Fallen out of love with your home? Here are 9 expert-backed ways to bring back that fluttery feeling

After living in a house for a while, however much love and attention you poured into researching the latest Pinterest interior decor trends and getting the details just right when you first moved in, there is bound to come a time when it all gets a little too familiar – something that may leave you feeling a little uninspired by your surroundings.

Bearing in mind that your home should be the place you look forward to returning to, a space you feel sheltered from the outside world, within a backdrop that fosters a sense of wellbeing, it is important to ensure that you create an environment that supports all of this.

If you've fallen out of love with your home, read on to see our expert-backed methods to reignite the spark...

9 expert-approved ways to fall back in love with your home

If your home has been leaving you feeling a little lacklustre of late, our expert advice on the small, achievable steps you can take to bring back that sparkle is here to help. We'll have you adoring your pad again in no time at all.

1. Switch up your soft furnishings

Swapping some of the existing soft furnishings around your home can make a massive difference. I can't tell you how much the two new throws on our sofa changed the way I felt about the space.

Debbie Leigh, design manager at ILIV, explains which changes can have the most positive impact. "Often, it’s not the big-ticket items, but the ‘soft’ elements like flattened cushions, tired throws, over-trend prints, or bedding that’s lost its structure, that make a room feel past its best.

"Cushions are one of the simplest and most affordable updates," continues Debbie. "Swap out flat, overfilled or mismatched pads for well-structured inserts and covers in layered tones. Mixing textures is also a good tip for instantly adding depth and style without a full redesign, for example, pairing soft weaves with embroidered or printed fabrics."

Debbie goes on to explain that changing soft furnishings to reflect seasonal interior decor trends is also a wise move. "Spring and summer are about lightness. Consider replacing heavy, wintry fabrics with breathable materials and softer palettes such as warm neutrals, botanical greens, gentle blues and earthy clay tones. Even changing curtain fabrics or updating a headboard textile can dramatically refresh a room without replacing furniture."

2. Rethink your furniture layouts

In some cases, moving your furniture around can really change the way a room looks, feels and works – no new purchases necessary.

"Often, falling back in love with your home doesn’t require a full renovation – just a fresh perspective," picks up Kate Palmer, creative director at The Painted Furniture Company. "One of the simplest yet most transformative changes you can make is rethinking your furniture layout. By repositioning key pieces, you can completely alter how a room feels and functions, whether that’s improving the flow of movement by looking at small living room layouts, maximising natural light, or creating more inviting, sociable spaces."

According to Kate, the secret lies in getting a little creative with furniture arrangements and moving away from standard layout principles. "Start by identifying the focal point of the room, for example, a fireplace, a window, or a statement piece of furniture, and arrange everything else around it. Don’t be afraid to pull furniture away from the walls to create a more intimate look, or to repurpose pieces in different rooms to give them a new lease of life."

3. Change kitchen unit fronts and hardware

If it is your kitchen that is no longer quite 'doing it' for you – and, let's face it, this is often the space we spend the most time in – you need not remortgage to give it a new lease of life.

"The kitchen is often the most used room in your home; therefore, the smallest tweaks can make a big impact," Samantha Davies from The Kitchen Restoration Company elaborates. "Swapping your cabinet doors for a new colour or finish can completely change the atmosphere in just a few days, compared to a full kitchen replacement.

"The cabinetry takes up the most visual real estate in a kitchen, meaning a door style or colour going out of trend can make the whole space feel more tired," continues Samantha. "Replacing just the doors and drawer fronts allows you to adopt modern kitchen trends – such as the shift from high-gloss to soft matt – while keeping the perfectly functional 'bones' of your kitchen."

Interior designer Holly Scott, of Holly Scott Interior Design, has another tip for anyone wanting to update their kitchen. "Another option I often suggest is refreshing the splashback. This is a great place to introduce colour, texture or pattern without overwhelming the space."

Holly Scott

Also known as The Happy Home Designer, Holly Scott is an award-winning luxury interior designer based in Oxfordshire with over 20 years of experience. Holly is known for designing unexpected, statement interiors that create talking points through the finishing touches and styling.

4. Have a seriously good declutter

Decluttering, that task that so many of us put off, yet that makes us feel so good once done and dusted. It isn't just when it comes to organising your home that it helps, though it can also contribute to how you feel about it.

Interior therapist and Feng Shui specialist Suzanne Roynon, from Interiors Therapy, explains that tuning into the home and identifying what’s not working for you can have a dramatic and lasting impact — and the problems often start with having too much stuff.

"I’ve known people who change their minds about selling a home, having used interiors therapy, which goes much deeper than basic decluttering and has a lasting effect because it helps people develop an extremely low tolerance for clutter. They realised how many of their possessions were actually bringing them down emotionally, creating unnecessary stress, and impacting their health.

"Clutter is the result of a series of unmade decisions – often as a result of keeping possessions and mementoes through habit, fear, guilt or confusion," continues Suzanne. "This is especially pertinent when they are inherited from previous generations."

Suzanne encourages donating, gifting or recycling anything which is not used, needed or loved, so everything which remains in the home is genuinely appreciated. "It’s a wonderful way to create breathing space, lots of extra storage, and acknowledge that clutter has weighed you and your home down for far too long. As upgrades go, it can transform the way people live in a home so they can fall in love with it all over again."

Suzanne Roynon

Suzanne Roynon is a member of the International Feng Shui Guild, based in the UK and working internationally. In addition to her Interiors Therapy and Feng Shui consultancy and teaching, Suzanne is the author of the award-winning bestseller ‘Welcome Home, How Stuff Makes or Breaks your Relationship’.

5. Refresh your colour scheme

Never underestimate the power of colour within the home; the effect it can have on how you feel about a space can be immense. Rather than relying on the latest paint colour trends alone, it pays to focus on how particular shades make you feel

"One of the most effective ways to transform a space is through colour. It’s something I always start with in my design work, as it sets the tone for how a room feels," says Holly Scott.

"Rather than jumping straight to paint charts, I always encourage clients to think first about the feeling they want to create," continues Holly. "Calm, cosy, uplifting or warm. From there, we build a palette that works across the space. Paint is relatively quick and cost-effective, but when used well, it can completely change the mood of a room."

Holly also has some tips on how to translate your colour preferences into a space effectively. "You only need to set aside a weekend for one room. Build a palette of three to five tones and consider carrying colour across walls and woodwork for a more cohesive, elevated look."

6. Address your existing lighting scheme

Lighting plays a huge role in creating ambience within a space. Not only that, but it can also change how an existing interior scheme comes across – with some tweaks to your illumination, there might be no need for any other upgrades.

James Kendall, operations director at KES Lighting & Home, reveals that one of the easiest ways to transform a space is by upgrading your fixtures. "Replacing a single overhead fitting with a mix of wall lights, table lamps and floor lamps instantly adds depth and warmth. Small updates like upgrading old fittings or adding statement pendants in the kitchen and hallway can make a home feel more refined and contemporary without significant expense.

"Use directional or adjustable lights to draw attention to open shelving, a favourite splashback, or a piece of artwork — this is such an easy way to give your space an interior designed edge without major changes," continues James.

"Symmetry brings a sense of order and calm to a room and a matching pair of table lamps will give your space an instantly polished feel. This stylish touch works especially well on bedside tables or sideboards."

James concludes by highlighting the importance of light colour temperatures too. "Switching to warm tone bulbs is one of the simplest ways to create a more inviting atmosphere. Warmer light enhances natural materials and improves the ambience of living rooms, bedrooms and dining areas."

7. Find ways to pull in more natural light

If you haven't thought about incorporating a few biophilic design ideas into your home, now is the time – they are a great way to boost your sense of wellbeing.

Ana Zuravliova, trend specialist at Blinds Direct, recommends choosing light-filtering window coverings. "How you dress your windows can make a dramatic difference to both brightness and atmosphere, without major renovations.'

Heavy or dark fabrics can block valuable daylight, even when fully open. We recommend opting for lighter materials that gently diffuse light, helping rooms feel brighter while still offering privacy. Pale colours and subtle textures on blinds can help bounce light around a room, making smaller or darker spaces feel more open and airier.

“The way blinds sit within the window recess can also really impact how much light enters a room," continues Ana. "Fitting blinds neatly inside the frame helps keep the glass area clear, allowing maximum daylight to flood in.”

8. Take time to look at the smaller details

It is amazing how much the smaller decorative elements and details around the house can affect how you feel about it. That might mean treating yourself to a few new candle holders, or perhaps a piece of wall art that transports you to a faraway land, or even some cosy new bedding or the best new sheets you can find.

"One of my favourite tricks is opting for a larger duvet than the bed itself as this has a luxurious psychological effect," shares Chloe Barrow, interior expert at Laura James. "For instance, using a double duvet on a single bed or a king-size duvet on a double bed means that the duvet will drape off the side of the bed, making it look larger to the eye. This is perfect for people who want to get a great hotel-inspired effect, but only have space for a small bed.

"Another great tip is to think about the silhouette of your furniture," continues Chloe. "Many flat-pack sideboards or sofas come with short legs that can often make a room feel heavy. By swapping these with slim wooden or brass legs, you create negative space underneath the furniture, which allows light to flow across the floor, making the entire room feel airy and spacious.

To make the room feel cohesive, I recommend matching the wood grain or metal finish to another detail in the room, such as a picture frame or a door handle. It’s a brilliant way to introduce a personal touch that feels fresh and true to your personal style as time goes on."

Chloe Barrow

Chloe leads on interior trend forecasting and the creative direction of home and garden products. With a background in fashion, business, and e-commerce, she’s delivered key campaigns for brands like Marks & Spencer, blending interior style insight with commercial strategy across both digital and retail spaces.

9. Commit to a whole-house deep clean

And, finally, it is hard to love a dirty house. Whether you dare not look up because the cobwebs have taken over the ceiling, or you lie away at night wondering how thick that layer of dust under your bed has got now, a deep clean really can be the key to helping with a sense of relaxation at home.

"Investing in a professional deep clean is one of the simplest ways to reset your home," explains Holly Scott. "A thorough clean can make everything feel fresher and help you see your space in a new light. It will typically only take one full day and I'd advise focusing on areas that often get missed, such as carpets, upholstery and grout, for the biggest impact." Often, areas we neglect to clean can cause an unpleasant smell.

If you don't fancy paying for a cleaning service, simply brushing up on how to clean your house like a professional, popping on your favourite tunes and getting stuck in should be enough to get the place sparkling once more.

Inspired to give your home a refresh now that the sun is shining (mostly)? Try out the '5-day Clutter Shakedown' to get you started.