Top Tips
How to Hide or Improve the Ugly Bits of Your Home
Photo credit: (with permission) the beautiful home of Michelle Matangi via Instagram | Please note that this post contains affiliate links Unless the walls are literally falling down around your head, or you’re wringing the curtains out with damp, it’s a shame to feel you hate your home. But, do you have bits about your house that you just don’t like very much? Lots of us do - whether it's putting up with breeze block walls that haven't ever seen a whiff of plaster, nasty light fittings that mean you just can't relax, or a sticky second-hand extractor hood that has what looks like years of dust stuck to it, we can all point out something we don't like. That’s why I'm sharing a few tips on how to improve one or two things, just incase there are bits of your house that are getting you down…
Photo credit: (with permission) the very stylish sofa belonging to Ruth Webber via Instagram
It won't magically transform a stylish (but sometimes a bit austere) mid century sofa into a squishy country sofa, for example, but it will definitely soften the edges and give you something comfy to nap on. I like what Ruth's done to her (admittedly already lovely) sofa above - with sheepskins and large cushions to curl up on (see above) - definitely something to take inspiration from!
It's simple: start adding more sources of lighting. It’s remarkable how much cosier a room feels if you add some lamps, and it doesn't always have to cost a lot of money. Use a desk lamp in the corner of your living room, pop a floor lamp in another, and perhaps string a set of fairy lights across the mantlepiece. Treat yourself to candles for your coffee table or sideboard too - the gentle flicker gives off a lovely glow, and a scented candle will make your room smell delicious.
Ugly feature walls
If you're sick of looking at a purple feature wall chosen by the previous occupier, there's only one thing for it: break out the paint! If you own your home or you have permission from the landlord, fixing a feature wall is something you can easily do on a rainy weekend. Just make sure you've prepared for painting first. Alternatively, you could simply opt for something like a peel & stick wallpaper - a great second option if you're not allowed to paint over your feature wall, or you could do what Michelle has done so excellently and make a gallery wall instead (see the featured image above). Michelle's dark photo frames work perfectly against her trendy peach wall, and I'd guess that it'd look equally as wonderful if Michelle had been working with a purple, turqouise or any other colour of wall for that matter.