As the dark nights draw in, Bovis Homes’ interior designer Louise Williams shares her thoughts on how to brighten up your home this winter:
Q I always feel a bit miserable when it gets colder and the days start to shorten. How can I brighten up my home this winter to make it feel warm and cosy?A As autumn turns into winter, it is a great time to look at making some changes to your interior décor. What works well during the summer months might feel cold or out of place as the dark nights draw in. Look to enhance your décor and create a space which is a warm and welcoming, creating a sanctuary for you and your family as well as visitors.
Changing the look of your home doesn’t need to break the bank – a few well chosen accessories may be all that is required to add warmth and brightness.
Take inspiration from nature and update your décor with plush cushions and throws using Autumnal colours – with so many different hues of red, gold and brown for example you can add instant warmth to your living room and create a luxurious, cosy space in which to relax. Go for rich textured fabrics such as velvets and velour or warm chunky cord.
Warm, rich curtains can also transform a room for the winter as well as being extremely practical – why not invest in two different sets of curtains for key rooms to mark the change in seasons? Go for ready made and it shouldn’t be too cost prohibitive.
Q I would like to brighten up my children’s rooms this winter. Any ideas?A While candles are a definite ‘no go’ for kids’ rooms from a safety perspective, it is easy to change the look and feel of a child’s bedroom by using imaginative lighting and accessories.
Strings of fairy lights create an element of wonder in a little girl’s room and, with so many different designs of string lights now available, you will find something for even the most demanding child from rows of football lights for budding young Beckham to a whole host of funky designs which will appeal to teenagers.
Again, cushions and throws can be used to add warmth to a child’s bedroom in the winter months, making it a space where they will want to hang out on their own or with friends. Match these to the existing theme of the room or take your children shopping with you to pick out one or two key accessories for their own personal space.
Q: I really miss my garden during the winter months. How can I bring a bit of outside living into my home?If you can afford them, fresh flowers make all the difference to a home during the winter months. What could be more cheering that one or two bunches of bright coloured blooms strategically placed around the house?
A more cost effective solution is to invest in a couple of stunning flowering pot plants, chosen to match your new cushions and throws and to add further life and warmth to a room.
Don’t forget other types of outdoor foliage as well – get creative and use ivy, bracken or even colourful vegetables such as pumpkins and gourds to brighten up your living space.
And don’t neglect the outside of your house either. A freshly painted front door decorated with a seasonal wreath is always welcoming. Create an even more stunning yet practical entrance by adding some outside lighting in keeping with the style of your house and neighbourhood.
Bovis Homes Central Region has a wide selection of properties across the region. For more details telephone 01675 437237 or log on to: www.bovishomes.co.uk