When I first put a disco ball in my kitchen – I won’t lie – I did not intend to keep it there.
Glitz has never really been my aesthetic, and when it comes to interiors, I’m fairly indifferent to anything overtly glam. And yet, here I am over three months later, with that same disco ball sitting proudly on my kitchen counter.
My disco ball saga began when I attended a DFS event celebrating the launch of Amanda Holden’s new homeware collection. It was suitably sparkly, complete with bold patterns, feather-plumed decor and glittering lights.
Like all good Amanda Holden events (I imagine), I left with a disco ball ice bucket in hand. I took it home, plonked it on my kitchen counter – and three months later, it’s become one of the most complimented pieces of decor in my home.
I understand why some people might recoil at the idea of adding a disco ball to their kitchen. After all, what if it doesn’t match the cabinets – or clashes with the overhead lighting?
To that, I’d say: don’t worry. A disco ball might be exactly the piece of creative tension your kitchen is missing – a concept designers have started calling ‘friction-maxxing’.
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In my own kitchen, set against cream cabinets, wooden worktops and a stack of old recipe books, the disco ball sings. The ball – impractical and joyful – makes the kitchen – practical and traditional – feel just that bit more interesting.
There’s also something wonderful about the 'impropriety' of putting a disco ball in your kitchen. It’s fun, unpretentious and just a little bit silly. It tells your guests that they shouldn't be afraid to be the same.
Through its sheer incongruousness, this disco ball has managed to transform the feel of my whole kitchen. If you’re looking for a low-lift, low-cost way to change the atmosphere in your home, a little disco ball decor might just be the easiest place to start.
I had just become fully convinced that my disco ball was a very good idea, when I interviewed Francesca Rowan-Plowden, interior designer and star of Season three of The Traitors. Imagine my delight when she told me that her English eclectic home has two disco balls hanging from the kitchen ceiling.
‘I do have two disco balls permanently up on the ceiling in the kitchen because I love disco balls,' Francesca told me. 'They're also on the veranda. In our last house, I had a blackboard outside which had been left by the previous owners, and because I'd put disco balls all around the garden, it just said, “Every day is disco day.” That's sort of my motto.’
Francesca's not the only one. Recipe developer Stephanie Phillips (@stefsdinner) has also been spreading the kitchen disco ball gospel. Her argument, laid out cleanly, is as compelling as they come. ‘Because we could all use a bit more whimsy,’ she says.
‘Disco balls bring an instant sense of joy and personality to a space, which is why they’re proving so popular in kitchens right now,' says Candy Smith, head buyer at Rex London. 'Kitchens have become social hubs in the home, and a disco ball introduces a playful, almost party-like atmosphere that makes the room feel more relaxed and welcoming.'
Victoria Robinson, trend expert at Hillarys, describes it as a statement piece that adds joy: 'There’s also a nostalgic charm to disco styling that really resonates right now. It’s a simple way to add joy without needing to redesign the whole room.'
It seems that this spring, the disco look is firmly in the air. And with the launch of Harry Styles’ new album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, it might just be the perfect moment to lean into the trend.
