ROOM ELEMENTS Smart and

STYLE EDIT Occasional chairs

SIT PRETTY WITH ONE OF THESE SNUG SEATS

Mid-century mood with velvet seat. Arkin in Moss Green, £249, Dunelm. Pale blue linen with turned legs. Audrey, £1,080, Neptune. Smart stripes and liquorice sticks. Mitzi, £449, Atkin and Thyme

Vintage-look spindle back. Burbler, £675, Loaf. Laid back lounging. Eichholtz Greta in Cambon Black, £940, Sweetpea and Willow. Sweet curves. Edmund, £1,470, Country House Furniture Collection by Country Homes & Interiors x John Sankey

Wicker wings. Emmeline velvet, £499, Atkin & Thyme. Button back. Betty in Marina, £440, Sofa.com. Softest blush. Marlia, £950, Ercol

Chic and modern, Isola features posy-style flowers on a rusted-gold background, from £105 for a double duvet set

Carrie features pretty meadow flowers scattered over a pastel base, from £105 for a double duvet set

Valencia, a dramatic and romantic flurry of large painterly blooms, from £105 for a double duvet set

SPRING REFRESH

One of our favourite ways to mark the change of seasons is to invest in beautiful bedlinen and give our bedrooms a vibrant new look

Bedlinen designs inspired by nature perfectly encapsulate a fresh spring feel. And MM Linen, a New Zealand brand with a British heart, offers a wide range of unique bedding and co-ordinating soft furnishings in a whole host of florals. ‘I work with artists from around the world to create original designs, including homegrown UK talent, ’ says Kerry Jackson, founder and creative director. ‘These artworks are reproduced on bedlinen, bringing breathtaking original designs to life. ’

This season, three new bedding designs have been added to the collection: Isola, Carrie and Valencia. Each features florals, from delicate to dramatic, on 220 thread count cotton sateen. And for when you want an extra layer, there ’ s also a range of co-ordinating bed covers in quilted linen, velvet or knit finishes.

As well as bedding, MM Linen ’ s designs extend to feather-filled scatter cushions and fully lined, ready-made curtains. The curtains come in three sumptuous printed velvets – Fiori, Florian and Arlette – plus two textured cottons, Camellia and Aubrey. They all feature eyelet headings and come in two width options and four drop options, ensuring the perfect fit.

MM Linen has sustainability at its heart, too. With Scope 3 carbon neutral status, its entire collection is packaged without plastic to reduce landfill. So if you ’ re looking to freshen up your bedroom, you ’ll certainly be inspired by the range at MM Linen.

Formoreinformation

Visit uk.mmlinen.com to shop the whole range of bedlinen sets, bedspreads, curtains and luxury cushions

CLEVER LINK

Fitting a bank of built-in cabinets along a hallway provides ample storage while seamlessly linking the spaces together. ‘If built-in joinery can be incorporated into the design, then consider using the space under the stairs or creating a run of cabinets along one wall. Not only will this provide storage, but it will keep everything organised and out of sight, ’ says Emma Deterding, founder and creative director, Kelling Designs.

Try Neville Johnson for cabinetry. Grey salon tiles, £145sq m, Bert & May

Make an ENTRANCE

KEEP YOUR HALLWAYA CLUTTER-FREE WITHWITH THESETHESE PRACTICALTICAL STORAGESTORAGE IDEAS,IDEAS, FROMFROM BESPOKBESP E FITTED JOINERY TO FLEXIBLE FREESTANDING PIECES

Find an expert joiner at The British Woodworking Federation Group, bwf.org.uk

TRANSFORM ALCOVES

Made-to-measure joinery is ideal for awkward spaces. ‘With good-quality fitted storage, a hallway can essentially be transformed into an extra room, such as a home office with hidden desk space and built-in bookshelves and filing, ’ says Jamie Godfrey, senior designer at Neville Johnson. ‘A statement library wall can also be incorporated into this space. ’

TALL ORDER

Make the most of high ceilings by introducing floor-to-ceiling cabinetry that can be fitted around the architecture of your space. They can also be fitted with sliding ladders to access the top areas. ‘It is amazing how much storage you gain by going high up the wall, and if you make it no deeper than it needs to be your room will still feel spacious, without having to take over spare rooms, ’ says Simon Tcherniak, senior designer at Neville Johnson.

Floor-to-ceiling built-in storage by Gwyn Dowell with carpentry painted in Oval Room Blue estate eggshell, £70 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

SPICK AND SPAN

Whether in a hallway or a landing area, enclosing the space under the stairs to create a cupboard is a simple way to create extra storage space for cleaning essentials. An industrial-style trolley is also handy for keeping cleaning products and tools in one place. To get the most out of every inch of space don ’t forget the back of the door can be used to hang mops and brooms, too.

Try the Industrial metal trolley, £349, Greige. Buy traditional housekeeping brushes and tools at Labour & Wait

HIDDEN SPACES

Repurpose a redundant area under the stairs to create concealed, multifunctional spaces. They can provide ample cupboard storage for boots and coats and could even double as a downstairs cloakroom if you have the room. Consider making the most of alcoves, too, by fitting them with a ledge to create a useful spot to change footwear.

Cushion upholstered in Quantock linen, £150m, Fermoie

VERY VERSATILE

If space is at a premium, a bench chest topped with a cushion provides a place for storage, but also acts a handy perch for putting on shoes. ‘Having a place to sit – a bench or chair, whatever the available space allows – signposts the functionality of a hallway and makes life easier when pulling off shoes and wellies. Adding a pillow or two makes it cosy, ’ says Carole Annett at Neptune.

Henley wide storage box with cushion in Clara Natural fabric, £140, Neptune