THE START OF SOMETHING WONDERFUL Time for a seasonal switch

March brings the promise of spring, new beginnings and (whisper it) glimpses of sunshine. These simple ideas from the GH experts will give your home a seasonal switch and let the light pour in...

Update a neutral colour scheme with rainbow-bright accessories, such as cushions and throws

Kittisford sofa in House Linen Vintage Grey, £1,247 as shown, Willow & Hall (willowandhall.co.uk). Throw, £65, Hydrangea cushion, £70, and Longstock curtains, from £90, all John Lewis. Rustic Weave rug, from £49.99, Carpetright (carpetright.co.uk)

Make a focal point in a hall by painting your woodwork with a strong accent colour – it will literally frame a room

Wall in Loriini wallpaper in Dorian, £99 a roll, and woodwork painted in Trumpet 234 matt emulsion, £42 for 2.5L, both Little Greene (littlegreene.com). Find similar furniture at Ikea and a similar lamp at Habitat

Occasional tables give all sorts of possibilities for displaying favourite objects. A group of tonal vases brimming with seasonal blooms will transform an empty corner

Wire nest of tables, £79, Textured Pottery Jug, £35, Medium Pressed Diamond Vase, £25, Ombre Lantern, £19.50, and Blue Cylinder Glazed Vase, £19.50, all Marks & Spencer. Achieve a similar effect with Murals Wallpaper (muralswallpaper.co.uk)

Paint a peg rail and invest in a few hand towels in your favourite colours - both pretty and useful

Towels, from £9 each, and bird ornament, £30, all John Lewis

Treat yourself to new plates and oh-so-trendy gold cutlery to bring a sparkle to your table

Palm House dinner plate, £4.25, and pasta bowl, £4.25, both Sainsbury’s Home. Find similar cutlery at Habitat

Give a chair a new lease of life with lightweight throws

Bluebell throw (left), £35, Petrol throw (right), £45, Glendurgan Valley Banks cushion (front), £35, and velvet cushion (back), £25, all National Trust (nationaltrust.org.uk)

Group together pot plants to create an indoor garden. When you run out of surfaces, hang pots from overhead hooks

Wall in Asterid wallpaper, £205 a roll, and woodwork and fireplace painted in Flint 236 matt emulsion, £42 for 2.5L, both Little Greene (littlegreene.com). Find similar furniture and accessories at Heal’s (heals.com)

Place a large potted tree or plant in the corner of a room to make a statement and bring the outdoors in

Thornton three-seater sofa, £549.99, Martha wingback chair, £209.99, coffee table, £119.99, Curva floor lamp, £29.99, cushions, £11.99 each, and vases, £29.99 for two, all Heart of House at Argos. Find a similar plant and pot at Wyevale Garden Centres (wyevalegardencentres.co.uk)

Open shelves are a stylish way to keep things easily to hand. Stand plates behind bowls and mugs to break up a plain wall, and bring it all to life with a fern

Tide dinnerware, from £7 for a mug, and accessories, from a selection, all House of Fraser

Add interest to a plain wall by painting it two colours – not just one!

Café-style shutters, from £208, California Shutters (californiashutters.co.uk). Find a similar bath at Bathstore and similar accessories at John Lewis.

New bedlinen will give your room a totally different feel. Add cushions to finish the look

Floral Collage duvet cover, from £39, and accessories, from a selection, all West Elm (westelm.co.uk)