The New Year is always a time to take stock; to set health, wealth and happiness goals for ourselves, lists of life elements we want to keep, and those we want to let go. It's a fresh start – an energising reset for our minds and bodies. So why not translate this to our homes?
Refreshing our physical spaces is as powerful a wellbeing reboot as joining the gym. And it doesn't have to cost the earth. Small shuffles like moving bedroom furniture around, repositioning a sofa or even repurposing a table for the hallway can be enough of a seismic shift to make a space feel entirely new and alive.
1. Start with the sitting room
Aside from the kitchen, the sitting room is almost always the room we spent most time in, says Jo Blackwell, Interior Designer at Holloways. And often the one that's easiest to refresh.
"We're often guilty of placing the sofa in the most obvious place in the sitting room," she says. "Whether that's against the wall opposite the fireplace, or in view of the TV. Even pulling it away from the wall by a few inches will give it room to breathe, and if you can reposition it, it's a simple seasonal change that effortlessly breathes new life into the space."
Jo advocates a summer/winter furniture swap if your room is large enough – furniture positioned around the fireplace in the cooler months, where you can hunker down under a throw to read or watch TV. And turned to face the windows in the spring and summer, to drink in the light and changing landscape outside.
"Moving your sofa to a different wall (like the Richmond, above and below) or rotating the layout of your furniture and adding fresh cushions and throws can suddenly unlock a room's potential and make it feel more layered," says Jo. "Having a second, seasonal set of curtains or blinds can transform the space and make it feel like a new room, too."
2. Make your home office work for you
Harness the energy of a new year ahead by reorganising your home office – whether that's a dedicated room in your home or garden, or a corner of your dining or sitting room.
"Throwing away old paperwork, filling bookshelves with art as well as books, adding a playful new lamp or swapping in a bright new chair can be really energising in a home office," says Jo.
"Your desk doesn't just have to be a bland workspace. Adding personal elements – a favourite photo in a beautiful frame, a vase of flowers, even a pretty pebble you've picked up from the beach – will help make it a place you want to spend time, full of memories of life outside work. It all just makes the nine-to-five a bit easier to bear, and reminds you what you're doing it all for.
"Having lovely objects in your line of sight instantly lifts your mood, sparks joy and will boost creativity. Get rid of clutter and you'll instantly be more organised and productive."
3. Make your hallway heavenly
"The hallway is often the most overlooked room in our homes," says Jo. "It's viewed as a transient space, somewhere to leave shoes and keys and yesterday's post. But it shouldn't be. Your hallway is an expression of your whole home, a reflection of your style and the warmth of your welcome. And it should be a beautiful, considered, curated space."
If you don't have a dedicated boot room, Jo suggests introducing storage in a hallway to hide boots, coats and dog leads – whether that's a bespoke, built-in hanging space, an antique wardrobe or a vintage cupboard. A console or other small table is the place to create a vignette, styled with candles, flowers and a lamp or two.
"If you don't have plugs in your hallway, our new collection of rechargeable LED lamps are ideal," says Jo. "They're small, playful and elegant, and there's one to suit every style of hallway. They're beautiful placed at either end of a console, styled with books and a favourite object or two. Hanging a piece of art above the table, or creating a gallery wall of treasured photographs and paintings up the stairs, will make your hallway feel like a curated room rather than a space to simply pass through."
4. Rethink bedroom bliss
We don't know about you, but when we were teenagers, tidying and rearranging our bedrooms was entirely preferable to homework – and any other chores parents had lined up for us. The thrill of waking up in a reimagined, reorganised bedroom hasn't lost us, and remodelling the layout of furniture is a simple way to bringing positive energy into a tired bedroom.
"It's not as drastic as buying new furniture – although we do have lots of beautiful bedroom furniture in our showrooms," says Jo. "More a reimagining of what you've already got, getting rid of the furnishings and furniture that doesn't bring you joy, decluttering and making sure you've got enough storage to keep everything neat, tidy and calming."
Feng Shui bedroom rules say your bed should be placed in the 'commanding position', preferably facing southward – so you can clearly see the door, but are not directly in line with it. This brings a feeling of control and safety, promoting rest and relaxation. Symmetrical layouts bring balance and calm.
"Bedrooms are a place of sanctuary," says Jo. "And an easy way to promote balance and calm, without spending a fortune, is to ruthlessly declutter, partcularly in smaller bedrooms. Let light and air circulate, create symmetry with a pair of bedside tables, lamps and artwork and always make sure both sides of the bed are accessible. And if you are investing in a new bed or a new wardrobe, dual purpose furniture – beds with drawers, ottomans with storage and floating shelves free up space and hide clutter."
An antique or upholstered linen chest at the end of a bed is perfect for spare pillows and cosy throws for chilly nights. A tallboy will give you extra drawer space, without compromising floor space. Discover our bedroom furniture collections here.
Looking for design inspiration?
Jo and the Holloways Interior Design team are always on hand with help and advice. Our Interior Design Service is free – just call us on 01886 884665 to book an initial appointment, and we'll walk through your project with you, helping you choose furniture, fabrics, accessories and finishes to perfectly suit your home and your lifestyle.
You can view our latest client projects here.
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