Small updates can make a huge difference and if you add colour to the mix then you’re on to a winner. Don’t let the impending darker evenings affect your mood, keep happy with splashes of colour in every room of your house and see if it prevents a little SAD creeping in.
We've come up with our favourite quick room ideas (we use these every year at Realhomes.com Towers for quick updates and they work) – keep scrolling for ideas.
1. Buy supermarket cushions for the living room
Cushions are one of the simplest and most effective ways to add colour to a living room – or any room in the house. We love how these new season cushions from George at Asda are all different colours, shapes and sizes – it’s a great idea to vary them as it creates more interest – and who likes a uniform look, anyway? Find similarly fabulous buys via Sainsbury's Home, TK Maxx, Aldi and beyond...
For more living room ideas, don't miss our guide.
2. Choose cheap but cheerful tableware for the diner
Plain colour has its place, and we love mixing plain plates with coloured or white ones to add instant interest. Look at these gorgeous stoneware Wilma designs from Habitat – they instantly add vibrant colour to this table and the simple design is fresh and modern. You can choose from different bowls and mugs and they also come in black – for all of you non-colour fans out there!
3. Add a quick splash of paint to a bedroom (or just a new throw)
If money is tight but you still yearn for a new look in your bedroom then consider painting the lower half of your walls – what would have been the dado rail line in a period property. If you have the budget then popping up some tongue and groove is a reasonably easy job and it looks great painted. We love the Borrowdale shade by Linda Barker Paints that’s shown here on the tongue and groove, and is teamed with Little Voice on the wall. Want a quicker solution? A bright throw is instant (once you're back from the shops or have had it delivered). We love this throw from Habitat – it's just £15.
- 44 best-ever bedroom ideas – decor, design trends and expert tips
4. Pick out bright towels for the bathroom
Investing in some towels is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to add a splash of colour to your bathroom, and towels are a great update - we all hanker after hotel style soft and fluffy ones don’t we? Matalan have a fab selection in various colours and designs – these geometric towels will also add pattern, and they come in pink too!
Join our newsletter
Get the best home decor ideas, DIY advice and project inspiration straight to your inbox!
- Bathroom ideas – 49 stylish looks, trends and tips for your makeover
5. Got time to spare? Give your kitchen cabinets a lick of paint
A photo posted by @nudeandthenovice on Sep 1, 2020 at 11:12am PDT
Sarah @nudeandthenovice has an amazing home full of colour and pattern, and her most recent update is her fabulous kitchen. Tired of the old look, albeit a colourful one, Sarah has painted her units in a pale green, which has a more calming effect in her kitchen. She has kept the marble style worktop and added these Casa tiles from @marrakechdesign which work perfectly with the rest of the scheme.
- Painting kitchen cupboards: top tips and ideas to makeover your kitchen fast
- Best paint for kitchen cabinets: 8 paints to transform your space instantly
Sophie has been an interior stylist and journalist for over 22 years and has worked for many of the main interior magazines during that time both in-house and as a freelancer. On the side, as well as being the News Editor of indie magazine, 91, Sophie trained to be a florist in 2019 and launched The Prettiest Posy where she curates beautiful flowers for the modern bride.
-
5 Gen Z and millennial influencers to follow for all things homes and interiors
Click for on-trend inspo
By Louise Oliphant Published
-
8 calming paint colors to create a blissful home sanctuary
Update every space with relaxed shades that restore balance and harmony for a more mindful way of living.
By Sophie Warren-Smith Published
-
Decorating on a budget: 11 thrifty tips the Real Homes team swear by
There are so many cool ideas for decorating on a budget and these frugal tips will prove how you can style your home just how you want it, without going bankrupt
By Christina Chrysostomou Last updated
-
10 dorm room ideas to make your place the cutest on campus
Study in style, bb
By Eve Smallman Last updated
-
Alcove ideas: 25 ways to style an awkwardly shaped space
From home offices to cozy reading nooks, copy these alcove ideas to create an inspiring space – with shelving or not...
By Hebe Hatton Published
-
It's true, Target's Studio McGee collection has all of your holiday decorating handled
Target's new Studio McGee installment will deck all of your halls — and so much more!
By Brittany Romano Published
-
Spotted: 9 celebrity home decor brands that will have you living like your favorite A-listers
So many celebrity home decor brands to shop for, so little time.
By Brittany Romano Published
-
This World Market mirror rivals *that* designer best-seller (at a fraction of the price!)
This World Market mirror is a dead-on doppelganger for Anthropologie's version — but at a fraction of the price.
By Brittany Romano Published