Sunshine, daffodils and cobwebs!

Sunshine, daffodils and cobwebs!

It’s so lovely to see the sun streaming in through our windows bringing with it the promise of summer.

However, it does light up all the cobwebs, tired wallpaper and paint work! Time for a serious spring clean and maybe a change of décor.

I think we all realise how important our living room has become after such tumultuous times. No longer is it the show piece to impress our friends, but a place where we live, work and play. It has to feel right for our way of life, and how we want to feel when in it.

Colours and texture are very important and getting it right for us and our family can be daunting. But after spending so much of our time at home during the pandemic we now understand that all these things really matter. 

Blue and all its shades is the one colour that requires our eyes to do little-to-no adjusting, making it easy to live with and restful. In fact blue is predicted to be the top colour for 2023, starting with sky blue for its calming effect. This can be married with a punchy electric blue, gold and even green with a hint of purple on cushions and accessories.

Bringing nature into our homes has become very important and Dulux predict that their Wild Wonder warm neutral barley colour that can look more green on one wall and more gold on another. 

 Dulux colour of the year 2023 Wild Wonder has a unique property | Ideal Home

Let me help you with some ideas. 

If you already have a neutral colour pallet then this is an ideal base on which to paint vibrant colours with all your soft furnishings. 

Very often I create an entirely different room just by changing cushions, curtains, rugs, small tables, lamps and accessories. All of which are not expensive and the job can be achieved quickly, making a rather satisfying exercise.

Wash and box up all the older soft furnishings and store for when you want to change things around again. This way you will build up a number of seasonal colours and textures to choose from.

While a velvet sofa is luxurious and sumptuous, we have to think about the practicality of it when weighed up against a twill fabric. A light colour against a dark. You really want your sofa to look good for as long as possible, and be easily cleaned. 

Money saving tips

Consider renovating tired old furniture like a sideboard, small tables and lamps.  Wooden furniture can be sanded down and either stained or painted and then varnished or waxed to finish them off. You would be surprised how satisfying this is. There are lots of ideas and tips on the internet that will help you through this process. Think of the money it will save. 

Lamps bases can be spray painted and a new shade fitted to make it look brand new. It’s always great to upcycle items.

If you do want to go the whole hog and invest in new wallpaper, then have a look at these links for ideas.  

The Little Greene Company provide great ideas on how to create wonderful results with wallpaper, they even give you tips on how to hang the paper. How to Use Wallpaper Throughout Your Home | Little Greene