STYLISH: It doesn't have to cost a lot to take your home from ordinary to extraordinary - just some careful thought and planning. 

 

If your home looks good but hasn't quite hit the level of style you've imagined, it could just take a few finishing touches to get there.

The answer is in the detail, and achieving that polished style might be simpler than you think.

Here are five tips from the experts. 

 

ON TREND: The big colours for this year are skin tones, copper and terracotta, light greys, indigo and lots of green. 

 

1. Get daring with interior doors

Doors are doors, right?

Wrong, says Georgia Ezra from G.A.B.B.E Interior Design, who wants us to get a bit adventurous with our interior entryways.

 

NICE FIT: These rustic-style doors perfectly suit the houses' beachfront location. 

 

"Remember the first thing people see as they enter the room is the door," Ezra says. "Doors are easily changed if you want to make a feature and add that touch of depth to your space."

Ezra says it's all about tying your entries in with the overall look of your home.

"If the doors are a soft grey, you could match this with the colours of the skirtings and door frames," she suggests. "Or a glass door framed with timber could be stained to match your floor."

 

GREENERY: Vertical gardens are great if you have a small courtyard or balcony. 

 

2. Polish up your outdoor space

A great outdoor entertaining space is something many of us have in our sights but it can be hard to get it looking just right.

Charlie Albone from Selling Houses Australia says to lift your balcony or outside entertaining area from average to stunning, you need to think green.

Mike Baker

COLOUR WOW: Add a splash of colour to instantly update your home decor. 

 

"Green walls are suitable for any balcony size as they require very little space and decorative or oversized pots add visual appeal and break up a space," Albone says.

Albone advises considering the weather conditions at your place.

If your balcony is in full sun, then herbs, grasses and succulents are best; if it's shaded, cooler climate flowers are the way to go; and if you're in milder temperatures with reliable rainfall, you can look at a wider range.

Kate Geraghty

HIDDEN FROM VIEW: Try to tuck away as much clutter as possible in organised cupboards and drawers. 

 

3. 'Upstyle' your colour

Changing wall colours is one of the easiest and most effective ways to upstyle your home.

Valspar's Sarah Stephenson says you need to put some thought into it first.

Armelle Habib

BRIGHT LIGHT: LED lights add a modern feel.