The decorations are long gone and the house is looking as dull as the weather. What’s worse – the credit card is maxed out and there’s no spare cash to do any DIY at the one time of the year when you most feel like a change of scenary. With this in mind, we have prepared our top tips for detoxing and improving your living space this January. Even better, it doesn’t need to cost you anything more than a weekend of your time.
- Declutter, and clean. Focus on those piles of items that have building in the corners for weeks- magazines, papers and clothes are the usual culprits. Then don the marigolds and turn the radio up loud!
- Sort the storage. Vacuum bags are a super way to get old clothes and bedding packed away under a bed or in the loft. So get into those wardrobes and drawers and get vacuuming! Box files, wicker baskets, blanket boxes, bed chests and ottomans are also ideal for storing items away from sight. You can get a pack of 15 for £21 on www.amazon.co.uk, or check out your nearest Argos. For ottomans and bed chests, M&S and Laura Ashley have some very versatile and stylish high street options.
- Organise the recycling. There are increasingly novel ways of organising your recycling, which can have a nasty habit of dominating limited space in the kitchen. We love these examples: the horizontal units are £25.52 from nigelsecostore.com (a most fabulous website for all green and sustainable items and new ideas for your home), or the vertical stacking system, £12 per unit from www.aplaceforeverything.co.uk available in black and white transluscent.
- Ebay, charity shops and car boots. ‘Tis almost the season for car boot sales – a sociable and fun way to dispose of your least treasured items. It’s amazing what people will buy. And how many times have you looked at something and thought, ‘I must get you on Ebay’. Well, there has never been a better time to finally do it and make a few extra pounds to help pay for the Crimble presents. If you need to find your nearest car boot sale, visit www.carbootjunction.com which is a directory of all car boot sales across the UK.
- Get on top of those annoying DIY jobs. Blown lightbulbs, broken curtain poles, stains on sofas and carpets…you get the idea. These jobs become a mental block that never gets done. Best way to tackle them is to make a list and set aside a couple of hours, or a a couple of separate sessions to blitz them….after which treat yourself with a nice cup of tea and half an hour in front of the TV.
- Move accessories and pictures around. A very cheap and easy way to change the look of a room is to swap the accessories with either another room, or items that you’ve had stored away in a cupboard. Good examples would be cushions, throws, pictures, candles, rugs etc. Take it one step further and change the location of furniture to create a new focal point in a room, ie a window with a lovely view, a fire place or piece of furniture, or pictures on a wall.
Next week, we will show you how to take this one step further with low cost suggestions for creating a feature wall to give new character and life to your room.
Dovetail Design is a full-service interior and exterior design consultancy based in Warwickshire, the West Midlands and London. Dovetail has an established reputation for creating and delivering stunning and innovative interior designs and garden designs, coupled with outstanding customer service. Specialising in marquee events, Dovetail also creates bespoke and inspiring designs which reflect the mood or theme of your occasion perfectly.
Some favorites to consider would be:
