Spring Living: interiors for warmer weather

Lorraine Kelly with her Flamingo cushion, £16; Renee Duvet set, from £20; and dunmore pineapple table lamp, £39, all available from JD Williams Home (Image: Archant)

Make your home look beautiful this spring with some best buys, clever decor tricks, a mini project and a bit of guidance from TV presenter, Lorraine Kelly.

“I love this time of year and refreshing rooms with fresh touches, such as a throw, a cushion, scented candles and some fresh flowers. They can really change something without breaking the bank, and means you avoid all the upheaval of redecorating. I can’t remember when I last completely redecorated because I much prefer to make little changes over time,” says Lorraine, who’s created a new collection of homeware, Lorraine At Home for JD Williams Home.

Bilbury vase, £30 and large, £75; Hambledon vase, £60; other vases and organic mercury tealight holders, from £15 each, all available from The White Company (Image: Archant)

“Comfort’s first and foremost for me in my rooms, and I hate unnecessary clutter. I have lots of storage to make sure there’s plenty of room on surfaces to display photographs I love. I’m always thinking up new ways to display them. In one corner of my living room, I have a group of black and white photos of my daughter, Rosie, 22, right through from when she was small to now. It triggers happy memories whenever I look at it and is particularly special now as she’s working abroad.”

While she spends every week in a flat in London when she’s presenting ITV’s Lorraine, her real home, which she shares with her husband, Steve, is in Broughty Ferry, close to the mouth of the River Tay, Dundee. “Lighting’s a great way to create atmosphere and bring a look together, but I think many people overlook it. I like a mix of hanging pendants, table lamps and lanterns filled with candles. My other indulgence is cushions because they instantly jazz up a chair or sofa and bring in colour. I sometimes have a hard time convincing Steve about them - he doesn’t understand the cushion thing!”

Six spring decor tips:

Calming colour

“Home is our sanctuary where we can relax and recover from the stresses of daily life, and a gentle colour palette will help to conjure a calming atmosphere,” says Sarah Quilliam, head of product design, Hillarys. “Faded pinks, gentle greys, serene blues and muted corals are all on trend this year. Use one of those shades and complement with a roller blind in sheer or semi-transparent fabrics with a geometric pattern.”

Mini plot

Set up a mini-garden indoors with pot plants. Pick plants which share the same light and watering needs to make care easy, and make into an eye-catching feature by adding lanterns, tea-light holders, and picture frames.

Kitchen revamp

“Giving the home a spring update can be daunting if you’re on a tight budget but simply repainting kitchen tiles and unit doors gives a new lease of life to a tired interior,” says Jenna Lowe, product manager at Ronseal.

Green vista

Rolling green acres or a stunning countryside view may be top of your wish list for the future, but until then, why not fake it? “Artificial grass is such an affordable solution for a variety of outdoor spaces, whether it’s a slatted balcony, concrete yard or stone patio - the grass can work on several different terrains and even indoors. It’s the ultimate no-fuss low-maintenance garden and it means you have a lovely green exterior all-year round,” says Jemma Dayman, assistant buyer at Carpetright. Alternatively, a wall mural - they’re enjoying a huge revival - could transform your outlook.

Sweet sleep

Revamp a bedroom by lavishing TLC on your bed. Turn and rotate the mattress, launder pillows, switch to a lighter duvet and splash out on new bedlinen.

Spa style

Splash out on treats for your bathroom, from smart storage to luxury towels and candles and turn it into your very own spa.