Ideal interior design trends on your doorstep
Bright colours, glittery golds and ice cream pastels are among the latest interior design trends to hit the high street just in time for national decorating month.
And Sunderland shoppers can grab a paintbrush, a roll of wallpaper, some funky wall art of even a cool plant or two and give their home a spring makeover without leaving the city centre.
Throughout April, people up and down the country are giving their homes a springtime spruce-up to mark the event, and, as Sharon Appleby, Head of Business Operations at Sunderland Business Improvement District (BID) explains, it doesn’t have to break the bank.
“Many people worry that decorating their home is going to cost a fortune, but it doesn’t have to,” she said.
“Decorating month is about enhancing your home, whether that’s with a lick of paint, new carpets or furniture or even just some new ornaments or other room embellishments like new light fittings or blinds, a new rug or some wall art.
“Along with some of the bigger high street stores like Wilkinson, M&S and Debenhams, we have a number of smaller independent gift and craft shops in the city centre where you can pick up gorgeous pieces which won’t cost the earth and can add some real wow factor.”
So what’s hot this season and where can you get it?
Fans of bright colours are in luck, as colour pop is back, and it’s all about mixing bright shades together for maximum impact.
City Centre Carpets & Rugs – formerly Smiths Carpets in Jacky Whites Market – recently opened in Holmeside and has a selection of rugs of all shapes and sizes, perfect for adding a splash of colour to any room.
One of this season’s most exciting and easy-to-achieve trends is 50 shades of green, on everything from wallpaper to paint.
Leaf patterns and foliage are bang on-tend, and Wilkinson has everything you could possibly need to get the look at home.
Along with its selection of leaf-prints, it also sells a ‘Succulent Greens’ wallpaper, adorned with photo images of a selection of leafy plants.
Even if you don’t want to go too green in your décor, you can easily follow this look by filling your house with cool plants.
Head to Marks & Spencer at High Street West for a selection of house plants, or for the easy life, fake it by choosing from a huge artificial selection at TK Maxx at Crowtree Road.
Gelato is another big inspiration this season, as ice cream pastels return to favour. The best way to add pastel shades is with individual pieces of furniture or fabrics.
Shops like Harrison and Brown, an independent furniture store which opened at Holmeside late last year, stocks many individual pieces in various colours, along with various homeware items like ornaments and wall art
Gold is always popular, and this season it’s all about the glitter. Add a touch to a room with an elegant light fitting from Debenhams at The Bridges, or head up to Home Bargains at Blandford Street which sells a huge selection of homewares for all budgets.
There is also a strong emphasis on embellishments, with fringing, feathers and tassels in abundance. Head to shops like Debenhams, TK Maxx and Wilkinson and have a look through their selection of cushions, rugs throws and similar homeware.
Alternatively, head to City Art Store in Vine place where you can pick up feathers, tassels and other pieces and add embellishments to your own pieces.
A new blind is also another good way to inject a touch of colour, and Fawcett Street’s Homeflair has a huge choice. Whether you’re looking for pastel, a bit of colour pop or even glittery gold, there will be a blind to suit.
“We are keen to get the message across that decorating doesn’t have to cost the earth, sometimes it’s just about picking up one or two pieces, and you can do it all here in the city centre,” added Sharon.
“I’d encourage anyone thinking about embarking on some decorating this spring to come and take a look around our city shops and stores. Shops like Wilkinson and Home Bargains even stock paints, wallpapers and all the tools without the need to head out of town.”