Now’s the perfect time to get your house in order. For great ideas on fresh new looks, top tips on coming clean look no further.
Come clean
It might sound obvious, but don’t underestimate the transformative powers of giving your house a thorough clean and tidy. We’re talking a whole weekend dedicated to scrubbing, cleaning and dusting – wash your curtains and windows, scrub skirting boards, pull out furniture and the contents of your cupboards and give it all some elbow grease.
Why not visit your local Co-operative Food store to stock up on cleaning essentials.
While you’re at it, this is a great opportunity to declutter. Bag up items that will be happy in another home and take them to your local charity shop, offer them on the online recycling network Freecycle, or organise a swishing party (see below).
Get a swish new home
Fed up with the cushions on your sofa? Got a rug or picture you don’t want? Then get swishing! It’s a huge trend in fashion, so why not do the same with your unwanted homewares? Simply set a date, invite a group of friends over to your place and ask them to bring their unwanted home accessories with them (it’s best to specify that they should be in good condition). Lay on wine and nibbles and swap your way to some new home-decor looks.
Make pretty with paint
Repainting walls or a piece of furniture such as a chair, table or cabinet is one of the Updating with paint is cheap and chic easiest, least expensive ways to breathe new life into a room and give it a chic, low maintenance update. Feature walls are still on trend. Keep three walls neutral and add a splash of block colour on the fourth – ocean blues are big for 2012. 60-minute fakeover If your bed or sofa has been rooted to the same spot for years, it’s a sign you’re stuck in a furniture rut.
Set aside an hour for rearranging furniture to give your home a hassle-free makeover. Start by removing all the smaller items so that you can focus on rearranging those bulky, bigger pieces. Thinking of buying a new sofa? Then take advantage of deals offering you two cover choices so you can change the look of your room to give it a seasonal update.
Accessorise, accessorise, accessorise…
Having a minor home-accessory shopping spree will give your home that magazine makeover feel in an instant. Treat yourself to some new bed linen – zesty citrus shades, kaleidoscopic colours and nautical themes are all big trends this spring. A few fluffy new towels in vibrant colours will brighten up a tired-looking bathroom – and they’ll feel lovely on your skin – or why not revitalise a drab-looking sofa with a brightly coloured throw? Even a new vase or cushion can make all the difference.
Get crafty
Harness your inner Kirstie Allsopp by customising what you’ve already got. Try covering plain wooden floating shelves with eye-catching printed cotton, cover a wall with retro postcards or give cushions an update by making fab new cushion covers using brightly patterned silk scarves – trawl charity and vintage shops for bargain finds. Mirror, mirror on the wall … A strategically placed mirror can give the illusion of space. Hang a mirror to the left or the right as you walk into a room to reflect the room’s length, or place the mirror opposite a window to bring in light or an amazing view from outdoors.
Tweak it
There’s no need to call in the builders – you can make quick and easy home updates yourself. New knobs will transform doors and cupboards in an instant. Or, if your bathroom sink and bath are in good nick but need a lift, why not replace the taps and fittings? 
Top Trends
- Stripes are back but they have to be zigzag to be on trend.
- Orange is a key colour. Not just feel-good brights but soft apricots and pretty peaches, too.
- Lace is popping up everywhere this spring, from picture frames and lamp shades to fabrics and furniture.