Once you have your room painted and furniture placed it is the ‘finishing touches’ that add personality to your interior and make it more personal to you. This can be achieved in the following ways.

1. Fresh flowers and plants
This is a quick transformation and doesn’t have to be anything dramatic and expensive. Fresh flowers add colour to your room just by simply placing them on a coffee table or cabinet. You can change vases and the colour of the flowers, so the room is always updated. A long clear vase filled with lily gives off a beautiful scent and will certainly lift your spirits and wow your guests.

The way flowers are displayed can make a huge difference to the look of your room. If a simple plant pot is more your style, then just ensure you have a fabulous container and you dust the leaves! I have to say I am not a keen fan of fake flowers, although saying that there are some great ones on the market and good for those who are not green fingered!

2. Artwork
Paintings and works of art are all very personal taste. Bare, boring walls get a real lift with a pop of colour from a colourful poster, collection of prints or simply family photos. Try to focus on a colour scheme or theme. Black and white photographs mounted in black frames, which can be purchased very reasonably from places like Ikea, can really make a statement. You could choose one large piece and create a focal point in the room. Picture lights over artwork really do bring paintings to life and it also creates another dimension to the room.

3. Collectables
If you have a hobby and collect things such as books, teapots or sporting equipment then you can display the collection as a point of interest. However, you don’t need to display everything, as your home is not a museum and will soon look very cluttered. You can easily change displays around if you get bored and bring out different items to keep the room fresh and interesting.

4. Combine textures and feel
A combination of cushions in different fabrics, textures and colours can add another dimension to sofas and chairs and stops them looking ‘flat’. You can mix patterns and colours. Colours and fabrics can be changed seasonally – you may wish to pack your wool cushions up now and replace with linen or cotton cushions, and replace a wool throw with a linen one for the spring.

5. Lighting
Re-visiting your lighting can help enhance the look of your room. Don’t see lights as just practical products – they can be used to create artistic effect. You can create a layered look by installing a combination of ceiling and wall lights, lamps and recessed lights. Alternatively, you could place uplighters in plant pots to throw light up to the ceiling, and these can easily be hidden behind a chair.