Breadcrumbs ![Jojo Barr Talks Her New Book, The Art Of Layering & More](https://media.sheerluxe.com/kLn2y-xIFAubFKSQ-InxMMBhW48=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Fsl-site-assets-250926-thumb-hero-jojo-barr-book-extract-layered-living-rooms.jpg) Photography: Joey Kendal Brown, House Nine Design [Interior Design](/home/interior-design) / 25 September 2026 # Jojo Barr Talks Her New Book, The Art Of Layering & More We’re excited to welcome interior designer and House Nine founder Jojo Barr as our new interiors contributor – and she’s also just released ‘No Place Like Home’, a guide to creating a home that feels truly your own. In this exclusive extract, Jojo shares her tips for layering up your space and making it all the more inviting… ByGeorgina Blaskey / [ Save To My Favourites ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/54214) Photography: Joey Kendal Brown, House Nine Design All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however we may make commission on some products. [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/IZb5Z0qiyc0ACud5yEQ_p0YmEhc=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Funtitled-1_9.jpg) ](https://www.housenine.co.uk/) **A home without layers is like a flat white with no velvety top** – fine, but missing the “Mmmmm”. A room needs depth, softness, contrast – the things that make you want to reach out and touch. Layering is what turns a good room into a great one. It’s what makes a house feel lived in, not just looked at. **People always ask me what makes a room feel like House Nine.** I talk about proportion, light, and flow – but really, it’s the throw that does it. And the baskets, of course. And the cushions. And the books and the candles and the pots of all different shapes, ages, and sizes. Layering is our secret sauce. It’s what makes a home feel warm, tactile, and just the right side of imperfect. A room needs depth, softness, contrast – the things that MAKE YOU WANT TO REACH OUT AND TOUCH. **Layering is what draws you to sink into a sofa rather than just admire it.** It’s the weight of a linen throw at the end of the bed, the softness of a couple of velvet cushions, or a stack of books with a trinket dish and a candle on top. I like to think it’s what we’re known for at [House Nine](https://www.housenine.co.uk/) – those extra touches that create familiarity and soul and make a home feel not just lived in, but unique. I love to create rooms where you can’t quite put your finger on why it feels so inviting; you just know you don’t want to leave. [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/Yx_BZOHJAR7nc_75I-WMxawEeY8=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Ffull-bleed.jpg) ](https://www.housenine.co.uk/) **The living room wears a lot of hats.** It’s where we rest, socialise, watch TV and play with the kids – sometimes all at once. It needs to feel relaxed enough to kick your shoes off, but still put together for our own sanity – or when someone unexpectedly drops by. That’s where layering earns its keep. **Start with the big pieces.** Think about your furniture first – the sofa, the armchairs, and the coffee table. These are your anchors, so remember, we want these to feel balanced in the space to ensure the scale works. A room instantly feels off if everything sits to one side or the rug is the wrong size. (Pro tip: rugs should always be large enough to let at least the front legs of your furniture sit on them – it grounds the space and makes it feel pulled together.) **Once the main furniture feels right, move on to your objects.** Look at your largest decorative pieces – books, trays, baskets – and work your way down in scale. Spread the weight around the room so the eye moves evenly. If all your darker or heavier items sit in one corner, the room will feel lopsided. Disperse them, then fill the gaps with smaller, lighter touches: a stack of books, a bowl, a favourite find. Build slowly, one layer at a time. And if it doesn’t feel right, strip it back and start again. Don’t panic, it’s not surgery – just shuffle until it feels balanced. Harsh overhead lighting kills a mood faster than you can say dimmer switch. KEEP IT LOW, WARM AND INVITING. **Lighting is another layer entirely.** A good living room needs more than one source – a mix of table lamps, floor lamps, wall lights, and a pendant overhead. This creates depth and atmosphere. Harsh overhead lighting kills a mood faster than you can say “dimmer switch”. Keep it low, warm, and inviting. A coffee table tray is my best friend in living-room design. In fact, I’d challenge you to find a project of mine that doesn’t have one. It’s the ultimate grounding piece, an organic texture that pulls everything together and makes sense of the surface chaos. It gives shape to the sprawl, so you can pile on the good stuff – books, bowls, candles, flowers. It’s the stylish version of a landing pad, and once you’ve used one, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/L4Pq2mD_91ZX-busFs0pFxx52SI=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Fyork-house-1.jpg) ](https://www.housenine.co.uk/) [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/JBUX5eHsNEFjhiznqa3Rx1MFpHw=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Fhastings-house.jpg) ](https://www.housenine.co.uk/) **Let’s talk baskets – the unsung heroes of real life.** A log basket beside the fireplace instantly softens all those hard edges, and if you have kids, extra baskets are non-negotiable. They’re where the toys disappear to when you’re too tired to care where anything goes. Just keep your textures consistent – if your palette is warm and biscuit-toned, stick with natural fibres. A random grey basket will throw off the whole balance. **Finally, keep mantles and windowsills clear of mini mountains of tiny trinkets and photo frames.** A pair of candlesticks is plenty. Layering isn’t about excess; it’s about balance – areas of richness offset by moments of quiet where the eyes can rest. A well-layered living room should look lived-in but considered – comfortable, collected, and quietly under control. *All images are* [*House Nine Design*](https://www.housenine.co.uk/) *& photographed by* [*Joey Kendal Brown*](https://www.joeykendalbrown.com/)*.* --- ## *Get Started With Jojo’s Favourite Products…* ![No Place Like Home from Nine & Found](https://media.sheerluxe.com/BHxx50PZnd3KhxDiXRXNwbhB8Dc=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Fnine-found-no-place-like-home-book.jpg) [#### No Place Like Home](https://www.nineandfound.com/products/no-place-like-home-book) ##### Nine & Found, £30 [ Flag this item ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/54214 "Add product to my favourites") ![Wild Berry & Bramble Townhouse Candle from Jo Malone London](https://media.sheerluxe.com/u5Dhcx64w-jvwxnrMGoDbD0fiW0=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Fjo-malone-london-townhouse-candle.jpg) [#### Wild Berry & Bramble Townhouse Candle](https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=etT1jgERWYw&mid=42168&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jomalone.co.uk%2Fproduct%2F27211%2F80698%2Fhome-collection%2Ftownhouse-collection%2Fwild-berry-bramble-townhouse-candle%3F) ##### Jo Malone London, £105 [ Flag this item ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/54214 "Add product to my favourites") ![Big Fringed Linen Cushion from Nine & Found](https://media.sheerluxe.com/r_iS8Mp8wS5CcWmHk_4bRhhWH24=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Fnine-found-big-fringed-linen-coushion.jpg) [#### Big Fringed Linen Cushion](https://www.nineandfound.com/products/big-fringed-linen-cushion-stone) ##### Nine & Found, £135 [ Flag this item ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/54214 "Add product to my favourites") ![The Embroidered Cotton Lampshade from Imogen Pope London](https://media.sheerluxe.com/n-hoVn5SEl_LOUDLTPg47UHQ18Y=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Fimogenpope-london-lamp-shade.jpg) [#### The Embroidered Cotton Lampshade](https://imogenpopelondon.com/products/the-embroidered-cotton-in-chestnut) ##### Imogen Pope London, £110 [ Flag this item ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/54214 "Add product to my favourites") ![Rupert Velvet Armchair from Oka](https://media.sheerluxe.com/oglYzMQNk6hRXYwtBQj-s4aW19Y=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Frupert-velvet-armchair-oka.jpg) [#### Rupert Velvet Armchair](https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=etT1jgERWYw&mid=46541&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.oka.com%2Fproducts%2Frupert-armchair-fawn) ##### Oka, £836 *(was £1,195)* [ Flag this item ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/54214 "Add product to my favourites") ![Set Of 4 Keso Woven Coasters from Nkuku](https://media.sheerluxe.com/pcvfq53YbfekndplPeemIEQsKOs=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Fnkuku-keso-woven-coasters.jpg) [#### Set Of 4 Keso Woven Coasters](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=18225&awinaffid=69421&platform=dl&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nkuku.com%2Fproducts%2Fkeso-woven-coasters-natural-set-of-4-kc80) ##### Nkuku, £25 [ Flag this item ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/54214 "Add product to my favourites") ![The Stripe Ottoman from Nine & Found](https://media.sheerluxe.com/827j92CmeCoF37Rd9pE6t09QMLI=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Fnine-found-ottoman.jpg) [#### The Stripe Ottoman](https://www.nineandfound.com/products/the-stripe-ottoman) ##### Nine & Found, £2,000 [ Flag this item ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/54214 "Add product to my favourites") ![The Tuscan Petite Pot from Gathered Living](https://media.sheerluxe.com/s8F6WIJMOBuA8RgwvCAY9rEyRgw=/600x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Fgathered-living-tuscan-pot.jpg) [#### The Tuscan Petite Pot](https://gathered-living.com/collections/pots-planters-vases/products/the-tuscan-petite-pot) ##### Gathered Living, £29.95 [ Flag this item ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/54214 "Add product to my favourites") ![Everyday Throw from Nine & Found](https://media.sheerluxe.com/WJeATSzUMdb8-NB4GhrjWsAcLc4=/600x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Fnine-found-everyday-throw.jpg) [#### Everyday Throw](https://www.nineandfound.com/products/everyday-throw) ##### Nine & Found, £80 [ Flag this item ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/54214 "Add product to my favourites") ![Porcelain II E27 LED Bulb from Tala](https://media.sheerluxe.com/x0KnLw_Ek9LIX5r7srB7Z0sdAHo=/600x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Ftala-porcelain-ii-e27-bulbs.jpg) [#### Porcelain II E27 LED Bulb](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=26867&awinaffid=69421&ued=https%3A%2F%2Ftala.co.uk%2Fproducts%2Fporcelain-ii-e27-led-bulb) ##### Tala, £27 [ Flag this item ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/54214 "Add product to my favourites") ![Wilma Wool Rug from Rowen & Wren](https://media.sheerluxe.com/kiUc3PnM-QtmAwDi9GSNcaaAQCA=/600x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Frowen-wren-wilma-wool-rug.jpg) [#### Wilma Wool Rug](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=52737&awinaffid=69421&platform=dl&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rowenandwren.co.uk%2Fproducts%2Fwilma-wool-rug) ##### Rowen & Wren, £468 [ Flag this item ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/54214 "Add product to my favourites") ![The Café Curtain from Baywell](https://media.sheerluxe.com/1O0HGHW7WhWjhsOy5hIuPnIqTQQ=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Fthe-cafe-cutrain-baywell.jpg) [#### The Café Curtain](https://www.baywellstudio.co.uk/products/cafe-curtain) ##### Baywell, Price On Enquiry [ Flag this item ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/54214 "Add product to my favourites") ![Burnt Bamboo Short Rechargeable Lamp from Mrs. Alice](https://media.sheerluxe.com/i6hvxvc6sLfju_E_EQuRyMSaIfM=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Fmrs-alice-burnt-bamboo-short-rechargeable-lamp.jpg) [#### Burnt Bamboo Short Rechargeable Lamp](https://www.mrsalice.com/products/short-burnt-bamboo-rechargeable-lamp-with-chocolate-lotus-shade-18cm) ##### Mrs. Alice, £108 [ Flag this item ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/54214 "Add product to my favourites") ![The Camille Collection from Nine & Found](https://media.sheerluxe.com/MGT-hPbqFJLJlPnDj7AZgSjt4II=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Fnine-found-antique-collection.jpg) [#### The Camille Collection](https://www.nineandfound.com/products/the-camille-collection) ##### Nine & Found, £200 [ Flag this item ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/54214 "Add product to my favourites") ![The Henley Basket from Nine & Found](https://media.sheerluxe.com/Q9oNEbWrjR9SZ9CxC5SOQspzVBE=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Fnine-found-the-henley-basket.jpg) [#### The Henley Basket](https://www.nineandfound.com/products/round-braised) ##### Nine & Found, £145 [ Flag this item ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/54214 "Add product to my favourites") ![Beaded Dinner Candle Holder from The White Company](https://media.sheerluxe.com/SZBeHCiWPp0oOZh7I2VGm1NnSuc=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F09%2Fwhite-company-candlesticks.jpg) [#### Beaded Dinner Candle Holder](https://thewhitecompany.sjv.io/zzm3KW) ##### The White Company, £25 [ Flag this item ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/54214 "Add product to my favourites") [ Sign in to comment with your SheerLuxe profile ](/user/login?destination=)Or continue to comment as a Guest below [View the discussion thread.](http://sheerluxe-dev.disqus.com/) *more from* Home [View All Home](/home) ![12 Small Lifestyle Brands To Know ](https://media.sheerluxe.com/huskCk26PEQ5Fw8TAXcfAKaby8Y=/200x267/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F07%2Fsl-gold-200726-site-assets-small-brands-hero-thumb.jpg) [Home](/gold/home)/ 20 July 2026 [## 12 Small Lifestyle Brands To Know ](/home/12-small-lifestyle-brands-to-know) ![What’s New In Interiors 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