It’s time to start living in the home of your dreams without maxing out your credit cards – because giving your home a makeover needn’t cost you the earth. Here are our top savvy up-styling tips to make the most of what you’ve got.
In the living room:
Select a colour palette. It seems simple enough, but so many people have given no thought to what colours they’d like to fill their space with, and which ones they’d prefer to keep out of sight. Not you (not this time). Choose a range of colours that you love and that work well together. This range should include some neutral colours, and then (depending on your taste) a few shades that pop right out. If you want to create a space that you can refresh from time to time, invest in neutral colours for the big pieces (couches, curtains, etc). Then add your more trendy colours and patterns to accessorise the room (pillows, small furnishings, etc).
Conceal the unsightly. Every room has a number of things that are useful but not necessarily easy on the eyes. Think cords, cables, remotes and stationary. Most of us tend to get all too familiar with these kinds of things until we hardly notice them anymore. But put on a fresh perspective, identify the things you’d rather not showcase, and then come up with creative ways to conceal them. For example, prop-up art is a great way to conceal messy cords, cables and plug points. Layer them for extra impact.
Stick a plant in it. Brighten up the black hole that is your (non-working) fireplace with an indoor plant. Choose a type that doesn’t require a lot of sunlight, like a fern.
Paint the legs for a pop of colour. Haul out your tins of left-over paint and give the legs of a wooden chair a fresh coat of paint, then use the chair as a side table.
In the kitchen:
Reimagine your cabinets. Kitchen cabinets usually dominate the look and feel of a kitchen. If yours are outdated, giving them a fresh lease on life can do wonders. Why not paint them? Or shop around for some modern knobs and handles. You won’t believe the difference.
Clear your counter tops. Pack away bulky appliances you hardly use, and try to keep your counter top space as clutter-free as possible. The few appliances that do live here should look the part – so invest in a good-looking kettle and toaster too!
Add a touch of silver. A mounted silver-plated tray strikes a luxe note and serves as a spot for holding recipes: just add magnets!
Be creative with lighting. This aspect of your interior is essential. Make sure your kitchen is well-lit, and while you’re at it, why not choose a creative light fitting that makes the kitchen feel like the heart of the home… a chandelier or antique hanging milk bottle… the list is as endless as your groceries.
Plant herbs inside. Plant small, potted herbs in vessels of various heights. Wrap them in a heavy-stock paper, secure with twine, and label.
In the bedroom:
Add a hanging light fixture. Dingy old lights have got to go. Replace them with a statement-making hanging light or a glamorous chandelier. Don’t be intimidated: you can get these at a wide range of décor places, in a wide range of prices too…
Rethink your bedside tables. Most bedside tables are a hodgepodge of essential items. Hide some of these things away in a drawer or beautifully-wrapped box.
Focus on the statement pieces. A beautiful bed frame, a gilded dresser, a velvet armchair - each bedroom has its own centerpiece, but make sure it's the room's focus. Don't clutter the room.
Keep the floor empty. Of course, this is easier said than done, but a cluttered bedroom never looks luxurious. That means no stacks of books and piles of extension cords, either.
In the bathroom
Stash toiletries in mismatched tableware. Place a platter on your bathroom counter top and fill it with seldom-seen china pieces, like a sugar bowl and a milk jug to hold some of your toiletry essentials.
