Do you already have a plan of action for home improvements for this year? Mentally running through new colour schemes, flooring options or even just a different arrangement of your furniture. Here you’ll find some inspiring design ideas to update and transform you home, and just as importantly, add some value at the same time.

Before you start, it’s essential to evaluate your home and make a list of priorities. Does your home need more living, sleeping or storage space? Could it be airier and use the space better. Consider the emotional benefits, if you feel good about your surroundings, it has a positive effect on your quality of life.

It may seem obvious, but a good storage makes a home feel more spacious and if clutter is tidied away, than a room will feel bigger. Successful storage needs careful consideration especially if the space is tight. When planning new storage, evaluate what you really need to keep, get rid of things that are unnecessary, be ruthless, and store things in the room where they will be used. That way they will be easy to get hold of and put away. Mix up, easy access open storage for regularly used items and closed storage for items rarely used. Cleverly constructed built in storage can unify a room, use redundant nooks and fill in odd spaces.

A coat of paint and attention to detail is the quickest way to turn your home into a dream. If you’re confident pull out the dustsheets and give it a go, on the other hand shoddy décor can detract, so make sure it is well executed and finished in full, or call in a professional decorator. Neutrals will make a space feel clean and light, but give your home added wow factor with carefully chosen accent colours or surfaces, add a feature wall with metallic wallpaper in burnished silver or gold, adding polish to any interior. Lighting is one of the cleverest tools for updating an interior, avoid single pendants only, but add layers of light with side lamps, up-lighters and directional fittings which can be used to add mood and highlight original architectural features. Don’t be afraid to combine traditional lighting effects with modern solutions. Use mirrors to maximise light and space – hanging one opposite a window to double light in a room or hang a mirror by a window and instantly boost the daylight in a room.

In a hallway, opt for a signature piece, a light fixture or piece of furniture. Create a feature wall, use colours to lift and brighten the space or create a dramatic backdrop, a large-scale wallpaper can make a dramatic backdrop in a narrow hall. To avoid cluttered look use furniture that has built in storage.

Kitchens are the spaces most people are interested in and are increasingly a multi functioning space. Not only for cooking, but entertaining and family life. If your budget doesn’t stretch to a new kitchen, which should be roughly 5% of the total value of your property, there are still plenty of clever ways to reduce the expenditure and get the look you require. Start with a good spring clean. Replace doors on sturdy carcasses, wood is a key trend with white being a safer option or why not mix the two for a fashionable but classic look. Repaint existing door fronts for a great result with minimum outlay. Change dated handles and splash backs, and inexpensive cabinets can look anything but when crowned with a top end work surface.

Second only to the kitchen, the ideal modern bathroom needs not only to be functional, but also a claming haven in which to relax and unwind. Something that requires little investment in terms of time and money is to make sure seals are intact, use of a grout whitener and scrubbing away lime scale are the most effective ways of improving a bathroom and you could be amazed at the difference a simple job can make. Modern tile paints are fantastic for an instant makeover if you have outdated tiles. 78 per cent of people prefer a shower to a bath, think about installing one, but make sure you check what sort of water system you have and always go for good quality fittings as these will be cheaper in the long run. Finally think about laying flooring that looks more expensive than it is, opt for mock slate or limestone, they are much less work than the real thing and will look good down the line. Finally a large mirror will maximise space and mood lighting will add instant glamour.

Your bedroom should be a sanctuary from everyday life, make yours work for you, smart storage from built in wardrobes or a clever partition which can establish a separate area for bathing, dressing or even hidden storage. It can also create a striking headboard with shelving for bedside necessities. Decorate with calming but warm colours, an oversized headboard or feature wall will add that boutique feel. Multi-layered lighting is a fantastic way to give your bedroom instant appeal, include task lighting for reading and install dimmers on main sources where possible for extra flexibility. Finally and probably easiest, glam up your boudoir with fresh textiles, new bedding and fantastic fabrics.