The Hot List: Five design finds that make things easier

From a multi-tasking charger to the latest in vacuum technology, here are our favourite ways inject some style into your space.

The Perfectly Imperfect Home. Courtesy of Clarkson Potter

Imperfect reading

The Perfectly Imperfect Home: How to Decorate and Live Well by Deborah Needleman is filled with useful essays on topics as wide ranging as A Really Good Sofa, Pretty Table Settings and Cozifications. We love the quirky watercolour illustrations by Virginia Johnson, which help make this a fun and inviting read. Needleman is the editor in chief of WSJ Magazine and creator of the Off Duty section of The Wall Street Journal, and was the founding editor in chief of Domino, so it's little wonder that she's brimming with useful styling tips and handy how-tos.

The Perfectly Imperfect Home: How to Decorate and Live Well is published by Clarkson Potter (US) and Jacqui Small Publishing (UK), and is available on www.amazon.com for $19.23 (Dh71)

Multi purpose

Idapt's universal chargers are capable of charging up to four devices at one time, whether it's smartphones, tablets, laptops or e-books. Brand new to the company's stable of products and due for general release in the next two months is the Idapt S1, a home audio solution that will play your music while charging your devices. A compact speaker offering Stereo 2.0 sound and Bluetooth 2.0 audio is paired with a dual universal docking charger with interchangeable Idapt tips, and an additional built-in USB charging port. Other features include a built-in FM digital tuner and a clock with an alarm function.

Idapt products are available from Virgin stores, Sharaf DG, iStyle, Plug-Ins, Jacky's and The Mobile Co

Pretty in purple

New to the UAE is the Dyson DC41 Animal, a powerful, manoeuverable vacuum that automatically adjusts to any floor surface. Fiddly pedals, awkward dials and unwieldy hose assemblies are a thing of the past with the sleek DC41, which, unlike many of its peers, is also pretty enough to leave lying around.

Dh2,299 from Jumbo Electronics, EMax, Galeries Lafayette and Sharaf DG

Lawn lounging

If you're looking to make an impression at your next shindig, why not enlist the help of Desert River, the Dubai-based event rentals company and sister company to www.filini.com? The company is now the exclusive GCC provider of speciality event furniture by the US-based Cort. New to Desert River's portfolio is the Endless Collection, modular ottomans that can be used to build dramatic sofa, serpentine or circular seating configurations; the Oz Collection, crisp white ultra-soft leather split-back sofas, and Lounge22, a contemporary luxury furniture range that is handcrafted in Los Angeles.

For more information visit www.desertriver.com

True blue

Blue is the key colour of the season, according to the trend forecasting company Scarlet Opus. Lapis lazuli, deep sea shades of ultra and aquamarine, sparkling turquoise, jade and ultraviolet can be employed to create a mysterious, underwater-inspired aesthetic that will keep you feeling fresh through the summer. This hand-printed blue silk cushion is by Thornback & Peel.

£55 (Dh326), www.rume.co.uk