Decorating
Decorating: Stylish Cheats for Time-poor Decorators
Like the idea of decorating, but can’t quite find the time to create your dream interior? Try these fast-track routes to a stylish home
Many of us browse interiors online and make mental notes to try this design or that look. Actually finding the time to decorate, however, is another matter. You might have a very busy job, be juggling home and work life, or simply prefer to spend your leisure time on other pursuits. But don’t despair. There are many ways you can quickly and easily give your home a stylish twist, from being inventive with different materials to thinking of alternative uses for everyday items. So if you’re looking for minimal ways to create maximum impact, check out these ideas.
Turn a rail into a feature
A hanging rail made of steel piping attached to a table is an ingenious and unexpected way to add some additional storage space to this kitchen. If you’re not quite up for the work required for something like this, a regular freestanding clothes rail with S hooks for utensils or pots of herbs is an alternative take on the same idea.
A hanging rail made of steel piping attached to a table is an ingenious and unexpected way to add some additional storage space to this kitchen. If you’re not quite up for the work required for something like this, a regular freestanding clothes rail with S hooks for utensils or pots of herbs is an alternative take on the same idea.
Add sparkle with fairy lights
Fairy lights are a simple way to boost any room: they provide instant twinkly mood lighting, fit into any space, are inexpensive and work beautifully both indoors and out.
Wind them around a metal bedframe, as in this photo, run them along the top of window frames or cupboards in your kitchen or living room, snake them along balustrades and handrails, or bunch them into glass bowls or empty fireplaces.
Fairy lights are a simple way to boost any room: they provide instant twinkly mood lighting, fit into any space, are inexpensive and work beautifully both indoors and out.
Wind them around a metal bedframe, as in this photo, run them along the top of window frames or cupboards in your kitchen or living room, snake them along balustrades and handrails, or bunch them into glass bowls or empty fireplaces.
Personalise with makeshift wallpaper
This is the photo wall taken one step further, and is a clever way for literary types to show off their favourite works, an easy way to make use of novels you’re never likely to read again, or even just a fun way to add colour using vintage magazines. Simply rip out the pages and paste or PhotoMount to the wall. In this bathroom, the pages are laid out neatly, but you could paste them roughly for a less formal feel (and a faster result).
If you’re going for this look in a bathroom or cloakroom, be sure to seal the surface with watered-down PVA.
This is the photo wall taken one step further, and is a clever way for literary types to show off their favourite works, an easy way to make use of novels you’re never likely to read again, or even just a fun way to add colour using vintage magazines. Simply rip out the pages and paste or PhotoMount to the wall. In this bathroom, the pages are laid out neatly, but you could paste them roughly for a less formal feel (and a faster result).
If you’re going for this look in a bathroom or cloakroom, be sure to seal the surface with watered-down PVA.
Be creative with curtains
Been meaning to choose curtains – or make them yourself – but haven’t found the time to source your perfect fabric? Why not use something simple, such as linen or voile, hung from a rod or length of wire (buy clip hooks for super-easy hanging) for a lovely solution until you have the time to devote to curtain hunting?
Here, biscuit-coloured linen hung halfway up the window provides privacy but still allows in plenty of light, and suits the relaxed rustic look of the room perfectly.
Check out these ideas for dressing windows in small rooms
Been meaning to choose curtains – or make them yourself – but haven’t found the time to source your perfect fabric? Why not use something simple, such as linen or voile, hung from a rod or length of wire (buy clip hooks for super-easy hanging) for a lovely solution until you have the time to devote to curtain hunting?
Here, biscuit-coloured linen hung halfway up the window provides privacy but still allows in plenty of light, and suits the relaxed rustic look of the room perfectly.
Check out these ideas for dressing windows in small rooms
Create a feature wall with a surprising material
If you happen to have a plain section of wall that isn’t really doing much, a sheet of material – be it corrugated metal like this, an old door or an unused printed flat sheet – can instantly add interest. The section doesn’t have to be particularly large, and it could even work in the space above a worktop or in the recessed areas on either side of a fireplace.
If you happen to have a plain section of wall that isn’t really doing much, a sheet of material – be it corrugated metal like this, an old door or an unused printed flat sheet – can instantly add interest. The section doesn’t have to be particularly large, and it could even work in the space above a worktop or in the recessed areas on either side of a fireplace.
Prop don’t hang
Paintings and mirrors are for hanging, right? Not necessarily… If the thought of taking a power drill to the wall to put up a heavy mirror or artwork seems daunting, a good alternative is to not hang it at all, but simply to sit it on the floor and lean it against a wall instead. It can add interest in a surprisingly pleasing way.
If you have a few mirrors, artworks or even empty decorative frames, try propping them against one another along a wall.
Paintings and mirrors are for hanging, right? Not necessarily… If the thought of taking a power drill to the wall to put up a heavy mirror or artwork seems daunting, a good alternative is to not hang it at all, but simply to sit it on the floor and lean it against a wall instead. It can add interest in a surprisingly pleasing way.
If you have a few mirrors, artworks or even empty decorative frames, try propping them against one another along a wall.
Play up household items
Don’t keep your nice tableware and kitchen kit hidden away in cupboards. Ceramic, porcelain, glassware – even decorative tiles, classic tea trays or interesting food tins – can make for really interesting visual features. Here, three decorative tiles above the mantelpiece bring colour and interest to this largely off-white scheme.
With flat pieces, such as tiles, tea trays or old metal advertising signs, prop them up, stick them to the wall or use a clear bookstand to keep them upright.
Don’t keep your nice tableware and kitchen kit hidden away in cupboards. Ceramic, porcelain, glassware – even decorative tiles, classic tea trays or interesting food tins – can make for really interesting visual features. Here, three decorative tiles above the mantelpiece bring colour and interest to this largely off-white scheme.
With flat pieces, such as tiles, tea trays or old metal advertising signs, prop them up, stick them to the wall or use a clear bookstand to keep them upright.
Get creative with ledges
Look around your home for any potential display surfaces – windowsills (even narrow ones), mantelpieces, niches, the tops of cupboards – and fill them with plants, candles, paintings, ceramics – you name it – to add colour and personality.
This row of plants gives a sense of a leafy outside world, despite the urban view, and adds colour to the white space without blocking the light. Jewel-bright glassware would also look lovely on a window ledge, and a collection could be added to slowly, as and when, so there would be no need to spend time sourcing.
Look around your home for any potential display surfaces – windowsills (even narrow ones), mantelpieces, niches, the tops of cupboards – and fill them with plants, candles, paintings, ceramics – you name it – to add colour and personality.
This row of plants gives a sense of a leafy outside world, despite the urban view, and adds colour to the white space without blocking the light. Jewel-bright glassware would also look lovely on a window ledge, and a collection could be added to slowly, as and when, so there would be no need to spend time sourcing.
Let one feature carry the room
Often it only takes one unusual piece to lift a room. The clever use of this decorative wooden screen as a headboard gives the space a focal point and is the work of a moment.
Be inspired by these 10 statement headboards
TELL US…
Have you mastered how to decorate your home with minimal effort? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Often it only takes one unusual piece to lift a room. The clever use of this decorative wooden screen as a headboard gives the space a focal point and is the work of a moment.
Be inspired by these 10 statement headboards
TELL US…
Have you mastered how to decorate your home with minimal effort? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Functional can look good, too, as this pegboard demonstrates. Inexpensive and widely available, pegboard can easily be fixed up or even just propped up. Anything from tools to jewellery, craft kit to kitchen items can then be hung from it.
You can, of course, position your items in any way you like, so take advantage and create a pleasing display, as with these colourful utensils.