What do cuckoos, lawn mowers and paint tins have in common?
They herald the arrival of spring! We are of course creatures of habit, rest assured that as the weather warms up and those bright beams of sunlight shine back into our homes, there will be someone tasked to head off to the local hardware or DIY store. The declutter and spring cleaning gets started as we yearn for a fresh feel.
But we are also creatures of habit in other ways. We pick items for our homes with spot decisions, we select colours that we are used to, or that feel safe, and what we end up with is something familiar yet perhaps not quite the transformation we had hoped, often with wasted expenditure too.
It’s time for some bravery and planning! The first thing is stop and consider what the year ahead holds… For example, if you think you are likely to purchase new furniture this year, have your kitchen remodelled or new flooring, then hold back on immediate spot purchases. A well-designed interior has a sense of continuity and flow between rooms, they influence each other in subtle ways.
Aim to bring all your samples and swatches together first, look at prominent objects, furniture or art that is going to remain, pick up on some of their main colours or patterns and seek a holistic theme. Adding layers of texture, pattern and colour is what really starts to transform a space.
Learn about new materials that could be incorporated, it’s easy to fall into a decorative rut and you may find you always pick the same carpet type, unaware of fantastic new products available. For example, sisal effect, that is super soft, made from recycled plastic bottles and a breeze to keep clean.
Lighting also plays a crucial role, not only in ensuring that the room is practical for its purpose, but also for the ambience we are seeking. It’s always better to have more lighting options than less, colour changes dramatically between natural and incandescent light, so always take time to view those samples over different times of day or evening.
So, sit back in the spring sunshine, listen to the cuckoos and lawn mowers and plan your new beginning!