I’m in the process of doing up my house – which has been an interesting experience. I was convinced that I would build the kitchen around the colour turquoise and have orange in the bathroom. That wasn’t exactly what happened and I’ve begun to understand why there are so many clichés around house viewings (I watch far too many ‘Place in the Sun’ and ‘Location, Location, Location’ programmes). The ones that spring to mind are:

‘blank canvas’
‘put your own stamp on it’
‘you might have to compromise’

In this case, the compromises were linked to room size is what is available to actually buy – and resulted in a blank canvas on which I could put my own stamp. It is freeing to be have clean, light and pared back rooms to play with and I have been pleased with the results. It also means that, if I get bored, it is easier to change how the room looks because the background it neutral. Wouldn’t work for everyone, but it does for me. It’s almost like having a new house.

Off to buy some orange bathmats …