• Consider light sources when choosing paint. For example, a colour that glows warmly in a room lit only by a light bulb might shine unpleasantly in a room flooded by natural light, and don’t rush into painting. Despite the logical temptation to paint your new space while the room is still empty, you don’t want to then find that all your furniture clashes violently with the walls, so plan ahead.
• Place mirrors thoughtfully. Mirrors are proven to help create a sense of space but clumsily positioned mirrors can be disorienting (and distressing if you look older than you think you do!). Frameless mirrors can almost go unnoticed as they bounce natural light around a room, whereas mirrors with large ornamental frames can feel imposing. A wall-mounted floor-to-ceiling mirror at the end of your front hall will give you a welcome sense of space every time you return home.
• Talking of light, glass doors and coffee tables will allow natural light to flow through a home.
• Focal points like fireplaces usually work best when positioned directly across from the entrance to the room, drawing you inside.
• Treat themes with caution. All those nautical images in the new ensuite bathroom might have felt like a good idea at first, but after a few weeks of seeing mermaids and yachts on the tiles every time you shower, the whole (possibly expensive) theme might feel unbearably ‘cute’.