21st Century Living

Your home's look says a lot about you. With our help you can go beyond current fashions and fads to become effortlessly contemporary.

Space Savers

As more single people settle for small houses or flats, they're using comfortable sofa beds and foldaway furniture such as canvas chairs to make the most of the space they have. Create more space in the kitchen with 'breakfast bar' eating areas and a batteries de cuisine for your pots and pans.

On display

Display shelves and mantelpieces are perfect places for favourite ornaments. Ring in the changes: review what's on display and move items around. Cut out clutter and reduce to a minimalist display of four or five objects. Finish off with a trailing plant.

Good scents

Accommodate all the senses - especially the sense of smell. The arrival of scratch and sniff paints points the way towards a sweet-smelling future - whether you use camomile candles, home-dried herbs in the pot pourri, plug-in room fresheners charged with essential oils, aromatherapy burners in the bathroom or traditional, fresh cut flowers.

Arty - facts

Modern art may not be to everyone's taste, but the young artists of today are already influencing the artifacts and designs of tomorrow. Keep a keen eye out for good graphics in poster form, mixed media montage and computer-generated images. Don't forget the very young artists: select some of your children's masterpieces and have them professionally framed.

Magic Mirrors

Use the magical properties of mirrors to special effect. Deepen the greenery of a collection of houseplants with mirrors placed behind them or lighten dark areas with mirror tiles set around a window frame. A lightweight mirror is a good way of raising a sloping ceiling.

Outdoor Colour

Colour co-ordinate the back yard or garden, choosing plants that go well with one another, or even restrict a border to a single colour. If you have decking, risk a colour change here too. Use exterior paints to brighten up the woodwork - blues work well with the natural greenery of the garden. If you have a rockery, bring it to life with floral hints and hues which contrast the stonework. Climbing plants will add life and texture to exterior and garden walls.

Inside out

Make more of the outdoors. Investigate summer tents that you can dine out in, barbecues that are as safe and efficient as your kitchen cooker, garden heaters that extend the season and night lights that will make the outdoor life a lot easier.

Grate ideas

Even though modern heating has made the open fireplace redundant, there's no substitute for leaping flames in a grate. The classic open fire with its tile or marble fire surround, hearth and mantelpiece will still be the focus in the living room for years to come. Consider gas flame alternatives, imitation fires are now nearly as good as the real thing.