5 quick & cheap ways to give your home a dramatic makeover

We're all creatures of habit, but for stylists Karin Orzol and Cindy Lee Du Toit of Sålt + Støne, an events company that offers one-day house makeovers, that's no excuse to live in the same environment day after day.

"We tend to get lazy with our living spaces, but life's too darn short for that," says Orzol. "We tell our clients to make changes and swap things around," adds Du Toit, explaining that it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg to make your living space more exciting.

To prove their point, the duo share their top tips on how to get big results with minimal effort and cash.

TIP 1: CLEAN AND REARRANGE

Our homes often just need a proper cleaning to feel fresh again. We suggest moving everything out of a room and cleaning it from top to bottom. Carpets, curtains, walls, light fittings, shelves, cushion covers, upholstery - have it all cleaned.

Once that's done, move it all back in, consciously rearranging your items from furniture to paintings. This simple tip guarantees satisfaction without a huge spend.

TIP 2: PAINT

We believe paint can fix everything. Paint rooms, sections of walls, cupboards, bookshelves, even tables and chairs. It is easy to give an old piece of furniture a second life by painting it in a cool colour.

Painting walls in bold colours will give huge results, but you need some guts for this. Go big with colour, and don't be afraid to experiment with darker hues.

TIP 3: LIGHTING

The lighting in any space determines the overall look and feel, but most lighting in our homes is terrible. We are firm believers in dimmers, low, flattering light and a selection of different types of lighting in all rooms, from standing floor lamps, reading lamps and table-top lamps to hanging light fixtures, picture lights and statement lights or lamps.

Two things we suggest you do right now: invest in a beautiful hanging light fixture as the focal point in your living room or dining room and make sure all the lights in your home are on dimmers.

TIP 4: RE-UPHOLSTER

Most of our clients think that old couches or chairs need to be replaced by new ones, and that's why re-decorating often costs so much. Most of the time your old furniture just needs an upholstery refresh. By picking out exciting fabrics and taking the plunge, you'll save a fortune. It's one of the quickest and most dramatic ways to freshen up a dull space.

TIP 5: SEASONAL ACCESSORIES

Your home should have a different look and feel from winter to summer. In winter we want more faux fur, felt, wool, knits and warm textures, while in summer your house will call out for brighter colours, a mix of patterns and prints. Sew a few new cushion covers for the different seasons, and invest in new bed linen every two years. The effect will be enormous.