Get serious about storage:

The power of a proper, focused sort-out is the foundation to any home refresh, but perhaps the one we resist the most. Something about letting go of items that hold memories can be confronting, so approach this task in stages and with the motivation of the inevitable end rewards.

When it comes to rooms that most need a sense of peaceful energy, start with the bedroom. Add under bed storage, boxes or dividers to tidy wardrobes or drawers and help free up invaluable floor space or nearby surfaces to open up the newfound potential atop dressing tables or drawers. Enjoy the renewed excitement that comes from creating empty space on your surfaces, and the feeling of freshness that comes with it. A room that feels easy to be in often has a foundation of effective and clever storage solutions.

“When you’ve got a messy room and you don’t know where anything is, it’s not good for your mental wellbeing or creating a space that you enjoy being in” says Laura Jackson, creative director and co-founder of Glassette in an episode of our Interiors Q&A series on YouTube, this time focusing on making a rented space a home.

“Get boxes and storage baskets and think about how you can make best use of storage in your space, be it a wardrobe, bookcases, alcoves or under bed storage. To create as much space as possible I always recommend not keeping things on the floor, which is where storage comes into play. It means you can then focus on the walls with great prints and photographs which is a lovely idea for a bedroom, particularly in a rented space.”

Put these tips to the test, moving surplus magazines or books to Bohemia’s Decorative Reed Basket, and tidying jumpers, dressing gowns and loungewear off that bedroom chair using Hastshilp’s Margot Rattan Wall Rack for a stylish solution to maintainable organisation.

A relaxing, inviting space is more often than not an organised one.

A lick of paint:

Whether it’s a new and striking feature wall or painting the window frames, the power of a tin of paint and your favourite playlist should never be underestimated.

Add a sunny side up glow with a can of smile-inducing yellow paint, à la Emma Milne’s gorgeous two-toned kitchen design. Opt for a similar half and half paint design for smaller spaces, and match the paintwork to doors and surrounding woodwork for a seamless finish that is both statement and peaceful in one. Not ready to commit to changing wall colours? Reinvigorate shelves or tired furniture with a statement colour choice that commands attention with ease. Nail shelf styling with new and cherished objects of various heights and textures, and admire on a daily basis during your obligatory sofa/TV/biscuit/repeat relaxation hour. Finally, embrace a more subtle transformation with a fresh lick of paint across doors and skirting boards, and marvel at how much difference this really makes. Go all out with new door handles and enjoy your handiwork every time you come home.

The most impactful of home transformations sometimes only require one aspect of your space to change, inspiring a fresh and renewed feel to tired rooms with minimal effort. Result!

Bringing the outdoors in:

Biophilia: originating from the Greek 'philia' meaning 'love of' translates to a love of life or living things. Suggesting that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life, celebrating this mindset at home means curating rooms with nature at their heart.

Mood and mental clarity are so often restored or dictated by the ability to unwind at home, and cultivating a peaceful space for yourself and loved ones offers endless benefits. Bring the outdoors in all year round- garden or not- with plants and fresh flowers across shelves, free standing pots and window sills for a space that supports peace from your morning coffee to late night suppers. For those not known for their green fingered abilities, start with Mother-in-law's tongue, Monsteras, Golden Pothos and Marantas for guaranteed plant parent success. Pot in Amanita Labs’ Kyu Plant Pot in Sand and marvel as you enter your nature era at home.

A home refresh that’s good for the mind too- what’s not to love?

Restyling shelves:

From functional to intentionally curated, the items that adorn both exposed kitchen shelving and overflowing bedroom bookcases alike undoubtedly affect the look and feel of a room. Start the process of refreshing your space by removing everything from your shelves, tackling the clutter and miscellaneous items yet to find a more suited forever home. Wipe down, dust and begin assessing everything currently on display. Sort between items that functionally or aesthetically need to stay on display, and consider alternative placements for the objects that bring a sense of clutter or distract from the overall feel you hope to achieve.

Remember even the smallest of changes can bring about a big impact when styling shelves, from the colour of a book spine to the size and placement of plants on each shelf, so ease in with one or two changes at a time and watch as the transformation unfolds.

Styling kitchen shelves? Switch out cookbooks (we love *The Mexican Vegetarian Cookbook* by Margarita Carrillo Arronte for a pop of colour and vibrant recipes), mason jars, herbs, glassware and crockery to offer a new feel. For bedroom shelving, change plants, candles, vases and sentimental trinkets to offer a breath-of-fresh-air feel.

Don’t have shelving? Consider this one of the easiest and most affordable ways to change the feel of your space, adding dimension, height and texture to a wall plus the functionality of additional storage.

Intentional placement of items:

Filling shelves and bedsides, bathroom cabinets and kitchen windowsills, even the most functional of objects in each corner of our homes contribute to how a space feels. In the same vein as organising shelves with both style and purpose in mind, making conscious decisions when it comes to displaying the more necessary everyday items at home can also offer the potential for both small and mighty transformations.

In the kitchen, consider everything from everyday utensils, tea towels and tablecloths to capture a new and refreshed feeling in the hub of your home. From introducing colourful crockery and glassware to an otherwise neutral space, to adding plants and greenery to inspire a fresh and inviting room in which to host, aim to shop, curate and style with intention.

In the bathroom, consider how a soap dish, towels, shower curtain and bath mat contribute to wider decor. Elevate the everyday with Rebecca Udall’s Amelia Scalloped Towels, made from Portuguese woven cotton and designed to effortlessly add flair to the functional moments of your day. Transform not only how a particular room looks, but also how you feel when spending time there. Prioritise moments of solitude and self care with MIRROR WATER- body care for a burned out generation- and enjoy the indulgence of their daily SMOOTH body oil for a luxurious moment of pause amongst the busy day-to-day. Complete with a cute soap dish for a final serene addition, and enjoy the benefits of a room easily transformed by a few purposeful finishing touches.

Consider the style and impact of the objects in your home, and maximise the potential of adapting them seasonally, or as the needs of your home changes.

Soft furnishings galore:

If you’re craving a refresh at home but the energy to execute your interior dreams is running low, look no further than the humble soft furnishing to help you on your way. From cushion covers to curl-up-on-the-sofa-worthy throws, the impact of your soft furnishings in changing the colour palette or feel of your space cannot be understated.

“Layering in a house and using textures with textiles is a great way to really elevate a room.” Says Laura. “You can do this by investing in a really beautiful cushion that’s made out of wool or a really lovely material, and you only need to have one to create tactility which I always think is what makes things feel more expensive. It’s also details like fluffing the cushions, for instance, on your sofa so they’re not flat and looking a bit sad, and on your bed making sure you have plumped your bedding and duvet and folded it over like they do in a hotel. These are literally just styling tips that don’t even require a monetary investment!”

Daughters Of Gaea’s Neelima Silk Ruffle Cushion perhaps takes top spot as the perfect shade of blue there is, with its soul-soothing tone conjuring up feelings of summer days and clear views, it’s the ultimate choice for small summer home updates. Capture sunshine on repeat with Stoff Studios’ *Sunne Bolster in shade Sherbet,* offering an injection of colour on neutral sofas or to enhance the comfort of an inviting bed set-up.

Refreshing the soft furnishings of an entire room may feel like an overwhelming feat, but remember home transformations need not be executed with an all or nothing approach. To spruce up a bedroom, consider switching out smaller details and replacing pillowcases and scatter cushions as opposed to purchasing a new bedding set entirely. Play with mix-matched soft furnishings and the fun that comes with collecting and curating your home in a way that bucks tradition. Continue the serenity of an outdoors/indoors approach with Sukun’s pair of Pink Posy Pillow Cases- made with 100% cotton in a luxe sateen finish, rest easy with sleep so good it feels hotel-worthy.

When creating a reimagined communal living space, experiment with vintage rugs to revamp carpets you’d rather cover, or take down heavyweight curtains and swap out for DIY, sheer chiffon curtains that allow dreamy, summer sunlight to flood in. Start with the rooms or nooks of your home you spend most time in, and tackle each corner one step at a time.

Artwork that inspires:

Whether painting is off limits as a renter or you find yourself drawn to home renovations that require less commitment, changing the artwork upon your walls can offer a fresh feel to a room, and an easy alternative to inject colour to your space. From gallery walls featuring a selection of smaller paintings or prints, to the impact of one large piece of art above a mantle, a purposefully curated collection of art can be transformative.

Lucy Mahon’s beautifully nostalgic, playful art and illustrations add a dose of comfort to neglected corners in any room, and are almost all priced under £100. Finding words and phrases from journals and notebooks that capture recent personal experiences, Lucy’s collections are centred around both memorable events and more everyday observations. For a dose of summer loving, The Paddling Pools Are Out perfectly captures the joyful spontaneity that comes hand in hand with a sunny day.

For a more striking injection of colour, Alice Tye’s *Palm Springs Construction Print* feels effortlessly relaxing thanks to its dreamy blue tones, making it the perfect addition to rooms in which relaxation is the goal.

For beautiful artwork additions that are both more affordable and personal, why not host a sip and paint evening with friends and an array of acrylic paints, coloured pencils and a bottle of your favourite wine (which tastes all the more delicious when sipped from The Vintage List’s Frenchette glasses). Gather inspiration from Pinterest and the feelings you hope to capture from time well spent at home, and get creative, embracing messiness and redefining mistakes and perfection when it comes to creativity. Cheers to that!

Shop second hand:

Is there anything more magical than a Sunday morning car boot sale? We think not. Wandering home, newfound gems in hand and a smug sense of achievement by 8.45am is surely in the top 5 best feelings. The thrill of finding something one-of-a-kind is endlessly inspiring, both in the anticipation of not knowing what you may uncover and the ritual of arranging your newfound items once home. Channelling a magpie attitude to shopping for homeware can mean reaping the biggest rewards, and offers an affordable means to switch up trinkets, ornaments, crockery and even furniture more regularly. From car boot artwork to making the most of discarded furniture, keeping your eyes peeled and mind open can lead to both small and more significant home updates you’ll wonder how you lived without.

Laura recommends Freecycle, an amazing platform that encourages worldwide sharing of homeware and interior items, reducing waste and easing the burden on landfill.

“Go for the unexpected, a singular chair which can be mismatched in your kitchen or a table with a broken leg that just needs a bit of TLC.”

When it comes to flea markets, check out our guide to some of Europe’s best to plan your summertime travels around the best thrifting opportunities there are. Don’t be afraid to ask about bundle deals, and always remember to bring cash!