Decorating doesn't have to be an entirely sober proposition. A number of designers use witty techniques to inject a bit of humour into their creations.
London-based Thorsten van Elten (
www.thorstenvanelten.com) offers several items with a quirky touch. Caffeine addicts should enjoy Qoffee, an oversized plastic version of a takeaway coffee cup designed by Rainer Spehl. Available in white, beige, dark grey or orange, it can be used as a stool or a storage bin and sells for GBP55 ($750). Another entertaining item is Gavin Coultrip's Innervision, a mirror printed with eyechart-style lettering spelling out your choice of Oscar Wilde quotations: 'It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances' or 'To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance' (GBP45).