As we prepare to welcome the New Year, we hear ourselves saying that old but gold motto, ‘New Year, new me’! This is a time of year where we crave a refresh, so join us as we share our ‘Dos and Don’ts’ for giving your home interiors a new look and without breaking the bank.

DO: Un-deck The Halls

Tradition commands that Christmas decorations must come down on the 5th of January. There is a superstition which suggests that keeping your festive decorations on display after this date will bring bad luck and nobody wants that! If you are removing a natural Christmas tree, there are many ways you can recycle, such as creating wood chip mulch or using the branches as a frame for climbers.

DON’T: Blow Budgets

We believe small changes make big impacts. When exploring ways to refresh your home, you might not need to make expensive decisions. Consider switching your sofa cushions or add a pop of colour with a cheerful new throw. Our collection with Annie Selke offers an easy way to achieve this as items have been designed to complement many different colour groups. During the summer, we transformed Ham Yard Hotel’s Roof Terrace by simply introducing items from the collection.

DO: Introduce Greenery

When Christmas trees go, we are prone to miss their luscious green colours. Stop your home from feeling empty post-Christmas and introduce wild foliage. Doing so will also serve as a reminder that spring is just around the corner! If you’d like to accessorise further with flowers, discover our blog: Flowers: Our Styling Handbook.

DON’T: Forget to Declutter

As we lay low and recover from the busy festive season, January is the perfect time to do a big clear out. To avoid being overloaded with clutter, it can be easier to start with designated areas such as bookshelves and cupboards. We love the satisfaction that reorganised spaces bring! We hope Our Guide to Styling Bookcases will come in handy.

DO: Give Walls a Fresh Lick of Paint

A quick and easy way to create a change within your interiors can be to add a fresh lick of paint. Your home can take a beating over the festive period with the install and removal of decorations. Prioritise repainting areas that see a lot of traffic such as hallways and lobbies. We love to bring together a variety of bold paint colours, like here at The Soho Hotel where blues, reds and oranges create a joyful welcome.

We hope these ideas will help you prepare for a fresh new year and from all of us at our Design Studio, we wish you a very happy one.