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6. SCALE

Don’t be fooled by buying small pictures and objects for smaller room. One or two items that are bold and large create impact – it can be the focus for a room with potentially too many details. It creates a sense of luxury and does away with the twee look. In larger rooms, you can go for much larger furniture for example, but still keep a balance and mix smaller and larger items. Too many oversized things and it can look like a Disneyland set!

See above the windows really are THE larger than life feature in this room, so to highlight it the red cushions are placed on neutral sofas and the windows are mirrored in the art work on the wall – it feels very big but very light.

7. MAKING A GRAND ENTRANCE

This is the first area you enter, the hallway. The first thing visitors will see, appreciate or loathe – it sets the scene for the rest of your house. So make a statement. The perfect place to start any re-decoration - think of it this as if you were setting a stage. Highlight period features, go for bolder colours, choose key furniture pieces that make a statement – but keep it simple, uncluttered. We all pass through very quickly, so the impact has to be that much more striking. A good impression is most important when selling the house, so the first few minutes are key. This re-cycled mid-century table sets are painted and shown off with an Anglepoise lamp, perfect for a small hallway for example with a shabby chic look.

8. KEY PIECES

I like highlighting one thing in a room and we spoke of what kind of lighting to look for last week. But I LOVE lights – and they do make fantastic statements if they are very sculptural and project gorgeous beams of light onto surfaces.

This light from Flos, the white CS Tau, sold by Design Conscious http://design-conscious.co.uk , is fabulous. Sculptural, light on its feet, functional too but still absolutely gorgeous. I can even see this in a period property highlighting features such as cornicing or a highly textured wall.

Or for something with texture and interest at close range, this other Flos light is perfect above a wooden kitchen table for example, mixing the screamingly modern with more rustic pieces is a great way to create a more eclectic look. Just remember though, don’t do texture, colour and size all in one item – make complementary associations. This is again sold by http://design-conscious.co.uk. They have special offers on at the moment so check them out.

9. MULTI-USE AREAS

So you need a small office space, a living room that looks the part and even perhaps a storage area to hide all the paperwork, DVDs and normal junk we all accumulate over the years. Why not use an old decorative cupboard, place shelves in it and one that is at desk height. If it’s not too valuable drill holes at the back of it to put your PC cables through and hey presto! A small office, that you can hide away when you have guests – albeit smallish, all your files can go on the higher shelves and if you have slimmer lower shelves under the desk, you can stash CD and DVDs too. A modern chair like this one from Ace Office www.ace-office.co.uk would look stunning against an old wardrobe and then be placed within your living room as a statement piece when the “office” is shut for the day.

10. COLOUR

This usually means wall colour.....well not always. Don’t forget to accessorise perhaps more neutral interiors with vases, scatter cushions, throws, rugs, feature walls....all of these can add colour.

Don’t go mad though, just a few highlights here and there, a bright orange vase on a white gloss table, even a green plant in a striking planter can really lift a scheme.

Have fun!

Françoise Murat & Associates specialise in interior, garden & landscape design.

For more garden and interior design information visit us at www.francoisemurat.com