• First choose the wall colour. Opt for a pale blue or green. Farrow & Ball and Dulux have some great colours
• Create some affordable and bespoke artwork for the wall. The pictures below were very easy to make. Buy three small canvases, rip out some vintage style images from magazines (fashion pages always look good). Lay them on top of the canvas and paint with PVA glue as this will act as a clear sealant. When the glue is dry, hang the pictures in a row of three vertically or horizontally
• Invest in a fabric dressmakers dummy. These look fantastic in the bedroom and if you can afford it, the older the better. Not only do they add a vintage touch to the room but they can be used to hang a favourite dress or all of your necklaces
• Buy some old fabric rose lights (anything other than fabric can look tacky). Hang them over a bedstead, round a wardrobe or over a window

Photographer: Lizzie Orme

Moroccan tea glasses make great toothbrush holders and will brighten up a plain white sink.  If you have a small side table in the bathroom then cover it with a striking runner.  Keep a note book in the bathroom as not only will it add a splash of colour but also come in handy when you remember all the things that you need to do whilst relaxing in the bath!

Photographer: Lizzie Orme

Transform a tired looking room with some funky wallpaper. Wallpaper is an in-expensive way to add a bit of style and colour to a pale room.  vThis particular style is from B&Q.

Start by choosing a wallpaper that compliments the tones of the existing accessories.; I would suggest taking a sample home to see if it works within the room. Wallpaper the chimney breast, a whole wall or simply wallpaper one strip as shown in this picture.

Wallapers Direct stocks a lot of wallpaper suppliers such as Graham & Brown, Wilman, Sanderson, Cole & Son, Villa Nova, Harlequin, Linda Barker, Morris & Co, Julien McDonald, Monsoon, Crown, Brian Yates.

Photographer: Lizzie Orme

If you have an old or dull sofa and you can’t afford a new one because you are feeling the effects of the credit crunch, then why not revamp the one you have.  Below are a few affordable options:

1) Cover can your sofa with a large throw.  You buy a throw for as little as £50 compared/o to around £1,500 for the cost of a new sofa.  Some good suppliers of throws are: House of Fraser, Debenhams, BHS, Woolworths, Marks and Spencer & Next

2) Cover the sofa with some stylish fabric as this will give you a greater choice of colours and designs.  John Lewis stock a wide range of suppliers.

The picture below demonstrates how you can transform an old sofa with a stylish length of fabric.

3) The last option is to have the sofa professionally covered.  This is slightly more expensive than option 1&2 but would still be around 50% cheaper than buying a new sofa.  There are several companies that offer this service but my favourites are Plumbs and Sofa Covers.

Fireplace

Question:
I happened onto your website today while trying to figure out what to do with the my non functioning fireplace in my new London flat which i moved into last week. I am totally overwhelmed by what to do. I guess at best you could call the fireplace ‘Grandmother Chic’. When I moved in the tiles on the fireplace were painted and curiosity got the best of me and i stripped the paint. Now I don’t know what to do!

I’m going to paint the walls but havent’ decided which colour. The carpeting will be replaced with sand coloured sisal. There is a smallish round black dining table with a deco feel to it going in the bay window and the couch is anthracite. I am very confused. Should i paint the fireplace all one colour (wood and tiles?) Should i try something a bit daring? ie crackle glaze? Should I bash it down and put in something modern?

Question by Nicole, London

Answer:
I’ve had a look through your pictures and you have a good size flat with lots of potential. The living room looks like a good size with lots of natural daylight which is a great.

With regards to the fireplace, can I ask first if this is a working fire and if so, are you planning to use it? I am assuming you want to go for quite a contemporary look?

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