Decoration
The Grown-Up Halloween: Decorating for October Without It Looking Cheap
A guide to decorating for October: a two-colour palette, candles at three heights, and pieces that still look right on November 1.
Sep 16, 2026·7 min
D
Daisy Qiu
Daisy Qiu is an interior designer at IKEA and a graduate of Salt Lake Community College's interior design program. She writes LivingFinds' room guides, styling features, and buying guides. Views here are her own, not IKEA's.
Articles by Daisy Qiu
Room Guides
What Size Rug for a Living Room: The Designer Rules
The rug size rules designers actually use — 8x10 vs 9x12, the sofa math, dining chair clearance, and the 6-18 inch border. With size charts.
Sep 12, 2026·11 min
Decoration
How to Style a Coffee Table: A Designer's Formula
How to style a coffee table like a designer — the rule of three, the tray-and-books formula, height and negative-space rules, plus a video walkthrough.
Aug 4, 2026·7 min
Decoration
How to Hang Curtains: The High-and-Wide Rule Designers Swear By
How to hang curtains like a designer — the high-and-wide rule, exact rod height and width, the fullness formula, and float vs. kiss vs. puddle length.
Jul 8, 2026·7 min
Decoration
How to Hang a Gallery Wall: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to hang a gallery wall without guesswork — the paper-template method, exact spacing and height, layout tips, and a video walkthrough.
Jul 1, 2026·8 min
Sustainable Living
Best Non-Toxic & Washable Rugs for 2026
The best non-toxic and washable rugs of 2026 — natural fibres, OEKO-TEX dyes, no off-gassing latex backing — compared by material, safety, and price.
Jun 27, 2026·9 min
Sustainable Living
Best Organic & Non-Toxic Mattresses for 2026
The best organic and non-toxic mattresses of 2026 — GOTS/GOLS-certified latex, no flame retardants — compared on materials, certifications, and price.
Jun 16, 2026·10 min
Sustainable Living
Best Sustainable & Non-Toxic Bedroom Furniture 2026
The best sustainable, non-toxic beds, dressers, and nightstands of 2026 — solid FSC wood, zero-VOC finishes, and brands with real certifications.
May 27, 2026·6 min
Decoration
How to Choose and Style a Decorative Throw in 2026
How to choose and style decorative throws in 2026 — the best materials, the warm colours that work, and where to drape them for real impact.
May 27, 2026·5 min
Sustainable Living
10 Best Non-Toxic & Sustainable Sofa Brands 2026
The 10 best non-toxic sofa and couch brands of 2026 — FSC frames, organic latex, PFAS-free fabrics. Every certification checked against its issuing register.
May 27, 2026·11 min
Room Guides
Home Office Design That Works in 2026
Layout, ergonomics, hidden tech, and the materials that turn any space — full room, corner nook, or closet — into a focused home office.
May 21, 2026·10 min
Interior Design
How to Style Curved Furniture at Home
Curved furniture is 2026's defining shape. Here's how to style rounded sofas, tables, and chairs room by room.
Mar 29, 2026·8 min
Sustainable Living
6 Best Non-Toxic & Sustainable Furniture Brands 2026
The 6 best non-toxic and sustainable furniture brands of 2026, vetted on materials, certifications, and durability — not marketing claims.
Mar 29, 2026·9 min
Room Guides
Small Space Living: How to Maximize Every Square Foot
Living in a compact home doesn't mean sacrificing style. These space-planning strategies help you make every square foot work harder.
Mar 29, 2026·7 min
Decoration
How to Design an Outdoor Living Room That Lasts
Weatherproof furniture and fabrics, outdoor power done safely, and the fire-code distances for fire pits: an outdoor living room built to last.
Mar 29, 2026·7 min
Trends
Modern Tuscan: Why Warm Mediterranean Design Is Everywhere in 2026
Modern Tuscan takes the warmth, texture, and earthiness of Mediterranean homes and updates them for contemporary living. Here's how to get the look right.
Mar 29, 2026·7 min
Room Guides
5 Living Room Layouts That Actually Work (With Measurements)
Five living room layouts and the measurements behind them: 36-inch walkways, coffee-table reach, and how far to sit from the TV.
Mar 29, 2026·7 min
Interior Design
The Complete Lighting Guide: How to Layer Ambient, Task, and Accent Light
Good lighting is the most overlooked element in interior design. Learn the three-layer approach that designers use to make every room feel right.
Mar 29, 2026·8 min
Room Guides
Kitchen Styling: Open Shelving vs. Closed Cabinets — The Honest Comparison
Open shelving looks stunning in photos but demands daily discipline. Here's an honest look at both options so you can choose what actually fits your life.
Mar 29, 2026·7 min
Trends
Color Trends 2026: What Designers Are Betting On
From rich terracottas to muted greens, the colour palette for 2026 signals a shift toward warmth, nature, and quiet confidence.
Mar 29, 2026·5 min
Room Guides
How to Design a Bedroom for Better Sleep
Darkness, a room near 65°F, quiet under 30 decibels, and a bed that's still doing its job: the bedroom changes that measurably matter for sleep.
Mar 29, 2026·7 min
Renovation
Bathroom Renovation Guide: Costs, Code Basics, and Where to Spend
What bathroom remodels cost in 2025, what they return at resale, and the code, ventilation, and water rules that shape a layout before style does.
Mar 29, 2026·7 min
Interior Design
Organic Modern Living Room Ideas for 2026
The 2026 take on organic modern living rooms — warm palettes, curved furniture, layered textures, and the rules that actually make it work.
Feb 2, 2026·10 min