Property

Refresh and brighten your home this January

The show-home at The Shorelands, Hartley Hall 
The show-home at The Shorelands, Hartley Hall  The show-home at The Shorelands, Hartley Hall 

With Christmas well and truly over your home might now feel dull and bare. Interior designer and consultant for The Shorelands at Hartley Hall, Jude Burrows is on hand with interior design tips that will help you with the post-Christmas blues and that long haul to brighter evenings.

“No matter how much we love the festive season and all its glitz and bling, we all reach that point where we are sick of the clutter and desperate for a refresh,” she says.

“So when all the decorations are down, the tree is in the wood burner and the cards are off for recycling what do we do with all the space? It can feel a tad barren, particularly because we are still in the depths of darkest winter. 

“We have at least another two months before we can think about spring and all that entails. But fear not as with these styling tips we can make the most of the dark months.

LIGHTS

Those pretty fairy lights and candles are not just for Christmas. A string of lights inside a pretty jar, draped through foliage or wrapped around a cluster of tea light holders looks sweet all year round. Create a centre piece with sparkly lights or decorate mantelpieces and windowsills with these and you can light up your darkest days.

NATURE

We all aspire to get outdoors more after the indulgences of Christmas so why not bring the outside in? On your forest rambles and beach walks be on the hunt for interesting artefacts. Pine cones, branches, leaves, shells, pebbles and driftwood – they all make for gorgeous (and free) ornaments. Pile them in tall vases, arrange them on trays. Add glitter or go ‘au naturelle.’ 

PLANTS

Go to town on plants. Succulents and cacti are big – stand them alone or group them together. Arranged with moss and tiny lights these can be sweet centrepieces. Christmas cacti are in flower right now – their dark pink blooms are lush and brighten the darkest corner. Place tall, broad leaved plants where the Christmas tree used to stand to fill that empty corner. 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I loved my Christmas wreath last year so much that it stayed on the inside of my door for a long time. It was made from beautiful branches and berries, fir cones and freeze dried roses so was too beautiful to ditch after only a month. Your front door can look bereft once the wreath has gone so treat yourself to some new planters to add a splash of colour. Visit your local garden centre for inspiration - there are plenty of leafy plants and berries in all shades available at this time of year. You could even add twinkly lights.

TEXTURE

Need I remind you again – it is still winter. How about some new cosy throws and cushions to lift that sofa? They instantly revive even the most tired looking sofa, adding colour and texture, and they are great for snuggling in too.

THE SHORELANDS AT HARTLEY HALL

Hartley Hall is a development of new, luxurious and spacious homes on the shores of Belfast Lough with prices starting from £166,000.

Meanwhile Jude Burrows, who furnished their show-house, has been creating distinctive interiors in homes and commercial properties throughout Northern Ireland since 2000. Working with skilled and trusted craftspeople enables Jude to provide creative solutions for the most challenging of interiors conundrums. 

Visit www.judeburrows.com.uk for more.

The new show home at The Shorelands at Hartley Hall is open Sundays from 2-4pm.

For full details or to arrange a private viewing and site visit please contact agents Simon Brien Residential on 028 9066 8888 or visit www.hilmarkhomes.co.uk.