While none of us expected to be in lockdown this spring, we’re trying to take the positives out of the current situation. We’re all spending more time in our homes, so how about making some time to do some home improvements? And when we say home improvements, we’re not talking about cleaning out the gutters and other boring stuff. Here are a few ideas to give you some inspiration to add some colour and style to your interiors.
Get your day off to the brightest of starts
Frame the view with a colourful new blind. Clarissa Hulse has designed this Watercolour Stripe Teal Roller Blind in a new collaboration with Blinds 2Go (from £32.70). Clarissa hand-painted each band of the original design in her own unique style to reflect the ever-changing sky. We’re sure this will give your home a welcome burst of energy. Visit Blinds 2Go for a free sample and instant quote. This design is also available as a Roman blind.
If you can’t get to the furniture store…
Let the furniture store come to you! In response to the current situation, MY Furniture has created an innovative way of giving you a showroom experience from the comfort of your own armchair. Visit www.my-furniture.com and find the product you like. Click the blue ‘Request Video Call’ button to book your call via Facetime, Skype or Whats App. One of the sales team will call you and show you your product up close, plus any other ideas you might like.
Brighten up your street
How about cheering up yourself, and your neighbours, by changing the colour of your door. This funky pink one is from Evolution Windows, the timber alternative windows and doors manufacturer. However, while we’re in a lockdown scenario, you could paint your own. Here’s a handy guide from Happy DIY Home
Give your taps a makeover
Give your bathroom an instant touch of luxury by upgrading your taps. These Swadling Brassware taps are made of brass and come in a variety of gorgeous finishes. The taps themselves come in Chrome, Polished Nickel, Brushed Nickel, Gold, Brushed Gold and Brass. But you can really make them your own by your choice of tops. They include minimalist White or Black Glass and dazzling Mother of Pearl or Black Lip Pearl finishes.
Take a shelfie
Have you always admired those stylish shelves in interiors magazines and on Instagram? Well if you’ve got more time on your hands, perhaps now is a good time to give some TLC to your own shelves. Home stylist, Eddie Ross, has put together his top tips on how to style your shelves for House Beautiful. This includes bringing in a range of different textures such as glass, ceramic and stone. We love this #shelfie from @harrison_nate_and_me on Insta, who has curated a beautiful set of shelves.
Upgrade to shutters
Have you considered replacing your blinds or curtains with shutters? Not only do they add elegance, but they also enhance privacy. At the same time, they bathe the room in beautiful daylight. All the shutters for Blinds 2Go are made of an advanced waterproof polymer. They are not only virtually indestructible, but also perfectly suitable for kitchens and bathrooms too. We love the look of these Mayfair Pure White Shutter Blinds from Blinds 2Go (from £75.21) shared by @mrs_macs_home on Instagram.
Add a boutique bar feel to your home
We can’t go out to a restaurant or bar right now, so how about bringing the feel of your favourite bar into your own home? MY Furniture has cleverly used vintage, crystal whisky decanters to create these stunning, antique-effect, tinted glass pendant lights. Hang one on its own or create a beautiful statement by combining the Jura, Scarpa and Talisker Decanter Pendant Lights together. Each is priced at £34.99.
Bring the tropics into your home
Holidays don’t have to be a distant memory. Bring a tropical Caribbean feel into your home with this fabulous Pink Jungle wall mural from Wallsauce.com (from £29 per square metre). We love how this custom-made pink wallpaper, with its palm leaf print, is bringing some serious holiday vibes to this home office. Brighten up your day and have a look at all the amazing prints on the Wallsauce website.
Add some glamour to homeworking
If you’re fighting for space on the kitchen table or just feel like adding a little bit of glamour to your working day, this Pino Console Table from MY Furniture (from £239.99) can be used as a desk. Then when it’s time to get back out to work, switch its use to a beautiful hallway or dressing table. Inspired by mid-century Italian architecture and interiors, the brass effect finish has a toughened glass top with bevelled edge. Pictured here with the Ravello Dining Chair in Teal (from £199.99).
Get stencilling
If anytime is the time to upcycle, it’s now. You can upcycle anything from chests of drawers to tables or walls to floors. One of the most effective ways for instant gratification is to use a stencil. Dizzy Duck Designs has loads of fabulous and funky designs, which you can easily apply to all manner of surfaces, including this bold zebra print stencil (from £7.98).