prisonplanet--2019-06-25--Elon Musk Warns of Population Collapse by 2050

Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk is warning of a “population collapse.”  Musk says to expect the human population to noticeably and significantly drop by the year 2050.  Musk’s macabre prediction was triggered by a tweet from a page called World of Engineering that said: “1950 (historical) world population – 2,556,000,053. Current world population – 7,712,343,478. 2050 (projected) world population – 9,346,399,468.”  Replying to that tweet on Friday Musk wrote: “Real issue will be an aging and declining world population by 2050, *not* overpopulation.” According to the Economic Times,Musk also shared a Wikipedia link to an article titled, “Projections of population growth.”  Wikipedia is about as reliable as CNN (considering anyone can change the information offered at any time) so it would behoove Musk to at least have a better source.  However, he might be onto something.  Population decline is becoming a concern. Life expectancy is dropping and people just aren’t having as many kids anymore.  The SpaceX CEO’s theory is that when an increasingly-elderly global populations clashwith declining birth rates around the world in the near future a “population bomb” would go off, web portal Futurism reported.  Musk first broached the topic back in 2017 when Musk replied to a publication saying, “The world’s population is accelerating towards collapse, but few seem to notice or care.” Half of the world’s countries have fallen below the replacement rate for developed nations (which is, on average, 2 children per woman), according to a 2017 article by Futurism on Musk’s population decline theory. If this trend continues on, countries like Germany and Italy will see their populations decrease by half over the next 60 years.  While an exponentially increasing population is unsustainable, culling human population growth has ethical and moral implications. But if Musk is correct, and human population collapses, we’ll avoid the ethical dilemma while being faced with economic and societal ones.  In March of 2017, Musk warned that we face a “demographic implosion,” because in many countries “you have a very high dependency ratio, where the number of people who are retired is very high relative to the number of people who are net producers.”  This article was posted: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at 5:46 am


sputnik--2019-09-06--Viktor Orban Lambasts Population Decline in Europe Hails Hungarys Pro-Family Policy

Viktor Orban Lambasts Population Decline in Europe, Hails Hungary's Pro-Family Policy

As Budapest hosts an international summit on demography this week, attended by several regional leaders and delegations from dozens of countries, the country’s prime minister, Viktor Orban deplored the population decline in Europe while lauding Hungary's pro-family policy, writes the Financial Times.  Orban said it was conceivable that Hungary, with a population of just under 10 million and shrinking, due to plummeting birthrates and emigration to EU states further west, could just disappear.  “It’s not hard to imagine that there would be one single last man who has to turn the lights out,” Orban said at the opening of the conference on 5 September.  Orbán, known for his tough stance on immigration, said other European politicians saw it as the solution, but he firmly rejected this.  “If Europe is not going to be populated by Europeans in the future and we take this as given, then we are speaking about an exchange of populations, to replace the population of Europeans with others. There are political forces in Europe who want a replacement of population for ideological or other reasons,” said Orban.  Laszlo Kover, the speaker of parliament, added that “having children is a public matter, not a private one,” as he suggested that childless people are “not normal” and “stand on the side of death.”  Katalin Novák, Hungary’s minister of state for family, youth and international affairs, echoed Victor Orban’s sentiments:  “Europe has become the continent of the empty crib whereas in Asia and Africa they face demographic challenges of the opposite type,” she said.  Addressing the Budapest demographics conference, guest of honour and former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, applauded the Hungarian leader for having “the political courage to defy political correctness.”  According to Abbott, dying populations, not climate change, were the biggest threat to western civilisation.  The two-day summit was also attended by Czech prime minister, Andrej Babiš, and Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vučić, who both said boosting birthrates was a priority for their countries.  Governments across central Europe have introduced financial incentives for having children.  In February, Orban’s government announced generous policies intended to boost the birth rate, including a Ft10 million ($33,500) loan to families that is forgiven if they have three children, and cash incentives for large families to buy seven-seater vehicles.  Orban recently said Hungary’s birth rate had increased slightly since 2010, when he began his second term as premier, from 1.2 to 1.5 births per woman. But that remains far below the population replacement level of 2.1 children per woman.  Poland is introducing the 500+ scheme, which pays parents 500 złoty (£103) a month per child from the second child onwards.  Czech prime minister, Andrej Babiš, said his country also sought to encourage big families.  The UN forecasts claim the top-10 fastest shrinking countries in the world are currently in central and eastern Europe, including Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, Poland, Romania and Hungary, with demographics becoming a key challenge for economic growth in the region.  Decline in working-age populations will continue until at least 2060, according to the UN, which is typically forecasting falls of about 3-6 percent per five-year period, and a sharper drop in the case of Poland, from 2045 onwards.


tass--2019-04-17--Russia must prevent population decline PM Medvedev says

Russia must prevent population decline, PM Medvedev says

MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. Russia must prevent a demographic collapse similar to the one that occurred in the 1990s, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said in his annual report to the State Duma (the lower house of parliament) on Wednesday.  "Today, we clearly see the consequences of what happened in Russia demography- wise in the 1990s, when the mortality rate exceeded the birth rate," he said. "Demographers even identified this phenomenon as ‘the Russian Cross.’ Unfortunately, not many people were born in the 1990s. We need to prevent another demographic collapse and increase the average life expectancy to 78 years by 2024, taking it to 80 years by 2030," Medvedev specified.  He added that the average life expectancy in Russia was rising, reaching nearly 73 years in the previous year and even exceeding the 75-year benchmark in some of the country’s regions. However, in other regions, the average life expectancy is still below 70 years and these regions "require special attention," Medvedev pointed out.  The prime minister also said that in 2018, the infant mortality rate dropped by 7.3% and road traffic mortality rates decreased by four percent. In addition, deaths from cardiovascular diseases and tuberculosis has also declined.  "This work will definitely be continued, including… measures to support families with children and advance the healthcare sector," Medvedev emphasized.  In other media


tass--2019-08-28--Population in Russia to grow by 2 mln people by 2024 reports Economy Ministry

Population in Russia to grow by 2 mln people by 2024, reports Economy Ministry

MOSCOW, August 28. /TASS/. The Economic Development Ministry expects population in Russia to grow by almost 2 mln people in the next five years. This is according to the ministry’s basic macroeconomic forecast for 2019-2024, the copy of which was obtained by TASS.  The ministry notes that this outlook takes into account "the development of measures to support the birth rate."  According to the document, the population will increase annually by 0.2-0.5 mln people and will grow from 146.8 mln people this year to 148.7 mln people in 2024.  According to the forecast, the number of working-age population will also increase - from 82.0 mln people to 85.3 mln people. At the same time, the number of retired people will decrease from 37.3 mln people to 35.6 mln people.  Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said at a meeting on federal budget spending for 2020 and the planning period 2021 and 2022, in terms of demography, health, education, science, youth policy and social security, the federal budget will be focused on supporting fertility, helping low-income families and resolving health problems.


theguardianuk--2019-01-27--What goes up are predictions of a population crisis wrong

What goes up: are predictions of a population crisis wrong?

She is a well-educated, professional woman, working in an office tower in central Nairobi, Kenya. Because of her status and education, the price required to marry her is bound to be high. Although dowries are often now paid in cash, she expects hers will be paid in the traditional method of cows and goats, and that the wedding will take place in the village she came from.  It could take a long time for any suitor to accumulate the capital needed to pay – or at least down-pay – her dowry. She’s fine with that.  “We [women] are getting married later,” one of her colleagues explains. “We want an education, job security, and a nice place to live… This also means that we can’t have as many kids, even if we want them.”  These remarks offer a window on one of the most compelling questions of our time: how many people will fill the Earth? The United Nations Population Division projects that numbers will swell to more than 11 billion by the end of this century, almost 4 billion more than are alive today. Where will they live? How will we feed them? How many more of us can our fragile planet withstand?  But a growing body of opinion believes the UN is wrong. We will not reach 11 billion by 2100. Instead, the human population will top out at somewhere between 8 and 9 billion around the middle of the century, and then begin to decline.  Jørgen Randers, a Norwegian academic who decades ago warned of a potential global catastrophe caused by overpopulation, has changed his mind. “The world population will never reach nine billion people,” he now believes. “It will peak at 8 billion in 2040, and then decline.”  Similarly, Prof Wolfgang Lutz and his fellow demographers at Vienna’s International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis predict the human population will stabilise by mid-century and then start to go down.  A Deutsche Bank report has the planetary population peaking at 8.7 billion in 2055 and then declining to 8 billion by century’s end.  The UN discounts the claims of these experts, relying on the authority of experience. “We imagine that countries that currently have higher levels of fertility and lower levels of life expectancy will make progress in the future in a similar manner, at a similar speed, to what was experienced by countries in the past,” John Wilmoth, director of the UN Population Division, says. “It’s all grounded in past experience.”  But the dissident demographers think this is wrong, primarily because the UN is failing to account for an accelerating decline in fertility as a result of urbanisation. In 2007, for the first time in human history, the majority of people in the world lived in cities. Today, it’s 55%. In three decades, it will be two-thirds.  A lot happens when people move from the countryside into the city. First, a child changes from being an asset – another pair of shoulders to work in the fields – to a burden – another mouth to feed.  Even more important, a woman who moves to a city has greater access to media, to schools, to other women. She demands greater autonomy. And many women who are able to exercise control over their own bodies decide to have fewer children.  “The brain is the most important reproductive organ,” Lutz asserts. “Once a woman is socialised to have an education and a career, she is socialised to have a smaller family. There’s no going back.”  Religious and familial pressures to settle down and make babies also recede in the city; friends and co-workers, who are largely indifferent to one another’s reproductive choices, become more important.  Already, almost two dozen countries are getting smaller every year, from Poland to Cuba to Japan, which lost almost 450,000 people in 2018. In these countries, women have fewer than the 2.1 babies that they must produce, on average, for a population to remain stable. The population decline would be even steeper were it not for steadily increasing life expectancy.  The fertility rate in the UK is 1.7. Most population growth in the UK today is the result of international immigration, according to the Office of National Statistics. Without immigrants, Great Britain would eventually enter an era of population decline.  More old people and fewer young people place an increased strain on society’s ability to generate the wealth and taxes needed to fund, among other things, healthcare for the old.  The really big news, however, is found in the large countries of the developing world, where the great majority of people live. There, declines in birth rates have been simply astonishing. China, the world’s largest country, has a fertility rate of 1.5, lower than Britain’s. India, soon to overtake China as the world’s most populous nation, is at the replacement rate of 2.1 and falling. Brazil, the fifth most populous country, has a fertility rate of 1.8.  Africa remains the cradle of overpopulation, with fertility rates far above replacement. If the human population truly is heading towards 11 billion people, as the UN predicts, then the African story in this century will be grim; the continent will remain largely poor and rural. Women will be forced to have child after child, swelling the numbers of humanity in the one place on Earth that can least easily sustain them.  But this is far too pessimistic a prognosis. Parts of Africa are making great strides in empowering women and reducing the number of children they have. Kenya is one example, though not the only one.  The horrific attack by the Islamist terrorist group al-Shabaab on a hotel and business complex earlier this month brought home once again the challenges facing this sub-Saharan nation of 50 million.  Only about a quarter of its people earn a salary from either a private- or public-sector employer, which is the very definition of a modern workforce. Half the population doesn’t believe it gets enough to eat and about a third reports sometimes going to bed hungry.  On the other hand, over 75% of the population have mobile device subscriptions. In the past three decades, the country’s urban population has more than doubled to 32%. And as it urbanises, Kenya’s fertility rate plummets: from 8 in 1960, according to World Bank figures, to 3.4 today, according to a new study of global fertility rates published last November in the Lancet.  Almost as many girls as boys sat last year for the exams that permit students to graduate from primary school (at the age of 14, after eight years of formal education). On average, the girls scored better.  Many Kenyan women live two lives at the same time. The first is immemorial, agricultural, subsistent and patriarchal. However in her back pocket, she has a mobile phone. And though she hasn’t told her parents yet, she’s planning to move to the city.  Elsewhere the fertility rate figures are less encouraging: Niger, 7; Mali, 6; Nigeria, 5. But even there, changes are happening: Nigeria’s fertility rate was almost seven in 1980.  Women make up 61% of the members of Rwanda’s parliament, the highest proportion of any government. The fertility rate in that country has plummeted from 8 to 4 in the past 30 years. Sub-Saharan Africa is the fastest urbanising part of the world, with annual urban population increases of 4%, twice the global average.  With any luck, Africa in this century will feature urbanisation, better-educated girls and women, and falling fertility. Not everywhere, and not all at once, but in more places than not, and sooner rather than later.  From Malthusian predictions at global conferences to the latest dystopian offering from Hollywood, pessimists predict a future of overcrowding, scarcity, conflict and possible collapse. But the premise is probably false. We need to prepare, not for the consequences of a population boom, but a population bust. A child born this decade will probably reach middle age in a world where population growth has stalled, and may already have begun to shrink. There could be much about this world to admire. It may be cleaner, safer, quieter. Urbanisation produces a marked decrease in carbon emissions per person – people using public transport, for example, rather than travelling by car – and as people move to the city, marginal farmland reverts to bush, a natural carbon sink and a boon to wildlife.  Economically, however, things could be more challenging, as societies struggle to grow with fewer young workers and taxpayers. Automation will help, but robots don’t buy refrigerators or a smart dress for the office party. Consumption remains the bedrock of any economy.  Population decline is not a good thing or a bad thing. But it is a big thing. It’s time to look it in the eye.  Darrell Bricker is CEO of the global polling firm Ipsos Public Affairs. John Ibbitson is writer-at-large at the Toronto Globe and Mail. Their book Empty Planet: The Shock of Global Population Decline is published by Little, Brown on 5 February (£20). To order a copy for £17.60 go to guardianbookshop.com. Free UK p&p on all online orders over £15


theguardianuk--2019-06-26--UK population rises to 664 million but rate of growth slows

UK population rises to 66.4 million but rate of growth slows

The population of the UK has risen slightly to 66.4 million people but the rate of growth has stalled over the past two years to its slowest increase since 2004, official estimates show.  In the year to mid-2018, there were 2% fewer births and 3% more deaths, but the population increased by 0.6% for the second year running, due to a net increase in international migration.  Despite a widely held belief that the UK’s vote to leave the European Union in 2016 would lead to a fall in immigration, the figures show international migration continues to increase.  The total number of migrants to the UK was 626,000, a 10% increase on the previous year, while the number of emigrants leaving the UK was 351,000, a 3% increase.  At 275,000, this net number of immigrants was 6,000 higher than the average for the past five years and 45,000 higher than last year. Over the past five years, net international migration to Britain has ranged between 183,000 and 336,000.  Neil Park, the head of the ONS population estimates unit, said the increase in net immigration continued to offset the number of deaths outstripping births.  He said: “For the fifth year in a row, net international migration was a bigger driver of population change than births and deaths.”  The four local authorities with the fastest-growing populations were all in central London: City of London, Westminster, Camden and Tower Hamlets. The increase in these areas was partly due to higher immigration than other parts of the UK.  The number of births recorded in the year to mid-2018 was 744,000, the fewest for more than a decade. The number of deaths was 623,000, the highest number since mid-2000.  The figures also confirmed the increasingly aged profile of the population, with the number of those 65 years and over growing faster than those under 65.  The number of people aged 65 to 84 increased by 23% to 10.6 million between 2008 and 2018, while the number of people aged 85 and over rose by 22.8% to 1.6 million over the same period.  Robin Maynard, of the charity Population Matters, said that despite the stall in the population growth there was no room for “complacency”.  He said: “Birth rates and migration fluctuate from year to year but our already unsustainable population is continuing to rise and that will continue until a positive strategy is put in place to address it.  “The government has announced ambitious plans to achieve a zero-carbon economy but by ignoring our unsustainable population growth, it is driving with the brakes on.  “More people means more emitters and more emissions. Our growing numbers are incompatible with our climate change commitments, the health of our environment and our quality of life.”  Aideen Young, evidence manager at the Centre for Ageing Better, said the figures showed how quickly the age structure of the UK’s population was shifting.  She said: “Not everyone is enjoying the longer lives that medical and technological advances have afforded us. We need a radical rethink across society – creating age-friendly workplaces, delivering accessible housing everyone can live in, and fostering communities that enable good social connections.”


theindependent--2019-05-04--Japanaposs child population at record low after falling for 38th consecutive year

Japan's child population at record low after falling for 38th consecutive year

Japan‘s child population has declined for the 38th year in a row and is now at a record low, the government said.  The number of children younger than 15 stood at 15.22 million on April 1, down 180,000, or 1.2 per cent, from last year, the Statistics Bureau said.  It is the lowest number since comparable data became available in 1950.  The figures were released ahead of Children’s Day on 5 May.  Japan’s birthrate has remained low amid a lack of support for working women, who continue to face the burden of homemaking and other traditional roles, as well as excessively long working hours and high education costs.  With children making up just 12.1 per cent of its population, Japan ranks lowest among countries with a population exceeding 40 million, followed by South Korea at 12.9 per cent and Italy and Germany at 13.4 per cent, according to the Statistics Bureau figures.  As of 2017, Japanese women on average gave birth to 1.43 children during their lifetimes. That compares with nearly 1.8 in the US and Britain.  According to the latest government statistics, the number of births in 2018 fell to 921,000, the lowest since Japan began recording such statistics in 1899.  The population is forecast to fall below 100 million by 2050, barring a huge influx of immigrants.  Japan last month started allowing more foreign workers to ease a labour crunch.  Prime minister Shinzo Abe has said ageing and the low birth rate are a national crisis. He has promised labour and other reforms to help alleviate the burden on families that discourage couples from having more children.  Longer life spans in Japan have added to rising costs for elderly care and social security.  Conservative legislators in Mr Abe’s government have at times blamed the elderly or childless for long-term demographic trends.  Gaffe-prone finance minister Taro Aso had to apologise earlier this year for saying childless people are to blame for Japan’s rising social security costs and declining population.


theindependent--2019-06-26--UK population rises to 664m despite highest number of deaths for 18 years

UK population rises to 66.4m despite highest number of deaths for 18 years

The population of the UK has risen to 66.4 million but the growth rate has stalled, official estimates show.  The latest calculations have revealed there were an estimated 66,436,000 people living in the country at the end of June last year, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).  However, the growth rate remained the same as the previous year.  Over the 12 months to the middle of 2018, the UK population rose year-on-year by 0.6 per cent.  Neil Park, head of the ONS population estimates unit, said: “For the fifth year in a row, net international migration was a bigger driver of population change than births and deaths.  He added: “However, overall population change to the year mid-2018 has remained fairly stable as an increase in net international migration has been roughly matched by the fewest births in over a decade and the highest number of deaths since the turn of the century.”  The figures also show the number of births in the year to mid-2018 was 744,000 – the fewest in any year since 2006, and down 2 per cent on the previous 12 months.  By contrast, the number of deaths rose 3 per cent to 623,000 – the most since the year 2000.  It means natural change in the UK population – the number of births minus the number of deaths – is now at its lowest level since 2004.  Net international migration in the year to mid-2018 was 275,000, which was “broadly in line” with the average of the past five years, the ONS said.  The four local authorities with the fastest-growing populations are all in central London.  The “relatively high level” of population growth in the City of London, Westminster, Camden and Tower Hamlets is “partly a reflection of the increase in net international migration” between mid-2017 and mid-2018, the ONS added.  Robin Maynard, of the charity Population Matters, said: “These figures give no grounds for complacency about UK population growth.  “Birth rates and migration fluctuate from year to year but our already unsustainable population is continuing to rise and that will continue until a positive strategy is put in place to address it.”  He added: “The government has announced ambitious plans to achieve a zero-carbon economy but by ignoring our unsustainable population growth, it is driving with the brakes on.  “More people means more emitters and more emissions.  “Our growing numbers are incompatible with our climate change commitments, the health of our environment and our quality of life.”  Laura Gardiner, research director at the Resolution Foundation think tank, which aims to improve the standard of living, said: “The UK population is ageing particularly fast at the moment because rising life expectancy is being amplified by the large baby boomer generation moving from working age into retirement.  “But the rates of change vary greatly across the country.  “The large share of pensioners across some coastal parts of the country stands in stark contrast to far younger populations in Britain’s major cities.  “This has huge implications for public service provision across the UK, and how those services are funded.”


themoscowtimes--2019-07-03--Top Russian Official Warns of Catastrophic Population Loss

Top Russian Official Warns of ‘Catastrophic’ Population Loss

Russia has struggled with a demographic crisis in recent years, with population numbers falling for the first time in a decade to 146.8 million last year. Official data for 2019 places Russia’s population at 146.7 million, declining by 149,000 people in the first four months of the year.  Russia’s population numbers are declining “catastrophically” with several regions vastly underestimating their death rates, a top government official has said.  “That means our birth rates are falling,” Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said on Tuesday, adding that death rates are declining “not as fast as we’d like.”  “We’re catastrophically losing the population,” she stressed at talks with medical officials in St. Petersburg, the state-run TASS news agency reported.  Golikova blamed the authorities of “many” regions for lowballing mortality figures “in pursuit of good indicators.”  The Voronezh region, she said, had submitted cancer death rate figures for 2018 that showed a minuscule growth of 1 percent. By 2019, the increase has ballooned to 20 percent, Golikova was quoted as saying.  Last month, the UN forecast that Russia’s population could halve by 2100.


naturalnews--2019-01-21--Consumption patterns of people who eat mostly organic foods are linked to better nutritional and hea

Consumption patterns of people who eat mostly organic foods are linked to better nutritional and health profiles

(Natural News) An increasing number of people are turning towards eating more organic foods because of their economic, environmental, and health benefits. These products, which were grown without the use of harmful pesticides, are considered safer and more nutritious than conventionally grown products. However, there is limited information regarding the direct health benefits of eating organic foods.  Previous studies have shown that people who consume organic products have an overall healthier lifestyle compared to non-consumers. However, the majority of these studies only looked at small populations and specific subgroups, such as pregnant women. Moreover, these studies focused only on consumption frequency and not the overall proportion of organic foods in the diet, which is believed to have a more significant impact on health. Putting these into consideration, researchers from the University of Paris 13,  Avicenne Hospital, and Aix-Marseille University in France evaluated the effects of the degree of organic food intake on overall diet quality.  In their study, which was published in the journal Public Health Nutrition, researchers determined the food intake of more than 28,000 adults using an organic food frequency questionnaire. Afterward, the team divided the participants into five groups depending on the proportion of organic foods in their diet, with the groups having no, occasional, medium, high, or very high levels of organic food intake.  The researchers then proceeded to assess overall diet quality based on two scoring methods, namely the modified Programme National Nutrition Santé Guidelines Score and the probability of adequate nutrient intake. The former scores a person’s diet based on how well they adhere to dietary guidelines so it deducts points for consumption that goes beyond the recommended intake. Meanwhile, the latter focuses on whether the diet provides enough nutrients, such as protein, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, B vitamins, calcium, and many others.  Mother Nature's micronutrient secret: Organic Broccoli Sprout Capsules now available, delivering 280mg of high-density nutrition, including the extraordinary "sulforaphane" and "glucosinolate" nutrients found only in cruciferous healing foods. Every lot laboratory tested. See availability here.  Upon analyzing the data, the researchers found that people who had higher levels of organic food consumption had an overall better diet quality. This manifested in stricter adherence to nutritional guidelines. The team also found that eating more organic foods leads to higher intake of plant-based foods like vegetables, soup, nuts, and wholegrain products. Meanwhile, there was reduced consumption of unhealthy foods like cookies and soda in groups with higher organic food intake.  Overall, these results show that organic food consumption is associated with better dietary behavior and could, therefore, have significant health benefits. However, further studies are needed to establish what these benefits are. (Related: Huge new study proves organic foods are healthier and more nutritious: results immediately attacked by chemical agriculture industry.)  The fact that organic foods are free from pesticides is a big enough reason to increase your intake of these foods. This is because a lot of scientific evidence proves that eating foods with pesticide residues can lead to the following health problems:  Read more news articles on the benefits of going organic by visiting Organics.news.


naturalnews--2019-02-01--PROVEN Eating organic food lowers cancer risk

PROVEN: Eating organic food lowers cancer risk

(Natural News) If, like many other people, you’re convinced that organic produce is nothing more than an over-priced and unnecessary fad, you might be intrigued to learn that a study conducted by researchers from France’s equivalent of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, known as Inserm, has confirmed that organic fruit and veg is worth the extra money after all.  The research, which was published in the prestigious journal, JAMA Internal Medicine, found that study participants who ate the most organic produce had the lowest incidences of certain types of cancer.  Although the researchers stress that other lifestyle factors may have played a part in their findings, the results were still significant enough to warrant further studies and are a good indicator to consumers that eating organic can have a profound effect on one’s health. (Related: Organic produce superior to conventional on every level, study finds.)  As reported by Medical Xpress, the Inserm team would ideally have liked to have access to thousands of volunteers who could be divided into two groups: one which ate conventional produce, while the other ate only organic. These volunteers would then be monitored to ensure they were complying with their eating plan, and cancer and other health effects noted over the years. Unfortunately, the team was not able to conduct their research in this way, so they piggybacked onto another health and nutrition study which began back in 2009:  They were questioned about 16 categories of foods—including fruits, vegetables, eggs and wine—and how often they ate organic versions of them. Once a year, they provided health updates, including whether they had been diagnosed with cancer.  The power of the elements: Discover Colloidal Silver Mouthwash with quality, natural ingredients like Sangre de Drago sap, black walnut hulls, menthol crystals and more. Zero artificial sweeteners, colors or alcohol. Learn more at the Health Ranger Store and help support this news site.  By the end of 2016, there were 68,946 French adults who met all of these criteria and were included in the analysis.  Based on their questionnaires, the participants were divided into four groups according to the amount of organic produce they regularly ate.  This revealed that the people who ate organic food most often had higher incomes, more education and higher-status jobs. They were also more likely to exercise, to have quit smoking, and to eat higher amounts of healthful foods such as fruits and vegetables. All of these things are associated with a lower risk of cancer.  The researchers found that cancer was diagnosed in 1,340 of the participants between 2009 and 2016, most commonly breast and prostate cancers.  Overall, the participants who ate the most organic produce and made the best lifestyle choices were 25 percent less likely to develop any form of cancer than the volunteers who ate the least organic food. The cancers with the most significant risk reduction were postmenopausal breast cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and all other forms of lymphomas.  The researchers believe the risk reduction is likely due to the lack of cancer-causing pesticides like glyphosate, malathion and diazinon on organic produce. (Related: Evidence is “overwhelming,” says EPA scientist, that pesticides contribute to cancer risk.)  You often hear of people who have recently been diagnosed with cancer cutting out sugar, switching to organic produce, losing weight and making other significant lifestyle changes. The sad truth, however, is that while these are certainly good changes, they often prove to be “too little, too late.” The best way to beat cancer is to prevent it in the first place, not to try to destroy it once it’s taken a hold in the body.  With this in mind, it is important to know exactly which lifestyle changes have the most profound effects on cancer prevention. We have been advised for years that these include maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, limiting alcohol consumption, not smoking and eating the right kinds of foods. This means avoiding sugar and anything processed; eating organic, free-range meat that comes from animals which have not been given routine hormones or antibiotics; and switching from conventional to organically grown produce.  Any extra expense and effort involved in making these changes is well worth it, as this study has once again demonstrated. Learn more at CancerSolutions.news.


naturalnews--2019-02-17--Scientists confirm link between eating organic food and a reduced cancer risk

(Natural News) Organic foods have become increasingly popular over the last few years. However, there are still some people who aren’t convinced that they should shell out a few extra bucks on organic foods. If you’re one of those people, you might start rethinking your decisions now. A recent study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine revealed that people who eat more organic food have a lower cancer risk.  The researchers arrived at this finding by analyzing self-reported data from 68,946 adults in France. Participants accomplished questionnaires where they were asked to rate their frequency of eating commonly labeled organic foods from never, occasionally, to most of the time. Their food intake from 16 different categories was determined in the study. These included fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat and fish, eggs, grains, flour, and bread.  All of the participants were cancer-free at the beginning of the study, which was in 2009. However, by the follow-up, 1,340 of them had developed the disease. The most prevalent types were breast cancer (459), prostate cancer (180) skin cancer (135), colorectal cancer (99), and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (47). Upon analyzing their data, the researchers found that people who ate the most organic food experienced a 25 percent decrease in their overall cancer risk compared to people who ate the least. This was true even after they considered other factors that could affect cancer risk, including smoking, exercise, and socioeconomic status.  Cancer risk reduction was especially high for lymphoma, which was lower by 76 percent overall and 86 percent for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Postmenopausal breast cancer risk also had a significant reduction of 34 percent.  The power of the elements: Discover Colloidal Silver Mouthwash with quality, natural ingredients like Sangre de Drago sap, black walnut hulls, menthol crystals and more. Zero artificial sweeteners, colors or alcohol. Learn more at the Health Ranger Store and help support this news site.  The primary difference between conventional and organic foods is that the latter are less likely to have pesticide residues. This is because organic farmers have to adhere to a strict set of standards for their produce to be certified as organic. (Related: Organic food has less pesticide content and is healthier than conventional, more science proves.)  There is a growing body of evidence that pesticides pose many health risks. These include causing developmental problems in children and neurological diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Additionally, there have been legal cases against pesticide manufacturers claiming that their products caused cancer. By eating organic foods, you can reduce your exposure to these carcinogens.  Overall, the results of this study suggest that switching to organic foods can help reduce cancer risk.  If you’re still not convinced that you should make the switch, here are more reasons for you to start buying organic food.


naturalnews--2019-04-09--Yet ANOTHER reason to eat organic food It reduces your risk of getting cancer

Yet ANOTHER reason to eat organic food: It reduces your risk of getting cancer

(Natural News) French researchers can give you a scientifically backed reason for why you should switch to an organic diet. In an epidemiological study, they found that participants who ate plenty of organic foods are less likely to develop certain types of cancers, especially when compared to those who eat little or no organic foods.  In particular, the chances of developing breast cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and other lyphomas went down. The researchers surmised a connection between this and the reduced amount of synthetic pesticides in the diet of people.  In the government-supported study, nearly 70,000 participants answered an online form about their dietary intake of organic food. The survey covered 16 important food groups and asked if the participant brought organic products most of the time, only sometimes, never, or didn’t know if their purchase was organic or not.  Based on the number of times a participant bought an organic brand, researchers compiled an “organic food score.” They divided the participants between a “low intake of organic food” group and a “high intake of organic food” group. Then they followed both groups for four years while recording the number of new cancer cases that appeared during the follow-up period. (Related: Kyrgyzstan announces 10-year plan to switch to 100% organic agriculture.)  The French researchers performed a thorough analysis of the results of their findings. They finally reported that members of the “high intake of organic food” group showed a 25 percent lower risk of contracting any form of cancer when compared to their low intake counterparts.  The power of the elements: Discover Colloidal Silver Mouthwash with quality, natural ingredients like Sangre de Drago sap, black walnut hulls, menthol crystals and more. Zero artificial sweeteners, colors or alcohol. Learn more at the Health Ranger Store and help support this news site.  Organic foods are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides. Since they were never sprayed with the chemicals, they are much less likely to contain residues of the toxic compounds.  Pesticides have been shown to affect the health of farmers who tend to chemically-treated fields. Agricultural workers exposed to these chemicals are more prone to developing cancer, have a higher chance of dying early, and see more birth defects in their children.  There is also a growing body of scientific literature that indicated the risk of cancer increases for people who eat foods that had been treated with synthetic pesticides. Children are particularly at risk. In light of those findings, the 2008-2009 annual report of the President’s Cancer Panel strongly recommended that consumers should get organic food that was never exposed to any chemical pesticide or fertilizer.  Choosing to eat organic foods is not just good for your personal health. By supporting organic farming, you can encourage more farmers to switch to a pesticide-free method of agriculture, which would benefit their health as well. And there are also the environmental benefits of not drenching the air, soil, and water with cancer-causing chemicals.  One drawback to organically-grown food is that they are more expensive than conventionally-grown counterparts. Not everyone can afford an all-organic diet.  Instead, identify which foods in your diet contain the highest amount of pesticides. Then swap those foods out for organic equivalents to maximize the reduction of cancer-causing chemicals.  The Environmental Working Group identified strawberries, spinach, kale, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery, potatoes, and hot peppers as the most heavily-contaminated produce. Strawberries are the worst offender.  Furthermore, conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables retain their tremendous nutritional value despite the taint of pesticides. Numerous studies have shown the health benefits of those foods when it comes to reducing chronic illnesses such as cancer. And if you think about it, most of the fruits and veggies used in those experiments had been grown in conventional farms, so clearly pesticides cannot overwhelm the healing power of healthy foods.


prepareforchange--2019-01-19--Key Research Eating Organic Foods Cuts Your Cancer Risk and More

Key Research: Eating Organic Foods Cuts Your Cancer Risk and More!

Some people laugh at those who make the effort to buy organic foods as often as possible. It’s a waste of money, they say. An organic apple isn’t any healthier than a non-organic apple, they insist. Well, the next time you hear someone spew this baloney, you reference this recent research suggesting showing how beneficial organic can be.  Researchers in France say that people who regularly eat organic food have a lower risk of developing cancer than those who don’t.  For the study, almost 69,000 adults volunteered to provide researchers with information on how often they ate organic food, drinks, and dietary supplements. Researchers scored the participants based on how often they ate organic food – “most of the time,” “never,” or “I don’t know.”  Researchers tracked the volunteers’ cancer diagnoses at 2 points in the study: in 2009 and again in 2016. Breast cancer was shown to be the most prevalent cancer diagnosis, but the team also observed prostate cancer, skin cancer, colorectal cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and lymphoma.  Participants who ate the highest amount of organic food were 25% less likely overall to develop cancer than the others. [1]  Additionally, the most frequent consumers of organic food had: [2]  Julia Baudry, the study’s lead author and a researcher with the Center of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics Sorbonne Paris Cité of the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, said:  Now, the study doesn’t prove that eating organic reduces your risk of cancer. It could be that people who eat organic food lead healthier lifestyles and there might be an environmental component to the findings, as well. As well, studies relying on self-reporting from participants is less-than-ideal.  But still, it’s impossible to deny that striving to live a clean, healthy lifestyle comes with great benefits – even if it means paying a bit extra for food that hasn’t been doused in pesticides. [1]  Baudry said that despite the other potentially influential factors not examined in the study, the findings strongly suggest “that an organic-based diet could contribute to reducing cancer risk.” [2]  Dr. Frank Hu, chairman of the department of nutrition at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said the study could have been strengthened by the researchers testing pesticide residue levels in participants in order to validate exposure levels.  Hu and other nutrition experts at Harvard said the study results “are still preliminary” and they are calling on the U.S. government to fund more long-term studies to confirm the results.  And if for some reason you are unable to buy organic foods, that doesn’t mean you should skip out on consuming fruits and veggies. As the American Cancer Society (ACS) notes, eating lots of fruit and vegetables is one of the ways you can lower your risk of cancer, regardless of whether they’re organic or not.  You can read more details of the study for yourself online at JAMA Internal Medicine.


prepareforchange--2019-06-04--Why Organic Food is Not Only Good for the Body But the Mind and Soul Too

Why Organic Food is Not Only Good for the Body, But the Mind and Soul Too

In this day and age, most are aware that organic food is better for the health of people and the planet. With increasing levels of exposure to toxins in the environment — like the burning of fossil fuels and industrial waste — now more than ever, it’s important to consume a clean diet to keep the body healthy and strong. But while organic food consumption is on the rise, we still have much to learn about the overall benefits for personal and collective health, not only on a physical level, but also mentally and, some say, spiritually too.  In 1962, Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring brought the problem of pesticides into the limelight, educating the general public about the exceptional dangers of these chemicals to our health and the environment. Decades later, we may not be in as much active contact with DDT, but we’re exposed to equally harmful pesticides in greater concentrations — much more so than in the past. The Toxics Action Center offers a sobering insight into the issue:  “Chronic health effects may occur years after even minimal exposure to pesticides in the environment, or result from the pesticide residues which we ingest through our food and water. A July 2007 study conducted by researchers at the Public Health Institute, the California Department of Health Services, and the UC Berkeley School of Public Health found a sixfold increase in risk factor for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) for children of women who were exposed to organochlorine pesticides.”  Moreover, research from the University of Montreal and Harvard University discovered that children who ingest pesticide residues on produce have a two-fold risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) — a syndrome which causes disruptive inattention, abnormally active behavior and impulsivity.  The National Cancer Institute also found that American farmers who use agricultural pesticides have a high incidence of Hodgkins disease, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, leukemia, as well as other types of cancer. Likewise, a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology shows “that farmers who use weedkillers are more than twice as likely to suffer from depression than farmers who don’t use the chemicals. And farmers who had higher exposure – through either more hours or longer years using weedkillers – had the greatest risk. And a study published in 2013 revealed that using insecticides is linked with an increased incidence of Parkinson’s disease.  Dr. Emanuele Cereda, M.D., Ph.D., and Dr. Gianni Pezzoli, M.D., reviewed the data from 104 studies which were published between 1975 and 2011. What they found is that exposure to pesticides is linked with a 58% increased risk of developing the disease. Certain herbicides and fungicides actually double Parkinson’s disease risk.  The chemicals are also associated with:  That’s not all. Pesticides also destroy the environment. As I wrote in Here’s What Happens When you Eat a 100% Organic Diet:  “The toxins damage agricultural land by harming beneficial insects, soil microorganisms and worms — all of which contribute to healthy soil and naturally limit detrimental pests. Plant root and immune systems are also negatively impacted by pesticides, as are concentrations of important nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous.”  When we look at the big picture, science presents a strong argument for eating organically if we would like to promote health of our bodies and mind, along with safeguarding the environment. But can an organic diet help us spiritually too?  Susan Bass is a teacher and practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine and believes in “energetics” of food, the theory that specific foods can balance and enrich the mind, body and spirit.  “Nature is an aspect of the divine,” she says. “When we move with the rhythms and cycles of nature, when we sleep, get up and eat what is in season, we connect with the divine.” She adds, “Nature is always providing exactly what our bodies need to thrive. “That is why eating locally grown, fresh, organic food is so important. The food that grows in our area is what the creatures here need to stay in balance with the earth.“  As it turns out, both Bass and Kelly might be on to something. Using Kirlian photography, researchers have discovered the energy fields of organic foods emit “a clearly more vibrant and harmonious energy field than conventional foods.” Ripe, just picked organic produce had the strongest energy field. “Raw foods also fared better in the energy department than cooked and pasteurized foods, the latter of which appeared duller and less uniform than their raw counterparts.”  Some believe this energy field represents a food’s “life source” and that consuming such high vibrational food, that’s not over-processed or pesticide-ridden, keeps us healthy and strong — both physically and mentally, as well as spiritually.  So dig in and reap the benefits of locally grown, organic food. Your body, mind and soul will thank you.  This article has been sourced from Wake Up World  Disclaimer: We at Prepare for Change (PFC) bring you information that is not offered by the mainstream news, and therefore may seem controversial. The opinions, views, statements, and/or information we present are not necessarily promoted, endorsed, espoused, or agreed to by Prepare for Change, its leadership Council, members, those who work with PFC, or those who read its content. However, they are hopefully provocative. Please use discernment! Use logical thinking, your own intuition and your own connection with Source, Spirit and Natural Laws to help you determine what is true and what is not. By sharing information and seeding dialogue, it is our goal to raise consciousness and awareness of higher truths to free us from enslavement of the matrix in this material realm.


thesun--2019-11-27--Inside Hollyoaks star Ruby McDonnell’s stunning family home with Buddha statues, brick interior and

Inside Hollyoaks star Ruby McDonnell’s stunning family home with Buddha statues, brick interior and funky wallpaper

HOLLYOAKS star Ruby McDonnell spends her time off screen enjoying the creature comforts of her family home.  The 19-year-old actress, who plays Peri Lomax on the Channel 4 soap, often treats fans to glimpses of the home – revealing her unique sense of style.  Her bedroom is particularly eye-catching thanks to a white brick wall, which looks very stylish against her white floor.  Ruby has added touches of comfort with a rug, teal stool and pictures of her memories stuck to the walls.  The dining room is just as chic with its silver print wallpaper and glass light fixtures.  The living area – where Ruby hangs out with her mates – also features a patterned wallpaper, while family pictures adorn the walls.  Outside and the garden offers plenty of space for their beloved dog to run around and there is even a Buddha statue for decoration.  Ruby’s Hollyoaks character has recently been involved in a huge storyline as she helped get Ste away from a far right group.  She has appeared on the soap since 2013 and has had some very big moments to date.  She auditioned twice for the role and after she got it, her mum said: "When we got the call I started crying and then we started jumping up and down in the kitchen.  “The more I see the scripts the more I think Ruby is quite similar to her character Peri and I think she's fitted in well with the family.”  Fans will probably best remember Peri for falling pregnant with her boyfriend Tom Cunningham when she was just 14.  She struggled with the baby and left the baby on Angela’s door step.  Peri then faked a pregnancy after she slept with Prince to try and break him and Lily up.  After surviving being homeless she struck up a romance with Harley, who she is still with.  Not surprisingly she has had a number of awards nominations and won Best Young Performance at the 2016 British Soap Awards.


birminghammail--2019-05-02--The 5 interior design tips to transform your home

Whether you're moving into a new house or you're simply looking to revamp your rooms, Spring is the perfect time to spruce up your home.  But unless you're an interior designer, it can be difficult to know where to start.  With the help of family-run furniture store Cousins, we’ve pulled together these handy hints and tips that can help you to transform your living space.  Furniture makes a home; it is the comfy sofa you come back to at the end of a long day, the dining room table where you and your family enjoy mealtime chatter and the bed where you lay your head each night.  In a world of fast fashion and disposable products, it can be easy to forget the importance of quality; however, if selected correctly, furniture can stand the test of time.  Instead of breaking after a year’s use, that sofa, bed or table could be something that lasts for years to come, so make sure you invest in quality pieces that you love.  Whatever atmosphere you are trying to create in a specific room, it's important to remember that colour can completely change the mood.  And this isn't just limited to the walls; the colours of your sofa, rugs, lights and decor should all tie into this.  It may seem tempting, but you don't have to stick to black, white and grey. Rather, a monochrome palette can be made much more exciting with a burst of colour.  If you're a crafty person, try making a mood board with snippets of patterns of fabric and shades of paint that you are thinking of using. This can be a good way to visualise how all the different elements will work together.  Alternatively, get some inspiration at a showroom. Cousins' team of in-house experts will be on hand to advise on styles, colours and prices - to find those items that are just perfect for you.  You've considered colours, but what about the material?  Whether you’re looking for a smart leather sofa, a sleek and luxurious velvet chair or a plush fluffy rug, layering different textures is a great way to add depth and personality to a room.  It's not just about how something looks either, the upholstery can affect comfort and warmth, and require different levels of maintenance.  Cousins has created a handy upholstery buying guide which gives hints and tips about the benefits of each material and what care they need.  Just like colour, lighting can totally transform the look and feel of your home, making it feel inviting, cosy or sleek.  It's important to choose lights and lamps that will complement the natural sources of light in the room. You want to be able to adjust the lighting to adapt to different settings and times of day. So having a range of light sources is a key consideration.  Tripod and large desk-style floor lamps are key trends for this year. Also consider buying brass and metal accented pieces or those with a metal cage for a real contemporary feel.  Your home should reflect you and your personality. So don't be scared to go bold, choose statement pieces that you love and will get your guests talking.  In order to find those pieces of furniture that are perfect for you, it's important to go and see how they look in real life, feel the fabric and test out the comfort.  Locals can check out a large range of quality furniture and accessories at Cousins large showrooms or via their website.  Shop the fulll range of products at Cousins' showrooms in Birmingham and Dudley which are open daily. For more information visit: cousinsfurniture.co.uk.


eveningstandard--2019-01-16--The new interiors trends to watch out for in fabrics paint and papers

The new interiors trends to watch out for in fabrics, paint and papers

Today is the first day of the quirky Déco Off interiors show in Paris. The tenth edition, it runs until Monday and is open free to all with the late night on Saturday to 11pm. That’s Paris for you.  Bustling and friendly, it fills an ancient tangle of showrooms and pop-ups around two quaint streets on opposing sides of the Seine.  Visitors include store buyers, interior designers and lovers of home design the world over. London brands are out in force and there’s a lot to be proud of in terms of originality, variety and expertise.  From Japanese woodcuts and brutalist buildings to studio ceramics, greenhouse gardening or a Russian palace, each collection has a unique take.  You don’t just buy a pattern, you buy into a story, with endless options for layering papers, prints, weaves and trimmings. Designers have done the hard work so that decorating is a doddle.  New designs from the UK are simultaneously on sale in Paris and London, and Style Library is pulling out the stops. This umbrella brand has a clutch of décor labels, from Sanderson, so quintessentially English, to the more exotic Zoffany and treasured Morris & Co. It also includes Scion, Anthology and Harlequin. Its cosy little period showroom on the Rue de Mail goes into a state of siege, as foreign buyers crowd in.  “The Europeans love our heritage and craftsmanship,” says general manager David Butcher, “and no amount of Brexit is going to change that.” Sanderson’s Glasshouse is a glorious riot of big botanicals. At Zoffany, design manager Peter Gomez has turned to art, with Bauhaus abstracts and pencil sketches. Harlequin takes its cue from mid-century pottery studios with its Atelier collection, painting by hand for a feeling of craft.  The tropical trend is not wilting yet, though it has outgrown kitsch flamingos and overblown blooms. Zanzibar by Scion is a fresh take, amid palms teamed with that brutalist Barbican concrete. Immersed in island life are Lee and Emma Clarke, of Clarke & Clarke, now also part of Style Library. Their Paris pop-up is draped with Exotica: see birds-of-paradise, leaves and flowers on velvet, linen, embroidery and intricate weaves. Colour zings and hums, from kingfisher and teal to softer slate, amethyst, mineral grey and blush.  Star of the Romo group’s Paris showroom is Japanese woodcut artist Katsutoshi Yuasa whose prints on delicate washi paper have morphed into fine-lined abstracts and florals. GP & J Baker are celebrating craftsmanship with handblocks and embroideries. They’ve fittingly called it Artisan.  Channel-hopping for a Paris pop-up are Tim Butcher and Lizzie Deshayes of Fromental, commandeering an art gallery for an Orient Express, where compartments have glossy wallcoverings redolent of Parisien Art Deco lacquerware.  Bernie de Le Cuona, of Chelsea Harbour and Pimlico Road, is taking over a Paris gallery. Her passion is fine fibres — Belgian linen, soft alpaca from Peru, Mongolian cashmere, Chinese silk and top-notch Australian wool. She went to the Winter Palace in St Petersburg and the Royal Garden in Versailles and then did Wanderlust, 10 new fabrics for discerning decorators everywhere.  Meanwhile, The Rug Company of London is presenting US decorator Martyn Lawrence Bullard.  North London wallpaper wizards Cole & Son, past masters of block printing, are doing fabrics with their best-loved patterns from decades past, plus new surrealistic wallpapers from Italian art house Fornasetti. Paint people Little Greene have added delightful period London wallpapers to their ongoing edit.  Think floral, think Designers Guild, ever pushing the petals into something fresh and different. New for spring are bouquets of peonies and ranunculi, hand-painted in photo-realistic detail. “Paris is our second home,” says founder/director Tricia Guild. “We’ve been there for nearly 30 years and France is our oldest export market. The French adore colour, florals, print and pattern.”  Huge wallpaper panels with two 3m drops on a roll look more like murals than conventional wallpaper with its evident repeat patterns. This is a burgeoning trend, which you’ll also find at Osborne & Little, currently celebrating 50 years in business. Its stunning wallpanels will make an instant bower of giant orchids and magnolias: “Glamour and style, big-time. The Europeans will love it,” says Graham Noakes, sales and marketing director.


eveningstandard--2019-02-01--Best interior design websites The super cool online homeware and furniture shops for 2019

Best interior design websites: The super cool online homeware and furniture shops for 2019

Bored of looking at the same old interior websites again and again? Need a little new inspiration? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.  We’ve sourced some of the best lesser-known interiors shopping sites to bring you a host of new home decor ideas. Because, well, there’s only so many times you can look at Zara Home, love it though we do.  If you’re looking for something really original, these interior websites are where it’s at. Personally-sourced products with character that are unique, different and high quality.  If you want to add some colour to your home, French website Cool Machine is perfect for bright decorative ceramics and objects; head over to Jonathan Adler if you’re after some American-influenced contemporary glamour; check out the stunning Merve Kahraman for one-off investment pieces; or click on Hurn & Hurn and Audenza for quirky homeware and gorgeous gifts.  Scandi-lover? You can while away the hours browsing at the Scandinavian Design Centre or Cloudberry Living, both of which stock iconic big brands and emerging Nordic designers. It’s a feast for the eyes.  There’s also fab affordable art sites, gorgeous wallpaper, tiles, reclaimed and lighting specialists, as well as vintage websites and urban retro gurus.  Discover our round up of the best niche interior design websites below:  This is, quite simply, a haven for Scandi style lovers. It stocks thousands of products from top designers like Ferm Living, House Doctor, Georg Jensen, Bloomingville and many more. Here, you can get your Nordic-loving mitts on iconic Moomin mugs, tufted and woven rugs, cosy Swedish wool throws, stunning pastel stoneware pieces from the likes of Broste Copenhagen, and sleek, contemporary, minimal furniture for every room in your house. It’s basically your one-stop Scandi shop. Good luck not spending hours - and probably quite a lot of cash - on here.  If you feel you’re stuck in a bit of a neutral style rut, this interior design website is the antidote for you. It’s a vibrant melting pot of bold and bright concept pieces, from ceramics and decorative objects like lamps, flower pots and vases, to cushions, wall hangings, posters and stationery. It showcases handcrafted creations from emerging designers, mixing contemporary design and vintage aesthetics. It’s unusual, colourful, creative and, above all, ‘cool’.  This luxurious online interior design store uses three words to describe its aesthetic: ‘Modern American Glamour’. Its motto? ‘If your heirs won’t fight over it, we won’t make it.’ It’s the place to purchase unique pieces that you won’t see at every Tom, Dick and Harry’s house. From small statement objects like a technicolour lightning bolt tray, to large investment pieces like marble and brass cocktail tables, it’s your go-to glamour destination.  Merve Kahraman’s stunning interiors website was created via an MA in product design from London’s Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design and work placements at the likes of Tom Dixon. No surprise, then, that her pieces are design-led, completely unique, and utterly stunning. All the products are handcrafted by artisans in Istanbul with the finest-quality materials.  You can find beautiful furniture, like an American walnut, leather and brass work/makeup desk with an Art Deco-esque round mirror, as well as dinosaur egg lamps, accent chairs with bunny ears, and pizza-inspired marble coffee tables. Our heads were completely turned by the Revitaliser wax lamp, which melts and recreates itself over time.  After spending eight years setting up and managing Sir Richard Branson’s ski chalet in Verbier, Hannah Allen had a lightbulb moment - a one-click interior design store for chalets. The Chalet Shop offers a full interior design service if you’re lucky enough to own a ski cabin. However, it’s also a great place to shop if you just love the lodge-luxe look and want it in your own home.  Everything you need for an Alpine escape vibe is here, from natural hides and furs, cosy lanterns, and fireside storage, to rustic-charm dining tables and beds. We’ve definitely got cabin fever.  Audenza is the self-confessed interior design website for the ‘fabulous and fearless’. Large brass palm tree floor lamp, anyone? You’ll find it here. In fact, you’ll come across a plethora of tropical pieces, from animal candles holders and animal head wall mounts, to flamingo plates and prints, jewel-toned chairs and jungle-print lampshades. It’s exoticism mixed with a sense of the Hollywood golden age. Go on, be bold.  Lime Lace is an online interiors boutique selling eclectic and personally-sourced home accessories and gifts. It has an extensive range of statement lighting, unique wallpapers, and art prints. They specialise in one-of-a-kind pieces by designers from around the world, with a focus on personality and uniqueness. We particularly love the range of premium art from MINDTHEGAP, an uber-cool eclectic homeware brand. You’ll find abstract, contemporary, vintage and tropical prints in their curated collection.  This interior design website’s tagline is ‘discover the unusual’, and that sums up what’s on offer nicely. But it’s unusual in a good way, with gorgeous gifts and homewares that are different but also on-point. They stock big-name brands you’ll recognise, like Bloomingville and Garden Trading, but also gorgeous lesser-known names, including I Like Birds, who do fab vintage-style animal-print tea towels and coasters.  There’s also Sew Heart Felt, who create amazing animal mobiles for the kiddies, and, for the grown-ups, we love the pretty Pip Studio ceramics and the super-cool aluminium ornaments by Diesel Living with Seletti, which includes a life-size skeleton hand.  Homeplace stocks an eclectic but considered mix of vintage, mid century, retro and contemporary homewares, including eye-catching and unique pieces of furniture, lighting and other home accessories. Passionate about supporting emerging artists whilst bringing affordable art to their customers, they also stock a large selection of prints, which is one of the most popular sections of the site. Think modern, contemporary, abstract pieces, including the human form, geometric prints, and botanical representations.  Sort of like an indie version of Trouva, Oostor is a start-up online marketplace selling products from unique, hard-to-find brands and emerging designers from around the world. You’ll find innovative home accessories, inspiring wall art and creative products for your home, like neon cactus table lamps and folding geometric chairs. Yes, really. Your entire home furnished in a few clicks.  Vintage fan? You’re going to adore this antiques treasure trove. Vinterior is an online marketplace for remarkable vintage and antique furniture, with over 100,000 unique items. They unearth the originals and celebrate the one-offs, from sideboards to mirrors, lighting to drinks trolleys, mid century to neoclassical - if it’s vintage you’re after, you can find it here.  For stunning timeless pieces in a muted, natural colour palette created with high-quality materials, look no further than Rowen & Wren. A couple-run business, the stylish online interiors store stocks a thoughtfully sourced collection of distinctive homewares, from gorgeous hardware to elegant linen sofas and rustic-charm garden furniture. Their focus on eclectic design and simple functionality means everything they sell sits as comfortably in an urban loft as a country retreat.  Bringing Scandinavian style to the UK since 2007 with iconic brands like Littala, Ferm Living and Pappelina, this online interiors site is dedicated to all things Nordic - beauty in minimalistic design and functionality - but also stocks emerging artists from across the  globe with a similar ethos. You’ll find gorgeous gifts, clean-line lighting, blankets and throws to hygge-up your home, decorative objects, stylish furniture and plenty more.  If you love that cool modern rustic country interiors look - à la Soho Farmhouse - but don’t know where to start looking, make Bert & May your first stop. It’s choc-a-bloc with great inspiration - their Instagram page is brilliant - and has a lovely range of reclaimed wood for flooring and wall cladding, as well as a fab selection of handmade tiles, including plain and printed, encaustic, terracotta and salvaged pieces. Trust us, you’ll fall in love.  Urban, retro, unique: three words that describe this online interiors store in a nutshell. Their furniture collection is so original, and includes everything from Vespa Scooter chairs to a red tractor bar and home office desk. There’s also unique gifts like gold decorative objects (spaceships, skulls, and robots galore), cool neon signs, skull lamps, cowhide doorstops, and, if you’re feeling really generous, an industrial football table. It’s urban vintage heaven.  If it's industrial-chic lighting you’re after, make Industville your next stop. The makers of handcrafted, high-quality vintage-edge lights have styles to suit everyone, in all different shapes and finishes, from wall-mounted cage lights to statement galvanised kitchen pendants. And if you want something completely unique, they also offer a bespoke lighting service, allowing you to create your own light design.  You're in good company, because they not only light up homes all around the world, but also supply to top hotels, restaurants,  shops and cafes. What's more, they offer next day delivery, free shipping, free returns and prices start at just £29. What are you waiting for?  After looking around its site in wide-eyed wonder - and creating a wish-list as long as a leg - the Scandinavian Design Centre has to be up there for its sheer breadth of brilliant brands and products with such a large-reaching appeal. We could literally furnish our entire home with pieces bought solely from here. Send help.  ES Best product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing.  Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter


eveningstandard--2019-02-02--Interiors trend to watch block colour and mid-century revival

Interiors trend to watch: block colour and mid-century revival

Spring comes early in the interiors world, with all eyes on French design fair Maison et Objet which took place in Paris in January.  This important trade show not only spotlights influential designers but also key trends for the year ahead. Styles that set to make an appearance in 2019 vary from the use of raw natural materials to soft pastel colour palettes and glitzy glamorous decor.  Multi-award winning German designer Sebastian Herkner was named designer of the year by Maison et Objet, an amazing achievement that comes as no surprise when you learn that he collaborated with powerhouses like Moroso, Dedon, Thonet and Lintello in 2018 alone.  His work merges modern technologies and established craftsmanship, drawing from global cultural influences and sustainable materiality. One of Herkner’s past creations that really caught our eye was the Pastille table for edition van Treeck. For us the most influential aspects of the designer's work are his eye for colour and the reinterpretation of classic design.  At any level, quality design depends on an investment in form and materiality and this is something Herkner gets so right. This, combined with strong block hues and a modern day take on mid and late 20th century manufacturing is something to be embraced by all. Anything is taste dependant, but investing in bold, statement pieces old and new that will last a lifetime is everything.  We’ve chosen a mix of new 50s and 80s inspired items below that will look great when mixed with refurbished vintage pieces.  Made in Portugal, the Sawyer orange reactive glazed stoneware salad bowl adds a shot of vibrant colour to an alfresco table setting.  The navy velvet ottoman is crafted using luxurious Italian velvet, made from 100 per cent cotton.  With its contemporary lines and comfort, the Hackney sofa strikes the perfect balance between modern and traditional styling.  The Bubbles tumblers are handmade from recycled glass and are perfectly mixed and matched for everyday use.  A colourful and bold risograph print, adding a touch of creativity to any room.  Characterised by the coloured buttons on the cushion, Hay’s Dot cushion has become a design classic in many homes.  Each item is hand cast, sanded and sealed in the Nottingham studio and finished with felt pads underneath.  This Variations rug is an original design by British abstract artist and royal academician, Sir Terry Frost, which has been beautifully transformed into a hand-knotted rug by Christopher Farr.  Att Pynta are design columnists for the Evening Standard. Catch them at The Liberty Loft pop-up which launched on January 25 and will run for six weeks.


eveningstandard--2019-03-21--Where to get free expert interiors advice in London

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.


eveningstandard--2019-03-25--The best flexible furniture and interior design hacks for small spaces

The dilemma of how to furnish small rooms and awkward corners to make the space feel bigger is one of the most difficult interior design challenges to solve. And it's a universal problem for tiny flat dwellers across London and beyond.  However, compact living doesn't have to mean compromising on style.  Following a 50 per cent increase in customer searches for 'small space furniture', homeware giant Habitat has joined forces with Homewings, a community of expert designers offering online advice and insider tips on making the most out of even the smallest of rooms.  For those needing help to solve a small space challenge, head to Habitat's Tottenham Court Road store this Saturday 30 March (11am-1pm), where Homewings and Habitat will be hosting a special interior design consultation. Take along photos and floorplans for the experts to help you plan your home redesign.  If you can't make it to an in-store appointment, here are five of the best small space hacks from the experts:  One of biggest challenges of moving into a small flat or any property with a narrow doorway is being able to actually get large pieces of furniture, such as beds, sofas and wall units, inside.  It's not unheard of for entire window frames to be removed in order to squeeze in a bulky sofa.  "Sofas are one of the largest pieces of furniture in any home so if you're limited on space, think carefully about the style you're going for," says Cornelia de Ruiter, the founder of Homewings.  "One clever trick is to allow daylight to flow through a room — and easy access for awkward stairwells — is to invest in a sofa without any arms"  Open-plan layouts in modern flats and studios mean living areas and bedrooms can share the same space, so there's an art to ensuring these zones don't merge together.  One way to minimise wasted space is to invest is in a bed which folds up against the wall, or a day bed which can double up as a sofa.  "Multi-functional designs that provide two functions in a very small footprint will be your friend in a compact home. Dining tables are always space hungry, so if there are only two of you most days opt for a folding table design that will cater for you on a minimal footprint during the week but the can turn into a dinner party extraordinaire come the weekend," says de Ruiter.  The Scandinavian-inspired, mid-century modern look continues to be a key interiors trend.  Key characteristics of the much-loved timeless look include low-sitting designs, clean lines and classic appeal, which helps to create the illusion of a much larger room.  Opting for skinny framed or glass furniture allows all-important daylight to flow right through a room, while heavier set furniture can block out the light, punctuating a room.  Light woods, colours and metallic surfaces all help to reflect light, which opens up a room and adds a more spacious feel.  Mirrors add light to a room and make spaces look brighter and wider, so be sure to place them opposite a window to make the most of the reflections to brighten a naturally dark room.  Place your mirror strategically to act as a statement centrepiece, deflect sight lines from crowded areas or opposite windows to brighten a dingy area, suggests de Ruiter.  Make the use of height to free up the floor space in open-plan spaces to eliminate clutter.  Put the belongings you don't use to often at the top of a cabinet with the everyday items more easy to reach at the bottom.  "Vertical lines are a fundamental part of giving your space a sense of height. By using a linear wallpaper print or adding a tall lamp or lengthy mirror, you’re diverting your sight line away from the main body of the room to the emptier heights of the ceiling," says de Ruiter.  "Look for tall multi-functional furniture designs that incorporate multiple levels of shelving upwards, allowing the floor to remain clear and appear larger to the eye."  Scroll through our gallery above to see the right furniture to help make the most of your compact home...


eveningstandard--2019-04-11--How to choose the right rug for a room according to interiors experts

The simple addition of a rug can bring colour, warmth and style to a room, completely switching it up.  They work particularly well with a wooden floor, offering a fast way to make the space feel cosy.  Use rugs to express your creativity – and don’t be afraid to layer them up and let the colours contrast, or even clash.  First you need to look at the arrangement of your room and decide whether you would like the rug to go under furniture or in the middle of the space, as a statement.  "When shopping for a rug it's really important to consider the location of where it will be placed and, therefore, its suitability for the area,” says Charlotte Archer-Tozer, furnishing accessories buyer at John Lewis.  “If you place the rug in a hallway with high traffic, we would suggest a robust solution. Flat woven options work well in this type of setting, particularly in natural wool or cotton.”  This woven rug from Homesense, pictured above, priced £49.99, will be hardwearing, making it a great option for a room that sees a lot of people come and go – such as a conservatory.  A vintage Persian-inspired rug might get all the likes on Instagram but the chances are it won't keep its stylish looks for very long in a busy home. The ideal rug has to work hard for you.  "For all-round use in living spaces, wool is a wise choice as it’s pretty durable and can be cleaned well,” advises Simon Goff, director of specialist maker Floor Story.  "For family homes, more delicate fibres such as silk and cotton should probably be treated with extra care, at least in a dominant blend, as they can be tougher to clean."  Inspired by the work of iconic film-maker Wes Anderson, this leopard print rug from Floor Story, priced from £1,650, is made from wool and bamboo.  A rug should always make a statement — so make sure your choice fills the room.  “Small rugs can look bitty and mean in the wrong space," says Suzanne Sharp, co-founder of The Rug Company.  "Always go for the largest size you can, as it gives a generous, calming effect to the room and will allow you to place furniture such as sofas half on it, giving a wonderfully luxurious and flowing feel to the space.”  This dusty pink rug from West Elm, priced from £499, is big enough to layer, giving your room a unique look.  Scroll through our gallery above and discover how to use rugs to their best effect into your home...


eveningstandard--2019-07-18--Aldi launches two new summer interiors collections at bargain prices

For Aldi fans, the highlight of the weekly shop is a rummage down the coveted middle aisle which is home to the supermarket's 'special buys' section.  This treasure trove of oddities is responsible for many a seasoned shopper emerging from the store with a yoga mat, kettle or even a lawnmower along with the grocery shop.  Now, the supermarket is launching special buys on two homeware ranges in consecutive weeks.  But you'll have to be quick, as once products have sold out, they won't be back.  Launching first is the botanical-inspired collection called Summer Tropics.  Full of bright patterns and tropical prints, the range includes quirky lemon or watermelon doormats, priced from £2.99.  Give your bedroom a seasonal lift with a palm leaf duvet set from the collection, priced from £9.99.  Mint green fitted sheets are priced at £3.99, while matching cushions, priced at £6.99 each, will complete the look.  The Summer Tropics collection will be available in store on July 28, but you can pre-order online from July 21.  This Scandi-inspired collection is perfect for giving your living room a makeover on a budget.  The black grid-style mirror, priced at £49.99, is a clever way to make a room feel bigger as reflected light creates the illusion of more space.  Give your sofa an update with a selection of scatter cushions, available in various shapes and sizes, they are priced at £6.99 each.  For those who struggle to keep houseplants alive, faux succulents can be bought for £12.99. A simple way to start your own plant family.  Finally, the grey geometric bean cube can be used as a stool or a footrest, priced at just £29.99.  The collection is available online from July 28 but you'll have to wait until August 1 to buy it in store.;  Scroll though our gallery above to see more of both the ranges...


eveningstandard--2019-08-15--Best unusual table lamps 20 statement table lamps that will transform your home interior

Best unusual table lamps: 20 statement table lamps that will transform your home interior

Whether you rent or own, expressing your personality through décor is the quickest route to make a space yours.  Wallpapering or painting walls can be costly and messy, and it could mean breaching your tenancy agreement, but there are small changes you can make to ensure your haven from the world is the chilled oasis you want it to be.  Lighting can change the mood of a room in a flash, transforming it from brashly lit to a space bathed in an inviting glow. It’s worth the investment even if you rent, because a bare ceiling bulb is never en vogue.  But shopping for a lighting needn’t be a chore. There are plenty of fun designs out there that promise to inject some character into your space.  From quietly quirky to works of art that just so happen to come with a lightbulb, we’ve rounded up the best table lamps to light up your life and your home.  From blow the budget to bargain, here’s our edit of the best statement table lamps.  House of Hackney is full of so many incredible homeware pieces it can be difficult to decide just where to splurge.  Thankfully this dino statement lamp has made things a little clearer because since we spotted it, it's shot straight to the top of our shopping lists.  The base and shade are also available to buy separately too.  Merve can do no wrong when it comes to creating fantastically original, forever interesting and downright beautiful designs. The Min Lilla Viking 2 Lamp with brass horns and Carrara marble still tops our forever wish list.  New to 2019, the Minos lamp is a playful lesson in texture and shape which pulls inspiration from composites of the 1970s.  Made with Kvadrat 100 per cent mohair dark green upholstery, polished brass and green-beige terrazzo — it's a real conversation starter.  This gorgeous coloured glass lamp by designer Jordi Canudas is an art object in its own right. It's a good story too — the ombré concept was created through an experiment of dipping lit bulbs into paint.  Similarly, each sphere is hand dipped meaning each lamp is entirely unique. Available in two sizes (H22 or H54) and in multiple colours.  Also available at  Bring a smile to your face every day with this genius lamp from cool Italian design house Seletti. The incredibly life-like peeled banana design illuminates from within the fruit and is kept propped up by the peel.  Super stylish, it’s a pop-art inspired design that wouldn’t look out of place in an art gallery.  If you’ve got cash to splash in the homewares department, this is one way you can funnel it.  L’Objet is an ultra-luxe interiors brand, bringing shoppers unique pieces with a strong design aesthetic. This brass legged table lamp is textbook.  From jewellery to homewares, outer space appears to be a prevailing design inspiration for 2019. Brighten up your rooms with Tom Dixon’s stellar table lamp, which looks like Saturn turned on an axis.  Designed with glass and brass-plated steel, it’s an elegant piece that will prove to be a real conversation starter. We’ve started calling it abstract celestial.  A brand for the boldly eccentric, Abigail Ahern’s line of homewares are a complete joy to own. Each piece makes a statement and instantly becomes the focus of a room – perfect for those who want the designer look without the time and expense.  The designer’s collection of lamps follow an animal kingdom theme that wouldn’t look out of place in Phileas Fogg's living room. The bases are covered in soft felt and in the shape of a variety of creatures, from hares to ravens.  We like the look of this gorilla table lamp best; in a rich orange hue, he instantly commands the respect of any room. Comes with a matching orange lampshade.  How does the lion sleep tonight? Pretty stylishly in Rory's case. We're into this brass covered resin lamp from John Lewis, which comes with a shade included. Get a pair to set up either side of your bed frame for regal bedtime vibes.  Comes with a five year guarantee.  This cheeky brass monkey won’t fail to bring a bit of mischievous character to your space. The bulb is not included but you can pick up a suitable one from Oliver Bonas here.  Get Soho House-like interiors for less at... Matalan. Some pieces in the budget retailer's homewares section look like they would go for triple the price tag elsewhere, meaning you can get an ultra luxe look that won't break the bank.  This blush fringed lamp will bring 50s red carpet glamour to your bedroom or an after-hours members club vibe to your sitting room.  Bringing new heights to great design, this piece is part table lamp, part art piece.  The light comes from the underside of the stairs, and you can move the magnetic man figure up and down the staircase as your mood suits. An inspiring piece for a home office or study.  Sometimes the smallest design details have the biggest impact. This MADE design looks like a garden variety lamp... until your eyes reach the base where instead of a boring stand, a pair of flamingo legs come peeking out. Delightful, without being OTT.  Made from ceramic fashioned into a pagoda-style house, this cute lamp is classic Oliver Bonas; cheerful, quirky and super Instagrammable. There’s no lampshade frame, so we would set this somewhere that needs a lot of light, such as a dressing table or hallway.  Made with a white base and white lampshade, display this cute pooch in an unexpected corner and watch visitors do a double take.  Bring nature's beauty indoors with this orb-like lamp that encases delicate metal flowers and stems. When illuminated it throws botanical shadows around the room.  Brilliant and bonkers in equal measure, this croissant lamp takes the biscuit. The wireless light is battery operated (requires one AA, included) and gives a warm, just-baked glow for up to 50 hours.  Sure to get the green light from industrial chic enthusiasts, this stripped back lamp is about as rough and ready as it gets. Position near an exposed brick wall and soften with plenty of house plants.  With its band of faceted glass beads and contemporary design, this lamp would suit anyone with futuristic design leanings.  It's a three stage touch dimmer so you can adjust the lighting to suit your needs and it's powered with LED, which lasts up to ten times longer than a traditional bulb, so it's a money-saver too. Talk about a bright idea.  Designed exclusively for Habitat, this sculptural metal lamp is both elegant and unforgettable. Available in three sizes and various finishes.  A kitsch pineapple lamp is all you need to bring tropical vibes to your space, handy for when you want to pretend you're on a sunny island instead of rainy Clapham.  Switch on the sunshine with this lamp from the Lighting Superstore, which comes with lampshade included.  ESBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing.  Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter


eveningstandard--2019-08-19--Interiors expert Sophie Robinson's top tips on designing a home office

With space at such a premium in our homes it can feel decadent to relinquish an entire room for use as an office yet, with calls for flexible working gaining momentum, it's wise to carve out an area in the home where you can be your most productive.  Flexible working is predicted to contribute a £148 billion boost to the UK economy by 2030, highlighted by campaigns such as #FlexAppeal founded by Anna Whitehouse (@MotherPukka), and increasing numbers of us are feeling encouraged to swap commutes and desks under strip lighting for creative corners out of the office.  Do you convert the tiny box room into a study, or is it more useful to have a day bed in there for guests?  Should you install a fixed workspace in a disused corner, or are you more creative on the move: in different rooms at different times of the day?  "Home offices are still popular. However, there is a growing trend for spaces within the home to be multifunctional," says Nicola Keenan, co-founder of London-based design studio Boxx Creative. “The way people are working from home is changing and they are becoming more creative with how they use their space."  Interior designer and TV presenter Sophie Robinson recently designed her dream home office in one of the London Eye pods, in partnership with freelance networking platform Fiverr. After 15 years of working freelance, says Robinson, "it's really important for me to be in a space that helps me feel focused, energised and innovative. Your office space should feel as well-designed and colourful as any room in your home."  Flexible furniture experts and flat-pack pioneer, IKEA, has seen a rise in demand for ergonomically designed office chairs and dual-function sit/standing desks in recent years.  “Flexible workspaces are on the rise and people are now searching for storage that offers both dual functionality and mobility," says IKEA UK and Ireland home office sales leader, Evanthia Nikoglou.  So whether you're looking to transform an entire room, or need to carve out a corner where you can be your most creative, it's important to spend time getting the design right for you and your way of working.  Sophie Robinson's six top tips on designing your perfect home-working space  Nobody feels creative when they’re sitting in the dark! Getting as much natural light as you can is crucial to feeling like you’re wide awake and ready to take on the day’s challenges.  It boosts vitamin D production in your body and helps your natural rhythm keep in sync, which is especially important for those of us who spend a lot of time flexi-working around the clock.  If you can, try to place your work desk near a window. Even if it’s just a garden or a window box - a view that stretches out further than three feet in front of your face will give you something to look at and feel inspired by when you’re trying to hit that creative peak.  Most of us now spend the vast majority of our working days staring at a screen but this short-range vision isn’t conducive to creative thinking.  As it’s important to have a break from the constant screen time, a great way to do that is to fill your workspace walls with pictures, visual ideas, mood boards, even artwork.  Placing something into your environment that has real physical presence can make a real difference to your day, to your mood and your productivity. Use images to represent your goals, as we respond to pictures more powerfully than the written word.  Biophilia is the scientific name for the love and connection we humans have for the natural world and is being implemented in the way we design our workspaces, as it’s scientifically proven to reduce stress and enhance productivity.  You can easily add the feel-good vibes by adding living plants and flowers to your desk and choosing natural materials like wood and stone to furnish your space.  It’s important to recognise that if you’re a home worker or freelancer, you’ll be spending a pretty large proportion of your day in your workspace.  Invest some time, and even money, into making it as interesting and useful as it can possibly be That means getting yourself a comfy chair, organising your space so you have plenty of storage to keep the clutter out of sight, and having an inspiring view and/or a visualisation wall.  When I’m working at home I’ll often go from the desk to the sofa, to the kitchen table, and back again, all in search of a creative spark or feeling energised.  Try to build as much opportunity for movement into your workspace, so that you’ll have the chance to freshen up your perspective when you’re hard at work. Movement has been proven to enhance our wellbeing, stress levels and improve our productivity.  If all else fails, my most useful work hack is to take off my shoes and socks and go for a short walk on the grass. Then I come back to my desk and nail it