The New Year is a time for self-improvement. But forget fad diets and gym memberships – what about spending on something that makes it nicer to spend time at home? Cecelia Marshall hunted down some eye-catching soft furnishings from the city’s interior design shops.

Iron Magazine rack, $33.80

A great place to keep your copies of the Phnom Penh Post. The rust-colored magazine stand is made from iron, has a scooping trough-like basin that curves up and is embellished with interlocking swirls. A touch of romanticism for the home.

Decosy, #219 Street 19.

Hand-woven ikat dyed throws, $25

Hand-made in the Takeo province by Cambodian artisans, the distinct ikat design takes months to complete. Each thread is dyed at a distinct point and then woven together to create the geometric shapes. The cotton is soft but durable and the throws come in china blue, mustard, green and rusty strawberry.

Artisan Designers (A.N.D), #45 Street 240.

Square Large Papier Mache Mirror, $69

Papier mache is often thought of as a craft project from elementary school. But Mekong Creations uses it for a number of its more popular items. The sapphire mirror incorporates hints of gold for elegance and maturity. The glass itself is bordered with textured dots and the elongated vein surface that stems from the border give an electrical vibe.

Mekong Creations, #45 Street 240.

Up-cycled rice-sack bunting, $7 for five metres

From cottons, vintage fabrics, old magazines, and soda can tops, A.N.D. is focused on reincorporating materials. These strung geometric shapes are made from brightly colored food bags taken from around Southeast Asia that once carried rice, fish food, coffee beans and more.

A.N.D, #45 Street 240.

Colourful Floor pillows, $68

These soft stuffed cotton pillows are sizable enough to serve as additional floor seating. Stack them on top of one another to get a place to really lounge around. Match the colourful and somewhat zany patterns with plain wooden furniture – or even with the stores’ multiple other patterned pillows – for a more eclectic feel.

Bliss spa, #29 Street 240.

Bean bag from hasbean, $60

Sick of hard wood? Finding rattan too bland? Bean bags are a great solution. Hand-made from durable fabric, the bags are lightweight, stuffed with polysterene balls. The well-named hasbean company provides an extensive catalog of color choices and styles but also takes requests for different fabric designs. Each bean bag comes with a matching

drawstring bag that can be used when travelling, or as storage for clothing. If you want a larger size bag– better for adults – the sack costs $29.99 and requires two bags of beans to fill ($9.99 each). If you buy the recommended bean bag liner ($9.99) the total cost comes to around $60. They’re not cheap, but they are, however, exceedingly comfortable.

Order bean bags at hasbean.kh.com, [email protected] or 077 605 861 or 077 605 961