You've walked into someone's home and felt it immediately, that sense of ease, of things belonging together. Here's the principle that's almost certainly behind it.

Small London flats are brilliant for location, less brilliant for layout: tight hallways, awkward alcoves, tiny “open-plan” rooms that somehow still feel chopped up. The good news? With smart space planning (and a few current UK small-space trends like multifunctional furniture, built-in storage, and zoned layouts), you can make a compact flat feel calmer, larger, and easier to live in. (John Lewis & Partners)