Freshen up

Carol O’Callaghan looks at easy and economical ways to bring a new look to your hall, bedroom and living room

CHANGING the look of a room doesn’t require a revamp. Just three products can bring a fresh look to a tired space.

Kitchens and bathrooms respond well to wear and tear as their fundamental design focuses on practicality and hard lines, but bedrooms and sitting rooms where the design emphasis is much softer, acquire the unfashionable end of shabbiness rather quickly, while halls, once the beautifully maintained scene for first impressions, have become a dumping ground.

A GRAND ENTRANCE

Invariably we have to cross the hall to get from one room to the next, but since adopting the custom of removing shoes in an effort to keep floors clean, we’ve invented another domestic chore, that of tidying up scattered pairs of shoes. A dedicated shoe tidy, if space permits, has become a necessity for family homes, or space for baskets beneath a console to get shoes off the floor and out of sight.

Halls, especially tiny ones that are unable to accommodate a table, can benefit from a radiator cover, the top of which will double up as a place for keys and post. Aesthetically more attractive than a bare radiator, it can be painted to match your décor.

Consider a hall mirror for more than checking your look before running out the door. In a dark hall it will reflect light, and if you opt for an in-vogue outsize model to lean against a wall, it will also give the illusion of more space.

BEDDING DOWN

Comfort is the priority in any bedroom but it can easily be spoilt by tired linens and stark overhead lighting. As the bed is the dominant piece of furniture, any changes to linens will impact hugely on the overall look. If you currently have a patterned set, buy some plain for when it’s in the wash. Alternating them will refresh the look of the room regularly.

Choose a bedside lamp or a new shade if you love your base, but do opt for something pale to maximise the amount of light penetrating through it. Pearlised bulbs cut down on glare, and pink bulbs give a soft light but without a rosy hue.

Experiment with a roll of wallpaper behind the bed head. It means you don’t have to repaint or face the chore of papering an entire room, and it will bring pattern and colour into an otherwise neutral room if teamed with white linens.

SITTING COMFORTABLY

A rug, some cushions and a new window treatment will vamp up your sitting room but make sure your choices complement the room’s existing style. Circular rugs are a lovely alternative to rectangles, although generally there are fewer of them around. Pick up on a colour from your décor and match cushions, opting for circular to work with your new rug. Curtains and blinds should last a long time, but hanging a voile brings additional texture and another layer of interest.

* Next week we start spring cleaning with tips on how to get clutter off the floor.