PROPERTY NEWS - If you're bored with your lockdown scenery, don't let it get you down. With a few simple swaps, a lick of leftover paint and little elbow grease, you can refresh your home without spending a cent.

Update your private art gallery
While you can't go to art galleries in person during the lockdown, you can create or update your own gallery wall with art, prints and photos. Don't have a gallery wall? Then consider using the frames you have to create one, or create a temporary one using decorative tape. 

If you already have a gallery wall, update it by changing the pictures. 

Don't let a lack of artwork hold you back either - you can swap, make your own, use your kids' art, or use saved holiday postcards, cards or photographs from your family photo albums. A little leftover paint or sample paint could come in handy to give the frames a new hue.

Dress up the couch
Throwing a large quilt or throw over an old couch is an easy update for a tired-looking living room. But, even if you have a new couch, placing a folded throw over the back of the sofa is a great way to layer textures while adding a punch of colour or pattern. 

You could also switch scatter cushion covers or, if you enjoy sewing and have plain scatter cushions, give them a one-of-a-kind update by adding embellishments with patchwork or embroidery.

Decorate with books
Give your bookcases a polished look by packing books by colour, creating a colour-blocking rainbow, or taking the covers off hardcover books for a soft muted look. Another idea is to wrap books with pretty leftover wallpaper, fabric or wrapping paper.

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