Mixing Patterns and Textures: The Colour Science That Makes a Clash Look Deliberate
A study of 992 colour pairings, plus 7 practical rules, shows how to wear stripes, florals and knits together without looking lost.
Style & Living
Style, home and the small rituals that shape how we live.
The Average UK Wardrobe Hides 31 Unworn Items. A Smaller Set of Basics Costs Less
Clothes are worn 36% less than 15 years ago. Here is how a few well-fitting basics cut the cost of every wear, and the morning faff.
Seven Steps to a Capsule Wardrobe You’ll Actually Keep, Starting With a 30-Day Trial
It began in a 1970s London boutique. Seven steps and one 30-day trial turn it from a Pinterest board into a habit you keep.
One Sniff Can Take You Back 60 Years. Science Says Your Nose Keeps the Oldest Memories
In one study, smells sent people aged 65 to 83 back to ages 6 to 10, years earlier than words could reach. Here’s how to use that at home.
Houseplants Won’t Clean Your Air, but They Might Still Be Good for You
A famous NASA study made houseplants into air purifiers. The maths says otherwise, yet the research on mood and focus tells a kinder story.
Does Your Wall Colour Change Your Mood? The Strange Story of ‘Drunk Tank Pink’
A pink prison cell, a famous red-versus-blue study and a paint chart full of promises. What colour science can and cannot tell you before you redecorate.
Does a Cluttered Home Make You Stressed? A Room-by-Room Look at the Science
From the hallway to the desk, what researchers have actually found about clutter, cortisol, snacking and sleep, and where the evidence runs thin.
Does Wearing Red Make You More Attractive? The Rise and Fall of the Red Effect
In 2008, psychologists said red made women more attractive to men. Then the replications came in. Here is what survived, and what to wear on a date.
The Messy Desk Myth: What Really Happened When Scientists Tested Clutter and Creativity
A famous study said a messy room makes you more creative. A larger replication, a crisis in psychology and a misattributed Einstein quote tell a different story.