Have you been hooked by that excitement brought by the new year to embark on positive change in your life? Well, transforming your surroundings and refreshing your home for the year ahead can be incredibly symbolic in supporting any change you wish to implement.
The fascinating environmental psychology theorem of ‘place attachment’ demonstrates how strong the bond is between a person and their environment, meaning that adapting or altering the space in which we live can have a subconscious, positive influence on us and even be a visual reminder of our new year resolutions. At the very least, a good refresh of your home decor gives it a new lease of life, ready to face 2018 with vitality and energy!
With this in mind, the experts at Alexander James Interior Design, recognised as one of the world’s leading designers, have put together their 10 easy tips to refresh your home for the new year which don’t require extensive funds or efforts. So go on, have some fun and enjoy revitalising your beautiful home!
1. Declutter and De-Stress
Now that you’ve put away all those Christmas decorations, dare to go one step further and do away with all those home accessories and furniture pieces that are holding your home back from looking fresh and stylish.
Decluttering ‘de-stresses’ and simplifies your home, allowing for a space in which every item has a considered, rightful place and creating a sense of harmony throughout. It is the perfect way to create a blank canvas to redesign and refresh your home décor!
2. Trendset with 2018’s Colour of the Year
Refresh your home this new year with the very fashionable, newly announced Pantone colour of the year 2018, Ultra Violet!
“The Pantone Color of the Year has come to mean so much more than ‘what’s trending’ in the world of design; it’s truly a reflection of what’s needed in our world today,” says Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute.
Inject this stunning shade into your interiors by using it as an accent colour, punctuating throughout with new cushion fabrics, artwork and homewares.
“A dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade, PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future,” states pantone.com.
3. Reposition and Reset
Rearranging your furniture is the greener, cheaper and simpler way to refresh your rooms. In just a few simple movements, you can transform the ambience of a room and make a huge impact.
Place furniture in an entirely new location in the room, rotate them in a different direction or even swap pieces from different rooms.
4. Impact with Artwork
Replacing your artwork with new pieces is an extremely effective way of creating a fresh visual impact in your interiors.
It can change the key focal point of a room, completely shifting the style or tone of the space in a different direction, or it can be a powerful means of punctuating with your new scheme’s accent colour. If your purses are feeling a little stretched after Christmas, moving artwork into different rooms can have the desired effect!
5. Luxuriate with Cushion Fabrics
An affordable and gorgeously indulgent way to refresh your home for the new year, replacing your cushion fabrics is the perfect way to treat yourself in 2018! It allows you to introduce a new accent colour to your decor or rich, tactile textures, setting the tone of the whole interior. We recommend cushion fabrics by Villa Nova, Zoffany and Kirkby Design, for a plush, quality feel.
6. Restyle Your Haven
What better to way begin the year than with a brand new bedding set and throw? We recommend bedding sets from The White Company, and luxurious bed throws from Johnston of Elgin. This can dramatically freshen up your bedroom, and more importantly, can help with the perfect night sleep.
7. Ambient Aromas
Scent plays such an important role in interior design, dramatically influencing how we experience a space. The new year has arrived and it’s time for a new scent!
We recommend the luxurious candles and diffusers from Jo Malone and The White Company, particularly this exotic Lime Basil and Mandarin candle and this Indian Ocean breeze Seychelles Diffuser.
8. Revitalise Your Coffee Table
Make your coffee table a focal point in the room, restyling it with beautiful books, ornaments and a diffuser or candle. If you prefer a minimalistic look, use the rule of three to ensure it looks balanced and stylish.
9. Freshen with Florals
Whether you opt for fresh flowers that emit an exquisite floral scent, or faux flowers that offer a beautiful authentic look, adding florals to your interiors is the perfect way to refresh your home for the new year. Display in all rooms to abundantly rejuvenate your entire home interiors with life and vitality, and for a twist of style, arrange your flowers in vases of different heights and widths.
10. Enhance with Lighting Schemes
Rethinking your room’s lighting scheme can create a new atmosphere and give it the boost it needs. Introduce ambient or background lighting where there isn’t already, or accent lighting to highlight special features, colours and patterns in furnishings.
Adding table lamps and floor lamps can also make for a stylish feature in any room, enhancing key areas and making rooms look more spacious. We love lighting from Heathfield and Porta Romana.
