An unexpected hit of colour lights up the room.

Trade in traditional sconces for a modern swing-arm fixture with a custom shade in an upbeat colour.

Quadratto swing wall lamp. $405. Universal Lighting.

Show off fresh pottery with clean lines.

Simple shapes and playful hues in matte finishes comprise the latest look for pottery – a must for open shelving.

MUD Australia bowls, from $36; carafe, from $84. Hollace Cluny.

Refresh floors with new colours and textures.

Persian rugs feel fresh in dreamy new colourways, and chunky seagrass is going banding-free. Layer them for the full effect.

Rug, from $1,199, Elte; carpet, from $600, Sullivan Source.

Make a statement with printed pillows.

Update a sofa or chair with tufted pillows in the latest small-scale prints. Button finishing completes the tailored look.

John Robshaw fabrics. $183 to $386. Y&Co.

A gooseneck faucet in white is a playful touch.

Stepping away from the industrial, a Pop Art-like white gooseneck faucet feels fresh and fun, with a retro ’70s vibe.

Ringskar single-lever kitchen faucet in White. $149. Ikea

Bronze flatware adds a hint of warmth.

Swapping standard silver for a bronze setting adds a warming old world touch to the dinner table.

Bronze Age flatware. $38/5-piece set. Anthropologie.

A tiny sink adds space with style.

Stealing the spotlight from the typical pedestal sink, a teeny-tiny wall-mounted washbasin stylishly frees up floor space.

Happy D washbowl. $530. Ginger’s.

Hardware in a warm, worn finish is an easy update.

Warm metals are back in a big way. These retro-style knobs with a hand-hewn look provide an understated way of introducing them to a space.

Hardware. From $3 each. Lee Valley.

Tailored slipcovered chairs refresh any room.

The ubiquitous Parsons chair takes a turn for the pretty when covered in a tidy white slipcover; it works in both elegant and informal spaces.

Hendriksdal chair. $629. Ikea.

An aged-glass mirror adds a vintage vibe.

A departure from the glam gilded frames of late, this multipaned mirror with aged-looking glass and a simple frame makes a new kind of statement.

Beatrice mirror. $1,450. Made Goods.