SMALL CHANGES, BIG IMPACT
Small changes, big impact
Title: Small changes, big impact: 8 easy ways to update your home
Not everyone has the time, money or inclination to rip it out and start again but if your home is in need of an update, there are a number of shortcuts to improve home style. Here are 8 property styling tips for those stuck in an interiors rut.
1. Replace net curtains: nothing says the 1980s like lacey net curtains and swapping these out for something more modern will provide an instant update. Keeping windows completely unobscured is what interior designers prefer but if all-day privacy is important, plain voile panels or roller blinds are simple, unfussy alternatives.
2. Upgrade your gas fire: radiant bar-style gas fires were a thing of beauty in the 1960s but if you’re still nursing this source of heat, your home will feel dated. Interiors in London often require a gas fire if they lie in a smoke control area and thankfully, there are some stylish living flame and log-burner style options available.
3. Repaint pine furniture: the orange undertones and shiny varnish usually applied to pine furniture takes us back to the 1990s but there are a number of upcycle fixes if the item is functional but plainly unfashionable. The quickest is replacing original wood handles and feet with contemporary metal alternatives but sanding back, priming and repainting will complete a total transform.
4. Remove dried flowers: even if you’ve removed all traces of chintz from your walls and upholstery, your choice of accessories can let you down. With the exception of the creations from a few dried flower specialists, dried flowers and potpourri belong in a distant decade. Instead, fragrance your home with reed diffusers and scented candles, and dress your home with real house plants.
5. Cover unsightly carpets: a heavily patterned, worn or stained carpet can ruin your home’s overall appeal but it’s an expensive change to make. A large rug will cover a myriad of sins and can be bought in a more modern style that reflects how you have redecorated the rest of your home.
6. Apply a fresh coat of paint: fashionable paint colours usually have a limited shelf life, so the joy of your coral feature wall or teal guest room may quickly evaporate. Timeless, modern house interiors are usually painted in the polar opposite – either a crisp white or Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe black – so opting for monochrome will make all the difference. Just add pops of colour with artwork and accessories.
7. Swap old light shades for new: often overlooked, light shades can really set the tone of a room. If you currently have fabric shades, think about opaque glass or rattan examples. If your shades are neutral and plain, swap them for Liberty or Morris & Co prints.
8. Change switches & sockets: white plastic light switches and plug sockets scream boring basics but it’s easy to elevate the aesthetic with a visit to a hardware store. Look out for chrome, brushed gold, copper and matt black options that will provide the perfect finishing touch.
If you are planning more major interior and structural changes, please contact Rudolph Diesel Interiors for a full consultation, design and installation service.