insideKENT Magazine Issue 50 - May 2016 | Page 107

SPRINGCLEANING

SPRING CLEAN YOUR HOME
with Celia Sawyer

Celia Sawyer, founder of the exclusive Knightsbridge interior design company, Celia Sawyer Luxury
Interiors, first hit our screens as the stylish, sassy and straight talking dealer on Channel 4’s awardwinning primetime show, Four Rooms, currently in its fifth season.

In addition to being a TV personality, Celia is also
a well established and highly regarded interior
designer with property credits that span the globe
from yachts and penthouses to London
residences, beach houses and private jets. Seen
by many as a style icon, Celia has some incredible
tips this month for our readers to revamp your
interiors, from kitchens to curtains…
Springtime is the nicest time of the year to declutter and give your home a spring clean. After
a long period of dull days and long nights over
winter months, it is the time where there seems
to be a light at the end of the tunnel with lighter,
longer, brighter days and evenings to encourage
us all to feel good in a fresh new spring-cleaned
home.

De-clutter
This is something I always recommend. Many of
you will have ‘stuff’ stored somewhere in the
house which has not seen the light of day for
some years. I always tell clients, if you haven’t
missed something in two years then get shot of
it! Have a good honest clear out of items you
know you will never use that just take up space.
Also, look at your main living rooms – is it time
for a change of what you have on your shelves?

It is such a good idea to put/give away some of
your nicnacs and start again by introducing some
new, interesting accessories.
Your living room should have areas of interest in
it, so that at each angle you look, you have
something to catch the eye. This doesn’t need
to cost the earth, it can be created really simply;
you can pop down to your local home/DIY store
and pick up some well-priced accessories. New
photo frames, bowls and boxes all look fab on
shelving and tabletops.
If you are interested in some more historical
pieces, you can go to local antique markets or
bric-a-brac shops and find little gems to mix in
with your new items. This, exercised correctly,
works particularly well and really will give your
room a different and interesting dimension.

Re-work your layout
Move your furniture around so that the room
flows better. Don’t block doors and windows –
let the room feel spacious so that you can easily
move around your furniture. If you have a small
room, invest in some mirrors to give the room a
feeling of a lighter and brighter space and use
glass tabletops where possible to really open up
the look.

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A fresh new lick of paint
This seems to be an obvious one for a freshenup, but is underestimated all too often. Use some
brighter, fresher colours in your rooms to give a
spring-like, zesty feel to your home. There are
also some fantastic wall coverings available now,
so change the look of your room by creating a
feature wall. This is also a good way to start if
you are nervous of papers and vinyl coverings,
as if you don’t love the result then you can change
it easily.

Spruce up your kitchen
Kitchens need to feel clean and fresh and not
tired. If you have old cabinets and can change
or paint the doors, this is a great way to give an
immediate facelift. Also there are many really fun
doorknobs on the market, so give your cabinets
a funky makeover. Also invest in some new kitchen
accessories, such as bright colours for spring –
mainly fruit bowls, toasters, jugs, glasses – which
can all make a statement. Rearrange your shelving
so that these are on display for a really designer
look; be creative and bold!