We are all going to have a hard time saying goodbye to the summer. As with all British summers, it feels like it has been all too brief and not nearly hot or sunny enough, but we must all reconcile ourselves to the fact that autumn is here, complete with shorter days, worse weather, and some precious seasonal comforts like pumpkin spice lattes. It also means that we are heading into the time of year where we are all going to be spending a lot of time indoors.

If you have been putting off making any changes to your home décor, the time is now. Don’t let yourself sit through six months of wondering why you didn’t get around to changing that thing that has been bothering you. During the months of lockdown, we all made a list of everything that we wanted to fix, rearrange, or replace. Then summer came along, and we all rushed outside, and so many of the items on our to-do lists were temporarily forgotten about. Well, it’s time to get out that to-do list and make sure that you are comfortable and happy in your home for the months ahead. If you have been wondering how you can give your home a fresh new look, here are a few tips to help you get started.

 

Start From The Ground Up

This is a simple one to start with, but it can make a huge difference to the look and feel of your home. It also does not have to be hugely expensive. While putting in something like underfloor heating will set you back a considerable amount, why not think about changing things up by tearing up that old carpet and going hardwood for your flooring? Alternatively, putting in a new carpet that you actually like will make you feel so much happier about spending more time indoors.

 

Get Those Bulbs Swapped Out

These days, we are all looking for ways that we can reduce our energy bills (thanks to those rising gas and electricity prices) and to make more conscientious choices when it comes to our environmental impact amid the increasingly hard to ignore signs of global warming. Some of these choices are not particularly cosmetic, such as replacing washing machines or dishwashers with newer models that have a better energy efficiency rating. But swapping your lightbulbs with LED bulbs will allow you to create a mood and a look that you are much happier with, as well as creating less waste energy.

 

Find Storage Space That Actually Works For You

We all have those pieces of furniture that don’t quite fit. The pieces that don’t perfectly align with the space they are in, creeping over the edge of the doorway, bumping up against the side of the bed or forcing you to walk around them if you want to make your way across the room.

If you are tired of stubbed toes, banged shins or you just want to make the most of the space that you actually have, then it is time to get the tape measure out, take some dimensions, and order some furniture that is made to order. If you are looking for built-in wardrobes, for example, you might think that the process is long and complicated. However, Online Bedrooms have taken all the hassle out of the process for you. You just need to send them your measurements and they will get to work on creating the perfect built-in wardrobe for you, which will be delivered flat-packed for you to put together.

 

Don’t Be Afraid To Change Your Layout

When we first move into a new home, we tend to get stuck in our ways pretty quickly. We accept the purposes that rooms have been assigned, and if we don’t change them as soon as we step foot inside, then we probably won’t change them. But most of us have had to spend a lot more time indoors over the last eighteen months than we are used to, and many of us are still working from home. If you want to make sure that you are comfortable in the months ahead, maybe it’s time to make some bold decisions now about what you are using your rooms for.

Committing to having a proper home office is a great example. It is high time that you stop putting your laptop on the kitchen table every morning if you have a perfectly good spare room. But why stop there? If you have a spare room that is going to waste, why not think about getting your TV out of the living room and creating a home entertainment centre? Alternatively, if you are worried about getting enough exercise once the weather turns, why not turn it into a fitness room?

 

Use Your Garden’s Untapped Potential

We have all read the stories about people who turn their sheds into home offices, cocktail bars or even home gyms, but there is no reason why you shouldn’t think about converting your shed into something that you can actually use. If you are not completely sold on turning your garden shed into a little hideaway, then why not consider how you can do a little more with your outdoor space?

Many people across the UK have used decking to make sure that they can spend time outside all year round without worrying about their garden chairs sinking into the wet lawn. Now that we can have our friends and family come to visit again, this could be a great way of spending some quality time together. On the other hand, maybe you want to make sure that your garden is as welcoming as possible to any visiting wildlife now that the weather is starting to turn. A bird bath, a bird feeder or bushes with berries will make birds feel right at home and help to look after some of our nation’s animals that have been having a tough time recently. You could also think about creating a shelter at the bottom of the garden for any four-legged visitors to keep warm.

 

Give Your Home A Fresh New Look For Autumn With These Five Steps is a feature post