10 simple ways to restyle a room

Lighting

There are three main types of lighting effect: ambient - soft light that washes an entire room (this'll be your ceiling light); accent - to highlight a particular object or area; task - practical lighting to aid visibility (such as a reading lamp). For ultimate design kudos, create a mix of lighting effects.

Draping some string lights over a bookshelf or updating you boring ceiling light to something a bit more stylish could change the whole look of a room.

Featured lights (clockwise from left):

Cable & Cotton string lights, from £22.95 at Cableandcotton.co.uk
Kartell - Bloom wall/ceiling light, £153 at Madeindesign.co.uk
Kartell - Toobe table lamp, £158 at Madeindesign.co.uk
Tse Tse - Garlande Immaculee, around £154 at Tse-tse.com

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Rugs

Rugs add texture and warmth, a rug can add character to a neutral decor, soften a busy scheme or tie together key colours in a room.

Featured rug: Kashmir Old Gold rug from Rugsinternational.net

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Wallpaper

There are some beautiful wallpapers out there - whether you want something busy, loud, muted or kitsch. Be brave and completely cover the walls of a small room - like the downstairs loo, or make a statement in a larger room by papering just one wall.

Featured papers (clockwise from top left):

Beware The Moon - Ostrich, from £52 per roll at Beware-the-moon.com
Cole & Son - Mimosa, £62 per roll from Wallpaperdirect.co.uk
Turner Pocock Cazalet - Polar Bear, £60 per roll from Turnerpocockcazalet.co.uk
Sanderson - Fifi, £29 at Johnlewis.com
Barneby Gates - Bugs and Butterflies, £78 per roll at Rocketstgeorge.co.uk

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Reupholster

Old dining chairs, headboards and sofas can be reinvented to refresh a room's look. Find a contemporary patterned fabric and get your old furniture reupholstered for a brand new sense of style and comfort.

Featured fabric: Fitzroy, from Sanderson's Bloomsbury Canvas collection

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Colour scheme

You don't need to go overboard when finding a colour scheme for a room - unless, of course, you really want to make a statement. Pick out the pre-existing key colours of your room or choose a specific object which you wish to use as the colour inspiration and add complimentary coloured ornaments or soft furnishings. If your room has neutral decor, inject a few really bright shades.

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Make a statement

If you've got a bit of cash set aside, consider splashing it on a statement item which will give your room the 'wow factor'. Depending on budget, room type and your personal taste, this can range from a designer ornament to a framed canvas or flash contemporary fireplace.

Featured statement pieces (l-r):

Candy rabbit by Ludvig Lofgren for Kosta Boda (around £395)
Gabba Gabba Hey Gorilla by Ludvig Lofgren for Kosta Boda (around £180)
Microbolite floor lamp by Tse Tse, £527 at Madeindesign.co.uk
Antrax - BB fireplace by Andrea Crosetta

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Display flowers

Ok, so it's not quite going to restyle the room, but displaying flowers is a wonderful way of breathing life into a room, adding colour and making a style statement. Commit to a regular change of bouquets and vases to keep your room alive and create a feast for the eyes.

Our 30 ways to display spring flowers gallery will give you heaps of ideas, such as neatly arranged stems in a clear vase, which can be used year-round.

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Mirrors

If you don't have a feature mirror in at least one room of your house - why not? As well as creating the feeling of space and reflecting light, a mirror says you are proud of your home, it is vanity for your interior and a wonderful way to add perspective.

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Dress the window

We all know that a good frame compliments a picture, so why should it be any different for your window? As well as letting in natural light, a window is a snapshot of the outside world - whether you look out onto rolling fields or bricked terraces - make your window a feature of the room.

Find a gorgeous pair of heavy curtains - consider a pelmet to conceal the fixtures - or maximise wall space by installing quality blinds in a colour or material that compliments your furnishings. If you want a bare window, think about painting the recess in a different shade to the rest of the room or add a sweet decorative flourish with an artistic decal. If you don't like the view, introduce sheer drapes which will add texture and a romantic feel.

Featured curtains fabric:

Sanderson - Pompom DPOMPO202, £28.70 at Housedecorltd.co.uk

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