So here we are again – December – and all that entails. I do think it is the one time of year when you shouldn’t think too much about what constitutes great style. To be honest I only say this as I have just bought a lurid pink reindeer with black and silver tinsel around its’ neck and thought it a good idea! (Purchased from Paperchase if you must know).

I’m all for de-cluttering on a regular basis, and not keeping things just for the sake of it, but it is also a good idea to have a small stash of accessories which you can bring out now and then to change things around. It makes your space fresh and new again. Even changing the locations of pictures can make you look at them in a new light and actually see them.

So much has been written this week about the demise of the 100w incandescent light bulb, which has helped to light up our lives for over a century. I must say that I was rather surprised to walk into a Homebase store a week or so ago and to see a much reduced display of lighting choices. There is no doubting that the new environmentally friendly bulbs give out a dull light (when they eventually warm up). However we have had since 2007, when the voluntary phase started, to get used to the idea. Just needs some bright spark to come up with something new and we will all be happy again.

According to the Halifax people are choosing to improve rather than move at this time. A new bathroom, with an average spend of £3,000 is the highest priority and an average spend of £860 on gardens is the lowest. Now is the time to get your home right for you and getting help to achieve that is cost effective in the long term. You never know, the housing market might recover and yet you will be more than happy to stay in your present home!

Apparently the economic crisis is going to influence our colour choices for our homes in 2010. We are going to move away from grey neutrals to warmer neutrals, such as taupe, as we look for calm and reassurance. Blue is also going to be popular as are more feminine colours like pink, mauve and hot orange for accent. Do we really change our colour choices because of economic instability or because we just like to see something new?

Just because we are in the throes of a recession it doesn’t mean that we have to live in a drab, outdated home. Our homes are more than likely our main financial asset and so it is worth continuing to invest in them to add value for when the time comes to sell or to simply sit back and enjoy.

No matter how restricted your living space, no matter how busy you are, no matter how broke, there’s always room in your life for flowers. Cut flowers give a sense of luxury and whatever sort of flowers you chose will make a different impact in your room. Spring flowers are especially lovely because so many of them are fragranced.

…and we’re not talking walls. Several companies are now producing black basins, Habitat www.habitat.net and Kohler www.kohler.co.uk are two examples. They look fantastic, who’s cares if they’ll date!

Now that summer is (allegedly) here the chance of you having guests to stay has probably increased. If you’re lucky enough to have a guest room then now’s the time to clear out all the extra stuff that has been thrown in there since your last visitors. Spend the night in there, this will help you look at how inviting and comfortable the room actually is.

First impressions count, make sure your front door is up-to-scratch. Black works best on more imposing houses, whereas a softer grey works on smaller cottages and red brick houses. Mossy greens look lovely with Bath stone. Chrome door furniture gives a more contemporary feel.