Easy style updates
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
Mini decor projects, plus tricks and tips for a fresh start
1 BRING IN GREENERY
Shake off the winter blues by working plants and shades of green into your colour scheme. Fresh green will energise a space; choose leafy prints or a painted wall panel, or even a simple display of house plants.
2 CREATE A LIVING WALL
Brighten up the side of a shed or drab brickwork by fixing a couple of vertical panels. Add sturdy hooks to hang bucket planters and fill them with herbs or trailing plants.
3 ADD A POP OF PAINT
Smarten up a shabby kitchen cupboard by giving it a fresh coat of paint. Choose a darker shade for the inside to create a contrasting backdrop for displays of crockery and tableware.
4 PULL UP AN EXTRA PEW
Supplement living room seating with a pouffe or footstool. It’s somewhere to rest your feet or perch on, or top with a tray and use as a resting spot for drinks and snacks when guests pop by.
Lift a plain kitchen or one-colour scheme by introducing a lively design. A narrow band of wallpaper above a splashback (and away from water) will add instant impact without costing a fortune.
5 WORK IN A PLAYFUL PATTERN 6 FRAME A LOVELY VIEW
Build a bench seat into a window recess so you can make the most of the view outdoors. Add a neat Roman blind, which won’t cover up too much of the glass, to match your colour scheme.
7 ADD A FEW SPICY SHADES
Introduce warm, sun-baked tones to cosy up a north-facing room. Shades of blush, soft coral and burnt orange on plush cushions, textiles and rugs will help take off the chill.
8 SPRUCE UP A SHABBY DINING TABLE
Cover up a less-thanperfect tabletop by layering cloths. Throw a plain linen one on the bottom and a chintzy floral on top. Add napkins and seat cushions in co-ordinating prints.
Melbury wooden armchair, £599, John Lewis & Partners. Primrose chair, £160, Cotswold Company
9 USE A BUSY PRINT AS A FOCAL POINT
Make a narrow kitchen or long corridor feel more spacious by wallpapering one end in a lively print. The busy pattern will draw the eye.
10 UPCYCLE A THRIFTY FIND
Look out for classic furniture brands like Ercol at online auctions or secondhand shops. Clean up and re-upholster your pre-loved piece in a natty print to give an old original a new lease of life.
11 MAKE MINI DISPLAY CUBBIES
Turn old drawers or wooden crates into wall cubbies. Freshen up with paint or create a distressed finish and line with paper before hanging.
12 BRIGHTEN UP AN OLD LAMP
Switching the shade is an easy way of updating a lamp. Get the proportions right: the height of the shade should be roughly two-thirds the height of the base, while widthwise it should measure twice the lamp’s width.
15 SPLASH OUT ON CUSHIONS
Keep outdoor cushions looking their best by opting for weatherproof covers that won’t be ruined if there’s a shower. Go for water and mildewresistant materials and fade-proof fabrics.
13 GO GLAM IN THE SHOWER
Transform a walk-in shower with statement tiles and fittings. Add wow with a bold geometric pattern on one wall, teamed with contrasting terrazzo tiles. Finish with luxe gold shower fittings.
14 SORT GARDEN STORAGE
Save a trek to the shed by investing in extra storage closer to the house. These sturdy weatherproof cabinets are handy for gardening essentials, cushions or outdoor kitchen kit.
16 PREP THE GARDEN
Use free time over the Bank Holidays to tidy up outdoors. Give decking a scrub if it’s become slippery, wipe down garden furniture and wash outdoor cushions that have been stored in the shed all winter.
17 SWAP WINTER BEDDING FOR A SUMMER SET
Switch to lighterweight bedding now the weather is warmer. Opt for breathable cotton sheets or cool percale and put the winter duvet away. Between 2.5 and 7 togs is ideal for spring and summer.
18 PAINT A KITCHEN WALL
Instead of a tiled splashback, create a focal point by painting the wall in dark stripes. Use wipe-clean eggshell paint or protect the lower section with clear Perspex.
19 INTRODUCE BLACK AS AN ACCENT
Bored with an all-neutral scheme? Shake up your palette with smart black accessories. It’s the perfect foil for shades of taupe and ivory, and will add a modern edge.
20 PUT PLANTS IN BASKETS
Disguise plastic pots by showing off indoor greenery in rustic jute baskets with plastic protective liners. Style baskets up with a selection of mini spring bulbs in pots or pop in a single potted house plant.