Home Style: Spring Living

“Silver white winters that melt into springs”… It’s time to take a look at some of Nottingham’s favourite thingssome of Nottingham’s favourite things

There's no better time when it comes to updating your home than with a good old spring clean and spruce up. With the summer months ahead of us, now is the time to begin that big project at the heart of your home or overhaul your colour scheme and seek out new trends. When it comes to complimenting your home with what's current, where do you begin? Nottingham is bursting with fabulous independent and big name retail, so that’s where we’ll be heading.

Holly Two Seater Sofa, smart velvet in paprika (other colours available), £1,350.00 (price varies depending on material), Sofa.Com, The Exchange

Multi-colour Tassel Cushion, £8.00, Wilko, Lower Parliament Street

Satin Blush Sliding Door Collection, prices vary, Sharps, Lister Gate

AV Rack, £1,849.00, Sevenoaks Sound & Vision, Flying Horse Walk

Wooden 4-Draw Storage Unit, £8.00, The Works, intu Victoria Centre

Album 14.99, HMV, intu Victoria Centre

Lucy Tiff any Cake Stand, £28.00, Debenhams, Long Row

Reversible Marble Print Double Duvet Set, £14.00, Wilko, intu Broadmarsh

EXPRESSIONIST Think statement pieces that shout personality. The bolder the better with this playful, free-spirited trend that draws on inspiration from abstract expressionist artwork. Throw caution to the wind with playful blocks of punchy colours that express the personality of your household. This trend allows you to be brave with colour combinations and you'll find it turning up, not only on our walls, but also statement sofas, duvet covers and cushions. 32 / IT’S IN NOTTINGHAM

Vintage Executive Desk by Danish architect Erik Riisager Hansen 1962 for Haslev Furniture, £5,249.00 (including free UK delivery), Danish Homestore, Derby Road

Personalised canvases available in a variety of sizes, prices from £25.00, Jessops, Clumber Street

Turkish Lamps, prices from £36.00 to £225.00, Ice Nine, Goosegate, Hockley

HYGGE It would appear that the simplicity of Hygge is here to stay. The understated Danish style which has now been around for years rather than a season, continues to delight, lending itself to calm, comfy and chilled living rooms and bedrooms, and will still be very much in demand. Expect to see a continuation in the trend for effortlessly stylish warm grey tones, less muted grey on grey but teamed with soft warm neutrals with splashes of blush and natural pigments bringing it bang on trend.

Seychelles Scent Diff user, £27.00, The White Company, St Peter’s Gate

TROPICAL More of us will be bringing the outdoors in with soft tropical design. Large-scale palm prints are a key feature on fabrics and wallpaper. We'll see the addition of tropical succulent terrariums, vertical gardens and growing our own kitchen herbs. We'll be seeing lots of tall black metal planters indoors and out, as well as gold metal cut-out planters and candle holders. There's a whole host of real and faux plants around this season.

Blowing Away The Cobwebs

WE ALL KNOW THAT AN ANNUAL SPRING CLEAN NEEDS DOING, BUT IT CAN BE A BIT OF A SLOG. HERE’S SOME USEFUL IDEAS TO GET THROUGH THE JOB IN NO TIME

Create A Schedule Know what needs doing. Start with the places that are desperate for a clean and finish with the places you clean routinely. Planning, room by room, and sticking to the plan maintains focus.

Throw Stuff Out Decluttering as you go helps next time, every bit as much as it does in the here and now. And stuff left just ‘creating dust’ is bad for us emotionally and scientifically. And be tough. If it isn’t useful, it goes.

Work Top Down Start up high with ceilings. Then dust – furniture and objects. Finish with the vacuum. It saves having to re-clean when dust settles.

Get A Good Vac If your machine is old and past its sell-by date, it will take you a disproportionate amount of time to do the work. When things don’t seem to be progressing, that’s when we lose heart and interest. A ‘fit vac’ is a ‘quick vac’. Also, good cleaners come with all the right attachments, making it easier and more satisfying as we go.

Think Green Try not to use expose yourself to nasty chemicals if you can avoid it. Not for everyone, but steam cleaners give you that deep clean we are all after, whilst remaining good for us all. No steam cleaner? The best natural combinations come in the form of white distilled vinegar, baking soda and water. All are affordable, non-toxic, and have stood the test of time.

IT’S IN NOTTINGHAM / 33