By Kate Watson-Smyth, interiors expert and founder of the smash hit blog Mad About The House. Kate shares super-quick fixes, new-season colour tricks to try and the hot high-street buys to transform your space without breaking a sweat – or the bank!
‘My decorating style? Be brave and have fun!’
‘I started posting pictures of my home on my Instagram and blog when my husband Adam and I bought a doer-upper in North London in 2010. It was two dingy rental flats that we completely renovated to turn back into a house – and doing it taught me a lot about finding my own style and being brave with my choices.
‘It also made me want to show others how to decorate their own homes simply using interesting pieces or clever tricks – because upgrading your home doesn’t have to involve knocking down walls, spending thousands on a kitchen extension and practically living with your builders for years. Very few of us have unlimited time and money, but you don’t necessarily need either to create your dream home – as an interiors stylist and journalist, I know that you can change the entire feel of a room in minutes with clever lighting or a chic cushion (trust me, it’s true!).
‘The trick is all about working out what you like and learning which tweaks will have the biggest impact. with Pinterest, Instagram and interiors magazines, there’s a lot of information out there, so i want to cut through the noise and help you find your own style. Over the next 16 pages i will share my favourite trends, colours, high-street heroes as well as my secrets for upgrading your space (some of which take minutes and cost nothing). My philosophy is that you can be brave and have fun. it’s your home and your story – and it should make your heart sing when you open the front door.’
10 super-easy fixes – the sneaky tricks all experts know
1. PAINTING IS ONE OF THE EASIEST UPDATES you can make to a room. I’ve opted for a dramatic green shade in my bathroom and chosen bright accents to balance it out.
2. IF YOU CAN’T AFFORD A BIG RUG, Buy a large piece of carpet and have the edges hemmed in a contrasting colour. This – from one of my styling jobs – is really effective with patterned carpet which might be a bit much wall to wall but works well in a smaller space.
3. SWAP PLAIN FOR BOLD or patterned lampshades to liven up a dull area – here a pop of pink works as a bright contrast to my black bookshelves. I love pink as a shade and use it throughout my home in varying tones.
4. DON’T FORGET THE FIFTH WALL. Ceilings have traditionally been white but there’s no rule that says they have to be. Here, I’ve opted for gold in my study.
5. PAINTED FURNITURE is a great way to achieve something bespoke and if you are using an on-trend colour you can just paint over it when you are bored. This is the kitchen of my wonderful fellow podcast host Sophie Robinson.
6. CREATE A GALLERY WALL. The key is to keep all the frames the same colour; they don’t have to be the same size. This is the dining area of one of my clients’ homes.
7. SHOP YOUR HOUSE. This is completely free! it’s simply about swapping things from room to room. Try switching cushions, pictures or rugs. This is a little corner of my office.
8. THE ‘RED THREAD’ IS a term designers use for a colour or theme that runs through the whole house. My red thread is pink. In my living room, I use it on rugs, cushions and upholstery.
9. PLANTS ARE NOT JUST ‘ON TREND’, they purify the air, help us to breathe and promote feelings of harmony and creativity. This is an image from a photo shoot I did with La Redoute.
A CHEEKY EXTRA NUMBER 10! My mantra for updating any room? Add something new, something old, something black and something gold. This works for every style, size and shape of room. It doesn’t have to be gold – metallic or mirrored will also bounce the light around and add a feeling of luxe.
THE COLOURS I’M LOVING NOW
Green: my go-to bold
11. Mirror, £89. oliverbonas.com
12. Cushion, £50, johnlewis.com
13. Velvet clock, £58, grahamandgreen.co.uk
14. Rug, £79, modern-rugs.co.uk
15. Pendant light, £100, houseof.com
16. Bowl and mug set, £11.99, zarahome.com
17. Vase, £12.99, hm.com
18. Cushion cover, £66, larusi.com
19. Floor tile, £3.96, bertandmay.com
20. Print, around £44, theposterclub.com
21. Planter, £45, trouva.com
Bringing it to life
22. For something different, I liven up white walls and woodwork with graphic blocks of colour -strong green tones set the scene for a modern space.
23. To score extra style points, pant the skirting in the same tone as the walls.
24. The left square is painted in Hunter Dunn, £49.50 for 2 litres, paintandpaperlibrary.com
25. For the right square, valsparpaint.co.uk sells a similar shade.
26. I love deep tones – they create a sense of cosiness and are ideal for giving cool north-facing rooms a snug, inviting feel. Paler shades work better in warm south-facing gardens.
27. I like to create balance and harmony in a room by adding colour with accessories.
Yes you can paint your walls green! My favourites…
8. To make a statement: Forest Festival flat matt emulsion, £27.56 for 2.5 litres, dulux.co.uk
29. For a relaxing bedroom: Myrtle Green marble matt emulsion, £51 for 2.5 litres, mylands.com
30. For a gallery backdrop: Uluwatu matt emulsion, £38 for 2.5 litres, grahamandbrown.com
31. For timeless chic: Opal Green matt emulsion, £42 for 2.5 litres, firedearth.com
New neutrals: think pink and pale gold
32. Bowl, £50, thewhitecompany.com
33. Vase, £24.50, lilliandaph.co.uk
34. Chair, £85, ikea.com
35. Rug, £39.99, hm.com
36. Basket, around £70, fermliving.com
37. Footstool, £25, ikea.com
38. Storage basket, £22, designersguild.com
39. Cushion, £25, marksandspencer.com
40. Blanket, £29.99, hm.com
41. Lampshade, £125, thewhitecompany.com
42. Cup, £6.99, hm.com
The modern feature wall
43. A feature corner is a clever way to update a room. Here dusty pink has been used in one specific area to create a visual twist in an otherwise muted space.
44. A trick for bringing depth to a minimalist scheme? Sculptural furniture in warming materials such as wood and textiles.
45. As a bonus, a contrasting wall also emphasises the ceiling height.
46. Painting the skirting and ceiling in the same mocha pulls the scheme together.
47. For a fresh take on the pared-back scandi vibe, layer bleached neutral hues with pops of green and pale woods.
48. I like to play with the art of display. Here, books make this ‘quiet’ space come to life.
These paint shades are soft and standout
49. The perfect hallway pleaser: Palest Pink, £48 for 2.5 litres, designersguild.com
50. This shade is friends with every other colour: Pewter matt emulsion, £26.50 for 1 litre, benjaminmoore.com
51. Trending now, the no-shine matt finish: Pashmina matt emulsion, £18 for 2.5 litres, crownpaints.co.uk
52. For creating the illusion of space: Wash Stop, £49.50 for 2.5 litres, edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk
Earth tones: instant warmth for any room
53. Milk jug, £31, skandium.com
54. Cushion, £29, westelm.com
55. Pouffe, £129, made.com
56. Shelf, £85, insidestoreldn.com
57. Pendant light, £120, kobiandtea.com
58. Pot, £46, heals.com
59. Cushion, £49, andrewmartin.co.uk
60. Dinnerware, from £13, amara.com
61. Rug, £150, habitat.co.uk
62. Vase, £10, habitat.co.uk
63. Blanket, £34.99, hm.com
A subtle way to go bold
64. I love the way two shades of rust in this living room make the space appear larger by drawing the eye upwards toward the lighter paint colour.
65. This colour scheme really works for me because the darker shades in the earth tone colour palette add depth to the plain walls.
66. For similar shades try dulux.co.uk
67. My trick for brightening up a dark space? Accents of polished brass and copper complement rich colours and help bounce light around the room.
68. I like to add texture in subtle colours such as grey and peach to balance statement walls.
I love these statement paint shades
69. A safe way to test the trend: Pale Gold matt emulsion, £18 for 2.5 litres, crownpaints.co.uk
70. For a splash of sunshine every day: Humpty Dumpty claypaint, £18.86 for 750ml, earthbornpaints.co.uk
71. This colour will never date: Apricot Crush matt emulsion, £29.16 for 2.5 litres, dulux.co.uk
71. Just the shade for a standout wall: Flowerpot matt emulsion, £18.86 for 750ml, earthbornpaints.co.uk
MY KEY TRENDS FOR SUMMER
Tropical: for a splash of colour
73. Tray, £25, arket.com
74. Cushion, £6, direct.asda.com
75. Salt and pepper shakers, £28, libertylondon.com
76. Serving spoon set, £8, anthropologie.com
77. Fan, £35, wilko.com
78. Duvet set, from £10, direct.asda.com
79. Leopard ornament, £4, direct.asda.com
80. Scented candle, £140, amara.com
81. Cushion, £50, johnlewis.com
82. Rug, £110.99, wayfair.com
83. Lamp base, £144, darlighting.co.uk
Freshen up with foliage
84. I love the way that the tropical trend works in this conservatory. The large collection of indoor plants gives the space a hothouse feel.
85. For me, splashes of saturated colour offset with balancing white work better than lots of eye-popping brights.
86. For a similar peacock chair try maisonsdumonde.com
87. Add statement accessories such as this metallic pineapple and carved bird.
88. Style short cut alert! A few faux plants will bring the look to life – and there’s no watering required.
89. Don’t want to go full-on jungle? Try a leaf-print cushion or moss-green throw.
90. My favourite place for fake plants is abigailahern.com
The flick of a paintbrush brings the outdoors in
91. This versatile shade will work anywhere: Aboretum matt emulsion, £29.16 for 2.5 litres, dulux.co.uk
92. For a bold accent wall: Volt emulsion, £38 for 2.5 litres, grahamandbrown.com
93. A verdant green for an instant lift: Dominica matt emulsion, £38 for 2.5 litres, grahamandbrown.com
94. For that holiday feeling – at home: Babouche matt emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5 litres, farrow-ball.com
70s: no longer the era that taste forgot
95. Print, £3.95 unframed, desenio.co.uk
96. Wall mirror, £38.50, maisonsdumonde.com
97. Cushion, £40, debenhams.com
98. Nest of tables, £95, habitat.co.uk
99. Coffee table, £50, ikea.com
100. Pendant light, £99, made.com
101. Hand ornament, £19, rockettstgeorge.co.uk
102. Lampshade, £75, minimoderns.com
103. Vase, £25, habitat.co.uk
104. Rug, £50, habitat.co.uk
105. Wine rack, £98, oliverbonas.com
A sleek, chic remix
106. I love the grown-up 70s vibe in this apartment at the former BBC television centre in London’s White City, which was designed by Bella Freud and Maria Speake.
107. Why not try fabric wallpaper for a cool 70s update?
108. To re-create the look mix vintage pieces with modern accessories.
109. I modernise the 70s colour palette by swapping purple for lilac; lime for green and terracotta for burnt orange.
110. Aram.co.uk sells similar furniture.
111. Plants are one of my key accessories. Get in the 70s groove with cheese plants, spider plants and hanging planters.
112. Rattan is back – and is of my materials of the moment for chairs, rugs and even lampshades!
113. A touch of macrame will add texture and fun.
The trad colour palette revamped
114. The purple reign continues: Cover Story matt emulsion, £18 for 2.5 litres, crownpaints.co.uk
115. This shade is soft but packs a punch: Pale Birch matt emulsion, £48 for 2.5 litres, designersguild.com
116. The new take on burnt orange: Tuscan Terracotta matt emulsion, £29.16 for 2.5 litres, dulux.co.uk
117. Try this for a grown-up pink: Angie matt emulsion, £45 for 2.5 litres, littlegreene.com
Curves: the shape of the moment
118. Cushion, £39, westelm.co.uk
119. Planters, £49, westelm.co.uk
120. Dining chair, £85, habitat.co.uk
121. Mirror, £49, made.com
122. Tile, £11.76, lindseylang.co.uk
123. Marie wallpaper, £92 for a 10m roll, sandbergwallpaper.com
124. Table lamp, £30, houseof.com
125. Wall candle holder, £34.95, skandium.com
126. Velvet cushion, £45, grahamandgreen.com
127. Side table, £50, habitat.co.uk
128. Vase, £30, habitat.co.uk
A quirky take on kitchens
129. I can’t get enough of the curve-licious insta-famous kitchen of interiors design duo 2LG Studio (@2lgstudio). Scallop-edged doorways and lozenge-shaped storage cupboards frame the oval and resin turquoise table.
130. Painting the walls and furniture in the same colour creates a seamless and cohesive feel throughout a room.
131. For a similar paint colour, try Film Television & Theatre by mylands.com
132. Repeating lozenge shapes throughout a room looks both modern and retro, creating a really directional look.
133. The dining chairs are from menu.as For similiar try made.com
134. I like to work this trend in small spaces, as curved shapes soften a living zone and visually ‘lengthen’ an area.
Fun shades for a playful trend
135. For a touch of sophistication: Proud Peacock, £29.16 for 2.5 litres, dulux.co.uk
136. This will give furniture an instant refresh: Pink Perfection, £28 for 2.5 litres, valsparpaint.co.uk
137. A perfect partner for pink or blue: Urbane Grey matt emulsion, £45 for 2.5 litres, littlegreene.com
138. An accent shade for woodwork: Stiffkey Blue matt emulsion, £46.50 for 2.5 litres, farrow-ball.com
MY HIGH STREET HEROES
Who needs designer when the style and standard are this amazing?
139. La Redoute, great for cushions and rugs. Cushion cover, £20, laredoute.co.uk
140. Argos, I head here for trend-led furniture. Nest of tables, £79.99, argos.co.uk
141. Sainsbury’s, I love it’s own-design picnic ware. Tray, £4.50, sainsburys.co.uk
142. Made, this all-rounder excels at accessories. Candlestick, £15, made.com
143. H&M, for sleek ceramics and lighting. Table lamp, £49.99, hm.com
144. Anthropologie, my go-to for anything boho. Embroidered cushion, £68, anthropologie.com
145. M&S, my must for brilliant bedding. Double duvet cover and two pillowcases, £22.50, marksandspencer.com
146. Zara, to glam up your glassware at a snip. Glassware from £3.99, zarahome.com
147. French Connection, for industrial chic inspiration. Stool, £155, frenchconnection.com
148. Debenhams, check out it;s home designer collaborations. Plant and pot £26, Abigail Ahern at debenhams.com
149. Urban Outfitters, for quirky colourful pieces. Framed print, £59, urbanoutfitters.com.
150. John Lewis & Partners, get to know it’s classic house collection. Coat stand £179, johnlewis.com
