If your spring clean has highlighted areas of your home which need improvement you may be considering bringing your property and its contents bang up to date with a makeover. Here are some easy ways to work the big trends for 2011 into your interior décor.

Forget shabby chic and go crafting crazy
You might have heard that make-do-and-mend was all the rage last year, and although a sense of the homemade is definitely still on trend, 2011 is less about the mix and match look which make-do-and-mend can create and more about adding a personal touch by introducing traditional craft skills. So brush up on your knitting, cross stitch and quilting to create wall hangings and throws, but don’t convince yourself that flaking paintwork is in fashion – pop on your overalls and get painting instead.

Start layering
Both fabrics and wallpapers are getting bolder and brighter this season, with a strong ethnic influence when it comes to textiles in particular. Pick out bright and interesting throws for beds and sofas and use your developed crafting skills to make up some simple cushions and wall hangings. The look you are aiming for is comforting but not cluttered so look for simple soft woven textures but avoid flouncy extras such as net curtains or ruffled valances on beds.

Bring the outdoors indoors
Natural looking furniture and earthy colours started to emerge strongly at the close of 2011 and are staying put for this year. Think about investing in wooden furniture which will stand the test of time for a taste of the outdoors. Look at solid wood dining tables or sturdy beds from specialist retailers such as http://www.time4sleep.co.uk/. Bring in earthy tones such as beige and brown and complement with strong colours you would find in nature such as Panatone’s colour of the year – honeysuckle. You can aim to exert this natural influence throughout the house or choose a couple of rooms to theme. For an idea of how this might work, look at this article about introducing nudes and caramels into the home: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/mar/05/caramel-nude-shades-interiors