Mini decor projects plus tricks and tips for a fresh start
From best buys and clever tricks to mini decor projects…this is our roundup of the simplest, quickest ways to make your home more beautiful now
1 PERK UP YOUR LIVING ROOM
Refresh a tired colour scheme for spring. Swap plain cushions for cheery patterns in a mix of leafy greens and sunny yellows. Update a throw by sewing on bright pom-poms.
2 FILL AN EMPTY FIREPLACE
While you’re not using it over summer, fill your fireplace with painted logs for a pretty focal point. Use simple white, then pick out a few logs to paint different shades.
3 MAKE A SPRING GARLAND
Decorate a wicker garland with fresh flowers – cover it completely or add just a couple of blooms and leave the rest of the wicker bare. Complete with favourite postcards.
4 ADD AN EXTRA TIER OR TWO
Give greenery displays extra height and fullness by arranging plants on a tiered stand. Opt for trailing plants that will spill out over the sides – try easy-care varieties such as spider plants or devil’s ivy.
Agra double plant side table, £32, Habitat
5 BUY A NEW LAMP (OR TWO)
The best way to light a room is to use a mix of layered lighting. Supplement a ceiling light with several table lamps dotted around a room, with perhaps a floor lamp and wall lights too.
6 LET MORE LIGHT INTO YOUR ROOMS
Take down heavy winter curtains and swap for lighterweight fabrics that can be pulled back completely. Expose as much of the window as you can, to let in lots of natural light.
7 INVEST IN A CABINET
Free up extra space in the kitchen by storing tableware in a dining room cabinet. Show off your best crockery behind glazed doors and hide random clutter in drawers.
8 GO FOR BUILTIN HALLWAY STORAGE
Tackle an overcrowded hallway by fitting a bank of cupboards so heavy coats can be tidied away. Combine with cubbyhole storage for shoes and boots, and add a bench for changing shoes.
9 PANEL BEDROOM WALLS
Panelling is an easy way of covering uneven walls. Finish it off at the top with a narrow shelf for displaying favourite odds and ends.
10 SHOWCASE FAVOURITE THINGS
Collections have more impact displayed en masse, so show off treasured vases or glassware rather than hiding them away. Group pieces with taller items at the back and smaller ones to fill gaps.
11 SET UP AN INDOOR HERB GARDEN
Grow herbs in the kitchen so you can snip off a sprig or two when you’re cooking. Choose a sunny spot near a window – this neat ladder plant stand can be propped against a wall and holds five pots.
12 TIDY KITCHEN CLUTTER
Clear away all the random receipts, notes and recipes that are cluttering up the fridge door. Bin paperwork that’s out of date or irrelevant and file and keep the useful numbers and important info.
13 SAY IT WITH FLOWERS
Update dreary dinnerware by adding a pretty floral into the mix. Invest in a box set of patterned china or supplement a plain white set by adding in just a few key pieces to mix and match.
14 GET SET UP IN A SUNNY SPOT
As spring draws near, rearrange furniture so you can enjoy the brighter days and warmer weather. Set up a table or position an easy chair in a spot leading out to the garden or beside a window with a view.
15 SQUEEZE IN EXTRA STORAGE
Make space work harder in a small bathroom with multitasking storage so you can pack in all your essentials. This neat wall-hung caddy doubles up as a towel rail too.
16 ADD AN ACCENT COLOUR TO FRAME A DOOR
Lift a plain scheme with an unexpected pop of colour. Highlight a doorway or window by painting the recess in a contrasting colour – choose a shade that ties in with your colour scheme to provide a visual link.
17 SWAP LAMPS FOR BEDSIDE PENDANTS
Free-up table space in a bedroom by opting for hanging pendants in place of bedside lamps. Position at a height where you won’t knock your head and the bulb won’t dazzle you.
18 PICK OUT FAVOURITE COLOURS
Keep little ones sweet if they’re sharing a bedroom, by opting for mix and match bedding so they can personalise their space. Decorate walls and shelves with their favourite wall art.
19 GROUP PLANTS TOGETHER
Instead of dotting a few plants here and there, arranging them in a group looks much more eye-catching. Display on staggered shelves, choosing plants in a mix of heights, varieties and leaf shapes.
20 MAKE A GOOD ENTRANCE
Tidy up outdoor areas that have been neglected over winter. Wipe down the front door, polish brassware and sweep the front step. And if the door mat is looking tatty, upgrade with a new one.
Retro rainbow doormat, £10, Next