Not everything means something – several of the items are just pieces that I liked the colour or shape of – but in a home that I don’t own and can’t decorate to feel like mine, it’s important to feel cushioned by good memories, especially in times when you might be unsettled. Two other things to consider – especially with shelves but the same applies to any surface – are negative space (give your books and objects breathing room or they’ll look crammed in) and height variation. Personally, I want the objects around me to mean something, because that’s what makes a place feel like home.