Photo by Andrea Davis on Unsplash
There is a moment—most often on a Tuesday, when the rain is pounding against the window and you have just boiled the kettle—when you look up from your tea and think: This room is knackered. The wallpaper which once appeared ‘classic’ now appears dingily beige, the armchair has acquired a decidedly down-at-heel look, and the curtains—well, the curtains have not had their best days. It’s not that you want to eliminate everything and start over (who has the time or energy for that?), but something must shift. A tiny adjustment, a breath of newness.
The question, of course, is where to begin. The desire for a do-over is easy to access; the doing itself can feel like an insurmountable feat. Interior design is a fickle business—one moment, we’re all about ‘rustic charm,’ the next it’s ‘Japandi minimalism.’ But at its heart, good design is not about slavishly following trends. It’s about balance, about injecting a little personality into your space without making it feel like an over-enthusiastic Pinterest board. It’s about knowing when to change things up and when to leave well enough alone. And every so often, a single sweeping grand gesture—a statement wall mural, say—is sufficient.
A Bold First Step: The Power of Wall Murals
Where they were once the exclusive preserve of maverick aristocrats and over-ambitious do-it-yourselfers, the wall mural has at last found its moment in the sun. Do it well, though, and it can transform a room, adding depth, colour, and a sense of narrative. A mural is not decoration; it’s a statement, a promise, a declaration that says, Yes, I do want a huge flower arrangement to take up my whole living room wall, and no, I shall not be answering questions on this subject at present.
If you’re not yet convinced you could go through with something so drastic, there is always the option of the softer option: the temporary mural, the kind which peels away with no trumpeting when you’ve had enough. These are ideal if you love the idea of a cavernous foggy forest engulfing your dining area but feel that you might find yourself waking one day to have it all proving rather too much. And if that sounds good, click here to explore a selection that might just be the answer.
The Small Tweaks That Make a Big Impact
Of course, not everyone is comfortable revolutionizing an entire wall all at once. Sometimes it’s the smaller things that give a room new life: a fresh lampshade, a well-placed mirror, the mysterious and sudden urge to rearrange everything at eleven o’clock at night. The point is to determine what’s making the room feel stagnant and address it without having to reinvent the wheel.
Lighting, for instance, is one of the things that everybody takes for granted. A room might be tastefully furnished, spotlessly arranged, but if the lighting is wrong—too bright, too dark, too hospital corridor—it all falls apart. A floor lamp placed in the right spot or a softer bulb can make all the difference, providing a room with the kind of light that makes everything look more beautiful, including you.
Then there’s the matter of textiles. Cushions, rugs, throws—all the little touches that add texture and warmth. The key here is contrast: pairing smooth with rough, light with dark, bold with neutral. A velvet cushion against a linen sofa, a wool rug over wooden floors, a soft throw casually draped over the arm of a chair (or, more realistically, crumpled into a heap five minutes after you’ve arranged it). These small tweaks might be overlooked, but they tend to cohere a room and make it appear considered in terms of design, not merely ‘lived in.’
Reconsidering the Application of Colour
It’s incredible how much effect colour has on mood, and yet we so often choose shades that do nothing more than sit in the background and quietly exist. A room can be totally transformed by a shift of palette, whether as subtle as switching some accessories or as dramatic as painting the entire room.
If the thought of choosing a new hue is nauseating, start with a baby step. One accent wall will refresh a room without overwhelming it. Or, introduce colour through art, pillows, or—if you’re brave enough—that aforementioned mural. Blues and greens calm, while warmer hues—ochre, rust, deep terracotta—welcome an intimate, cozier feel. The secret is to choose colors that do something for you, rather than simply ‘reconciling with the sofa.’
Bringing the Outdoors In
There is something great about nature and yet we always keep it contained within parks, gardens, and fond weekend walks. By introducing elements of nature into your living space—through houseplants, raw materials, or even naturescapes as art—you can bring about a new world.
Plants, in particular, have an uncanny ability to breathe life into a space, both literally and figuratively. They soften hard edges, add a sense of vibrancy, and provide an instant connection to the outside world. And if you’re prone to neglecting them, there are always the low-maintenance options: a hardy snake plant, a cheerful pothos, or—if all else fails—a convincing fake.
Wood, stone, and linen are all great at creating a sense of warmth and grounding. A wooden coffee table, a ceramic vase, a woven basket—these small things add up to make a space that is balanced, inviting, and just a little bit less like an IKEA showroom.