The last word

At ELLE Decoration we’re all self-confessed interiors fiends. Here, we reveal our current home obsessions, plus the products and projects we’ve been testing and tackling this month

Projects and products that #Teamed have been tackling and testing this month

Panelling is one of the big trends for 2017. Deputy Art Director Philippe Blanchin tells us how he mastered the art at home

I love a good DIY project, and this year I stretched my self-taught skills to their limit by panelling a bedroom. Panelling is a great way to create interest and detail in a room. The bedroom in question is quite a large space in a Victorian farmhouse, and I decided to panel it to create a cosy feel in keeping with the house’s history. I started by fixing an MDF backboard to the wall, then worked out the design I wanted to apply on top. I had seen this design in a lookbook and thought it looked simple and achievable. The time-consuming part was the filling and sanding between joins once all the planks had been fixed to the backboard, but I wanted a good finish, so it was worth getting it right. I’m really happy with the final result: it’s enhanced by the geometric wallpaper.

TERRARIUM TIPS

Three lessons #Teamed learned during a terrarium workshop with Grace & Thorn ( graceandthorn.com) Layering is key Add pebbles, soil and moss (in that order!) to create an eye-catching pattern. Make room for succulents They need space to grow and enough depth for the roots to take hold. Finish carefully Use a paintbrush to dust the inside edges for a neat result.

Deputy Editor Ben Spriggs has been trialling Samsung’s ‘Serif ’ TV this month, and he’s smitten

Proof that not all technology is ugly, the ‘Serif’, created by French designers the Bouroullec brothers, transforms the humble gogglebox into a beautiful piece of furniture with slim legs and an integrated shelf on top – it’s a TV that you’d be proud to have on display.

Updating an old piece of furniture can be a big task. Managing Editor Debbie Black has a shortcut…

‘When I decided to paint my old sideboard I was dreading the sanding and priming, but Annie Sloan chalk paint can be applied straight to the wood. Great coverage and the perfect colour.’