Refresh your home and refresh your life
BY READERS DIGEST
1st Jan 2015 Home & Garden
Feeling like your home looks tired, but worried about the cost of a revamp? We ask an expert for simple strategies for sprucing things up without it costing the earth.
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Shabby chic is all very well, but if your home hasn’t seen a paintbrush this century, it could be overdue for a revamp.
That doesn’t mean you need to chuck out your carpets (which, in any case, are making a comeback). “It’s not about fashion,” says Judy Smith, Crown Paints’ colour consultant. “Think about what you want—is it a room that makes an impact, or one that’s a background for your possessions? It’s your home, so it should please you.”
To make that happen, she suggests adding:
- Instant sunshine: “Make sure curtains pull clear of the windows, and paint the frame white so light bounces off it.”
- Classy details: “Think cushions with piping, and immaculate skirtings.”
- Contrasting alcoves: “A painted recess is more subtle than a feature wall or wallpapering the chimney breast.”
- A splash of green: “It brings spring into the room and there’s a lot of it about, from citrus greens to restful greeny-blues.”
- One standout piece: “One red sofa in a neutral room is more powerful than a match-matchy decor. Or look for a beautiful shape. I love the Conran Shop’s Cherner walnut armchair—but at £1,058, it’s likely to stay on my wish list.”
- Upcycling: “Painting and customising old furniture is popular, and stencilling with small geometric patterns is very now.”
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