Summer is over – Time to re think your home

*This is a collaborative post 

Summer is now over, and it is the perfect time to reflect on your interior design and your home in general. During the Summer, even in Lockdown, we all spend more time outside than any other time in the year. When we start to spend less time outside often, we notice things we don’t like about our home, it’s a great idea to be proactive here and start planning changes before the winter sets in. The aim is to have a space you love by the time we have no choice but to stay in because it’s wet, cold and dark!

Keeping Warm

Summer isn’t a time you think about heating. The problem is, we normally only think about it in the winter and by then its often too late to do anything about it. Firstly, while its not about interior design, get your boiler serviced now, don’t wait as you may struggle to get a slot in the few months’ time. When it comes to changing your home a wood burner or real fire can be a really exciting change. It’s not just real fires though, there are some amazing gas effect fires and electric options too. The point is, now is a great time to make a change and bring some warmth into your home. Central heating is great but when it comes to feeling cosy nothing beats a fire at the heart of your living space. The best advice is to try and avoid big online stores for this kind of thing. Find a local specialist who can help you choose what’s best for you. Shops like Wakefords Fireplacesare dotted around the country; look for one with years of experience and lots of good reviews.

Clear Out

While Autumn is an amazing time to review what your home looks like inside and out it is also an amazing time to have a good clear out. As we spend more time inside the stuff, we surround ourselves with can really hem us in. Loft spaces don’t matter too much but it still feels great to clear stuff out. Get in that garage and get rid of stuff you don’t need. Even old bits of furniture that you no longer like, it might be time to say goodbye! Get everything down the recycling centre and out of the house. If you find there is a lot of waste you can call a company to come and get it for you, endless runs to the “tip” can really destroy a weekend and are often what puts people off actually having a clear-out.

Furniture

What we sit on, eat off and keep things in can really have a big effect on us, but we often don’t notice it. We all have bits of furniture we love but we also all have stuff we just use and kind of hate. The items we choose to surround ourselves with do have a subconscious impact on how we feel. Autumn is a great time to review what we have and think about making some changes. It may be time for that new sofa ready for come cosy winter evenings in front of a good box set. It may be something really big like a new bed or wardrobes. Smaller things can be just as important though, for example, if you have a breakfast bar and the stools are getting a bit tired, choosing some new ones can really give your space a boost. New dining chairs and a table can also really make a positive change. One thing to think about though is sustainability, we are all moving away from fast fashion and fast furniture is something we should try to avoid too. Try looking around at items that are made to last, they are more expensive but won’t fall apart in 3 years. There is a huge wave of small producers in the UK like Cheeky Chairs who are making amazing furniture that really is built to last. Consider doing some upcycling or getting some items re-painted perhaps, if you have some nice furniture but feel its not for you anymore, perhaps a new splash of colour could be as good as a new item.

Redecorate

A term that, for some people, strikes fear into their heart. There is no doubt, painting a room, getting carpets fitted and the like are all a lot of effort, but it can be worth it. It is a really good time to do it because we still have lots of light, trying to choose colours on a gloomy winter’s day isn’t easy. A splash of fresh colour and comfort can really help keep your home feeling good throughout the winter. You don’t have to spend a fortune on paint either. While brands like Farrow and Ball are very desirable companies like Brewers are able to mix any colour you like for much less money. So why not choose an F&B colour and get it made up for you?

New Home?

There is also the possibility of simply moving to a new home! With the stamp duty cut now could be the time to do it. Again, Autumn is a great time to get stuck in, people are thinking about their homes and that’s when they may try and sell. It’s a big step just to make a change but if it has been on your mind then go for it!