Last week, we discussed how to spruce up your walls, floor and furniture. This week, we shall give some more tips on giving your home a facelift.

Fan following

If you are still carrying on a love story with your circa 1942 curvaceous, noisy, full-bodied ceiling fan, you could switch your loyalty to a modern, quieter, shipshape version. Remember that ceiling fans are best in white or off-white. Browns are a strict no-no.

Light up

Lighting has a strong influence on a room’s decor. For around Rs 5,000, you can install a new overhead light fixture or recessed lighting and add a few lamps for task lighting.

If your budget is tight, just get new lamps. You can choose from conventional incandescent lamps, compact fluorescent lamps and halogen lamps. You can even mix and match the existing lamp bases and shades for a hip lighting solution.

Change your lampshades and cushion covers with proper colour co-ordination. This is best done every two years, for the sake of aesthetics and hygiene.

Take on toilet

Update your bathroom sanitaryware. Newer models give you the latest look. Modern water closets flush more quietly and save water. By coordinating new bathroom fixtures with your current wall tiles, you can completely change the appearance of your bathroom.

Liven up your bathroom with new towel bars and other accessories, a new shower rod and curtain, and a showerhead. If you still have money left, splurge on a pedestal sink and stylish vanity lighting. And yes, change that old spotted mirror and get in some smart towels.

Cover your bare bathroom window with some elegant Roller or Venetian blinds. They can look real chic; plus you could do with the extra-sure privacy.

Matt effect

A new rug is a great way to soften a room. Find one that complements the room, but also has a touch of jazziness to it. Put it at an angle under a coffee table or get in runner-style rugs (mats) to be placed along your bedside.

Green fingers

Bring nature inside. Plants always add a touch of newness and life to any room. If you don’t have a green thumb, silk or faux plants will do the trick. Look through some magazines to get ideas on using plants or consult an expert at your local horticultural society.

Cook in style

Add to the functionality and look of your kitchen with accessories on its tiled backsplash above the counter. You can select from a massive range of great-looking steel-finish accessories — cutlery holder, ladle holder, spice racks, cup-saucer-mug holder, knife rack, banana hook, foil-film dispensers and recipe book holder.

(The author is an interior design consultant, specialising in the design of corporate and residential interiors. As a senior faculty member at a Calcutta institute, she has delivered lectures, guided research and conducted projects in the field of ‘Housing & Interior Design’ for over two decades. She can be contacted at kusumsmail@yahoo.com)