Is your home looking tired and drab? Interiors experts share their nine best simple hacks to give your space an autumn refresh - and add thousands to your property's value in the process

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As we say goodbye to summer and enter the chilly months, now is the time to give your home a much-needed cosy refresh. 

Elevating your space can not only make your home feel like a heavenly sanctuary, but small changes can also up the value of your home by thousands.

Thanks to high street retailers like John Lewis, M&S, B&Q, H&M Home, and many more, a much-needed post-summer transformation doesn't have to be a pipe dream. 

It can be as simple as giving your windows and doors a lick of paint, changing your interior wall colours, or even adding your house number to the front door, which can add thousands to your property's value when you sell. 

For those who don't know where to start, some of the UK's top interiors experts have given their best tips and tricks for getting your space autumn-ready. 

Elaine Penhaul, founder and director of Lemon and Lime Interiors, told the Daily Mail: 'After the summer holidays, buyers return to the market with renewed intent.'

'That makes it the ideal time to think about giving your home a refresh. 

'Shifting your interiors away from the airiness we rely on in summer and prioritising warmth as we move into autumn is key before it hits the market.'

Experts have revealed which colours are trending this season if you're thinking of painting, buying a new piece of furniture or just adding a few stylish decor accents. 

Elevating your space can not only make your home feel like a heavenly sanctuary, but small changes can also up the value of your home by thousands

Creating a reading nook in an unused corner of your home will give the family somewhere to curl up on a rainy day, and adding some autumnal scents will add a touch of luxury. 

Below, the interiors experts share their advice to make small but impactful changes around the house to increase its value and make it a space you'll not want to leave. 

Meet the experts 

Elaine Penhaul 

Founder at home staging company Lemon and Lime Interiors 

Elaine has staged more than 1,500 properties and been proven to achieve up to 15 per cent over guide price and selling up to four times faster than unstaged homes. 

Melanie Wheystone 

In-house interior design expert at British Bedmakers Get Laid Beds 

With a background in interior design, Melanie understand the balance of aesthetics, durability, and guest experience in hospitality furniture. Her goal is to help you find the perfect bed solutions to enhance your spaces.

Johanna Constantinou 

Interiors expert at Tapi Carets

Johanna has over 25 years of experience in retail and interiors and a keen eye for emerging design movements. She offers expert advice on everything from seasonal styling to sustainable living and her passion lies in helping people transform their homes with confidence, blending functionality with personal style.

Looeeze Grossman 

Founder at The Used Kitchen Company 

Looeeze is a pioneer in the concept of kitchen recycling since 2005. Recognising the alarming waste of used and ex-display kitchens ending up in landfill, The Used Kitchen Company works with over 1400 showrooms nationwide and has saved nearly 35,000 tonnes of waste from landfill.

Jeffrey Escobar

Founder at House AI 

Jeffrey is the brains behind the app House AI which he has dubbed the 'Amazon for interior design'. You take a photo of your room, choose the look you want, and House AI redesigns the space for you. Then you can shop the products in the design and make your dream room a reality.

Blanca Sanchez

Director, Halo Design Interiors

Blanca has worked on countless new-build and renovation projects throughout the UK and Europe over the span of 20 years. The business encompasses all the design stages from layout planning, to interior architecture, to finishes, joinery, bathrooms, soft furnishings and everything in between. 

1. GET CREATIVE WITH LUSH AUTUMNAL COLOURS 

Whether you're repainting, choosing new furniture or just wanting to add some new homewares, picking a colour palette is a good place to start. 

Melanie Whetstone, in-house interior design expert at Get Laid Beds, said to 'begin by identifying one or two deeper tones that already sit comfortably within your existing scheme'

'Warm taupe, tobacco, olive, oxblood, rust and chocolate brown can all make a room feel more autumnal, but they work best as considered accents rather than being used everywhere. 

'A cushion, throw, lampshade or piece of artwork can be enough to shift the mood of a space.'

Johanna Constantinou, interiors expert at Tapi Carpets and Floors, tipped terracotta as one of the best shades to bring into the home as temperatures start to dip and the trees change colour. 

'The burnt orange tones [reflect] the changing colours of the leaves and landscape during the season,' she said.

'Autumnal colours don't begin and end with orange; however, rich browns and hints of deep greens can seamlessly tie together your home's cosy look. 

'If you're not sure where to start, cushions, rugs and blankets are all ideal places to incorporate an autumnal colour palette.'

Homes and kitchen expert and founder of The Used Kitchen Company, Looeeze Grossman, said warmer, slightly muted hues work best for autumn - think 'olive and sage greens, warm neutrals, soft browns and deeper earthy tones'. 

'If you have a painted kitchen, changing the colour of an island or a dresser can completely alter the feel of the room without starting again,' she said.

'Experts say repainting a kitchen can add value up to 5 per cent to the overall home value.'

2. PRACTICE INTENTIONAL DECLUTTERING 

Before calling in the new couch or moving the furniture to paint, clear away all the summer's clutter.  

'Prioritise decluttering that's not at the expense of removing too much identity from the rooms,' Elaine said. 

'A cluttered room can drastically slow down the selling process and decrease the property's value.

'By presenting the house as uncared for, potential buyers will quickly assume that it is not well-maintained, which will be reflected in any offers received. 

She did warn, however, that going too far with decluttering can rid your space of its character, leaving it feeling clinical and less homely. 

If you're not planning on selling any time soon, decluttering is still a worthwhile task as we come into autumn.  

'There are also a few simple seasonal jobs worth adding to your list, such as packing away summer décor and giving any stored cushions, blankets and other textiles a wash before bringing them back out,' Johanna said. 

'This can help remove any dust or musty odours that have built up while they've been stored.'

Whether you're repainting, choosing new furniture or just wanting to add some new homewares, picking a colour palette is a good place to start

3. REFRESH WINDOWS AND DOORS

If you're a renter with a relaxed landlord or a homeowner with a bit of cash to splash, giving your doors and windows a refresh can make a world of difference not only to the look and feel of your space but also to your home's value. 

'Rather than spending a fortune on refitting new window frames, and assuming the wood is still in good condition, spray your existing ones with a lick of paint to give them a new lease of life, and possibly add up to £10,000 to your house value,' Elaine said. 

'Painting the exterior frames can tie in the interior colour scheme into the exterior and transform your house's kerb appeal.

'A fresher front door with finished touches like a bespoke door number can add anywhere between £500-£4,000 to your house.'

You don't necessarily need to pick up a paintbrush to revive your tired windows; according to Melanie, switching up curtains is another 'practical investment'.  

'Full-length curtains in a softly textured fabric can visually soften a room, improve the sense of warmth and help reduce draughts,' she said.

'Choosing a plain fabric with an interesting weave will generally feel more sophisticated and versatile than a heavily seasonal pattern.'

4. CREATE A READING NOOK

Kitchen pro Looeeze recommended utilising an unused corner or neglected nook to create a reading corner 'to sit with a hot drink whilst the dinner cooks'. 

'Autumn makes the perfect time to create a space where you can spend time relaxing in the colder months,' she said. 

'Even in larger, open-plan kitchens, creating a smaller, comfortable seating area can help break up the space and make it feel much cosier.'

Looeeze said all you need is a small sofa or armchair and a practical side table, then some cushions, a soft lamp and a warm throw to dress it up.  

'You might want to add a bench with storage underneath for it to be a reading nook; either way, it can make your kitchen a lot more comfortable for the autumn months.'

5. WARM UP YOUR LIGHTING

Now is the time to trade the bright, overhead lights for moodier alternatives that will make your space feel like a cosy oasis in contrast to the impending grey, chilly days. 

Johanna said, switching up your lighting scheme 'can instantly create a more inviting atmosphere without making any major changes to your space'. 

Melanie agreed, saying that lighting is one of the quickest and most effective autumnal updates you can do. 

'Relying on a single ceiling light can make a room feel stark. Introduce several smaller pools of light through table lamps, floor lamps and bedside lighting, ideally using warm-white bulbs,' she said. 

'Lamps positioned at different heights will create much more depth and atmosphere than one central light source.'

Jeffrey Escobar, founder of House AI, also states that 'layering lamps instead of relying on overhead lighting can make the whole room feel more inviting, especially if the weather outside is not so.'  

6. PICK UP A PAINTBRUSH 

Those looking to sell up will want to choose wisely as, according to The Paint Shed, almost one in five buyers said the wrong colour scheme could put them off making an offer.

Six expert-approved paint colours to chose from this autumn

1. Olive green: A really easy one if you want to add some colour without going too bold. 
2. Navy blue: It works particularly well in bedrooms, where the deeper colour can make the space feel cosy without looking dated.
3. Dark grey: It's a good option for a feature wall or living room if you want something dramatic without going for a lighter colour.
4. Terracotta: It's warm and earthy, but if you're thinking about selling, I'd keep it to smaller areas. A feature wall, alcove or downstairs bathroom can be more than enough to make the room feel warmer.
5. Sage green: It brings some colour into a room while still feeling natural and easy to live with, which makes it a good choice for kitchens, bathrooms and living spaces.
6. Warm beige: A safe choice if you want your home to feel cosy Sage green: without going too far with colour. It works well in living rooms, bedrooms and hallways and gives you a neutral base.  

Source: Billy Joe Jarvis, co-founder at Premium Paints

'Steer away from creating dramatic feature walls or using bright colours, as these are often dependent on personal taste and can put potential buyers off,' Elaine said.

'By repainting your walls in tonal, neutral colours, you can easily freshen up the look of the property and save the buyer the painstaking job of repainting when they move in, adding value to the home and making it more attractive to the eye.'

If your budget can't stretch to giving all the walls a fresh lick of paint, Blanca Sanchez, Director, Halo Design Interiors, said it can be worth refreshing skirting boards, and window and door frames.

'Chipped or yellowing woodwork can make otherwise perfectly good walls look tired,' she said.

A clean, consistent finish immediately sharpens the edges of the room and makes the whole scheme look better maintained.'

Blanca recommended a soft off-white over a brilliant white as it can feel harsh against warmer coloured walls.

'The DIY part is mostly preparation, so fill obvious chips and sand rough areas properly before painting. A hurried coat over damaged paint will only emphasise what's underneath,' she added.

Sage green is a softer option than olive and gives an appealing neutral base, while dark grey can make a room 'feel really smart without being too in-your-face'.

An organised entryway can be a warm welcome after a long day; plus, when it's well set up, it will help keep the family's shoes, bags and coats in order

7. ELEVATE YOUR ENTRYWAY

An organised entryway can be a warm welcome after a long day; plus, when it's well set up, it will help keep the family's shoes, bags and coats in order. 

'Arguably, the most difficult part of autumn is making sure your home stays tidy despite the elements. Taking a proactive approach can help,' Johanna said.

'Creating a practical entranceway is a good place to start, with a washable runner or a carpet offcut from a previous DIY project by the front door to catch mud and wet leaves, alongside a shoe rack to stop dirty footwear from marking your floors. 

'If you have the space, a small bench can also make taking off shoes easier, but is not essential.'

8. MIX AND MATCH WITH TEXTURES 

According to Melissa, texture is a 'particularly important'element of home design in autumn. 

'Replace lightweight summer fabrics with materials that have a little more depth,' she said. 

Jeff suggests 'swapping linens for heavier textures like wool, boucle and chunky knits'.   

'The key is to layer a small number of contrasting textures rather than filling the room with accessories,' adds Melissa.

'For example, crisp cotton bedding paired with a softly crumpled linen bedspread and a wool throw will feel relaxed and luxurious without looking overly styled.'

Adding textures to bedrooms and living areas can be easy, while harder or wet areas like the kitchen and bathroom can present more of a challenge. 

However, Looeeze recommended adding accents of wood, linen, woven materials and softer fabrics to make rooms with hard surfaces feel less 'clinical'.  

'A rug, throws, or simply changing the cushions on a bench can be enough. The important thing is not to confuse cosy with cluttered,' she said. 

'You don't need to fill every surface; it's about adding warmth rather than adding stuff. 

'A well-designed kitchen can improve the home's overall attraction to buyers, so it's well worth the effort to do a bit of simple decor.'

9. ADD SOPHISTICATED SCENTS 

Investing in a fragrant candle or reed diffuser can turn your home into a delight for all the senses.

Rather than wafts of the kitchen bin or last night's dinner taking centre stage, there are suitably autumnal scents that will cover up any unpleasantries and impress guests.  

'Scent can also play a powerful role in transforming the feel of your home, so take a look at the fragrances you're currently using,' Johanna said. 

'Light citrus and floral notes can be swapped for spiced or woody scents to create a more seasonal atmosphere, without the need for a major change.'