2020 was the year we stayed at home, a year without eating in restaurants, admiring architecture, visiting museums and galleries, a year without shops and open gardens, theatre and comedy nights.

For those of us who like to feel the fabric of a dress, look up at the ceilings in a museum, admire the tiles on city doorsteps or peer under your plate for the manufacturer's mark while eating your supper we had to find out inspiration elsewhere.

And while of course places like Instagram and Pinterest are brilliant for discovering new brands, reading words on the written page rather than through a screen is rather more enjoyable.

Here's a round-up of magazines to read this year, as recommended by you, my Object Story community (thank you). Many of these you won't find on the shelves of your local supermarket, so I've shared some online indie magazine stores at the end of this post to support too.

1. Milk Magazine

   Mode, lifestyle, voyage & family

2. The Gentlewomen

   A fabulous magazine for modern women of style and purpose

3. Monocle

   Global briefing covering international affairs, business, culture...

4. The Happy Reader

   A bookish magazine for avid readers

5. The Plant Magazine

   A curious observer of ordinary plants and other greenery

6. Design Anthology

   Stories on interiors and architecture, travel features, hotel and restaurant reviews, art round ups & designer profiles.

7. Luncheon Magazine

   Cultural magazine mixing art, fashion & food

8. Milk Decoration

   Stylish French interiors magazine

9. Bloom

   A magazine for modern nature lovers. For gardeners, plant admirers, curious explorers and outdoor adventurers.

10. Laine

    Nordic knit & lifestyle magazine for knit folk. Cherishing natural fibers, slow living, local craftsmanship and beautiful, simple things in life

11. Lunch Lady

    A fresh perspective on family life, full of recipes, parenting stories, interviews and arts.

12. Courier

    Stories of startups, small businesses and entrepreneurs, helping your focus work better, live smarter and be happier.

13. Cabana

    Interiors and decorative arts magazine, exploring the intimate relationship each person has with interiors.

14. Cereal

    Travel & lifestyle magazine. Each issue focuses on a select few destinations, with stories & interviews on design, art, style.

15. Selvedge

    A beautiful journal dedicated to promoting textiles and textile makers from around the world.

16. Kindling

    From the team behind Kinfolk, a magazine for people with children packed with interviews, features & fun activities.

17. Kinfolk

    Delving into home, work, style and culture, Kinfolk promotes quality of life and connects a community of creative professionals from London to Tokyo

18. Hole & Corner

    Dedicated to sharing stories of craft, beauty, passion and skill.

19. Wallpaper

    Championing the best in architecture, interiors, art & contemporary lifestyle.

THREE indie magazine stores 

1. Rare Mags

   An extensive selection of magazines and zines from this indie bookstore based in Stockport near Manchester.

2. Colours May Vary

   Based in Leeds, a store dedicated to design publications, stocking magazines, books, journals, gift cards, prints and more.

3. Stack Magazine

   A fun magazine subscription service. For £7.99 a month you'll be sent a magazine in the post to discover, a brilliant way to be inspired and find your new favourite magazine.