24 Whimsical Pieces Our Interiors Editor Is Buying Now While Dreaming of Spring

(Image credit: Future)

Like most of us, I’m sure, I am not January’s biggest fan. It’s the Monday of the year – the month where all I want to do is hibernate, but the world is focused on the fresh start, new year, new you mentality. But each year it feels easier, and each year I find small moments of joy in this dark, long month.

One of those joys comes from switching up my rooms. Post-holidays, I do like a fresh start, and while part of me wants to jump straight to spring and embrace all the fun new trends for 2026, the season isn’t quite ready to give up cozy throws and candles. So this month, I’m mixing the two – bringing in spring-like, fresh colors such as soft blues and yellows, while keeping those dark browns and soft fabrics around for now. And of course, I’m still lighting plenty of candles, but for January I’m done with cinnamon and cloves and instead looking for fresher scents like florals and linens.

Another plus of January is that it’s also when a lot of new collections launch, and we’ve been treated to some amazing ones so far. Of course, Lulu and Georgia has collaborated with designer-of-the-moment Heidi Caillier – my personal favorite designer, as well as Kendall Jenner’s – so naturally, I want everything from that range. We also have both Joanna Gaines’ and Shea McGee’s new spring collections at Target, offering some gorgeous pieces at unbelievable prices. IKEA is also doing wonderful things at the moment, with lots of playful, colorful pieces that are perfect for a dose of dopamine.

Objects of Desire: December

My tree is up, my mantel is decorated, and my diary is filled with delicious festive plans, many of which involve gatherings at my home. So for this month's Objects of Desire, I am all about those elevated accessories that add a touch of glamour.

I much prefer a standing affair in my apartment, with elegantly displayed nibbles on the kitchen counters, but not a formal sit-down dinner. I like having lots of pockets of places for my guests to (comfortably) perch and socialize. So when hosting, I love to create vignettes around my rooms: little moments for guests to linger. Lighting does a lot of the work to create these mini zones, and I move lamps around to create pools of light that invite people towards a cozy corner or a little bistro table.

The more spaces people have to put down a drink, the more opportunities I have to style up a tiny table, a console, or even just a tray. So here I have rounded up my favourite chic glassware and barware, cute napkins, and playful trinkets that give these spots something unexpected. And, yes, there is a lot of silver because if you want to instantly make a space chicer, chrome is the answer.

Objects of Desire: November

Nostalgia is the buzzword right now. But we all know nostalgia isn't something you buy, it's something you feel. Yes, it's something you create, but it's collected over time from pieces you love and that give you joy. Nostalgia is something that has to be earned.

That being said, there are ways I up the nostalgia in my home at this time of year. Little switches I make to bring that joyful, cozy, warm familiar feeling that's so hard to describe. Soft layered lighting; piles of blankets on every chair, sofa, and bed that become portable, moved from room to room; a mismatch of picture frames along the mantel; books stacked on every surface; and trinket dishes to be filled with collected curiosities (one of mine is currently a mix of keys, playing cards, matchboxes and a rogue shell I picked up in the summer – a weird little memory moment in my entryway).

So my Objects of Desire this month are all about creating that lovely cozy, characterful, layered home. New pieces that will work with old, Christmas decor that will spark joy, tableware that's as trendy as it is timeless, and touches that will make your home feel truly lived in.

Objects of Desire is Homes & Gardens’ monthly showcase of the most beautiful, design-forward pieces curated by Head of Interiors, Hebe Hatton. Each installment highlights the decor she’s loving right now – from timeless investment buys to trend-led accents – offering a stylish edit to inspire and elevate every corner of your home.

I am the Head of Interiors at Homes & Gardens. I started off in the world of journalism in fashion and luxury travel and then landed my first interiors role at Real Homes and have been in the world of interior design ever since. Prior to my role at H&G I was the digital editor at Livingetc, from which I took a sabbatical to travel in my self-converted van (not as glamorous as decorating a home, but very satisfying). A year later, and with lots of technical DIY lessons learned I am back to writing and editing, sometimes even from the comfort of my home on wheels.