Elevate your interior with new furniture

It’s easy to be fazed by the thought of a furniture refurb.

With so many factors to think about, plus the upheaval, homeowners hang onto their furniture far longer than they should. But it doesn’t have to be this way if you take it stage by stage and seek help from experts who can remove the stress from a furniture revamp.

First things first: List items that need to be replaced. Which pieces are dated and scruffy? Which are completely impractical for short lets? Which do you dislike - furniture should be celebrated, reflect your personality - so don’t put up with something that isn’t you!

Often furniture has served its purpose, maybe an IKEA sofa from years ago when you first bought a home, a bed your parents gave you, a dining table from a former rental or chairs from a yard sale. Maybe it’s too big, too small, uncomfortable or stained, in which case, why is it there?

Spectacular Shepherds Bush Home close to Westfield

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo

To help with this, have a quick watch of a Netflix show called Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. A decluttering expert, her philosophy is - look at everything you own, ask yourself if it sparks joy, and if it doesn't, get rid of it!

If any of this rings bells, it’s time for a furniture makeover. No cause for panic, it can be done room by room and there is help at hand with one-stop furniture compa-nies who deal with everything from design to installation.

Start by looking at your investment pieces - sofas, dining table and beds - and work out what should stay and what should go.

It’s well worth hiring an interior designer to help you focus; it sounds expensive but it will be far less than a costly mistake. The designer will know what is on trend - yet won’t look out of date in a couple of years. They will also advise on whether it is practical for guests renting your home as well as making you happy when you’re there. They can help with budget, maximise available space and ensure new fur-nishings blend well with existing ones.

Charming Pimlico home close to the River Thames

Base Furnishings

An alternative is to get a blank piece of paper and sketch out how you would like your room to look - and always keep a tape measure to hand. Look through design magazines, Pinterest, Instagram and get a feel for what will suit you and the space. Don’t be unrealistic or over ambitious. Not every home, especially family homes, can look like they came from the pages of Elle; it’s more important your home looks inviting, well-kept and is practical for you and your guests.

The better furnished your home, the more attractive it is to guests meaning higher revenues, 5-star reviews, more returning guests and generally less hassle all round.

Remember a refurb doesn’t need to break the bank as there are always deals to be done and bold, statement pieces say a lot without a big price tag.

Below are some of the companies we work with here at UnderTheDoormat. To find the best fit for you, give our Homeowner team a call.

Classic Belgravia Home by Victoria Station

Base Furnishings

“BASE’s creative team work passionately to fulfill our client’s brief, taking into ac-count budget, concept and design. Our clients love our service and due to our years of experience we can offer a wealth of expertise and valuable advice.”

LOFT Interiors.

“Five carefully curated, design-focused collections. A collaboration between our in-house designers and product development specialists.”

David Phillips

“At David Phillips, we have a simple mission: to help our customers transform their spaces into homes……
Today we lead our markets through a range of services, offering everything you need for stylish, stress-free furnishing.”

Cort Furniture

“Cort Furniture sells high quality ex-show home furniture, electronics and accesso-ries at up to 70% off the new retail price. Discover quality craftsmanship at unbeat-able value at the showroom in Surrey.”

New is good but also look in second-hand shops and markets for a piece to upcycle too. Paint a pre-loved table or chair in a heritage colour and add sumptuous acces-sories like cushions. Complete your home with a plant - it’s the perfect accessory and good for the soul!