it is absolutely fundamental to good health and happiness.

A house is never empty with a pet in situ, nor is an owner alone – a pet provides security, companionship and affection too.

Lights are the jewellery of the home, so think of pendants as finishing-touch earrings for a room.

What is gardening but tidying and maintaining an outside space? And yet we don't think of it as a chore; we see it as a pleasure and something that relaxes us. Crucially, it is something that often fully absorbs us while we do it. This is the very definition of a mindful activity.

The pleasure of a freshly-dressed bed is one of the finer things in life, and yet many stumble here, not sure what can go with what, or whether it's okay to mismatch pillows and duvet cover. The simple answer to this is that anything goes.

No amount of fancy decor will make the slightest bit of difference to your ability to sleep soundly if you do not take heed of what you do before you get anywhere near your bedroom. Only once this has been addressed, can this room become one of your most powerful allies in pursuit of wellbeing, happiness and good health.