10 Simple Style Hacks to Improve the Look of Your Home
Freshen up your living space for the New Year with these 10 easy-to-stick-to ideas
Lara Sargent
1 January 2016
Houzz UK contributor. Freelance interiors journalist with over 20 years' experience writing for national magazines, newspapers and websites.
Houzz UK contributor. Freelance interiors journalist with over 20 years' experience... More
The thing with New Year’s resolutions is this: make them too big or too ambitious and only the iron-willed and staunchly resolute will have any chance of carrying them out. The same can be said for tackling our homes: give yourself too big a job or too hefty a makeover and you’ll get sick of it all before you’ve even got started.
The trick is to set yourself small tasks and manageable chores that might not make any real visible impact to an outsider, but will make the world of difference to the appearance – and the day-to-day running – of your home. Take a look at these suggestions below.
The trick is to set yourself small tasks and manageable chores that might not make any real visible impact to an outsider, but will make the world of difference to the appearance – and the day-to-day running – of your home. Take a look at these suggestions below.
Display artwork
Hands up how many of us have piles of photographs and pictures still waiting to get the exposure they deserve? Well, now is definitely the time to splash out on some new frames.
Try the January sales for a bargain or two and get out your hammer and nails to create your very own gallery at home. It won’t take more than half a day, will make such a difference to your space, and you’ll be so relieved to finally check it off your to-do list.
Hands up how many of us have piles of photographs and pictures still waiting to get the exposure they deserve? Well, now is definitely the time to splash out on some new frames.
Try the January sales for a bargain or two and get out your hammer and nails to create your very own gallery at home. It won’t take more than half a day, will make such a difference to your space, and you’ll be so relieved to finally check it off your to-do list.
Paint your woodwork
If you’re happy with the colour of your walls but would still like to spruce up your space, a good idea is to paint your skirting boards and woodwork.
Try a fresh lick of pure white for a simple refresh, or be adventurous with a darker colour or contrasting shade that will add an extra dynamic to your decorating scheme. Alternatively, paint door frames and skirting boards in exactly the same colour as your walls for a cool, homogenous look.
Browse tips on giving your home an injection of designer style
If you’re happy with the colour of your walls but would still like to spruce up your space, a good idea is to paint your skirting boards and woodwork.
Try a fresh lick of pure white for a simple refresh, or be adventurous with a darker colour or contrasting shade that will add an extra dynamic to your decorating scheme. Alternatively, paint door frames and skirting boards in exactly the same colour as your walls for a cool, homogenous look.
Browse tips on giving your home an injection of designer style
Make lighting sparkle
If you have a chandelier in your home, chances are it’s the focal point of the room, but to keep it looking its best, it needs a good spruce up once in a while. Cleaning such intricate and delicate fixtures is an unavoidably fiddly job, which is why we tend to put it off, but it will make a world of difference once it’s done.
Make sure the light is switched off and the bulb cool and get a stepladder so you can reach easily. Take a clean microfibre cloth, spray it with glass cleaner and gently wipe each piece of glass. Polish with a separate, dry cloth.
If you can take your chandelier apart, another option is to carefully take off each piece, dunk in warm, soapy water, rinse and leave to dry.
If you have a chandelier in your home, chances are it’s the focal point of the room, but to keep it looking its best, it needs a good spruce up once in a while. Cleaning such intricate and delicate fixtures is an unavoidably fiddly job, which is why we tend to put it off, but it will make a world of difference once it’s done.
Make sure the light is switched off and the bulb cool and get a stepladder so you can reach easily. Take a clean microfibre cloth, spray it with glass cleaner and gently wipe each piece of glass. Polish with a separate, dry cloth.
If you can take your chandelier apart, another option is to carefully take off each piece, dunk in warm, soapy water, rinse and leave to dry.
Buy potted plants
Don’t dismiss the power of houseplants to transform a space. Real greenery – either big and sculptural or small, frothy and frondy – can instil so much energy into your home, and for such minimal effort, too.
Some plants are not just pleasant eye-candy either. Certain varieties, such as spider and rubber plants, can help rid the air of harmful toxins, while palms are natural humidifiers and release moisture into a room.
Check out more ideas for improving your living space
Don’t dismiss the power of houseplants to transform a space. Real greenery – either big and sculptural or small, frothy and frondy – can instil so much energy into your home, and for such minimal effort, too.
Some plants are not just pleasant eye-candy either. Certain varieties, such as spider and rubber plants, can help rid the air of harmful toxins, while palms are natural humidifiers and release moisture into a room.
Check out more ideas for improving your living space
Streamline breakfast time
Mornings can be a chaotic affair, particularly in family homes, so take steps to keep breakfast running as smoothly as possible.
Keep mugs, bowls, plates, jams and cereals all in one place, in the same cupboard, at an easily accessible height. This way, every member of the family can reach the contents. If you have space to stash a toaster, kettle and coffee machine nearby, all the better.
Mornings can be a chaotic affair, particularly in family homes, so take steps to keep breakfast running as smoothly as possible.
Keep mugs, bowls, plates, jams and cereals all in one place, in the same cupboard, at an easily accessible height. This way, every member of the family can reach the contents. If you have space to stash a toaster, kettle and coffee machine nearby, all the better.
Beef up hallway storage
This entrance area can sometimes become neglected, as it’s often just a transitory space. But your hallway is important, and should reflect the design tempo going on elsewhere in your home. So don’t let it be forgotten when it comes to your New Year overhaul.
The first thing to do is to clear the decks by investing in a sturdy coat rack with a built-in shelf. Stand baskets on top of this for keeping scarves, hats and gloves tidy. If you have room, fit in a shoe rack – either a simple open-shelf style, or a box with a padded seat on top where you can sit while you pull on your boots.
Be inspired by 12 storage seat ideas
This entrance area can sometimes become neglected, as it’s often just a transitory space. But your hallway is important, and should reflect the design tempo going on elsewhere in your home. So don’t let it be forgotten when it comes to your New Year overhaul.
The first thing to do is to clear the decks by investing in a sturdy coat rack with a built-in shelf. Stand baskets on top of this for keeping scarves, hats and gloves tidy. If you have room, fit in a shoe rack – either a simple open-shelf style, or a box with a padded seat on top where you can sit while you pull on your boots.
Be inspired by 12 storage seat ideas
Take stock of the utility
This practical room is a wonderful thing, and just because it’s (generally) hidden behind closed doors, it doesn’t mean it needs less love and attention than the rest of your home. A calming space will make the daily chores that much more bearable.
Start with a thorough clean and tidy, and then invest in robust hessian baskets for separating out clean and dirty laundry. Hang up a line of hooks on a spare patch of wall and keep brushes, mops and dusters neatly off the floor.
This practical room is a wonderful thing, and just because it’s (generally) hidden behind closed doors, it doesn’t mean it needs less love and attention than the rest of your home. A calming space will make the daily chores that much more bearable.
Start with a thorough clean and tidy, and then invest in robust hessian baskets for separating out clean and dirty laundry. Hang up a line of hooks on a spare patch of wall and keep brushes, mops and dusters neatly off the floor.
Scrub up surfaces
There’s definitely something to be said for the character and patina that develops over time on wooden surfaces. But if your table is starting to look a little too stained and marked with large scratches and dents, perhaps it’s time to sand back and re-treat the surface. It will look beautiful and won’t lose its well-loved, well-used character.
There’s definitely something to be said for the character and patina that develops over time on wooden surfaces. But if your table is starting to look a little too stained and marked with large scratches and dents, perhaps it’s time to sand back and re-treat the surface. It will look beautiful and won’t lose its well-loved, well-used character.
Refresh your grout
If you’ve chosen a pure white grout for your bathroom, you may well find it’s become discoloured over time. But there’s an easy remedy, if you just set aside the time. Try an over-the-counter grout spray that will get rid of mould and mildew or, if you don’t fancy using chemicals, why not try your own natural cleaner for an ecofriendly alternative.
Fill a spray bottle with a half-and-half solution of vinegar and warm water, let it stand for five minutes, and then spray on your grout and tackle it with a stiff brush. For a more thorough clean, make a paste of baking soda and water, cover the grout, then spray with the vinegar solution and get to work.
If you’ve chosen a pure white grout for your bathroom, you may well find it’s become discoloured over time. But there’s an easy remedy, if you just set aside the time. Try an over-the-counter grout spray that will get rid of mould and mildew or, if you don’t fancy using chemicals, why not try your own natural cleaner for an ecofriendly alternative.
Fill a spray bottle with a half-and-half solution of vinegar and warm water, let it stand for five minutes, and then spray on your grout and tackle it with a stiff brush. For a more thorough clean, make a paste of baking soda and water, cover the grout, then spray with the vinegar solution and get to work.
Transform a radiator
It’s a simple update, but painting radiators will give a room an instant lift. You might decide to disguise your central heating system by painting radiators in the same colour as your walls, or overhaul them with a pastel or bold paint to make them a design feature in their own right. Just make sure the paint is suitable for use on radiators.
TELL US…
Do you have any quick and easy decorating ideas? Share them in the Comments below.
It’s a simple update, but painting radiators will give a room an instant lift. You might decide to disguise your central heating system by painting radiators in the same colour as your walls, or overhaul them with a pastel or bold paint to make them a design feature in their own right. Just make sure the paint is suitable for use on radiators.
TELL US…
Do you have any quick and easy decorating ideas? Share them in the Comments below.
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notonthehighstreet.com have got a great range of coloured Eames style chairs like this. http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/ciel/product/eames-style-dsw-chair
I painted a sad looking flat 80's era radiator with 'graphite' by annie sloan - and painted the chimney breast it is on the same colour, and now I love it! And its now a great backdrop for some of my work.
I did contact Annie Sloan before to check it was ok to use their paint on radiators and they said yes - but don't wax it.
I bought some plants and cheap pots. I put them by my front entrance and it has cheered that spot up easily! That was a simple task.
Now the big New Year's task is underway this weekend. Stripping, sanding back, and staining the front door. Oh my aching bones!