Picture research Charlotte Coward-Williams and Natalie Osborn
Whilst we were busy sunning ourselves in July and August, our living rooms were taking a breather. They no longer feared the onslaught of a muddy boot or a misplaced bowl of soup, and were basking in the hours of delicious peace and quiet. Well, that’s over now. The cooler climes have brought us inside from our outdoorsy pursuits and Britain’s living rooms are back to being the reluctant centre of attention. So now is the time to get stuck into a mini makeover and ease our homes into this new, high-traffic season. Here, you’ll find four swoon-worthy schemes, fit to bursting with bargain buys and top tricks, to inspire every decorating brief and budget. And who knows, maybe we’ll be repaid with £10 down the back of a sofa cushion...
Can you see storage?
Look at the picture below. There is a family’s worth of daily dross tidied away in this room – but where is it? The walls aren’t hiding a hidden cavity and there isn’t a trap door under the rug. However, there is a voluminous hidden compartment in the sofa. The design in question is the Fleetwood in Charcoal from Sofa.com, and it’s a snip at just £600.
Pure and...
Geo pendant, £20, Next
Areo concrete pendant, £70; ampersand, £90; Amos table lamp, £40; Reynold task lamp, £50; Nash table lamp, £40; Nero wiggle pendant, £75, all Bhs
Don’t be fooled into thinking monochrome = minimal. There is lots of fun to be had with the black and white (and grey) trend, and the party starts with texture. Mix geometric pendant lights with concrete, chrome and matt white accessories, add a smattering of touch-me-now cushions and throws, then set everything against a show-stopping feature wall.
...patterned
What this look lacks in colour, it more than makes up for in pattern. As a rule of thumb, pick one large scale print for the accessory with most surface area (most likely a rug), then work your way down to the smaller items, shrinking the designs as you go. If you’re unsure, create a moodboard to visualise your scheme.
Rules are meant to be broken, so chuck in a few coloured accessories if the strict monochrome look isn’t working for you. This hot pink striped cushion is just the thing; pick it up for £14.99 at HomeSense.