Be inspired by this Victorian terraced home in Leicestershire
This two-bedroom mid-terrace property is rented by a tenant who has brought a wonderfully homely feel to a plain interior by combining colour, prints and bargain buys. Now each room has its own purpose, with bright wallpapers, patterned fabrics, fresh paint and retro features throughout. For easy maintenance, most of the flooring is laminate, but rugs have been added for extra colour and cosiness.
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Exterior
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Living room
The living room is at the back of the house where the light levels are lower, making for a cosy, relaxing space. Lots of patterns have been brought together here, which can work as long as there is a colour or design scheme to link them. On the walls, themed items have been grouped together for decorative impact.
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Living room corner
The living room is home to a prized possession - an original radiogram, which has the look of a retro sideboard. Also displayed on the wall is a collection of framed map prints. Printers' type cases and wood blocks make amazing decorative pieces. Hang them on a wall or sit them on a shelf. A whitewashed wall is perfect for showing off interesting items like these.
Similar type cases
The Old Printing Shop of London
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Dining room
Unusually the dining room, which the tenant also uses as a craft room, is at the front of the house where the light is best. Strips of frosted film have been added to the windows to create privacy without darkening the space. The dining chairs are inherited pieces and the seats have been re-covered.
Wallpaper
Ikea
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Dining room corner
The dining room features a piano and matching piano stool, upholstered in a fun, colourful fabric. 'Since I've moved the piano into the light front room I've played it much more.' A white shelving unit fits so snugly into the white alcove that it has the look of bespoke fitted shelving.
Artwork in smart matching frames adds interest to walls and brings focus to the piano.
Wallpaper
Ikea
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Kitchen
The kitchen is a simple, functional space made warm and friendly with framed artwork, retro-style accessories and storage and open wood shelving. French doors lead out on to the pretty decked garden, framed by a mid-blue feature wall. 'The kitchen is full of light and the fixtures are clean, simple and functional.'
Similar kitchen units
Homebase
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Main bedroom
The bedroom decorating scheme includes an unusual feature. The patterned wall is created not from wallpaper, but from a quilt cover stapled in place. The tenant fell in love with the pattern and turned bed linen into a textured wall hanging. Hits of pale blue on the bed and furniture bring the room to life.
Shelves
Vintage Utopia
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Bathroom
The bathroom is roomy with a separate shower cubicle. Off-white mosaic tiles create subtle splashbacks around the basin and bath areas, while a wooden boxed skirting and floor not only brings warmth to the scheme but also hides pipework from view.
Similar tiles
Topps Tiles
Similar blinds
John Lewis
