6 improvements to make to your house this year

With the UK property market expected to experience slower growth in 2017, you probably won't be in a position to buy a house this year - even if you are very eager to. Hence, the idea of staying in your existing home and tweaking it could have a fresh appeal - and here are some suggestions for especially timely improvements you could make to your residence in 2017.

Give your lounge an old-fashioned charm

"Cosy is in, and shabby chic is the way forward". That's a declaration made on the lifestyle and fashion blog Miss Nicklin - and the blog has advised improving your lounge with the additions of "deep woods, a log fire and comfy sofas". An antique wooden coffee table, which you could buy at a local flea market, could be a great option - its worn look would even enhance its charm.

Add "some little bits and bobs" to your kitchen

This, too, is a piece of advice provided by Miss Nicklin, who calls the kitchen the room of the house where the majority of our time is spent. And yet, even though you likely use your kitchen for catching up with family over dinner or grabbing a quick bite to eat before work, even just giving that kitchen a new cutlery set and coasters, plus adding photos to the wall, could make a big difference.

Put some "cute decorative pieces" in the bedroom

It's undeniable that we spend a huge chunk of our hours in our bedrooms, with many of those hours spent simply sleeping. Miss Nicklin suggests adding warm white copper fairy lights to a bedroom to give it a cute look come evening. These lights also have the advantage of being relatively inexpensive. Adding other "cute decorative pieces" could also enliven your bedroom.

Let more of nature into your home with folding doors

Wouldn't it be great, when spring and summer comes around, to be able to literally open up more of your home to the organic world, allowing you to feel the wind on your face and more clearly hear birds singing? It's all possible when you arrange for the installation of folding doors. Each folding door available from the Bifold Shop is modern, secure, thermally efficient, and smooth to operate.

Give your home a more nomadic look

There's another way in which you can bring more of the outside into your residence. You could become, as Australia's The Age has suggested, a "global nomad" or "desert wanderer". The outlet is referring to the trend of combining styles and artefacts from other cultures and better appreciating artisan objects and crafts.

Don't shy away from an "imperfect" look

Karen McCartney, the design and architecture author behind the recently published tome Perfect Imperfect, has promoted the idea of interiors that look lived-in, random, and not quite flawless. For you, implementing an interior appearance like this could be great for rebelling against modern fashions and getting closer to what could be called a more natural lifestyle.