Detox your interiors

Top Tips on how to detox your interiors by Samantha Maskrey, marketing director of Maskreys.

If you haven’t got rid of the detritus of Christmas then do so straight away! Recycle the Christmas cards, invitations, wrapping paper and paper chains, plant the Christmas tree (if possible) and box away Christmas until December next year.

Remember, if it’s not beautiful, useful and I would add edible it should be thrown out. Start detoxing with the small items: old magazines cut out recipes, half burnt candles, chipped china, pens that don’t work. Give away no longer watched or listened to CDs, DVDs or computer games and those books you bought at an airport and will never read again.

Take a long, hard look at your living room. Yes you can have too many cushions especially with throws. One of the excellent advantages of minimalism is that it is very easy to look after. The current feel isn’t cold hard steel and glass but the essentials laid bare.

Pull down heavy curtains replace it with a dark wood pole and some sheer drapes to let the sunshine in. Peel off any heavy patterned paper and paint the walls in soft Spring colours.

When detoxing you must have good storage which need not cost an arm and a leg. But you do need to be able to put household items or clothes or makeup away. A long run of wardrobe that has all the right spaces inside will really make a bedroom seem longer, as clothes, shoes etc are out of view.

If you are a collector you obviously want to showcase your items – but do so stylishly. Show your collection in a glass cabinet within the wall unit that is housing both your audio visual equipment and books. In that way the room will maintain its detoxed effect.

Maskreys is a cutting edge home furnishings retailer with outlets in Cardiff, Newport and Bristol. It stocks a full range of gifts and cards, as well as the latest in interiors including hulsta, Flos, Michael Tyler, Philippe Starck, Ligne Roset and Alessi. For further information visit maskreys.co.uk.