style update Simple tips and tricks for a fresh new look
Have fun with these simple but creative ideas that’ll ring the changes without turning into a full room redo
1 Spice it up Turn up the heat in your living room now that winter’s here. Pile the sofa with cushions in an earthy mix of colours, from warm ochre and burnt orange to spicy red and cobalt blue, mixing patterns in busy Ikat stripes, tapestry weaves and chevrons.
2 Botanical display Hang pressed leaves in simple glass frames. Choose a selection of different leaves, drying them in paper towels between a couple of heavy books. Then place one leaf in each frame, sandwiching them between the glass.
3 hot cuppa Make chintzy teacup candles using vintage cups and saucers from charity shops. Buy wax by the block and a pack of wicks, then melt the wax in a pan and pour into each cup until set – hold the wicks in place using pegs.
4 Cupboard tidy Repurpose magazine holders to help keep kitchen units in order. Line up a few on a shelf to hold flat items such as trays, bakeware and saucepan lids or use to store taller tubes holding cling film, foil and parchment paper.
5 Set up a glam mantelpiece
Take the focus away from the TV by creating a shimmering mantelpiece or shelf arrangement by clustering a mirror, mercurised and iridescent glass accessories and candlelight. Accessories from £4 each, all Fox & Ivy, Tesco.
7 Stay toasty Put lightweight summer bedding away and swap for a warmer winter alternative. Replace cool, crisp sheets for cosier brushed cottons, fleecy flannels and heavyweight woollens. Change your duvet for a winter one, with a tog from 10.5 to 13.5.
6 Fruity frames Make 3D paper pictures to display in box frames on your walls. Use a template to cut apple shapes in coloured paper (nine pairs per picture). Glue nine apples onto a piece of card and add lengths of string for stalks. Fold the rest of the shapes in half, glue along the centre and fan out to create a 3D effect.
8 Smart workspace Set yourself up for working from home in style and create a simple Scandi-inspired desk area. Warm up a white trestle table with on-trend copper desk accessories and pop a shaggy cushion on the chair for comfort.
9 Country kitchen Give your hub-of-the-home a refresh by replacing a tiled splashback with rustic tongue-andgroove panelling. Paint it a dark shade for a bold look and to create a contrast for displaying pretty pottery and kitchenware. Use eggshell paint for a wipeable finish.
10 Hide and chic Upgrade a shabby wooden chest of drawers with a coat of black paint to give it a smart new look. Replace the old drawer knobs with on-trend tab pull handles in tan leather – try Ikea’s Osternas handles, £10 for two.
11 easy make Make leaf-shaped coasters using a pack of cork mats (£3 for six, Dunelm). Print off templates from the internet and brush on watered-down acrylic paint in cosy warm shades.
12 Outdoor lights Make tin can lanterns for the garden by re-using old soup tins. Soak off the labels, fill with water and freeze. Use a hammer and nail to tap out a pinhole design – the ice makes it easier to hold. Pop in a tealight once you’re done. 13 Create a glam bedroom Give your sleep space a sophisticated boudoir-esque new look. Layer up the bed with lustrous floral bed linen and cosy faux fur, then finish with mercury glass accessories and a pretty vintage-style mirror. Sweet dreams guaranteed.
14 Floor show Spruce up bare floorboards with an eye-catching paint treatment. Whitewash the wood first, then use a large stencil and black spray paint to create a patterned border in a strategic place. Protect your design using clear polyurethane floor varnish in a matt finish.
15 Dive in Build a storage wall in your living room with smart cubbyhole-style units. Paint walls a bright hue with a similar shade on the shelving to match for a sleek, seamless effect. Style the look with bold accessories that stand out and add co-ordinating boxes to hide any clutter.
16 Looking trim Jazz up a plain woollen throw by sewing on a colourful tassel trim. Buy trim by the metre in a contrasting colour (try Etsy, from £2 per m) or make your own using leftover lengths of yarn in assorted colours.
17 simple Idea Create a colourful display of glassware by upcycling old glass vases, jam jars and mini bottles. Use leftover paint in a variety of colours – or buy tester pots – and coat the insides of each piece by swirling the paint around until it’s fully covered.
18 Country classic Make linen-look-a-like seat pads for kitchen chairs using tea towels. Use one per chair, folding it in half and machine sewing into a square to fit the seat. Try H&M’S range, from £4.99.
19 Desk tidy Transform inexpensive magnet boards by covering them with lengths of wallpaper and hang in a row of three just above your desk. Take leftover remnants of wallpaper, cut them to size and stick in place with spray adhesive. Try the Spontan magnetic boards, £10 each, Ikea.
20 Mini montage Arrange small pictures in a group, rather than individually, to give a display more impact. Start with the largest first, positioning smaller pictures around it to create a block formation, keeping the spacing tight rather than too far apart.
21 Mismatched luxe Go for an eclectic dining room scheme by mixing and matching your table and chairs in contrasting styles and finishes. Start with the table – choose a sturdy, solid wood design that will work with most items – chairs, stool or a bench.
22 Tile style Do something different with the classic metro tile and try a herringbone arrangement. The tiles make a ‘V’ shape to create a stylish zig-zag pattern that turns an ordinary basin splashback into a striking feature.
23 Style up an open shelf
Turn storage into a focal point. Add an open shelf to your kitchen, painted to match the wall behind, and then use it to display your very best crockery and accessories. For a modern take on the look, go for a floating box shelf.
24 On the hook Create personalised coat hooks to keep winter coats in check. Hobbycraft’s wooden hooks, £2 each, have a handy block where you can add family members’ initials to turn them into smart, monogrammed hooks.
25 NEAT IDEA Add twinkly lights to a dark corner – bunch a string of warm white battery-operated fairy lights and pop them into a glass Mason jar for the feel of a starry sky.
26 Plant power Struggle to keep your houseplants alive? Don’t despair – you can get the tropical look with a couple of stems of tropical foliage picked up at your local florist, displayed in a simple vase on a side table.
27 ORGANISED HALLWAY Invest in a sturdy console to stop the hallway becoming a dumping ground. Avoid cluttering up the surface by stashing bits and bobs in drawers or baskets, leaving the top free for a mini display of decorative objects, plus your post.