Easy ways to transform your home’s interior
Easy ways to transform your home’s interior
First impressions are important when short letting your home. Guests seeking accommodation make decisions within a few seconds and if they aren’t impressed by its decor, chances are they look elsewhere. Likewise if they’re disappointed when they arrive, there are no 5 star reviews.
The saying goes that a picture speaks a thousand words so it’s important to make your home stand out.
The golden rule is to view your home as though you were staying in it as a guest yourself.
A make-over doesn’t have to break the bank. With a few simple changes and a bit of guidance (we’ve done it all for you below!) it’s easy to revitalise a room to make it photo-ready and wow guests on arrival.
The importance of de-cluttering…..
First things first. Get rid of dated, worn and damaged items. They are doing your home a disservice and removing them will give it a new lease of life.
Clear out or store personal photos, mementos, knick-knacks and junk. Guests want a home-from-home experience but shouldn’t feel overwhelmed or that they are trespassing in someone else’s home.
If you find it hard to part with stuff, there are lots of budget-friendly and clever storage solutions such as seagrass baskets, an ottoman chest or wooden trunk that double up as pieces of furniture. A quirky coat stand in the hallway and decorative hooks behind the kitchen doors are also useful.
For storage, try DFS which has different brands so lots of choice. Ikea is great (for everything!) and they even have a section called the Big Storage event.
Small changes, big impact
Often much of what you already have just needs a tweak to refresh. For example painting wooden furniture a bold colour, adding new knobs to a soulless cabinet or painting a scuffed wall are good ways to spruce up a space. If DIY isn’t your thing, a local handyman will help.
Other simple solutions are to buy new accessories such as cushions and rugs, or add a colourful throw over the sofa or bed. Breathe new life into an old lampshade with a new shade and buy a few choice pieces of pottery for shelves. A big wall mirror with a quirky frame not only bounces light around a room, it’s a piece of artwork too.
You can find cushions, lampshades and throws in colours and fabric to suit any taste in stores like Dunelm, John Lewis and Oliver Bonas.
Light up a dark corner or an area without a socket with a cordless lamp. Try www.insightcordlesslighting.com
They supply leading hotel chains so you are in good company! And for the occasional quirky, stand-out piece try:
More cost-efficient ideas…..
New flooring and carpets are costly, so instead of forking out a fortune, cover the room with a big rug or a few smaller ones in strategic places.
The Rug Seller is great with literally thousands of rugs to choose from so use the filters and always look in the sale section!
www.therugseller.co.uk
An easy way to bring a bare room to life is wall art or posters. Frame them yourself or buy ready-framed and try a collection of one, two or three pieces from websites like these below.
Kitchen and bathrooms
Put pasta, rice, tea etc. in stylish glass containers which is both a practical way of storing while adding colour and style to kitchen counters.
An often underrated piece of décor is the shower curtain so update. Again Dunelm and John Lewis are leaders in this field. If your plain white bathroom tiles look a bit dull, they can be painted - maybe best left to an expert though! Make sure the grouting and silicon is clean and white too.
If in doubt, it’s worth taking a look at the suites in our aparthotel at 3 Sloane Gardens. Guests love the clean, contemporary feel of these rooms.
https://underthedoormat.com/homes/the-duke-of-york-studio-next-to-sloane-square
https://underthedoormat.com/homes/the-knightsbridge-suite-next-to-sloane-square
Remember you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression!
london
