When I pictured moving into my first home, I imagined putting in a few months of hard work and then sitting back to enjoy a Pinterest-worthy pad. People laughed at my naivety. ‘Oh, you’re never done with your home. The lists never ends!’ They were right.
It’s been at least 18 months since I moved in – 2.5 years since I exchanged – and it’s definitely not finished. I have a kitchen to revamp, a bathroom to fix up and bare walls crying out for prints and shelves. I held off sharing my progress, desperate to show you all the finished project, but I think I need to let that idea go. That finish line is forever moving. So, please consider this a little ‘hey, this is what I’ve done so far!’ update.
The living room
Our living room is easily the most photogenic place in the flat. Built around a green velvet sofa, the room has lots of cosy colours, deep, warm woods, fairy lights, and plenty of different textures to keep things visually interesting. It’s more or less finished, although I’m forever on a quest for new plants to shove next to the TV stand.
My favourite piece in the room is probably the sideboard (Made.com) that perfectly fits into this potentially awkward-shaped alcove. It’s the only part of my decor I change throughout the year, swapping around candles, foliage and vinyls to fit the season. I love the scent of sea salt, the golden glow of sunflowers and the mellow dreaminess of Fine Line in summer. And winter is for fig, eucalyptus and Jubilee Road. You get the idea.
The kitchen
I’ve done nothing to the kitchen, other than littering the countertops with stuff. In my dream world, the counters would be totally different – a nice wooden worktop, a cream-coloured front, neat brass hardware. I do not enjoy the peeling vinyl frontage, wobbly kickboards or this pinky-grey resin nightmare. But we live.
If you have the space, I strongly recommend the labelled jars – I don’t know if they’re much more practical than bags in your cupboard, but I feel happy whenever I look at them so that’s something.
It’s not really a dining room, but …
OK so I’m actually pleased with this one. When I moved in, my family were skeptical that I’d be able to fit a full-sized dining room table in this little gap between the kitchen and living room. The previous tenants had used a fold-out table, which I hated the look of – I was desperate for a permanent dining area. I realised if I bought a bench instead of chairs, I could push the table against the wall when we didn’t have guests, freeing up a load of space. It totally worked! The gold candlesticks (Wilkinsons, super cheap) and flowers are a permanent addition. I have yet to find a nice table runner or placemats, so do hit me up with suggestions.
I’d also like to discuss the flooring. When I bought the place, the lounge had an awful carpet and the kitchen was a very dark wood, with a metal divide between the two. It made the rooms feel very separate. And to be honest, it was pretty ugly. So, before buying furniture, I replaced the floor to make things look brighter and more cohesive. It wasn’t cheap but it made the upstairs look ten times better, so I have no regrets. Here’s a cheeky before and after for you.
Some final thoughts
- Velvet sofas are super easy to clean and de-hair (handy if you have pets).
- Find in a good hoover, ideally in the sales, and save yourself the anguish.
- Buy dried flowers (or make your own) so you can have a permanent bouquet.
- Fresh herbs in little pots. Basil is a bit dramatic and wilts constantly but you’ll feel very fancy tossing some fresh leaves onto your pizza or pasta dish.
- If the room feels unfinished, just add more plants.
- Fairy lights are rarely regrettable.
- Invest in the furniture you spend most time on. For me, a really good mattress (I settled for Emma) and a comfy sofa were top priority.
- If you’re a little sofa worm like me, keeping a basket of your favourite blankets is peak living.
- Resist the temptation to buy nifty kitchen gadgets you are not currently using. Get the essentials upfront, the fancy stuff can come later when you know you need it.
- I’m glad I bought saucepans with strain and pour lids. Much less faff than having to bring out the colander or doing a magic trick with the lid and spilling half my pasta in the sink.
- Beware Pinterest trends. When I started pinning, white and grey Scandi-inspired interiors were all the rage, so it’s what I gravitated towards. But, in the years it took to buy my place, I started shifting towards a more colourful, warm, boho style. I’ve realised I’m not grey interiors, so I’m actually very lucky I had a while to rethink my style!
- Nothing will ever be perfect, so don’t worry about it too much.
Thanks so much for reading. If you found this post helpful, perhaps I’ll do another update (or cover more rooms) soon.
