DECO IDEAS Clever storage updates

Clever decorating STORAGE IDEAS

Six stylish hacks to get your space super organised

Wall painted in East Village matt emulsion, from £14.50 for 2.5ltr, Crown. Ivar cabinets, £45 each; Osternas tanned leather handles, £10 for two, both Ikea. Cabinets painted in Rebel, £14.50 for 1.25ltr, Crown. Gubi Bestlite floor lamp, £838.50, Nunido. Pols Potten Peggy armchair, £784, Made In Design. Vases from a selection, Made

A rich neutral like this shade will warm up a mono scheme

Addleatherhandlesto transform Ikea units

Elevate inexpensive pine units by painting, wall mounting and adding sleek leather handles. Use as a run along a dining room wall or hallway. Give it a twist For an alternative to wall-hung units attach hairpin legs to create a standalone sideboard.

Kallax shelving unit, £29, Ikea. Eloise upholstered headboard in Linen Sand, £66.99, Wayfair. Baskets (left and right), £22 each, Neptune. In middle, set of three storage baskets, £50, Cox & Cox. Siena table, £825, Ercol. Wall painted in (above) Rolling Fog Pale absolute matt emulsion, £48.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene; (below) Pottery Class durable matt emulsion, £35.15 for 2.5ltr, Ideal Home Emotions of Colour, Albany at Brewers

A low-hanging pendant will ensure sufficient task lighting for WFH, eating and homework

Create clever banquette seating

Using a simple shelving unit as a base and an upholstered headboard for a back rest, this stylish banquette seating provides plenty of storage too. Give it a twist Cut foam to size and cover in a washable fabric in a coordinating colour, for a softer under-bottom alternative to timber.

Idanas chest of drawers, £279, Ikea. 12mm pine dowelling, £3.97 for 2.4m, B&Q. Dowelling painted in Rolling Fog Pale absolute matt emulsion, £48.50 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene. Mirror, £75, Cox & Cox. Sculptural vase 02, £85, by Alice Guillaume Ceramics, Artists & Objects. Sand Cement and Linen table lamp, £115, Rose & Grey

Make a personalised piece of art with postcards, choosing cards that display the same colour scheme as your room

Update drawer fronts with dowelling

Give a bespoke finish to a chest of drawers by attaching dowels in vertical strips, using a hot glue gun. Stick firmly to the drawer fronts to form a smart fluted appearance. Paint the dowels to tie in with the unit. Give it a twist Paint the cabinet a bold, stand-out colour using furniture chalk paint or a matt eggshell paint.

Display plinth, £34.40, Morplan. Plinth covered in D-C-Fix Marmi Grey self-adhesive film, £6 a roll, Wilko. Totem vase, £50, John Lewis & Partners. Smithy sofa in Elbow Patch Clever Vintage Linen, from £1,745, Loaf. Skylar set of two coffee tables, £725, Graham & Green. Toppu mini bowl White/Black, £46.50, OYOY Living Design. Chetham reading floor lamp in Bronze, £230, Neptune. Abstract 03 1:1 Giclée print, £340, Formworks Studio, Artists & Objects

Accents of black in the artwork, cushions and furniture help ground this neutral scheme

Upcycle a simple plinth with film

Cover a display plinth with marbleeffect adhesive plastic to create an elegant platform to showcase favourite sculptural ceramics, and provide the perfect place to hide a mountain of books under! Give it a twist Replace the film with a paint effect instead – a simple limewash over the plinth will give it a modern gallery-style effect.

Addie bookcase (four used), £39.99 each, Wayfair. Top left and bottom right bookcase painted in Wet Stone; top right and bottom left in Driftwood durable matt emulsion, £35.15 for 2.5ltr, Ideal Home Emotions of Colour, Albany at Brewers. Bookcase top left, arch vase Rainy Day, £18, and White speckled clay vase, £39, both Rose & Grey. Bookcase top right, cube tall vase Amber, £59, The Conran Shop. Bookcase bottom left, acacia wood bowl, £18, John Lewis & Partners. Bookcase bottom right, two Ithaca mugs, £15, Graham & Green. On top of bookcase, Dash bowl Black, £75, The Conran Shop

Keep a tonal colour palette for a grown-up, sophisticated feel

Paint inside shelving nooks

Create a statement piece by stacking together inexpensive bookcases and painting the inside recesses with bold complementary tones to create a dramatic backdrop for everyday objects. Make sure the bookcases are securely attached to the wall. Give it a twist Swap the paint for wallpaper to match your scheme.

Nyplockad plate holder in beech (four used), £2.50 each, Ikea. Metsa timber, 2.1m, £2.97, B&Q. Top shelf, Toppu bowl Caramel/Rose, £58, OYOY Living Design. Set of two Ithaca mugs, £15, Graham & Green. Middle shelf, Inka bowl Caramel, £19.50, OYOY Living Design. Bottom shelf, Hagi cups, £21 each, OYOY Living Design. Ball of twine, £2, RE. Wall painted in Driftwood durable matt emulsion, £35.15 for 2.5ltr, Ideal Home Emotions of Colour, Albany at Brewers

CAROLYN BARBER STYLING ASSISTANT AREESHA RICHARDS The wooden dowels provide a handy spot to hang everyday bits and bobs Use plate racks as moveable shelving

Mount beech plate holders to the wall, one directly above the other, cutting strips of planed timber to length for shelves. The wooden dowels provide the perfect supports to slot in shelves at adjustable heights, and double as hooks for kitchen utensils too. Give it a twist Paint a rectangle of contrasting colour behind the unit to make it a real stand-out focal point.