If – in your youth – you were someone who spent hours rearranging your bedroom, you’ll remember the dopamine hit when you were finished. Turns out that the same thing happens during adulthood, too. Infinitely more rewarding than the annual spring clean, the beginning of the year is an excellent time to reinvigorate your surroundings – a few stealthy switch-ups can quickly help improve mental clarity and wellbeing. Here are some super easy, non-arduous ways to update your space now.
Boujify your bed
There’s nothing more important than a good night’s sleep, so levelling up your bed – from mattress to bed sheets – is an excellent place to start. Perhaps one of the most exciting ways to switch up a divan-style bed is by installing a new headboard, which can be secured to the wall or attached to a base, and upholstered in myriad fabrics and finishes. Some great places to look include The House Upstairs, who have bespoke options, or By Lydia, whose wavy styles seem to be all over Instagram.
If you don’t want to spend that much, bed skirts are all the rage and can be easily slipped on under a mattress, creating a warm and welcoming look in any room. Some of the best come from Skrt London, an independent, female-owned brand with excellent colours and patterns, and Secret Linen Store, whose stripy linen valances are made in Portugal. In fact, the more bed linen, the better. Up your cushion game, invest in breathable linen sheets, and get a great patterned blanket – Hollie Bowden’s Tiger’s Eye Blanket is the result of a collaboration between Bowden and the artist Cesca Dvorak, and is a statement piece in itself.
Play with lighting
Lighting can make or break a room, so whether it’s adding a lamp or switching a pendant shade for something fresh, consider the areas of the room that need gentle illumination and proceed accordingly. Rattan shades deliver a cosy light effect on walls, while Original BTC’s Portable Lights can be moved around the house depending on your vibe. There’s also nothing quite like a patterned lamp shade, either, and don’t forget how easy it is to switch new shades onto old bases.
Add a rug
Don’t underestimate the power of a rug. Many interior designers start with an interesting rug when planning a room and build out from there, so they’re more important than you might think. Nordic Knots’s new Ryya collection takes its cues from the Scandi shag rug that was de rigueur in the 1970s, while the Hecate Rug from Jermaine Gallacher’s recent collaboration with Vanderhurd is the perfect woollen hallway runner. You’ll also love interior designer Alice Crawley and Layered’s Bamboo Forest design, which feels incredible underfoot.
Swap your handles over
This might sound like unnecessary faff, but switching your door handles can make a huge difference to any carpentry in your home, whether it’s an Ikea flatpack chest of drawers or your kitchen cabinets. Matilda Goad’s backplates and knobs are some of the best around, with different styles that you can mix and match to create an array of eye-catching looks. Bias Editions also do great Wiggle Handles, while Anthropologie is a fun high-street option.
