Refresh for less
Naomi Cleaver
JANUARY
Tip One
The joyful sparkle of the festive season may be over but an abundance of gently flickering candles will make any home a seductive refuge in the midst of long, dark nights and moody days.
Tip Two
For true candlelit drama though, the twist rests in quantity and groups of candles - try different shapes and sizes, and bright colours too - will make for spectacular effect, especially if placed in front of a mirror, doubling the magical impact.
Tapers and a candle snuffer will be essential equipment in your glowing wonderland, but worth it.
Tip Three
Complete the celebration of the cold months by scattering cosy throws across beds and sofas, keeping snuggles within easy reach. Don't forget the emergency chocolates!
FEBRUARY
Tip One
There's nothing to do with February but focus on the coming Spring. With this in mind now is the time to clear out cupboards in preparation for a Spring Clean. Purge wardrobes and cabinets and organise what remains into "a place for everything and everything in its place" storage, from handy, hanging shoe tidies to a set of bookshelves; or some toy chests to a new chest of drawers.
The "fed-up in February" blues will soon be smartly challenged by a sense of satisfaction as you take control of the nagging drifts of stuff we all seem to accumulate.
Tip Two
Contrast the greyness outside with virility and colour inside by planting up pots and vases with early Spring flowers like hyacinths and narcissi. While it's possible to buy ready-planted pots you can save some pennies, as well as flex your creative muscles, by planting them up yourself. Just choose your pots, buy the bulbs - usually sold in cost effective quantities - and complete this recipe with a small bag of peat free compost.
Tip Three
Then distribute pots around your home, not forgetting bedrooms and bathrooms as well as the usual kitchen, living room and hallway locations.
Their sweet scent and cheerful optimism will be just the thing to get you through to March.
MARCH
Tip One
As the light gets stronger it's time for all those maintenance jobs, chief among them being decorating - both inside and out. While oil based paint requires a relatively skilled hand a quick coat of emulsion is transformative - and startlingly quick with a roller. And if you're redecorating now's the time to reconsider your colour scheme. Remember it's just paint and elbow grease so experiment: not only try a fresh new colour, or paint one wall a contrasting colour, but use the walls as your canvas and dare to paint whatever comes to mind. Take a trip to the Tate Modern for inspiration and discover the artist in you. If you're nervous try the new generation of glamorous wall stencils that are available these days.
Tip Two
March may just offer hot enough rays to take morning coffee outside. And as the weather gets warmer outside is the place to be so now is the time to check your inventory of garden furniture and invest in good quality as required – after all the better the quality the longer it will last. And don't forget a shed for children's toys and garden tools. Storage outside will always be as useful as it is inside.