01 New curtains for Spring

These days although curtains are still used to perform their original function of covering draughty windows they can be very much a design statement. With so many different styles and patterns it can be quite confusing choosing a style to suit your room. However, if old, dark drab curtains are dominating a room it can be completely transformed by changing them for a more modern pattern.

02 Hide your plasma TV

While your plasma screen may enlivinen your viewing hours they can be quite intrusive when they are off and sit somnambulantly as brooding black boxes. There are some nifty designs out there now and plasma and lcd tv lift furniture is becoming increasingly popular. This beautiful design from Steven Burgess Fine Furniture merges your screen seamlessly into your room’s interior when out of use. www.stevenburgess. co.uk

03 Update your window blinds

If your windows are still graced by dusty old slatted window blinds that have seen better days then changing them for ones that complement the room will add an instant uplift. From the classic simplicity of Roman blinds to contemporary clean lined wood blinds there is the perfect style out there for you. Think about what you need from them: is it for privacy, keeping out street lights at night, keeping the heat down in a conservatory or purely for window dressing? All these things will have a bearing on the sort you choose. If you require something elegant and sophisticated then Venetian blinds are available in everything from wood to aluminium.

04 Install an AGA

There is something comforting about walking into a kitchen with an Aga; everyone is drawn to its warmth and it becomes the focal point of the room. If your kitchen lacks warmth or heart then an Aga will add it in spades. Modern designs and colours mean you can choose one to complement your kitchen colour scheme and new technology means they are more effi cient these days. And when the world is waking up to realise that the throwaway society in not sustainable then the Aga comes into its own – it will last a lifetime, indeed several, and being made of cast iron will be recyclable. A whole online community has grown up around beloved Agas, try www.agalinks.com; www.loveanaga.com or www.theheatexchange.org

05 Go green

Seeking impartial advice about making your house greener or more effi cient while maintaining its integrity can be hard to come by. The Energy Saving Trust offer just such advice. They can advise on insulation to cut your energy costs and on replacing windows with more effi cient noise and heat retaining ones. Go to the website www.energysavingtrust.org.uk 6 05 Go green Seeking impartial advice about making your house greener or more effi cient while maintaining its integrity can be hard to come by. The Energy Saving Trust offer just such advice. They can advise on insulation to cut your energy costs and on replacing windows with more effi cient noise and heat retaining ones. Go to the website www.energysavingtrust.org.uk ‘Bo Concept will visit your home and help you come up with a concept that’s right for your lifestyle.’ 05

06 Update your furniture

One of the quickest and most effective ways to instantly transform a room is to update your furniture – out with the sagging sofas and tired coffee tables and in with the new. A beautifully upholstered three piece suite can make a statement in any room. You can either buy new or consider getting the suite you have reupholstered, transforming it into something fresh and new. Teamed with a fabulous feature coffee table and you will be amazed how much you can alter a tired room. You can either buy new or reinvent your old furntiture. For inspiration try visiting www. hamptonmcmurray.co.uk

07 Choose stone

Another way to instantly transform a room or home is to update your fl oor covering. For a truly stunning fi nish why not think about stone? From Travertine to limestone, marble to slate there are many different stone fi nishes to choose from. For more information on choosing stone fl ooring go to www. stoneandtimber.co.uk

08 Go contemporary

Is your home sunk in the mire of dated 80’s walls, do you love watching all the TV home makovers and then despair at you own dated and clutterd home? Then perhaps now is the time for bold move to the contemporary. For a complete change it is better to get ideas from professionals who can help you choose a contemporary look that is right for your lifestyle. Going completely minimalist might be perfect for a bachelor pied à terre but if you have a young family you might fi nd your minimalist look is soon buried beneath a mountain of toys. Bo Concept offer a free interior design service. They will visit your home and help you come up with a concept that’s right for your lifestyle. www.boconcept.co.uk

09 Install glass balustrading

One way to add an extra dimension to your interior or exterior balcony or deck is to add glass balustrading. Inside it can replace a solid stair or hall balustrade opening up closed areas with an amazing effect of light and space. If you have a balcony it can be used to fabulous effect to open out the view or add a clear cut profi le to a deck. With its clean modern lines it can lift the ordinary into the extraordinary. Find out more from www.grillecity.com With help from interior designer Gerry Burke, we offer up some quick fi xes for those wanting to give their home that all important makeover and uplift.

Here are some tips that you can do yourself without embarking on any major work. With help from interior designer Gerry Burke, we offer up some quick fi xes for those wanting to give their home that all important makeover and uplift. Here are some tips that you can do yourself without embarking on any major work. Gerry Burke Interiors Limited, gerryburke@yahoo.co.uk, Tel: 079510 41707

10 Bathroom

Enjoying a soak in a warm bath is and should be a luxurious experience. But this is only so if the surroundings are equally warm and friendly. Coordination is the key here, so make sure that your bathroom has matching towels and accessories and lots of lovely quality soaps for both you and your guests.

11 Living space

As the sitting room is most likely the main point of your home why not make a focal point in this room. This can be done with a feature wall covering. A really stunning wallpaper or a vibrant paint will easily do the trick. Colourful scatter cushions work wonders, especially from an aesthetic point of view.

12 Clutter

How much clutter is there in your living space? Addressing this issue produces an immediate feel good factor. With the clutter out of sight your living space will be further enhanced with soft home lighting. Whether you choose table lamps or uplighters, a dimmer switch will provide that intimate ambience to entertain your friends. 

13 Kitchen

For so many people the kitchen is the heart of the home. Again a feature wall in the kitchen is worth considering. This could be themed to match the colours of your kitchen units or fl oor covering. Friends always graduate to the kitchen so good lighting is essential. New kitchen utensils are also worth considering. Change that old kettle or toaster or invest in a new microwave.

14 Outside space

If you have a garden then it is worthwhile creating a seating space. Cushions will also add a touch of colour and comfort, especially if your seating is wrought iron or wooden. Time to visit the garden centre and get some new spring plants to give new life to your garden. Tired looking garden furniture will also come alive after a coat of paint with bright colours.

15 Bedroom

Most bedrooms tend to be cluttered as a busy lifestyle often causes us to throw everything around as we dash out to work in the morning. This need not be so if we are tidier in our habits. Again getting rid of clutter will help. Perhaps it may even be as simple as changing your duvet for something bright and colourful to lighten your mood.

16 Alba Pools

Imagine having your own private swimming pool. Alba Pools, based in Brechin, specialise in providing all types of swimming pools and spa facilities. They can offer you design, supply and installation service all geared to your own home and of course your particular needs. From relatively small domestic pools to hotel spa developments and large commercial pools no project is too big or too small for them to tackle. They also specialise in saunas and steam rooms, spas and hot tubs. www.alba-pools.co.uk

17 ANTA

Founded by Annie and Lachie Stewart in the early 1980s ANTA is a family run Scottish design and architecture fi rm. All their products are made in Scotland with colours inspired by the Scottish landscape. For stoneware, throws and cushions, carpets, fabrics, accessories, furniture ANTA is known for the modern interpretation of traditional Scottish style www.anta.co.uk

18 Ashley Ann

If the time is not right for a new house then perhaps a new kitchen will do the trick. At Ashley Ann, they have been designing, manufacturing and installing kitchens and bedrooms since 1986. With showrooms all over Scotland you can view the latest on offer. The expert and friendly service you receive will help you make that decision to brighten the heart of the home. www.ashleyann.co.uk 

19 Stevens & Graham

Time to look at your fl oor coverings and carpeting. In this year of Homecoming and clan gatherings impress your overseas cousins with a new tartan carpet. Stevens and Graham, Jessie Street, Glasgow, specialise in tartan carpeting and have been suppliers of carpets and rugs since 1947. Fifty stock designs available. You can also purchase a luxury rug in your own clan crest. www.tartanrugs.co.uk

20 Call in the decorators!

If all this simply sounds like too much hard work, nothing will brighten and improve your home more than calling in the professional decorators. You merely spend hours poring over magazines and making mood boards which you discuss with your decorators and they will transform your home into the one of your dreams. A good way to fi nd your perfect decorator is to chat to friends – word of mouth is a good way to fi nd reputable companies – or do your research online. www. guildmc.com; www.scottishdecorators.co.uk; www.nevinofedinburgh.co.uk