Interiors: The God of small things

Sibella Court's extraordinary home is filled with the sort of curiosities most of us would stuff in a drawer: vintage photographs, scraps of fabric, old light switches, matchbooks, shells. She collects objects on her travels, keeps mementoes from special occasions and scours junk shops. Then, like a museum curator, she displays them in much the same way the rest of us do a new Habitat lamp or Ikea cushion. "Think of all the stuff you own that has emotional or historical significance," says Court, a stylist and designer. "It's just a matter of finding ways to incorporate them into your surroundings. This means you'll end up with a home that's distinctly yours, and not just a replica of a homewares catalogue." Aside from personalising a space, this approach is a cheap, flexible way of transforming your home. "Rooms should evolve to suit your mood or current obsessions," Court says. Her advice? Look for vintage hardware – hooks and nails, say – and you'll find distinct shapes that are no longer available and that will bring a certain authenticity to your home. Visit thrift shops and markets. And always take a camera on your shopping trips. • Etcetera, by Sibella Court, is published by Murdoch Books at £20. To order a copy for £15.99 (inc UK p&p), go to guardian.co.uk/bookshop or call 0330 333 6846.