You’re stuck in the house during lockdown, and you get antsy because of it. The thing is, it’s the perfect time right now to look at your home and give it an overhaul. When you can’t go out, you do what you can when you have to stay in and redecoration is the project you didn't know you needed.

There is a lot involved in redecorating the house, so if you're going to get into this project you need to be prepared for it to be big. You get to stamp your personality all over your living space and feel fantastic for it, especially if you can’t buy a house right now. Design trends are making a comeback, and you should want to be a part of that so that you can have the house of your dreams! So, let’s check out five reasons now is the perfect time to redecorate your home.

1. You Need A Style Update

Things can get pretty stale when you are living in the same decor for years on end. Over time, you can get really tired of staring at the same four walls, so it’s time to update the style. We talked about design trends making a comeback, so why not look at what’s going on in the design world and see what’ll suit your house!

2. Kids, Kids & More Kids

When you add to your family, you need to give some rooms a breath of fresh air. They need a nursery, and then they grow out of farm animals and need an upgraded space in which to sleep. Your lounge space may need an extension to have a playroom, and that will need a good lick of paint, too!

3. You Want To Sell

When you redecorate your home, you can get it ready for sale. It’s called staging, and you may choose to redecorate to make it more appealing to buyers. You want to add light and make it modern while also making the space liveable! A neutral colour palette appeals to most people.

4. Your Lifestyle Is Changing

As we get older, we grow out of certain tastes and colour schemes that we have in our homes. As you get older, your home reflects your tastes. Maybe you are planning to downgrade now the kids are older, which means that you need to change what their bedroom was used for. You want to make sure that you get the most out of your space and that requires redecoration.

5. Increased Value 

You don't want to sell right now, but you will one day. The best way to add value to a house is to maintain it and change things around/ you can add extensions, open the rooms to make them a more open-plan living space. Adding value depends on what you’re doing to the house itself, but even the most basic changes will add something amazing to your house. Updating the flooring can change the look instantly.

Now is the time to change it all up - so, make your plans. You have a house to redecorate!

*Collaborative post

It is everyone’s wish to live in a less confined space, but finding a spacious house or expanding an existing one comes at an additional cost, which not everyone can afford. Cities are increasingly becoming crowded and land is now a scarce resource, meaning moving to a bigger house may not be an option. However, there are still ways in which you can make your small space feel bigger and eliminate the need to make structural changes. Let’s see some of the easy solutions to make your home feel more spacious without adding an extension.

According to Property advice, room organisation is one of the concepts that you need to address when looking for ways to make your home look spacious. Most of the space at home is lost due to lack of proper storage. You have to think out of the box instead of adopting the traditional solutions like the floor-standing cabinets. Floor to ceiling shelves is a good option as they help clear floor clutter and make the ceiling appear higher.

Another smart storage solution is the use of multifunctional furniture. This furniture include seats and coffee tables with storage spaces that can help keep some of the items that you don’t use regularly.

Add Mirrors To The Walls

Large mirrors can work miracles when it comes to making your home look spacious. Mirrors add more light to the room by reflecting any light from the outside, plus they reflect the room to give an illusion that there is more space. You can hang small mirrors on the walls or large floor-length mirrors. Just make sure that the mirror does not reflect a cluttered space because it will not work as planned.

Declutter



One of the reasons why living spaces appear smaller is the accumulation of our possessions. You can free some space by simply eliminating what you don’t need. Walk from room to room and eliminate the things that you do not need. If an item adds no value to your home’s deco or it is not used regularly, you can store it outside the house or consider donating it to charity. Make regular de-cluttering a habit to keep the clear and calm spaces for long.

Make Some Furniture Changes

The type of furniture in a room and their arrangement play a big role in how spacious your rooms will be. Low furniture makes a room look bigger because they make the ceiling look high, but you should ensure that they show some floor space. Open legs furniture can be better compared to furniture that directly touches the floor because space beneath is still visible. Also, look for dining chairs that you can push under the table when they are not in use.

Furniture takes up most of the space at home, especially if the arrangement is wrong. To avoid that, change the position of the furniture that blocks the view of the room and use furniture that fit your space. You will also open up space by moving the larger furniture closer to the walls and ensuring that the walkways are wide open. Don’t push the furniture against the wall as it will make the room look cramped. Leaving a few spaces in between makes the space appear more open.

Use The Colours And Lighting Trick

The colours you use also play a huge role when it comes to making a room look bigger. Walls with light colours are more reflective than dark colours and they make your space feel more open. Think of bright colours like light blue, white, light green and so on. The same applies to the material you use for your floor.

You can also transform your room using light. Simple changes like lighting up the dark corners and spreading out the lighting will open up your space and make the rooms look spacious. You can also utilise natural light during the day as it is brings in some warmth and an airy feeling. The use of natural light also blends your space with the outdoors, thus eliminating the boundaries. If the outside view is not pleasing, add some greenery near the windows.

*Collaborative post

The summer holidays are the perfect time of year for some outdoor decluttering. Clearing out your garden might seem like a big job, but if you break it down into easy steps, you can make it a day by day plan. You could spend a day each on the compost, wildlife projects, and garden toys and decorations. Once you finish each decluttering project you’ll be able to reward yourself for a job well done. Here are ten top tips for decluttering your garden.

The best way to dispose of garden waste, so things like grass clippings, weeds, dead plants, and hedge trimmings is with a compost heap. You can also add organic waste from your kitchen and all these ingredients will feed your soil. Here are some other alternative garden waste-free ideas. You could support wildlife by creating a worm bin or repurpose certain materials.

Ideally, you want to reduce waste, but if you feel like you’re going to have an excess of garden rubbish it might be an idea to hire a skip. Otherwise, you can sell or donate unused decking, topsoil, and paving slabs if they’re in good condition.

Replace old decking

Your decking might be in need of a bit of TLC, or replacing completely. If you’re looking for new decking, click here for more information. If you want to get rid of your old decking in a more eco-friendly way you can donate it online. Try advertising online on sites such as Freecycle. People will come and collect things for free, and you’d be surprised by what you get rid of.

Set up areas for wildlife

Wildlife is very important for your garden. As part of your decluttering project, you want to clear some space to attract bees and butterflies and other animals. Set up corners for hedgehogs to next in the cooler months, and they will be looking for a place to hibernate. You could even build a hedgehog house.

Organise your garden into different areas for wildlife and for your family to spend time together. Ensure you keep an eye on the conditions of these areas, particularly if you set up a hedgehog or insect house, you don’t want these to get ruined by moisture.

Reduce your garden tools collection

Go through your garden tool collection and check for any duplicates. You might find you’ve got old tools you never use. Duplicates can also go straight to the charity shop and old or broken ones might just have to be thrown away unless you can find creative ways to repurpose tools. This is a great way to declutter your toolbox.

Weeding

Rake up leaves, debris and get down to some weeding. This can be a daily task, and shouldn’t take long if you get on top of it. Trim back and prune any overgrowing or dead plants for regrowth next season. Once your flower beds are tidy, a handy tip is to use bark to discourage weeds from growing. Invest in an electric lawnmower as these are more eco-friendly. Your lawn will need mowing around once a week.

Gardening is a great way for kids to get in touch with nature. You can teach them about ecology and the importance of maintaining a healthy habitat for wildlife. At the same time, they’ll give you a helping hand tidying it up. You could make it into a fun project or a game.

Get the kids involved in planting new seeds and watching them grow. You can choose fast options such as cress or salad leaves, so they’ll be able to see the results quickly. You can also use these for healthy packed lunch alternatives.

Check the condition of garden ornaments

If you’ve got garden decorations it’s a good idea to check the condition of these. Don’t let them clutter up the garden if they’re rusty or falling apart. It’s a good idea to choose second-hand items to decorate your garden as a more sustainable option. Alternatively, opt for more durable materials that will last longer. You can also find plenty of options for sustainable garden decorations online.

Don’t forget the shed

If you have a shed, outhouse or conservatory then this room might need a decluttering as well. Get rid of all unnecessary items and decide which you are able to donate, sell, or repurpose. Divide your shed into zones and try using the walls for storage to create more space. Many people often neglect these spares rooms and fill them with junk. Why not repurpose the space? You could get more use out of it.

After the initial decluttering of your garden. Make a list of daily and weekly tasks to keep it clean and tidy. Water your garden on days it doesn’t rain. With weekly trimming and raking, you can enjoy your garden more. Gardening is a long-term project, but if you dedicate a day to clearing out a few things you’ll have the space to work and enjoy it. With a few basic, albeit tiring jobs the results will be worth it. Learn to make your garden gorgeously tidy this summer.

Dorset, a county in South West England is a stunning area with many beauty spots, hidden coves and sandy beaches perfect for day trips. As well as the beautiful Jurassic Coast, it has castles, islands and many National Trust properties too and is a great area to explore on your own, as a couple or with your family.  Check out accommodation options in Dorset if you are thinking of staying in the area. 

Let's have a look at 5 of the most interesting places to visit in Dorset according to me! This post is in collaboration with Hotels.com, but all views are my own. 

Durdle Door

Corf Castle

Portland Bill 

Highcliffe Castle