More than flights of fancy

Kobe Jade design stair carpet, 60cm wide and 100 per cent wool, £129 per metre (020 7351 2288; rogeroates.com)

AS you deck your halls with boughs of holly ready for Christmas, it’s worth making a new year’s resolution to keep it as bright and welcoming all year round. Not with fairy lights but with a new look for the walls and floors or even a new balustrade to create a real wow factor.

If your staircase is structurally sound but in need of an update, the most cost-effective option is to replace the balustrade, says Richard McLane design director at Bisca (bisca.co.uk).

“It’s a relatively simple process but it can transform the staircase, creating that all-important first impression and adding value to the house,” he says.

Things to consider are the style of property, maintenance and the needs of those who live there, although budget is also key.

“Wallpaper adds a dramatic touch to tired hallways,” says Ella Richards, head of design studio Linwood (linwoodfabric.com). “For higher hallways you can opt for a much larger pattern and for small or narrow hallways choose something with a small-scale pattern that will add interest but not dominate.”

Wooden flooring is a practical solution for children, dogs and muddy boots, according to The Natural Wood Floor Company (naturalwoodfloor.co.uk) but carpets or runners keep noise down.

Andy Guard, head of design at Roger Oates Design (rogeroates. com), says: “Rich colours are dramatic and warm while neutral colours create a feel of airy spaciousness. Bold, wide stripes widen a hallway and fine narrow lines lengthen.”

For Christmas, though, the advice is to have lots of twinkly fairy lights. Oak white oiled brushed engineered wood, £67.92 per square metre (020 8871 9771; naturalwoodfloor.co.uk)

A bespoke Bisca balustrade starts at £10,000 (01439 771702; bisca. co.uk)