Style At Home April 2024

As the days feel brighter and fresher, I’m always inspired to get busy at home and make a start on some of the DIY and decor projects I’ve been shortlisting. I’ve started small with bedroom panelling (which wasn’t too tricky and cost less than £100) before I move on to the biggies like the understairs cupboard and planning a new kitchen refit. Spring is always a popular time of year for kitchen projects, so we’ve got plenty of inspiration, from the latest colour trends (page 56), to our cover star Tessa’s stunning kitchen makeover (p84) and project-planning advice (p90). Or if it’s easy updates you’re after, we’ve got lots of takeaway ideas throughout the issue too, from Easter crafts, buys and upcycling, to tasty treats and a super-cute bunny grazing…

Primark MODERN ARTS Soft hues freshen up Art Deco shapes and Nouveau florals John Lewis & Partners COLOURFUL CLASSICS Team splashes of colour with trad designs, for a playful scheme Habitat URBAN RETRO Pair 1970s-inspired designs with contemporary loft living Matalan SORBET SHADES Sweeten up with sugary pastels and daisy motifs…

1. Add metallic accents Hints of brass and copper will give this contemporary look a luxe finish. Incorporate subtly on light fittings and chair legs, or use bolder pieces such as a smoked glass mirror or metallic screen to break up large expanses of wall. 2. Keep the backdrop clean Create a blank canvas on walls and floors in order to make your colour palette really pop. Choose a plain, light neutral for walls, and a pale wood for floors – adding interest with a chevron or parquet-style pattern. 3. Incorporate iridescent finishes Give the scheme a hazy aesthetic with iridescent touches, such as a rainbow-coloured side table. Add a tint to windows and glass doors with window film, to provide colour and privacy without obscuring the view. 4. Choose…

Adding florals is an easy way to instantly prettify a scheme, and faded, vintage-style florals are all over the high-street this season. Choose muted shades for a rustic, relaxed feel, rather than colourful and sugary sweet. Use florals sparingly, opting for a key piece, like a bedding set or curtains, then adding hints throughout the rest of the room. Team with light neutrals and natural materials such as rattan and seagrass to amp up the homespun effect.…

CELEBRATE SPRINGTIME Enjoy seasonal festivities with this pretty new range of tableware from Home Bargains in soft neutrals and fresh florals, and with a few Easter bunnies thrown in. We love the delicate reeded glassware, which cost just £4.99 for two tumblers or wine glasses. Next X Novogratz Look out for the colourful new home collection from Next and US design team Novogratz. Offering the brand’s signature high-end style at affordable prices, the range includes playful mirrors and lighting, shapely glassware and bold linens. 3 of the best SCALLOPED TABLEWARE NATURE-INSPIRED PAINTS Homeware brand Sophie Allport has launched a new collection in collaboration with COAT Paints. The colours, inspired by the countryside, are named after rural locations near Sophie’s home, from Oundle Navy and Rutland Stone to rustic Stamford…

We were going to stay in our £70,000 two-bedroom flat for longer, but lockdown changed everything,’ says Abbey. ‘There was no garden and we were sick of staring at the same walls. I really wanted an older property in a quieter area that wasn’t overlooked, with fields nearby for walking the dogs. Our flat sold within five days, and after viewing three other properties we went to an open viewing for a three-bedroom semi with a garden in Billinge, Wigan. It was at the top of our budget but it had so much potential to extend in future, and we loved the old doors and fireplaces. In the car afterwards we made an offer straight away, then exchanged contracts the day before the stamp duty holiday ended. It was a…