Christopher Horwood
Buyers’ remorse is an uncomfortable feeling. It’s never pleasant when you’re sitting on your sofa, looking up at the painting you spent quite a bit of money on, wondering why on earth you purchased it, or when you’re walking down the corridor, asking yourselves why you bought that runner that is slightly too narrow and too short for the space. So in pursuit of good purchases and the avoidance of remorse, we asked four interior designers what lovely items they have brought into their houses that have been transformational to help guide you to goodness. Read on to discover their best buys of 2025.
Sally Wilkinson
I bought a Lucy Cope glass lamp in the summer on a bit of a whim, but it quickly became one of my favourite things in our home. It has that perfect balance of traditional and modern, which is surprisingly hard to find. In our bedroom, it adds a subtle dressiness and feminine softness, without feeling fussy. I also love that it is crafted in the UK and truly one of a kind, it makes the whole piece feel that little bit more special.
Victoria Von Westenholz
Yes, I bought one of these dog bowls and I simply love it. It’s made so beautifully and really tarts up the dog area of the kitchen. Also the perfect colours. Even the writing is hand built clay!
Striped Personalised Dog Bowl
Joanna Plant
My best purchase of the year is my huge Smythsons W1 diary which I cannot live without. I have one on my desk year after year and it helps me organise my entire life. Try as I might to modernise, in this instance I remain resolutely analogue and much prefer a physical diary for my appointments and daily to do lists. I love the pale blue Nile paper and the idiosynchratic lists at the front and the day-per-page layout gives me enough room to get all my ducks in a row. I’ve converted both my sons too who have the tiny wafer diary that fits in the back pocket, making the next generation of dye hard pen-to-paper enthusiasts.
Holly Vaughan, Vaughan Design
This basket is enormous and has been incredible at housing all of my kids’ soft toys- it can fit hundreds in! It’s aesthetically pleasing, and the shape is long and slim rather than round so it’s really handy for the quirky shapes of the spaces in our old country cottage. The ever-growing collection of squish mallows was driving me crazy, and I’m so happy they are now out of my site and in this lovely basket! This was a planned buy after trawling lots of places for a flexible piece of storage for my son’s bedroom.
After so much deliberation I treated myself to this rug for our cosy snug. This was something I had been planning for quite a while; we source a lot of rugs for clients and it’s not often that one ticks all the boxes for me.  I visited their shop in West London, and was instantly struck by the colour way and pattern of the ‘Pickle’ colour of this rug. It’s an investment, but it’s a good shade for hiding sins (we have kids and a dog!) and as it’s a flatweave rug it is very hardwearing.