I think it’s fairly safe to say that most of us dislike February, unless you happen to be living in the southern hemisphere and it’s sunny, in which case, congratulations. For the rest of us, Christmas is over, the tree is down, and all that festive build-up feels like a distant memory. So what now?
I’m a great believer in creating fresh energy in a room or a house, and how I go about it usually depends on two things:
a) how much energy I’ve actually got,
and b) whether I can persuade my partner that repainting a room - again - is a very good idea.
We live in a 500-year-old cottage by the River Fal. I had it painted pink (not by me personally, I should add that was Chris the painter), and it looks very sweet. But we also have a log burner, which has a habit of making everything feel slightly grubby, even though you can’t actually see the dirt. That is, until you do something foolish, like I did, and wipe one wall. At which point you realise they all need doing.
This is me on the river, looking up at our pink cottage as the ferry goes past
So I thought I’d share how I change things up at home when everything starts to feel a bit flat. Ideally, I’d always start with paint, because it’s the perfect excuse to clear everything out. That, in turn, is the best way to edit your possessions and decide what you actually want back in the room. It doesn’t mean getting rid of things forever, just wrap them carefully, label the box, and tuck them away until the next time.
Reconfiguring a room is wonderful if you’re feeling fed up, and just as good if you simply fancy a change. It’s surprisingly satisfying, costs very little, and ticks a lot of boxes
This is my kitchen in Cornwall, I love playing with the layers. A different tablecloth, a quick shuffle of cushions, and the whole space feels new. As you can see, I've got a few surfaces that I can move favourite pieces around on and a jug of flowers always puts a smile on my face.
Most homes don’t need fixing. They just need waking up.
A room can feel stale simply because your eye has memorised it. When everything stays in the same place for long enough, even lovely spaces start to fade into the background. That’s when small changes come into their own. They’re quick, forgiving, and far more effective than we give them credit for. Moving things around is wildly underrated - and completely free.
Easy shifts that make a real difference
You don’t need a plan or much time. Put your favourite playlist on the speaker, make a cup of tea and start with one small adjustment and see how the room responds.
Lighting is one of the quickest ways to change how a room feels, and I am firmly in the warm-light camp. Cold bulbs make everything look slightly miserable, including you. I much prefer a soft, warm glow. It’s kinder, more forgiving, and, importantly, makes me look about ten years younger, which is always a bonus.
Candles also feature heavily in our house. I have them everywhere. They give off the most flattering light of all and instantly make a room feel calmer and more inviting. Even in the depths of winter, a few candles lit in the afternoon can completely change the mood of a space.
It’s also worth thinking about what you actually do in a room. Is it somewhere you read, knit, or do a bit of needlework? Then you’ll need a proper reading lamp that does the job without ruining the atmosphere. Is it a room for relaxing in the evening? Softer, lower light will work much better than one bright overhead bulb. Kitchens and workspaces might need stronger light during the day, but that doesn’t mean they have to feel harsh in the evening.
Good lighting isn’t about rules, it’s about how you live. A mix of lamps, warm bulbs and candles will always feel more flattering and comfortable than relying on a single ceiling light.
This little corner is a great place to read, with a lamp close by for evenings and soft natural light filtering in from the window behind. Wrapped in a throw, with a stack of books within reach, it feels calm, cocooned and quietly inviting.
Move art lower than you think you should.
Most of us hang pictures far too high, usually because we’re subconsciously aiming for a gallery wall rather than a lived-in room. Hanging art at real eye level, where you actually see it when you’re sitting or walking through the space, instantly makes a room feel more relaxed and human. It connects the artwork to the furniture below it and stops everything feeling like it’s floating awkwardly. If a room feels slightly stiff or formal, lowering the art is one of the quickest ways to soften it.
I love this vignette. This is at Serendipidty in Dehli. A beautiful place full of gorgeous things. The pictures sit just below the back of the sofa, so the colours connect beautifully with the fabric and the matching frames keep it calm and cohesive.It’s an easy trick. Use simple frames, paint the mounts yourself and choose postcards or affordable prints. Even hanging them slightly higher would completely change the feel.
Live with one change for a few days.
It’s tempting to change everything at once, but homes are very good at telling you what they need if you give them time. Make one small adjustment; move a chair, swap a lamp, clear a surface and then live with it for a few days. Often that single change reveals what should happen next, or even makes you realise that nothing else needs doing at all. Slow decorating tends to lead to rooms that feel more settled and personal.
Homes aren't meant to be finished.
One of the most freeing ideas when it comes to interiors is this: homes should evolve. They are not meant to be “done”.
The best rooms are adjusted, not planned. They grow slowly, respond to how you live, and change as your life changes. Comfort, practicality and beauty can, and should, coexist. A home should work for real life, not for photographs. Slightly rumpled is always better than overly styled.
This corner works because everything sits within the same colour family, soft sea greens and watery blues that echo the river just beyond the window. The cushions, the throw and even the flowers feel connected, which gives the whole space a quiet cohesion without trying too hard. Then the brass ship’s lanterns cut through with a warmer note. They add contrast, but also a sense of place, a reminder that this isn’t just a pretty arrangement, it’s a home by the water.
And the beauty of it is how easy it is to change. Swap the cushions, fold out a different throw, fill the vase with whatever is in season, move a few collected pieces around. Suddenly the whole corner feels different, even though nothing fundamental has changed. A new perspective, created in minutes.
Refreshing without redecorating
Seasonal shifts don’t require seasonal décor. You don’t need themed cushions or a complete reset to make a room feel different. Often it’s enough to rearrange what you already have, let texture lead instead of colour, and fix the small things that quietly irritate you.
Flowers, leaves or branches are the simplest way to mark the seasons without buying anything new. Whatever is around at the time, gathered loosely in a jug, can make a space feel current and alive. It doesn’t need to be perfect. Even a single stem is enough.
This narrow shelf above my kitchen window is one of my favourite places to play. A row of little jugs, changed with whatever I’m loving that week — this time, loose spring flowers that feel collected rather than arranged.
At Cream Cornwall, we’ve always believed that the pieces you touch every day matter most. One new mug, cushion or throw can subtly reset a room, especially when everything else stays the same. Texture adds warmth without shouting, and familiar, well-loved objects often bring more comfort than anything brand new.
It’s not about trends. It’s about ease, tactility, and living with things that make daily rituals feel a little nicer.
In this corner, the blues speak to one another, sea, china, paint on the wall, while the terracotta pot grounds it all and the hydrangeas bring in that fleeting, seasonal softness. In a month’s time it might be branches, or tulips, or something wild and slightly unruly. The joy is that nothing here is fixed. The same shelves, the same collected pieces, simply reassembled with a different emphasis.
Refreshing a space does not always mean redecorating. Often it is just a matter of editing, rotating, allowing your favourite possessions to breathe somewhere new. It keeps a home alive.
Refreshing your home doesn’t require a grand plan, just a bit of permission. Before asking “what should I buy?”, try asking “what could I move?”. You might be surprised how new your home can feel with nothing drastic at all.
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