Ruth Sleightholme
Style Director
Ruth joined House & Garden in 2010, having graduated from Newcastle University - where she edited the student magazine and literary review - and after a summer internship at The Week. Rising through the ranks to Style Director, she has been producing and art directing House & Garden’s lead decoration and style photoshoots for over a decade, as well as writing longform articles. Ruth has also worked as a freelance interiors stylist, producing commercial shoots and installations for clients such as Morris & Co, OKA and Marks & Spencer. She has a keen interest in the decorative arts and the history of design, and loves to turn her hand to creative projects at home, from picassiette to shell-work.
How to wrap a present: our style director's comprehensive guide
Imaginative presentation can transform even the simplest gift. Ruth Sleightholme suggests creative ways to embellish presents
26 showstopping serveware pieces for Christmas and beyond
Bring a sophisticated flavour to your table with Ruth Sleightholme's selection of serveware
All about damasks and how to use them in any kind of interior
Damask patterns in wallpaper and fabric have been out in the cold for a while, but over the last couple of years they've been making a comeback
What to buy for your house this December, according to our style director
December's objects of desire, brought to you by House & Garden's decoration team. This month, Ruth Sleightholme shows us what has caught her eye
Christmas trees
The dos and don'ts of decorating a Christmas tree
Our Style Director's essential principles for decorating your tree in classic style
Bedroom shopping
The best mattress to buy in 2024 for quality sleep, reviewed
Wondering how to find the best mattress? We offer our advice on choosing this important purchase and the best retailers to go to to buy it at, whether you want memory foam or pocket spring, budget options or luxurious buys
What to buy for your house this November, according to our style director
November's objects of desire, brought to you by House & Garden's decoration team. This month, Ruth Sleightholme shows us what has caught her eye
Bedroom shopping
How six House & Garden editors dress their beds
Bedding can make a huge difference to your sleep, so make sure you get it right with our tried and tested guide to the best duvet covers, bed linen sheets and luxury bedding sets.
The right way to hang art over a fireplace
Using the space above a chimneypiece to showcase artwork is not new, but a creative combination will stand out. Ruth Sleightholme highlights interiors in which pieces have been mounted above mantels with particular aplomb
Design Ideas
A complete guide to choosing paint colour like a House & Garden editor
Choosing paint colours can be a fiendishly difficult task, but our deputy decoration editor Ruth Sleightholme has some advice on how to make it easier.
This autumn's most beautiful new fabrics go on location in Sweden's magical manor houses
In two 18th-century Swedish manor houses, Ruth Sleightholme uses the latest fabrics to evoke a spectral sense of their rich history and the people who have passed through their elegant rooms.
What to buy for your house this October, according to our style director
October's objects of desire, brought to you by House & Garden's decoration team. This month, Ruth Sleightholme shows us what has caught her eye
Our style director’s shopping picks for a stylish new bedroom
From appealing hardware, to hardworking laundry baskets, scroll on for Ruth Sleightholme's wishlist
Shopping
Smart desks for a stylish home office
Make your home workspace so stylish, it becomes the only place you want to be
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Our Style Director answers your shopping questions
From crockery queries to questions about quilts, Ruth Sleightholme has all the answers
Shopping
15 best sofa beds for 2024, as reviewed by our editors
The best sofa beds, according to the House & Garden team, including small and double bed, click-clack options, futons, and pull-outs
What to buy for your house this September, according to our style director
September's objects of desire, brought to you by House & Garden's decoration team. This month, Ruth Sleightholme shows us what has caught her eye
A designer's Normandy house filled with imagination and creativity
From murals to mosaics and bespoke ceramics, interior designer Laura Gonzalez’s close collaborations with artisans have made her house in northern France a showcase of creativity, individuality and warmth
Christmas Decorating
How to decorate with fairy lights: A House & Garden editor's golden rules for Christmas
Our deputy decoration editor Ruth Sleightholme's most important rules for decorating with fairy lights
What to buy for your house this August, according to our style director
August's objects of desire, brought to you by House & Garden's decoration team. This month, Ruth Sleightholme shows us what has caught her eye