Skip to content
Home & Hosting with Loui Burke
PodcastLeisureHome & GardenEnglish

Home & Hosting with Loui Burke

NewChic or cheap? We’re talking Christmas Trends!November 11, 2026 · 25 min
Episodes
64
Released
monthly
Latest episode
Nov 11, 2026

About the podcast

Home & Hosting with Loui Burke is an interior design, home styling and modern homemaking podcast for renters, first-home owners and anyone who wants their space to feel more considered. Melbourne-based creator and design educator Loui Burke shares practical advice on decorating, furniture, lighting, bed styling, entertaining and creating atmosphere at home—without assuming you need to renovate or constantly buy more. Expect approachable design education, honest opinions on home trends and thoughtful conversations about how our homes shape the way we live and host.

Episodes 64

  1. Chic or cheap? We’re talking Christmas Trends!

    25 min

    Chic or cheap? We’re talking Christmas! and price has very little to do with the verdict.From realistic greenery and DIY ornaments to undersized tree pots, tartan takeovers and leaving all the Christmas magic …

    Show notes

    Chic or cheap? We’re talking Christmas! and price has very little to do with the verdict.

    From realistic greenery and DIY ornaments to undersized tree pots, tartan takeovers and leaving all the Christmas magic to your mum, I’m sharing what I’m loving, what I’m over and where it’s worth spending a little more.

    Read the full Chic or Cheap? Christmas Edition with shopping links, DIY videos and decorating ideas on Actually Chic:

    Subscribe to Actually Chic for more home, hosting and everything I’d actually recommend:



    A little podcast update: episodes will be coming fortnightly to monthly as I spend more time sharing detailed guides and finds on Substack. Follow along here so you don’t miss the next one.

    Find me on Instagram and TikTok @louiburke. If you enjoyed the episode, leave a rating and send it to a Christmas-loving friend.

  2. Someone Coming Over? Here’s Your Checklist

    18 min

    This week, I’m walking through getting your home ready for guests - from lighting, music and scent placement to setting the table for what you’re actually serving. Plus, what to prioritise when you’ve only got …

    Show notes

    This week, I’m walking through getting your home ready for guests - from lighting, music and scent placement to setting the table for what you’re actually serving. Plus, what to prioritise when you’ve only got twenty minutes before the doorbell rings.

    Find my product picks on Actually Chic, my Substack, and my Spotify playlists below.

    Actually Chic: https://louiburke.substack.com



    Playlists: Rom-com Playlist

    Instagram: @louiburke

  3. Keep, Donate, Chuck: How To Go About The Great Home Clear-Out

    13 min

    A clutter clear-out is more than deciding what to keep. Loui talks about donating perfectly good things he no longer needs, organising the things he does, and choosing between recycling, hard rubbish and a skip …

    Show notes

    A clutter clear-out is more than deciding what to keep. Loui talks about donating perfectly good things he no longer needs, organising the things he does, and choosing between recycling, hard rubbish and a skip bin. Plus, why regular edits matter even when you own your home, how to make the work manageable, and why you don’t need a perfect house before you invite people over.

  4. What’s In, What’s Out: 5 Things to Buy to Transform Your Home

    29 min

    What’s replacing bouclé, brass, curved furniture and asymmetrical styling? In this episode of Home & Hosting with Loui Burke, Loui breaks down the interior design trends moving in, what’s beginning to move out …

    Show notes

    What’s replacing bouclé, brass, curved furniture and asymmetrical styling? In this episode of Home & Hosting with Loui Burke, Loui breaks down the interior design trends moving in, what’s beginning to move out and five considered updates that can transform your space without a complete makeover.

    We’re talking tailored lumbar and bolster cushions, contrast piping, fringe and bordered rugs; the return of symmetry, Art Deco influences, sharper edges and stainless-steel furniture; chocolate brown, powder blue, yellow-green, magenta, animal print and botanical wallpaper; mixing velvet, stone, oak and walnut; and the move from brass towards polished nickel, chrome and silver metals.

    Loui also covers Italianate vintage sconces, chandeliers and mirrors, relaxed Roman shades, curtain walls and how to introduce these interior trends without replacing everything you already own. What feels current, what it’s replacing and what you can confidently leave in the shop.

  5. How to Have a Chic Home with Children, Dogs & Daily Mess

    22 min

    A beautiful home still has to support a full life.In episode two of my listener Q&A series, I’m answering your questions about designing around children without surrendering your own taste, whether kitchen …

    Show notes

    A beautiful home still has to support a full life.

    In episode two of my listener Q&A series, I’m answering your questions about designing around children without surrendering your own taste, whether kitchen appliances need to match, making a tiny bedroom feel intentional, living with daily mess, owning a white sofa, where the dog bed should go and, finally, what to do with the permanently wet towel.

    Because if your home only looks good when nobody is eating, charging a phone, making coffee or owning a towel, it isn’t well designed. It’s simply between activities.

    Function isn’t the enemy of style. It’s part of what makes a home chic.

  6. Develop Chic Taste Without Buying More Stuff

    18 min

    Buying more things will not automatically give you personal style. Sometimes the chicest thing you can do is stop shopping, properly understand your taste and edit what you already own.In this episode of Home & …

    Show notes

    Buying more things will not automatically give you personal style. Sometimes the chicest thing you can do is stop shopping, properly understand your taste and edit what you already own.

    In this episode of Home & Hosting, Loui answers your questions about developing a personal interior style, working with the architecture of your home, making colourful and eclectic interiors feel considered, creating the Nancy Meyers aesthetic without becoming themed, and keeping country style from looking dated.

    Plus, a quick-fire round of Chic or Cheap covering bifold wardrobe doors, feature walls, chopping boards behind the stove, overfilled cushions and the dreaded karate chop.

    A practical guide to making your home feel more expensive, personal and put together without filling it with more unnecessary stuff.

    Follow Home & Hosting with Loui Burke and leave a rating if you enjoyed the episode.

    Instagram: @louiburke

  7. SAVE OR SPLURGE? Where to Spend Your Money at Home

    28 min

    Before you spend another dollar on your home, look at the home you actually have.This week on Home & Hosting with Loui Burke, we’re talking save or splurge, but not just what’s worth the money. We’re looking at …

    Show notes

    Before you spend another dollar on your home, look at the home you actually have.

    This week on Home & Hosting with Loui Burke, we’re talking save or splurge, but not just what’s worth the money. We’re looking at how the age, architecture and existing character of your home should influence where you spend it in the first place.

    From ’70s walk-ups and traditional cottages to contemporary new builds, I’m breaking down why fighting your home’s architecture can become an expensive mistake, which original features are worth preserving, and where spending more will actually make a difference.

    Then we get into the practical stuff: where I’d save, where I’d splurge, what’s worth investing in and, importantly, when the answer is to spend absolutely nothing.

    Because the rule is pretty simple: save where the item is flexible, spend where the decision is foundational, and stop assuming buying more is always going to make your home better.

    If you’re enjoying Home & Hosting, follow the podcast and leave a rating. It really does help more people find the show.

  8. Instant Fixes! How to Make Your Home Look Better on a Budget (Without Renovating)

    23 min

    How can you make your home look better on a budget—without renovating or buying more décor?Loui answers your home styling questions, including how to enjoy a rental or first home before you can renovate, how to …

    Show notes

    How can you make your home look better on a budget—without renovating or buying more décor?

    Loui answers your home styling questions, including how to enjoy a rental or first home before you can renovate, how to mix affordable and high-end furniture, and how to reset a living room or bedroom using what you already own. From lighting and curtains to furniture placement, decluttering and creating atmosphere, these practical interior styling tips will help your home feel more considered, functional and put together.

  9. The Chic Host Checklist: Beyond the Table. Let's talk Atmosphere and Flow

    41 min

    Alright, we know how to set a beautiful table by now. And if not, honestly, video is probably the better educational source, so go and find me on Instagram.This episode is about everything beyond the table. The …

  10. All There is to Know About Beds! How to Style a Bed Like a Designer: Linens, Layers, and Bedhead Secrets

    52 min

    Want to achieve that fluffy, cloud-like boutique hotel bed at home? It takes a lot more than just throwing on a duvet set. This week, professional bed stylist Loui Burke shares the ultimate guide to bedroom …

  11. The Internet Got Mad at a Made Bed: Shamed or Just Shown?

    40 min

    A few bed-making videos went viral, my Instagram following doubled in a week, and suddenly the internet had a lot to say about pillows, quilts, beige interiors and whether showing people how to make a bed …

  12. 10 Autumn & Winter Home Trends That Actually Make Your Home Feel Chic

    35 min

    In this episode of Home and Hosting with Loui Burke, we’re talking through the 10 autumn and winter homeware trends worth paying attention to this season.From rich, spiced colour and darker timber to proper …

  13. Is Your Home Empty, Cluttered or Considered? Let’s Fix That

    30 min

    Is your home empty, cluttered or considered? In this episode of Home and Hosting with Loui Burke, I’m unpacking why a home can be clean and still feel cold, or styled and still feel busy, and how to find the …

  14. You Need Help: How to Do a Chic Easter (Not Kitsch)

    16 min

    Easter is one of the easiest holidays to get wrong… and most people do.Between pastel overload, bunny heads, and the excuse of “it’s for the kids,” it can all start to feel a bit chaotic, and not in a good …

  15. What Taste Actually Means (And Why We Confuse Taste, Class, Style and Trends)

    20 min

    In this episode of Home and Hosting, we explore what taste actually means and why people so often confuse taste, class, style and trends.Conversations around taste always spark interesting discussions online …

  16. Learning to Live Together: 5 tips to Make a Home Together When You Don’t See Things the Same Way.

    12 min

    If you’ve ever moved in with a partner, a housemate or even a sibling, you’ll know this feeling well: you don’t always see the home the same way. One person cares deeply about how the space looks and feels… and …

  17. You’re Doing Trends Wrong. Let’s Fix That. (There Are Two Forecasts: Trends & Weather)

    21 min

    I posted a video about decorating for the wrong season and it clearly stuck! So let’s unpack it.In this episode I’m talking about the lost art of seasonal styling, why materials and colour have “temperature” …

  18. Feeling Out of Sorts? A Put-Together Guide for When Life Feels Off.

    22 min

    Feeling out of it? This one’s for you.In this episode, Loui breaks down that very universal, very human moment where life just… doesn’t feel like it’s matching the version of yourself in your head.Whether …

  19. Ins and Outs of 2026 – New Year, Same Great Taste

    26 min

    New year, same great taste.In this episode of Home and Hosting with Loui Burke, Loui breaks down the INs and Outs of 2026 through a home and hosting lens blending what leading designers and publications are …

  20. 5 Mistakes That Make Your Home Feel Lifeless (and How to Fix Them)

    18 min

    If your home looks fine on paper but still feels… off. This episode’s for you.I’m diving into the five biggest mistakes that make your home feel lifeless (and yes, they might sting a little). From fake …

  21. Christmas Trends I Love (and Loathe) - Holiday Themes and How to style them

    31 min

    It’s officially that time of year, Christmas has arrived in every major Australian department store, and the themes are loud. From traditional reds and golds to ocean-inspired pastels, Australiana motifs, and …

  22. 6 Tips to Host Like a Natural (and Make Guests Feel Instantly at Home)

    9 min

    Growing up with a family restaurant and accommodation business, I learnt early that hosting isn’t just about putting food on a table - it’s about creating an experience people want to come back to.In this …

  23. 5 Bedroom Design Mistakes You’re Probably Making (and How to Fix Them)

    22 min

    Your bedroom should feel like a retreat - but most people are getting the basics wrong.In this episode of Home & Hosting with Loui Burke, I’m sharing the five most common bedroom design mistakes I see all the …

  24. Daniel Matthews | ' The Design Style With No Name' : Finding Home Through Colour, Character & Considered Chaos

    1 h 2 minSeason 1 · Episode 5

    In this episode of Fellow Friends in Home & Hosting, I’m joined by Daniel Matthews — the creative behind the beautifully layered and cleverly named @a.modest.semi.We chat about the value of renting as a way to …

  25. City Row House to Cult Favourite: How Alex & Mike Made Everyday Design an Experience | Fellow Friends in Home & Hosting

    1 h 19 minSeason 1

    In this episode, I’m joined by Alex and Mike (@Alexandmike) — design-forward content creators known for transforming their Philadelphia row home into a warm, layered, and deeply personal space that’s captured …

  26. What Are You Running From? | The Return of In-Store Experiences at Mecca + More and Gift/ Father’s Day Inspo to Elevate His Everyday

    36 min

    We put so much pressure on holidays to deliver joy — but what are we really running away from? In this solo episode, Loui dives into the idea of building a lifestyle you don’t need to escape from. From the …

  27. Alexander Widener | From New York to Maine, and the Art of Timeless Craftsmanship and Design - Fellow Friends in Home & Hosting

    60 minSeason 1 · Episode 3

    In this episode, I’m joined by Alexander Widener (@Alexander_Widener) — a designer and storyteller whose world blends deep-rooted tradition with intentional living. After years in New York’s fast-paced …

  28. From Heritage to Home: Patricia Rodi on Style, Story, and Slowness | Fellow Friends in Home & Hosting

    1 hSeason 1 · Episode 2

    In this episode, I’m joined by Patricia Rodi — a designer, writer, and content creator whose aesthetic blends her Swedish and French heritage with the quiet romance of life in the Scottish countryside.Patricia …

  29. What’s In, What I’ve Outgrown: 10 Things I’m Backing This First Half of 2025

    29 min

    Mid-year already? Wild. In this solo episode, I’m taking a moment to reflect on 2025 so far — sharing 10 things I’ve been genuinely loving when it comes to home, lifestyle, and content creation.From soft-washed …

  30. How to Create a Calm, Collected Home – with Anthony Immediato | Fellow Friends in Home & Hosting

    38 minSeason 1 · Episode 2

    Welcome back to Home and Hosting with Loui Burke — and to another episode of Fellow Friends in Home & Hosting, where I chat with creators and designers about the way we actually live in our homes.In this …

These are the latest 40 of 64 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.

Is this your podcast?

Confirm it with an entry in your feed: you get a code here, add it as podcast:txt to the channel of your feed, and we check it. Your podcast is then shown as “verified” on SoundNode.

Settings

Display

Language

Decides which stations you see first on the home page.

History

Recently played stations and episodes and your latest searches are only stored in this browser.

Notifications

A short notice when a podcast you follow has a new episode. Turn off single podcasts with the bell on their page.

Account

Save favorites – in the app and on the website.

Keyboard shortcuts

/
Open search
Space
Play or pause
← →
In the player: back 15 s, forward 30 s (episodes) · in a row: next tile
↑ ↓
In a row: target within the tile
Home / End
In a row: first or last tile
Esc
Close window or menu
?
This overview
Now playing

Go to station page

Play next

    Add episodes with “Play next” – they play after the current episode.