Lifestyle

Botanical elements can definitely add appeal before you open your door to buyers. With everything you need freely available from garden centres, DIY stores and even your humble supermarket, what’s stopping you?

There’s a saying in estate agency that goes ‘kitchens and bathrooms sell homes’ and we tend to agree. We’re often asked by prospective sellers what they should do to make their kitchen ultra-appealing and many ask if it’s possible to add value too. Our answers to the most commonly-asked questions should help inform your kitchen plans.

Burning wood is the most primitive way to keep warm but fashionable log burners have elevated the humble fire into a home must-have. Their cosy credentials coupled with an impressive heat output has prompted a rise in wood burner sales but the downside – increased air pollution – has sparked a flurry of new rules and regulations.

There are times when even interior purists tire of a blank canvas, with prints and patterns the only way to add interest. It can, however, be a little frightening to find yourself in a world of colour, shape and swirling geometric form. Here’s our advice for those taking the plunge into 2023’s most fashionable prints and patterns.

When we think of the colour red, we often think of danger or anger – not always attributes we want to introduce to our homes. This primary hue, however, should not be dismissed when decorating or accessorising, especially as there’s a shade to suit everyone, including soft blush, rich cherry and deep oxblood.

The Dulux Colour of the Year 2023 is Wild Wonder and this golden beige is going to be big news in the coming 12 months. While the shade has been released by a paint manufacturer, it is set to influence how we accessorise our homes.