Life Unstyled: How to embrace imperfection and create a home you love

Thanks to social media, we are bombarded by perfect interiors, images that aren’t attainable because they have been styled to the point where they bear no resemblance to reality. These interiors may be stunning, but they aren’t an honest reflection of how we really live.

Life Unstyled is about taking inspiration from real homes that are beautiful, creative, and inspiring but at the same time a little rough around the edges, with signs of everyday life evident throughout. The first section, Homes Unstyled, sets out Emily's manifesto for creating a stylish home that is beautiful but lived in. A Home is Never Done advocates allowing space to evolve gradually, so it is an ever-changing expression of your tastes and interests. Work with What You’ve Got suggests ways to make the most of the home you have rather than yearning for unattainable perfection. Signs of Life offers ideas for wrangling papers, clutter and other stuff, Creative Clutter tackles collections and displays, while Break the Rules rejects style diktats and shows how individuality can bring a home to life. The second section, ‘People Live Here’, visits real-life homes that may not be Insta-perfect yet display incredible style and creativity and reflect their owners’ needs, tastes, and talents. And throughout the book, quick fixes, DIY makes, and ‘Every Home Should Have…’ boxes offer creative solutions with unique results.

Emily Henson was a display artist and merchandizer for Anthropologie in the US before venturing into styling. Her clients include IKEA, Anthropologie, Primark, and Graham & Green. Emily also hosts talks and workshops on styling, writes a popular blog entitled Life Unstyled, and can be found on Instagram @lifeunstyled. She lives in London with her two children. Emily’s other books are Modern Rustic, Bohemian Modern, and Be Bold (all published by RPS).