Collaborative Post
Our homes have become even more important to us in the last few years. Many of us are spending more time at home now and our houses are far more than bases to eat and sleep. Renovating and redecorating enable you to put your stamp on the interiors, but taking on a project can be expensive. In this guide, we’ll share some easy, affordable ways to revamp your family home and create a beautiful, functional nest.
Changing colourways
Changing colourways is a simple, inexpensive way to transform the look and feel of any room. From kitchens and living rooms to bedrooms and bathrooms, you can experiment with new trends or channel themes by painting the walls, adding wallpaper or using accessories to inject different tones and shades. Before you start buying tins of paint or ordering rolls of wallpaper, consider the size of the room you want to redecorate and how you plan to use the space. If you’re on a mission to brighten up small rooms or create the illusion of larger rooms, stick to light colours and neutral tones. For a cosy feel for winter, you can opt for darker colours or create a statement wall to add warmth without making the space feel cramped. Test shades in natural light before you make a decision.
As well as thinking about the aesthetic of your interiors, it’s important to consider the impact of colour on the feel and vibe of the room. Neutral shades and tones of blue, green and purple can have a soothing, calming effect, for example, while flashes of yellow, pink and orange can bring energy and vibrancy to a room. Opt for colours that have a relaxing effect in bedrooms and tranquil areas and bolder, brighter tones for social spaces.
Adding soft furnishings
Winter is fast approaching and what better time to get cosy at home with some new soft furnishings? Cushions, rugs and throws add warmth and texture and they can also enhance the look of bedrooms, bathrooms, dining rooms and living spaces. Buying new soft furnishings can alter the look of the room in an instant and help you to embrace new trends and design ideas. Take your bathroom as an example. Purchasing bath mat sets, coloured or patterned towels and matching curtains or blinds will revamp the space with minimal effort. You could opt for monochrome for a chic, contemporary bathroom, shades of blush for a vintage, romantic vibe or green for a botanical theme, for example. In your bedroom, you can adorn the bed and chairs or couches with throws and blankets and cushions and add rugs to the floor.
Mastering accessorising
Freshening up your interiors doesn’t have to involve a full-scale redecoration project. Often, paying attention to detail can make a big difference. Mastering the art of accessorising is a fantastic way to make your interiors look great and it can also help you showcase your personality and style. You can use all kinds of accessories and finishing touches to add interest, try new trends and looks and modernise your decor. Examples include mirrors and wall art, storage pots and jars, vases and plant pots, candleholders, lamps and lanterns, framed photographs and prints. Look for ideas and inspiration in magazines, blogs and social media feeds, browse online stores and have a wander around the shops. You can choose to mix and match accessories to blend styles or opt for a cohesive set of accessories.
Maximising natural light
Natural light makes rooms look bigger and brighter and it can also have a positive effect on mental health and productivity. We are more productive in light spaces and being able to see the sky or enjoy a view makes us happy. Aim to maximise natural light in rooms you use to work, play, socialise and exercise. Use light colours for the walls and flooring, minimise clutter, avoid heavy fabrics and angle chairs, desks and sofas towards the windows and doors. If your home lacks light, you could explore options like adding a skylight or a lantern window or knocking two rooms into one. This is often an excellent idea in older homes that have small kitchens with a dining room attached. This is not a cheap option, but it could help you add substantial value to your home and make the property more attractive to buyers when you come to sell.
Upping your storage game
Storage serves a practical purpose, but it can also impact the look of our homes. Clutter makes rooms look small, cramped and dark and it can also contribute to stress and make it difficult to find things. Storage promotes organisation and it makes it easy to keep living spaces tidy. It also frees up space and it can provide attractive focal points. There are all kinds of storage systems and ideas to explore from wall-mounted units and floating shelves to cabinets, chests and TV units with hidden shelves and cupboard space. You can make a feature of your storage by using open shelving, hanging decorative shelves or using storage to create separate zones within the same room. If you’re looking for ideas, take inspiration from places you’ve visited, read design magazines and use innovative storage hacks from social media. It’s always beneficial to have a clearout before you start ordering units or putting shelves up, especially if you know you’ve got lots of stuff you don’t want or need anymore.
Our homes are special, unique places that should make us feel happy, content, safe and secure. If your decor is a little dated, or you fancy a change, you don’t have to spend a fortune or commit to a renovation project to revamp the interiors. Simple steps such as changing the colourways, adding soft furnishings and learning to accessorise can make a big difference. It’s also a fantastic idea to try to maximise natural light in social spaces and areas you use to work, study and play and to invest in storage solutions to enhance the look of your home and keep clutter at bay.
