Bored of bland homeware? So are we. The quirkiest pieces guaranteed to get your guests talking

Playful patterns, unusual silhouettes and quirky touches – this escapist trend is for spaces that don’t take themselves too seriously

Run Away to the Circus wallpaper in Blue, £185 per roll, Annika Reed_cropped

Homes & Antiques

Published: May 21, 2026 at 8:46 am

Brontë Sisters velvet cushion with fringe, from £47.29, We Love Cushions - -

Laetitia Rouget Claudia hand-painted ceramic candleholder, £160, Selfridges - -

Meadow Walk 14in daffodil centrepiece candelabra, £346, Nina Campbell - -

Strawberries stoneware mini pot cover, £7.49, Gisela Graham - -

Cat-titude ‘Divine Gold’ fringed lampshade, £415, Divine Savages - -

Lola fruit ceramic oil bottle, £24.50, Oliver Bonas - -

Press For Champagne wall ornament, £35, Rockett St George - -

Dogue No2 Print, from £12.95, Desenio - -

modern whimsy style — Fabric wall in Studio Stripe fabric in Ochre, £54.50 per m; lampshade in Silhouette Stripe fabric in Rust/Navy, £47.50 per m; curtains on bed frame in Fresco Herringbone fabric in Ecru, £45 per m and Fresco Herringbone fabric in Indigo, £45 per m, with Fresco Herringbone trim in Rust, £45 per m; bolster cushion in Gallery Stripe fabric in Rust, £47.50 per m; quilted bed cover in Studio Stripe fabric in Navy, £54.50 per m, and Fresco Herringbone fabric in Ochre, £45 per m; upholstered bench in Silhouette Stripe fabric in Rust/Navy, £47.50 per m, all Ian Mankin - -

Modern whimsy — Lampshades in Whittle fabric, from £112.50 each; chair in Whittle fabric in Yellow, £170 per m, all Fermoie - -

Homes & Antiques

The Homes & Antiques team comprises some of the UK's best interior designers, antiques experts and lifestyle journalists and editors. Produced by a committed team in Bristol, Homes & Antiques has a decades-long history as the only newsstand title specialising in the buying, collecting and displaying of antiques, as well as the fascinating stories behind them.