THE VERY BEST IDEAS TO... Refresh your living room

Battening down the hatches has never been so stylish with these incredible decorating tricks

Words Natalie Osborn

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.